The National Association
of Field Experience Administrators
Inc. (NAFEA) was formed
in 2004 to represent tertiary
administrators engaged
in the logistical placement
of students for field experiences.
Although participants at
the inaugural conference
held in Brisbane in 2003
were primarily teacher
education administrators,
interest was sparked from
a wide range of disciplines
also managing field experience
programs.
The
issues and problems surrounding
the logistical organisation
of field experience programs
were echoed across all disciplines.
Membership
of the Association now
includes administrators
and academic staff from
disciplines such as nursing,
medicine, law, human services,
human movement studies,
and engineering.
The
primary aims of NAFEA are
to facilitate a national
forum for field administrators
at tertiary institutions;
to provide a networking
and support reference point;
to act as an advocate to
raise awareness of the
role of fieldwork administrators;
and to lobby on member's behalf on field placement issues at a national level.
An
essential component of NAFEA's objectives is to ensure that a conference
is held annually to facilitate the sharing of ideas, concerns, strategies,
innovations, experience and expertise.