The DEANZ newsletter will provide you with up-to-date news on all things distance related. In this issue...

The DEANZ committee has been working very hard in the past few months to ensure the DEANZ conference for 2010 will be a big success. With this in mind, DEANZ President Bill Anderson has reflected
on the themes of the DEANZ conference through the early 2000s to the current period. His insightful comments set us up for what looks to be a very interesting and engaging meeting for 2010 so book your diaries now! 25-28th April 2010.

Our second issue is packed with local and international events including upcoming conferences, seminars and workshops. Andrea Mackay, Massey Un i v e r s i t y, h a s p r o v i d e d a n interesting contribution to this issue, Bridging the distance: enhancing achievement and success for distance learners (Page 4). Her work looks at developing a framework that identifies and prioritises the services and supports that will improve distance learner achievement and success.

Raylene Galvin, University of Otago, provides an interesting insight (Page 8) on peer-2-peer learning and support in a distance education environment.

We have introduced a number of new features in the DEANZ newsletter, to include a regular update on distance related research activity in and around the Australasian area, led by Andrew Higgins, Director of Flexible Learning, AUT. We have also introduced a column to profile our executive committee members - so you are able to learn a little more about the team.