Adult & Community Education offers ‘learning courses designed for personal enrichment, skill development and professional learning’ [Tasmanian Department of Education]. These may be formal or informal, run by local communities or government agencies and cover everything from drawing to yoga, languages to dance, photography to massage, parenting to managing your finances. They cover leisure skills to life skills. Some can be used for professional purposes.

This page gives access to procedures and programs in each state & territory, government information, journals, publications, research in Australia and overseas, University of The Thirds Age [U3A] and other general information. It is not possible to list all providers but it should be possible to access sources through a number of links.

For a range of information, including activities and events around Australia, visit the Adult Learners’ Week website.

For some related information, visit the Vocational Education page.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• Adult and Community Education
  ‘In the ACT, Community Education is considered one of the major elements of a more integrated approach to improving the social fabric of Canberra. Community Education programs are of high quality, flexibly delivered and meet the needs of individual learners. Through the programs on offer, participants can unlock a better future through lifelong learning opportunities.’ Provided by the Department of Education and Training.
• Association of Providers of Training Services
  ‘The member association representing private and public vocational training providers in Canberra and the surrounding region.’
• Community Education [ACT]
  Department of Education and Training.
  You must be able to log in to access this site.

New South Wales

• Adult and Community Education, NSW [ACE]
  Provider and organiser of adult and community education across NSW.
• Community Colleges NSW
  Full listing of community colleges across NSW. Some major ones are listed below.

Adult and Community Education Colleges Outside Sydney

• Byron Shire Adult Community Education
  Based Byron Bay.
• Far South Coast Community College
  Based in Bega.
• Hunter Adult Education and Training
  In the Newcastle area.
• Illawarra WEA
  Based in the greater Wollongong area.
• Macleay Valley Community College
  Based in Kempsey on the mid-north coast.
• North Coast ACE
  Based in Lismore and surrounding areas.
• Tuggerah Lakes - Kincumber Community College
  Based on the Central Coast. Also has a Community College.

Sydney Adult and Community Education Colleges

• Bankstown Community
• City East Community College
  Previously the Eastern Suburbs Community College.
• Deaf Education Network
• Hawkesbury Community
• Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community
• Macarthur Community
• Macquarie Community
• Manly Warringah Community
• Mosman Community College
• Nepean Community
• North West Community
• Parramatta
• St George/Sutherland Community
• Strathfield Regional Community
• Sydney Community
• Worker’s Educational Association
  Sydney.

• NSW Adult Literacy & Numeracy Council
  ‘Peak professional body representing teachers, workers and others interested in the field of adult literacy and numeracy in NSW. The Council’s role is to promote awareness, understanding and cooperation amongst providers in the field of adult literacy, numeracy and adult learning.’
• Other Adult Education
  Information and links from the Department of Education & Training. Community Colleges, ACE, AMES and more.

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Northern Territory

• Adult Learners’ Week
  From the Department of Employment, Education and Training.
• BiZnorth
  Provides accredited training in a range of areas.

Queensland

• Communify Queensland
  Community education is part of their overall activity.
• Lifelong Learning Council Queensland [Inc]
  ‘Voluntary, non-government organisation with a membership drawn from the broad spectrum of adult and community learning and education in the public, private and community arenas.’ Most value may be the Directory of Adult & Community Learning Database, which ‘contains information about organisations, individuals, government agencies and enterprises/businesses that provide courses and support for learners all over Queensland.’
• Department of Education & Training
  ‘Our purpose is to engage Queenslanders in life long education and training and to build a strong arts and cultural sector which enriches the lives of Queenslanders.’
• Queensland Skills Plan 2008
  Background and sections including the adult and community area.

South Australia

• Adult Community Education Providers
  Alphabetical listing of these.
• Adult Community Education in South Australia
  ‘Adult Community Education in South Australia refers to a wide range of non-formal learning opportunities for adults, which are sometimes also called Community Learning.’ Information, PDF downloads and more.
• Community and Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association
  ‘Peak body for 80+ Community Centres and Neighbourhood Houses in South Australia.’ Information about Community Centres as well as activities, conferences, resources, discussions and more.
• Community Learning Statement
  From the Training & Skills Commission. These result from the work of the ‘Adult Community Education Reference Group [which] undertook a broad consultation process to identify possible ways of increasing participation in community learning throughout South Australia.’
• South Australian Council for Adult Literacy
  An ‘organisation that assists in the development and promotion of language, literacy and numeracy practices, services and resources.’
• TAFE SA - Short Courses
  Many of the opportunities in both Adult & Community Education can come through the TAFE system.
• WEA of South Australia
  ‘The WEA caters for a broad cross-section of the community, providing adults with learning opportunities for both vocational and personal advantage. The WEA publishes five Course Guides each year.’

Tasmania

• Adult and Community Education [Tas]
  ‘Information about adult and community education courses, programs and resources in Tasmania, and links to other adult and community education websites.’ Department of Education. Includes links to the following.

• Adult and Community Education Online Access Centres
  Select from the two Quick Find alphabetical listings on this page.
• Adult Education Tasmania
  Student information, courses, tutor information, e-news, customised courses, choosing courses, book groups and more.
• Adult Learners’ Week
  Information about this week is posted at the appropriate time.
• LearnXpress
  State Library of Tasmania. ‘This website is an initiative of the Community Knowledge Network [CKN] an agency of the Department of Education, Tasmania. CKN brings together 66 Online Access Centres, eight Adult Education Centres and 45 urban and regional libraries from across the State with the resources of the State Library and the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office to enhance access to information services, community learning and literacy support. Currently all the courses advertised belong to the Adult Education program. Over time an even broader range of courses will be added to this site from other programs within CKN and those developed in partnership with CKN’. Listed under Leisure, Life Skills and Work.
  Previously listed as Adult & Community Learning.

• Skills Tasmania - Learners
  General statement and links to sites, including the following.

• Courses and Training Providers
  List of providers with contact details. Check left hand menu.

• Tasmanian Communities Online
  Primarily for people in rural areas, and with IT skill as a major area.

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Victoria

• Adult & Community Education
  Information courses and programs, ACE providers, Migrant & ESL Education and career education. From Victoria Online.

Adult and Community Education Colleges in Other Areas of Victoria

• Bendigo Community Preparation Program
  Has courses in horticultural areas as well as other vocational fields.
• Campaspe College of Adult Education
  Echuca and extending into adjacent areas of NSW.
• Horsham’s Centre of Learning
  Called the HUB.
• Adult Community Education, Sale
  Based at Sale, in the Gippsland area of Victoria.
  There appear to be some problems with this site. It will be maintained only until the next update unless these are resolved.
• The Centre
  Based in Wangaratta and Benalla.
• The Laurels, Bacchus Marsh Adult Education Centre

• Adult, Community and Further Education [ACFE] Board
  ‘This section contains information about the Adult, Community and Further Education [ACFE] Board and Learn Local education and training. Learn Local education and training is for everyone and with a network of over 320 adult community education organisations across Victoria you will be sure to find one close to you. New skills can be life changing and also lead to more job choices - Learn Local organisations are here to help you on your unique learning journey’.
• Association of Neighbourhood Houses & Learning Centres
  Peak body for these in Victoria. Information, further links.
• Centre for Adult Education
  ‘CAE exists to provide learning to the Victorian community through a wide range of programs and services’.

Melbourne Adult and Community Education Centre

• Community West
  Formerly Brimbank Community Centre. As part of the ‘Adult Community Education Program, [it] provides classes in language and literacy and computers.’
• Essendon Network for Education and Training
• Fitzroy Learning Network
• Moreland Adult Education
• St Kilda & Elwood Learning Centre
• Victorian Adult Education - Flemington Reading & Writing Program

• Monash Short Courses Centre
  ‘The Monash Short Courses Centre is a not-for-profit service provided by the Monash Student Association. Our courses are open to all, not just to Monash students and staff. Our Centre includes a variety of specialist facilities such as a dance & fitness studio, computer labs, art facilities, workshop and Ceramic Art Studio’.
• Short Courses Victoria
  ‘Short Courses Victoria allows you to search for the course you want, and find a course provider that is conveniently located near your home or work’.
• Skills Victoria
  TAFE, Community Training and related areas.
  Previously Office of Training and Tertiary Education.
• Victorian Adult Community Education Awards
  ‘The Victorian Adult Community Education Awards will showcase the inspirational efforts of learners, practitioners, teachers and centre managers. It is these people that make ACE a vibrant and integral part of Victoria’s nation-leading training system’.
• Victorian Adult Literacy Basic Education Council
  ‘VALBEC aims to lead the adult literacy field through identifying issues and facilitating positive change. This is achieved through networking, professional development, sharing information and promoting best practice.’

Western Australia

• Adult Community Education [ACE]
  From the VET section of the Department of Education & Training, covering everything from ‘What is ACE ?’ through to publications and other links.
• Community Based Courses
  Information about these from the Department of Education Services. There are downloads about Standards and Guidelines and Applications for Endorsement plus a link to information on Community Participation as well, there is a list of Approved Community Based Courses.
• Linkwest
  ‘Linkwest is the state association for Community & Development Centres in Western Australia. It currently has over 70 member Centres’. Check the Member Centres link to access these.
  The site is currently being updated but a telephone number is provided.
  Among the centres here are the following.

• Easy Learning Centre
• Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre
• Milligan Community Learning & Resource Centre, Bunbury
• South Perth Learning Centre [Inc]
• The Meeting Place, South Fremantle
• Westcoast Community Centre Cottesloe

• Medident Training Specialists
  ‘From these courses the student can choose a pathway to accredited vocational training’. Associated with Challenger TAFE.
• UWA Extension
  ‘Part of the community outreach of The University of Western Australia. We are a leading provider of lifelong learning opportunities in a diverse range of community, workplace and professional education.’

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Other Information

Australian Government

Includes both government and quasi-government groups.

• 2008 Ministerial Declaration on Adult Community Education, The
  ‘A ministerial declaration on adult community education, which was endorsed by State, Territory and Commonwealth ministers’ Also available in Word Format.
• Community Education Discussion Paper
  From the Department of Education, Science & Training.
• experience⁺
  ‘Experience+ describes a range of new services for job seekers and workers aged 45 years and over and their employers’.
• Lerni
  ‘Multilingual learning resources for emerging communities’. Introduction, Find a Course, Resources, Index, Languages. Site available in multiple languages.
• LiteracyNet
  ‘This site contains key information about Australian adult literacy activities and links to a range of additional program, professional development, resource and research sites’.
• Training.gov.au
  ‘TGA is the official National Register of information on Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organisations [RTOs] and has been developed for experienced training sector users’.
  Previously listed as the National Training Information Service which it has replaced.

General Sites

• Adult Literacy Resource
  ‘Links to national and international websites and resources’.
• ACAL
  [Australian Council for Adult Literacy]
  ‘Promotes adult literacy and numeracy policy and practice. Our Executive is elected annually and the membership includes a representative of each state and territory of Australia.’ Their Links page is worth visiting
• Adult Learners’ Week
  ‘Adult Learners’ Week in Australia is part of an international festival of adult learning. Adult Learners’ Week also provides an opportunity for informed discussion about the current provision of adult learning in Australia and to consider what improvements are needed to take Australia forward.’ All details for across Australia can be found here.
• Adult Learning Australia
  News, features, publications, events, links and more.
• Adult Learning Providers - Australia
  Use the ‘Community Education Providers’ and Learning Organisations & Communities links.
• Australian Neighbourhood Houses & Centres Association [ANHCA]
  ‘ANHCA represents nationally over 1 000 Neighbourhood Houses, Community Houses, Learning Centres, Neighbourhood Centres and Community Centres which are member organisations of their state and territory peak/representative bodie’.
• Australian Journal of Adult Learning
  Contents for each issue since 2000 listed online.
• AVETRA - Useful Links
  ‘These links pages are designed to help researchers find information they need. It contains a wide range of links from both Australia and overseas’.
• Excellence Gateway
  ‘The Excellence Gateway is the complete online service for everyone working in the further education and skills sector in England. The Excellence Gateway provides thousands of examples of effective practice and support documents to help develop your knowledge and skills which are Free of charge to review and download. A wealth of material from learning and skills organisers and leading online resources is also available’.
• Free Resources [National Center for Family Literacy]
  ‘Whether you’re a parent, an educator or a volunteer, we have plenty of resources in our arsenal to help you fight illiteracy in your community. Explore our offerings to find resources’. US site.
• Learning Communities Catalyst
  ‘Learning Communities are groups of people - in towns, around centres, or in interest groups - who work toward making lifelong learning possible for everyone. The Learning Communities Catalyst is a space for practitioners to access and share information to help build and support Learning Communities.’
• Year Book Australia 2006
  Adult and Community Education, ACE. Australian Bureau of Statistics.

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Reports & Research

Australian

• Achieving Inclusive Adult Education and Training Practice
  2008 research by ALA.
• Adult Education Literacy Instruction : A Review of the Research
  A report released in 2010 by the Literacy Information and Communication System in the US.
• Adult Learning in Australia
  A Consultation Paper - You Can Too. Department of Education, Science & Training. Download in PDF format.
• Adult Literacy and Numeracy Australian Research Consortium
  ‘Represents a national collaboration between five university-based research centres, based on a collaborative research management model designed to respond to state-based needs.’ Publications, activities, Literacy List and further links.
• CPELL
  Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning, Uni. of Melbourne. ‘CPELL brings together researchers who have strong reputations in the study of post-compulsory pathways and qualifications and who bring a national and international perspective to their work in this field.’ Research, publications, news, links and more.
• Emerging Technologies in Adult Literacy and Language Education
  A report released in 2010 by the Literacy Information and Communication System in the US.
• Lifelong Learning
  Research for this area, collated by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia [CEDA].
• Lifelong Learning : An Annotated Bibliography
  ‘This annotated bibliography brings together 224 separate reports and research papers assembled by the Lifelong Learning Network to illustrate the scope of contemporary research on lifelong learning.’
• Lifelong Learning in Australia
  ‘The lifelong learning policy agenda has four distinguishing features : The recognition of both informal and formal learning; the importance of self-motivated learning; an emphasis on self-funded learning; and the idea that participation in learning should be universal.’
• Scope of ACE in Australia
  Implications for Improved Data and Reporting - Volume 1. ‘This document is the first in a two part series presenting the results of research which looks at the provision Collection of ACE in Australia.’ The Second Volume, analysing the information, is found here.
  These are now only available to Registered Users. However, Registration is Free Once ypou logo on, they will come up automatically.
• Where do Australian Adults Learn ?
  2003 research through ALA.

International

• European Society for Research on The Education of Adults
  ‘Promotes and disseminates theorectial and empirical research on the education of adults and adult learning in Europe through research networks, conferences and publications.’ Extensive information.
• National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy
  ‘A federally funded research and development centre focused solely on adult learning. NCSALL’s efforts are dedicated to improving practice in educational programs that serve adults with limited literacy and English language skills, and those without a high school diploma.’ US based. Interesting.
• National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy, UK
  ‘Dedicated to conducting research and development projects to improve literacy, numeracy, language and related skills and knowledge. On this site you will find information on all our activities,’ Resources, publications, news, projects and more.

Universities of The Third Age

• U3A Australian Capital Territory
• U3A Brisbane
• U3A Darwin
• U3A Hobart
• U3A Sunshine Coast
• U3A [UWA]
  Western Australia
• U3A Network New South Wales
  
• U3A Network Victoria
• University of The Third Age
  All branches of the University of the Third Age in Australia.
• University of the Third Age, South Australia
  Access most of the U3As in South Australia, find courses, other links.

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