ERIC ED428285: Adult Community Education: A Model for Regional Policy Development.

6 Pages·1998·0.15 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CE 078 364
ED 428 285
Jones, Peter
AUTHOR
Adult Community Education: A Model for Regional Policy
TITLE
Development.
National Languages and Literacy Inst. of Australia,
INSTITUTION
Melbourne. Adult Education Resource and Information Service.
Adult, Community, and Further Education Board, Melbourne
SPONS AGENCY
(Australia).
1998-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
5p.
Journal Articles (080)
PUB TYPE
Multiple Choice; n14 p5-7 Sum 1998
JOURNAL CIT
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
*Adult Education; *Community Development; *Community
DESCRIPTORS
Education; Community Resources; Continuing Education;
Education Work Relationship; *Educational Policy; Foreign
Countries; *Lifelong Learning; Postsecondary Education;
Secondary Education; *State Programs
*Australia (Victoria)
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
The adult community education (ACE) sector in the state of
Victoria provides an example of best practice in regional rural policy in
Australia that may serve as a model for other areas of government effort. In
1997, 309,000 Victorians enrolled in adult and community education courses,
such as business and technical skills development, literacy and English
language courses, access and tertiary preparation courses, and general
education courses. A network of more than 450 ACE centers and the Council of
Adult Education provide adults with opportunities for lifelong learning.
Factors contributing to the success of ACE include the following: (l),a
(2) promotion of
powerful relationship between government and the community;
(3) education that is affordable, cost effective, of high
cultural diversity;
(4) use of technology to reach rural areas; and
quality, and broad and deep;
(5) addition of value to the community by promoting purpose and belonging.
The program has a productive impact on leadership from within and outside the
regions in the following ways: it helps to integrate education and training;
it promotes community participation in development; it encourages
partnerships between communities, business, and government; it provides
opportunities for all age groups; it enables the school-to-work transition
for youths; and it contributes to the quality of life in the region.
(KC)
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Adult Community Education
A Model for Regional Policy Development
Multiple Choice
Summer 1998
no. 14
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Adult Community Education
A Model for Regional Policy Development
diverse points of delivery for scores
A powerful relationship
The adult community
of culturally specific programs and
education sector provides an
between Government
instruction in the languages of the
example of success in
and the Community
world. ACE providers have become
regional public policy which may be
expert in releasing the talents and
unique in Australia. As an example
The ACFE Board and its regional
skills of immigrant Australians and
of best practice in rural policy it may
councils are expressive of a powerful
allowing these to be applied
serve as a model for other areas of
relationship between government and
productively in the broader
government effort.
the community. ACE providers have
community.
a deep sense of cornrnitment to this
ACE: an introduction
sector which finds expression at a
ACE education is
local level in responsiveness to local
In 1997, 309,000 Victorians enrolled
affordable, cost
needs by ACE providers and
in adult and community education
community ownership amongst ACE
effective and of high
courses. Such courses included
participants. It is also a sector in
business and technical skills
quality
which the richness of local difference
development, literacy and English
is allowed full play. ACE is a
It is estimated that the community
language courses, access and tertiary
segment of the education sector
drives each dollar contribution of the
preparation courses such as return to
which has consistently demonstrated
Government four times further than
study or VCE, general adult
that it is sufficiently flexible and
the initial investment in ACFE
education including personal growth
responsive to meet local learning and
funded services. Whilst Government
classes such as assertiveness and
community development needs.
dollars provide an anchor of security
yoga, and cultural classes such as
kw the sector, the successful
languages and art. A network of more
The ACFE Board has worked hard to
volunteer base and the fees charged
than 450 adult and community
create a research culture in which a
by providers achieve a multiplier
education (ACE) centres and the
rich dialogue between the community
effect on the Government investment.
larger Council of Adult Education
and Government drives policy and
A sense of community ownership is
(CAE) provide Victorian adults with
planning. ACFE has consciously
key to this financial efficiency.
the opportunity to participate in
commissioned research in which
lifelong learning. This contributes to
community providers and students
A 1998 national consultation on the
the social, cultural and economic
are partners with Government and are
conceptual framework for Further
development of themselves and their
provided with opportunities to talk
limsforming Lives
Education -
those
communities,
wherever
back to Government. This is a
TransjOrming Communities
-
communities happen to be.
dialogue which cuts both ways and
confirmed:
strengthens the relevance and quality
that the Victorian ACE sector is
In Victoria, legislation recognises
of learning for participants in the
the most developed ACE sector in
that ACE is an education sector in its
sector and constantly challenges and
Australia
own right by virtue of its community
refreshes the content and delivery of
that ACE makes a unique
ownership and management. The
the learning experiences. Participants
contribution to communities
Adult Community and Further
and providers jointly own and
across Australia and makes the
Education (ACFE) Board and its nine
manage their sector with
greatest contribution where it is
regional councils are established
Government.
best developed.
under legislation to promote, plan
for, and allocate funds to ACE. The
The MCEETYA ACE Task
Force
Cultural diversity
legislation also recognises that many
endorsement of liway'orming
Lives
thrives in the ACE
other agencies, TAFE Institutes and
strongly
Transforming Communities
Adult Multicultural Education
sector
suggests that the ACE sector in
Services (AMES) in particular, share
Victoria presents a pinnacle in adult
The ACE sector provides a rich fabric
a common education program with
education delivery and provides the
of learning for cultural diversity
the ACE sector. This education
best basis for consolidation of
across the State. Koorie Education
program is ACFE: adult community
curriculum approaches anywhere
and English as a second language are
and further education.
across the nation.
core activities of ACFE. ACE offers
11.6
Summer 1998
3
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Multiple choice
between education and vocational
State. Virtually every provider has
ACE: A MODEL FOR REGIONAL POLICY
DEVELOPMENT
...Irma page 5
training. It is of the nature of the
Internet and email access. A culture
ACFE sector that education and
of application of this technology to
training cohabit in ACE providers.
learning and communication is now
The ACE sector has
This relationship is accepted as
pervasive and deeply embedded.
reach, depth and
natural and mutually productive.
ACE is bigger than
breadth
U Community participation/
education: a vast
ownership in adjustment and
A measure of the breadth of the ACE
development
sector is the fact that ACE providers
exchange of social
Users of ACE have a profound
operate in virtually every regional
capital
investment in the sector borne of the
community across Victoria - 468
empowerment with which it has often
delivery sites in all. Most small
ACE is a rich source of education for
provided them. This has occurred
towns which no longer have a bank
communities across Victoria but it is
through opening such doors as:
will have an adult learning centre in
far more than this. In simple terms
TAFE through basic education
ACE adds to the value of community
their mechanics institute, community
and preparatory courses
hall or library. Such centres are
life, generates purpose and
tertiary study through the adult
prized possessions in beleaguered
belonging, and builds a sense of
VCE
rural communities and are small
connectedness which strengthens
a broader cultural landscape
engine rooms of community
community resilience and confidence
through cultural enrichment and
development, social capital and
to participate in rapid State, national
personal development courses
business enterprise.
and global change.
employment through basic
For a sector with limited resources
education, pre-employment or
As well as generating massive social
ACE has an impact in almost every
vocational education programs
capital within communities, ACE
area of community life. Regional
a wider social network and the
providers have been assisted to
Directors of ACFE participating in
world of the written word through
develop strategic links with TAFE
Government regional policy
literacy, ESL and language
providers (depth) which add value to
development forums have been able
programs.
the learning and pre-employment
to identify the following areas in
training which they provide.
D Partnerships between
which ACE has a productive impact:
communities business and
U Leadership from within and
A model Of
government
outside regions
The structure of the relationship
technological
A regional council operates in each
between regional councils and
engagement
of ACFE's nine regions and is
regional ACFE staff make this a
chaired by a highly respected
Recent policy debates have
powerful example of a community -
underscored the store which people member of the ACE community. The
government relationship. ACE
living in rural and remote areas of council and its chair work closely
providers also act as repositories of
Australia place in information and with the director and education
information technology intelligence
officer of their region in dynamic,
communications technology. Because
which provide a rich potential source
cooperative relationships. The
of the reciprocal dialogue which
for regional businesses. Strategic
regional infrastructure dovetails with
exists between Government and the
partnerships between community
the central structure of the ACFE
community within the ACE sector,
providers and regional businesses
Board and ACFE Division. The Chair
this is a fact which has long been
exist in a range of forms in many
recognised and integrated into this
of the statewide ACFE Board has
smaller communities.
undertaken to visit every region in
area of Government activity. It is a
U Opportunities for the
Victoria in 1998 and is on track to
tacit principle of the ACE sector that
community young and old
achieve this aim. The Chair's tour is
participation in learning should be
ACE providers give adults a second
an exercise in leadership and in
independent of barriers of location.
chance at education and it is not
maintaining the powerful reciprocal
Information technology helps
unusual for retired people to sit in
dialogue which informs all aspects of
underpin this principle. Distance
adult VCE classes beside 19 year
education is a feature of the sector. the ACFE Board's policy work.
olds returning to study. In regional
U Integration of education and
communities, which often have older
Despite its modest level of
training
populations than most and where
resourcing, the ACE sector in
The strategic relationships which link
youth unemployment rates are
Victoria is one of the most
,
ACE providers and TAFE Institutes
highest, this is extremely important.
technically literate in
create two directional pathwa4s
The potential for intergenerational
communications technology in the
richness in relationships is perfectly
ACFE Regional Planning:
captured by the ACE model for
provision.
Best practice in catering for current
U Developing a regional identity
ACE providers are central to the
markets and future trends
identity of local communities and,
because of their defined regional
regional office staff were involved
41, he ACFE Board and ACFE
groupings in ACFE regions and the
regional councils share a in exploring generic and specific
distinct character of community
issues of planning, particularly as
common purpose and values in
based Regional Councils, the ACE
they relate to strategic, business and
their commitment to the future of
sector casts an important influence
operational planning. The findings
adult, community and further
on regional identity as well.
have since been published as the
education provision in Victoria.
Li Employment trends -
The strategic directions formulated
Best Practice in Regional Council
opportunities for all including
by the ACFE Board, serve as the
Planning Resource Kit.
youth
foundation for the development of
ACFE regional councils have
ACE providers present an
regional councils' business and/or
addressed these issues and elements
opportunity for young people for
operational plans which
of 'best practice' in planning in
whom the more formal structures of
contextualise the strategic statewide
unique ways, in response to the
school and TAFE have proved
directions.
needs of their communities and
daunting and exclusive. For such
The development of a strategically
their providers.
young people, the flexibility and
based business or operational plan
informality of learning within the
Eastern Metropolitan, Central
is primarily the responsibility of
adult community education sector
Highlands Wimmera and Barwon
each regional council. An on-going
provides an opportunity to build
South Western Regions have
cycle of planning allows councils to
confidence in a supportive
formalised their processes of
re-evaluate and reshape their
environment, identify new strengths
planning with cyclical attention to:
priorities in response to the shifting
and take the first steps towards
review; planning; implementation;
demands and developments in their
employment.
review; evaluation and
region.
[i Quality of life - access to
improvement. These regions have
services, recreation and cultural
The documented plan outlines each
developed strategic plans of up to
regional council's approach to
three years, based on on-going,
facilities and activities
addressing its core business and
formal and informal consultations
The community orientation of adult
with community organisations, data
promoting the growth and
community education allows for the
from Australian Bureau of
development of ACFE, however it
creation of an environment which
Statistics, higher degree research,
is the attention to the planning
blends educational, cultural and
focus groups, as well as feedback
process that enables regional
recreational experiences while
councils' to link with the ACFE
from providers and local agencies.
linking people into broader social
Board plan and address its
Consensus and consultation with
networks and support services. The
legislative responsibilities. Whilst
regional providers is considered
skills developed through participation
crucial within planning and
statewide directions form the
in ACE programs provide some
'framework for planning, the vision,
decision-making processes.
adults with the confidence to become
mission and values of each regional
their own advocates for the first time
For more information regarding the
council, its staff, and wider
in their lives.
Best Practice in Regional Council
community drive the planning and
Li Ensuring that the region is
inform their respective decision
Planning Resource Kit contact:
attractive to live, work and conduct
Northern Metropolitan Regional
making processes.
business
Office of ACFE
In 1997, ACFE Northern
ACE providers play a critical role in
c/- RMIT
Metropolitan Regional Office staff
proving that smaller centres have a
PO Box 71
undertook a project which
lifeblood of their own, in tapping that
Bundoora Victoria 3083
documented the issues and
lifeblood and enriching the internal
processes for best practice in
resources of smaller communities.
ph: [phone]
regional planning. The project
fax: [phone]
findings were informed by a series
By Peter Jones, Policy Officet; ACFE
Email: acfe-
of professional development
Division, Office of Training and
[email protected]
sessions where each of the ACFE
Futrther Education.
45
C.;
Summer 1998
5
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