Adult Community Education in Tasmania and Victoria, Learning for Study, Work and Life
When: 2025 – date TBC
Duration: 1 hr
Cost: FREE for ALA members | $65 non-members
About the session
This webinar will explore the Australian adult community education (ACE) landscape and discuss the important roles it plays in developing individual capabilities for study, work, and life. In recent years ACE has gained more prominence for its capacity to connect hard-to-reach learners into literacy and numeracy programs and preparatory and pre-accredited programs to pathway these learners into further training or employment. This research examined the effectiveness of ACE outcomes for these first-step learners in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. Using Nussbaum’s Capabilities Framework, the paper argues for a broader view of ACE outcomes, incorporating both vocational and non-vocational skills.
Presenters: Professor Annette Foley and Assoc. Professor Trace Ollis
Professor Annette Foley
Annette is a Professor of Adult and Vocational Education at Federation University Australia. She has worked for over 30 years as an adult educator in TAFE, higher education, adult community education, and the private training sector. Before Annette commenced her academic role at Fed Uni she had first-hand experience as a TAFE manager and CEO in a VET/ACE and youth services organisation, where she worked in a regional community and liaised with industry, community and local government agencies to develop education and training programs for youth and older learners. Annette is the current Adult Learning Australia Vice President.
Assoc Professor Trace Ollis
Associate Professor Trace Ollis works at the School of Education at Deakin University. She has conducted research projects on Adult Education in VET, Adult Community Education and popular education movements, focusing on informal and incidental learning. She has published both in Australia and internationally. Her research challenges inequality through critical and emancipatory approaches to adult education, widening participation, inclusion, and community action using research with a social justice conceptual framework.
