- Presenter: Facilitator Kirrily Loveday is joined by adult community educators Bec Smith and Colly Lesker for this #inspireinclusion webinar
- When: Wednesday 13th March 2024 @ 1 pm AEDT
- Duration: 1 hr
- Cost: FREE for members of ALA | $65 non-members
About the session
A stimulating and insightful panel discussion that will unravel the transformative power of literacy in empowering women and creating a more inclusive, supportive, and inspiring educational landscape. Together, let’s champion the cause of literacy for all women, breaking barriers and opening doors to a world of possibilities. Our session is guided by the International Women’s Day (IWD) theme, #inspireinclusion
Rebecca Smith
Bec has worked at Kensington Neighbourhood House in Victoria since 2014. She joined the house as Education Coordinator and moved into the Manager’s role in 2021. In her Education role, she was responsible for developing several innovative pre-accredited training programs, often in partnership with other organisations. Examples include ‘Prepare To Get Your Forklift Licence’, in partnership with Linfox; and ‘Service Stars’ a pathway program to hospitality work at the MCG and Flemington Racecourse, run in partnership with Service Stars Community Jobs Alliance. As a long-time Kensington resident, Bec is passionate about helping the Kensington community be the best it can be and believes that it does ‘take a village’ to create meaningful change.
Sew & Grow
Sew & Grow is a 60 hour pre-accredited training course. It was launched in February 2022 and continues to run today.
It is a co-designed, innovative pre-accredited training program that provides language learning, sewing skill development and employment pathways for learners. This hands-on course is funded by ACFE Board Pre-Accredited Delivery and wrap-around support is funded by ACFE Family Learning Partnership funding.
Sew & Grow was designed in consultation with local African-Australian women, predominantly mothers from Somali backgrounds. To date, 39 women have participated in this program.
Colly Lesker
Colly is a passionate advocate with over a decade of experience in enhancing foundation skills for adult learners facing economic, social, and cultural barriers. Specialising in language, literacy, numeracy, and digital literacies, she has been instrumental in increasing pathway outcomes for her students.
As a recognised leader in this domain, Colly has not only guided, mentored, and delivered professional development to educators, community centre staff, and volunteers but has also pioneered innovative teaching methodologies that resonate with adult learners.
A key strength lies in her expertise in designing and implementing industry-contextualised learning programs that successfully bridge learners to further training, employment, and community involvement.
One notable program under her leadership saw a remarkable increase in learner engagement and job placements, underscoring the efficacy of contextual learning.
From her roots in hands-on teaching to her impactful role in the community sector, Colly has witnessed the transformative power of education firsthand. Her journey underscores a deep commitment to teaching and empowering individuals to overcome barriers, envisioning a future where education is the cornerstone of community strength and individual resilience.