On Wednesdays the ‘Adult Literacy for People with a Disability’ class begins with a walk through paddocks and gardens surrounding the Encounter Centre in South Australia’s Victor Harbor. ‘We always start the day with exercise because it stimulates the brain and our students really enjoy it,’ says Leonie Mathews, co-ordinator of the Centre’s adult literacy […]
In the prevailing economic conditions, we need new visions and effective models for lifelong learning. This ASEM forum on Lifelong Learning will be held on 9-12 March 2015 at Grand Nikko, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. The forum seeks to engage representatives from all 32 EU member states and 19 Asian countries under the auspices of […]
Educational tourism is booming. But it’s not new in Australia’s adult education sector. The WEA in Adelaide and Sydney have a long history of offering courses where students travel with a tutor on trips from Egypt to Estonia, Greece to Greenland. Vic Costi went on his first educational group tour with Adelaide WEA in 2005. […]
Congratulations to Freya Merrick dos Santos from Yarraville Community Centre who has won the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award at the 2014 Australian Training Awards. Freya says she was both surprised and delighted to win. ‘My jaw dropped when they announced my name. There weren’t many small community organisations like ours represented amongst the finalists so it was great to get that […]
Our board members share their insights. Professor Barry Golding, President I’ve learned that the great work we are doing at ALA: our policies, publications and advocacy, are not only valuable to members but noticed and greatly appreciated around the world. We punch well above our weight, considering the small amount governments spend on ACE in […]
When she arrives at Kensington Neighbourhood House on Wednesday nights Gregoria is always tired out. For the 41 year-old, Wednesday is the busiest day of her working week at the University of Melbourne. ‘I’m a bit of a workaholic,’ Gregoria says. ‘By the end of the day I’m totally drained, but then I come along […]
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The ALA Office is currently closed for the holiday season, and will re-open on Monday 5th January 2015. We look forward to working with you again in 2015. Click to enjoy our Christmas Greeting card
The Learn Local sector has been through some complex and challenging times in recent years. We’d like to take the time to reflect on the impact of changes to the sector, to develop a vision of where the sector can go and to refine the messages that we want to give […]
Whether it’s curtains or blinds, awnings or shades, the right internal or external coverings on windows can make a real difference to energy savings. Well chosen window treatments can keep heat in during winter and keep it out in summer, save energy and reduce power costs. Your choice of window treatments depends on the design […]
Adult Learning Australia ran a forum in partnership with ASPBAE, WAVE and the RMIT European Union Centre to provide feedback on the replacement for the Education for All Goals and the replacement for the Millenial Development Goals. The Lifelong Learning and Education for Sustainable Development Forum was part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. Heribert Hinzen, Director, […]
Did you know employers typically spend at least 50-100 hours a year sorting out super contribution issues? Many employers are still paying their super funds by cheque. The federal government has introduced new requirements for superannuation lodgement as of 1 July 2015. SuperStream is a new way of making super contributions electronically with the aim […]
New developments in research in Vocational Education and Training A free research-based event in Ballarat Keynote speakers Robin Shreeve: The ‘Further Education’ role of VET and new forms of delivery Robin Shreeve is former CEO of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Hugh Guthrie: The effects of the funding cuts in […]
Our new research paper Rethinking Community Based Learning suggests that the informal and non-formal learning that occurs in and through Adult and Community Education in Australia has been enormously beneficial but has largely gone unheralded. Also, that an increased focus from government could result in even stronger outcomes, particularly for socially and economically marginalised groups including in rural and regional […]
Staff involved in adult learning can be a mix of people who volunteer their time and those who are paid. Here’s our tips for managing paid staff well. Being a supportive manager pays off. Staff are more likely to enjoy their work and your agency is more likely to achieve its goals. But managing your […]
For some people studying for their learner’s permit can be a major challenge. An Adelaide course is proving highly successful at getting new learner drivers out on the road. It’s not often you get a group of students aged 17 to 70 in the same classroom. But a course at Adelaide’s Bagster Road Community Centre […]
