A national lifelong learning policy

The Australian Government should develop a formal Lifelong Learning Policy that outlines economic and social goals; integrates efficiency and equity, and sets out roles and responsibilities for community, business and all levels of government.

A national adult literacy strategy

The Lifelong Learning Policy should include a National Adult Literacy Strategy that prioritises language, literacy and numeracy (LLN), in various contexts, including:

• a funded workplace LLN program that is based on participatory design principles, with strong partnerships and collaboration between employees, employers and service providers
• a national family literacy strategy that is focussed on socially and economically marginalised Australian communities.

Recognition of adult and community education

The Australian Government must recognise the role of adult and community education through a renewed Ministerial Declaration on ACE, and should define specific and complementary roles for not-for-profit providers, the public TAFE system and for profit providers.

It should also recognise ACE’s role in attracting and supporting key equity groups through community service obligation funding, and by ensuring there is a community learning centre in every regional, rural and remote Australian town without access to a TAFE or University campus.

The Australian Government should resource effective, high quality professional development that focusses on teaching and learning practice designed to improve outcomes for high needs cohorts.

Inclusive learning culture

The Australian Government should resource an investigation into ACE’s reach into areas of socio-economic disadvantage.

It should integrate adult and community education into ageing, mental health and disability programs as an integral part of community health and wellbeing, rather than as external programs.

It should also research, develop and implement a pilot program that explores the role of referral agencies and social prescription in maximising the potential of ACE programs in support of people who are socially isolated.

Education for sustainable development

The Australian Government should develop effective partnerships and fund nationwide adult learning projects that raise awareness of climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

All governments and organisations should use adult and community education as a process to engage with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).