Senator Mehreen Faruqi – Spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning
1. How will your party recognise the role of Adult and Community Education in the Australian
education system?
Lifelong learning is at the very core of the Greens’ principles on education. The Greens believe that education
is a right of people at all stages of life and that all people are entitled to free, well-funded and high quality,
life-long public education and training. Adult and community education is a core part of lifelong learning.
Guaranteeing universal access to adult education will help us build a more equitable society and prepare for
the ever changing nature of work.
2. What plans does your party have for funding/resourcing ACE nationally?
The Greens’ have a plan to transform the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector by making TAFE
free. The community not-for-profit adult education and VET sectors should be supported to complement
publicly funded TAFE.
Our core principles include providing access and making participation in adult and community education more
equitable for Indigenous Australians, people living in remote areas and those suffering from disadvantage,
including socioeconomic disadvantage. Inclusive and equitable adult and community education is a public
good that must be a policy and funding priority.
3. What is your party’s response to the recommendations from the Standing Committee on
Employment, Education and Training’s Inquiry into adult literacy and its importance?
The Greens agree with recommendations contained in the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance, for
which the report titled “Don’t take it as read” was tabled in the House on 31 March 2022. The Greens are a
strong voice for the VET sector and have always advocated for adult education and lifelong learning to be a
focus of national strategies. The Greens will continue their focus on lifelong learning and ensure access is
expanded so that no one is deprived of opportunities to engage or re-engage in learning at any stage of life.
4. What is your party’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and genuine
engagement with the ACE sector to ensure Australia works towards those goals, in particular,
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all?
The Greens are fully committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and to ensuring genuinely
inclusive and equitable quality education for everyone. This is why the Greens have a policy for free lifelong
learning and education, from childcare and early education to university and TAFE. Adult and community
education is an important part of inclusive and equitable education in Australia and we will work with the sector
to ensure Australia meets its obligations
Learn more
Read Senator Mehreen’s commentary ‘Building a just society.’
Read Greens national plan to ensure access to English language.
For more details see the Greens Education policy.
Return to our Federal election 2022 page.