Adult Learning Australia, the national peak body representing the not-for-profit adult community education sector, welcomes the Albanese Government’s announcement of the Jobs and Skills Summit in September.
‘This Summit is an opportunity to bring an “equity lens” to skills shortages and find solutions to the systemic problems that are compounding disadvantage for people with poor access to training and workforce opportunities,’ says Jenny Macaffer, ALA CEO.
Community-based adult education providers have a strong record offering accredited vocational education and training, foundation skills, personal enrichment and pathway learning programs. The ACE sector is well-placed to prepare people who are disadvantaged and marginalised for entry into further study and the workforce.
‘This is an opportunity to advance Australia’s national social and economic goals through programs that target educational disadvantage. Long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, older Australians and those with low levels of formal education and poor literacy and numeracy face discrimination and additional hurdles that put them at the back of the jobs queue.’
Community-based adult education providers deliver strong outcomes for key equity groups in VET, which is supported by National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) data.
‘Our members look forward to contributing to the summit and playing an active role in building a stronger and more inclusive workforce.’
You can find out more about the Summit by clicking the links below and by reading the Jobs and Skills Summit Issues Paper. It raises questions like – what investments in education and skills are needed now to take advantage of these
opportunities and are the current systems for higher education and VET appropriately tailored to respond to Australia’s needs now and in the future?
Jobs and Skills Summit Issues Paper