A nation of learners report (Evans) stresses the importance of participation by a wide range of adults not in education, employment or training.

Johnson & Hinton: ‘Adult and continuing education in Australia’ (1985) highlights the importance of adult education and its contribution to the community, particularly women. AAAE establishes the Network of Women in Australian Adult and Community Education (becoming WAVE in 2001).

ABS national survey in 1984 identifies 13.6% of adults are involved in programs or courses of adult education. Barrie Brennan, UNE became AJAE Editor.

The Board of Adult and Community Education in NSW sought to stimulate community agencies to boost their provision as TAFE NSW virtually withdrew from adult education courses.

1980s a ‘decade of women’ for AAAE. A community-based adult education movement emerged (particularly in Victoria), which had national implications.

Community education emerging. The Association undertakes first ‘commissioned research’. AAAE felt vulnerable with the rise of the Australian Association of Adult and Community Education (AAACE).

Australia urged to take up the recommendations from the UNESCO 1976 Nairobi report on a global approach for promoting and developing adult education. National conference on the provision of Adult Education in Australia.

The Australian Council for Adult Literacy began operating as an independent entity. Change in AAAE publications policy, with more emphasis on journal articles.

Kangan Report, TAFE in Australia published. Joan Allsop anticipates that ‘Educational Resources Centres will be essential for all its citizens, not just as community centres … but as places of social and civic learning for all ages and at all times’.

Publication of UNESCO Faure Report ‘Learning to be’.

Professor Zelman Cowen new Association President; Joan Allsop appointed Assistant Journal Editor with John Shaw.

John Shaw, University of NSW, becomes AJAE Editor, later, separately and together over 11 years, with Joan Allsop.

The AAAE was involved in organising the UNESCO Asian-South Pacific seminar that led ‘to the founding of the Asian-South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education’ (ASPBAE).

First editorial in the Australian Journal of Adult Education by Arnold Hely ‘Television and adult education in Australia’.

The AAAE published the first issue of the Australian Journal of Adult Education. The AAAE’s first conference: Adult education: The nation’s responsibility.