1839
The first Victorian Mechanics’ Institute was the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institute established in 1839 and renamed The Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873. Institutes proliferated to over 1200 in Victoria and 50 in Tasmania by 1890.
1833
The Sydney Mechanics School of Arts (established 1833) offered everything – ‘from pneumatics, ancient oratory and ship-building to phrenology, how to choose a horse and the poetry of Byron. There were even classes in Simple Surgery. It was the centre of colonial Sydney’s intellectual, cultural, social and political life’ (smsa.org.au).
1827
The Mechanics Institute movement started in Glasgow in the 1800s. ‘Mechanic’ referred to the working man, tradesman or artisan. The Institutes were welcoming spaces that offered adult education classes and books to borrow. The first Australian Mechanics School was established in Hobart in 1827.
Special issue of Australian Journal of Adult Learning out now!
Volume 60, Number 3, November 2020 Getting serious: The national ‘vision splendid’ for adult education 60 years onBarry Golding Educating Australian adults in an era of social and economic changeStephen Billet & Darryl Dymock Esmonde Higgins and the lost history of Australian adult education Bob Boughton Sixty years of adult learning in Aotearoa New Zealand: […]
Media release: ALA Welcomes Tasmanian Adult Learning Strategy
Adult Learning Australia (ALA) welcomes the recent release of the ‘Tasmanian Adult Learning Strategy – skills for work and life 2020-2023’ by the Minister for Education and Training, Jeremy Rockliff MP. The strategy provides support through lifelong learning for individuals, families and communities to improve their wellbeing and potential. The adult learning sector has a […]
ALA urges parliament to progress the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020
ALA joins with the Australian Community Sector in calling on all members of the Commonwealth Parliament to consider the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020and to allow a parliamentary inquiry with public hearings, so the community, business and people can have their say. See the statement
ALA & VALBEC webinar: What does it mean to be numerate?
Adult Learning Australia and Victorian Adult Literacy Basic Education Council are coming together for this special webinar event. This webinar is designed for teachers of literacy who also teach some numeracy. It will discuss what are important concepts to understand. The webinar will look at the common issues learners have with numeracy and mathematics. It […]
ALA Virtual Event: Looking back, casting forward – 60 years of Adult Learning in Australia
What can we learn from the history of adult learning and education in Australia and what lies ahead? Hear from Australian and international leaders in adult learning and education (ALE) as they reflect on key milestones in adult learning’s past and discuss their vision for its future. This virtual event marks the 60th anniversary of […]
Inquiry into access to TAFE for learners with disability
Adult and Community Education Victoria (ACEVic), Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHV) and Adult Learning Australia (ALA) welcome the opportunity to provide input into the Inquiry into access to TAFE for learners with disability. Collectively, we aim to strengthen the provision of adult and community education (ACE) in Victoria within an integrated post- secondary education system. Read: […]
Job Vacancy: Higher Education Trainer – Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation
Higher Education Trainer – Full Time – Based in Galiwinku or Ramingining The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation You will be responsible for delivering academic language, digital literacy, and academic skills to support Yolngu students whilst empowering Yolngu mentors. You will strive to assist Yolngu students to improve their quality of life by enabling their […]
2020 Budget Letdown
At a time when Australia needs political courage to make the shift to a healthy, secure and sustainable future, we have instead a disappointing 2020 Federal budget relying heavily on tax cuts, the private sector and a gas lead recovery. While there are some spots of good news in the budget this year, there are […]
ALA webinar: Adults’ Lifelong Learning: the mediation of person + education + ‘community’
About this session As a means of advancing our understandings and practices as adult educators, this webinar explores how adults’ learning can be mediated by the interrelations amongst person + education + community. Certainly, we need more complete and comprehensive understandings of this phenomenon. What constitutes and supports adults’ learning across their lives for economic, […]
ALA webinar: Industry engagement for ACE RTOs delivering EAL and Foundation Skills qualifications
As a community-based registered training organisation (RTO) it’s important for your organisation to engage with industry to ensure your vocational qualifications are: keeping up to date with industry trends complying with RTO standards reflecting what is required by the industry. To support ACE RTOs, Adult Learning Australia has convened a panel of stakeholders to […]
ALA LLN webinar: Validation of ACSF assessment resources
This webinar is for adult language, literacy and numeracy practitioners to come together and look at aspects of quality language, literacy and numeracy assessment. It provides an excellent opportunity to gain external validation of tasks mapped to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). About the ACSF The ACSF provides a validated framework of national benchmarks […]
ALA webinar: The Power and Potential of Adult Learning and Education in Changing Times
The Power and Potential of Adult Learning and Education in Changing Times A free webinar as part of Adult Learners’ Week – Celebrating 25 years Adult learning and education (ALE) is dynamic, it has a key role in solving some of the biggest challenges of our time. Social cohesion, health and wellbeing, digitalisation, equality, employment, […]