2025 – A year of anniversaries
Not only are we celebrating our own 65th anniversary – it is also the 65th anniversary of flagship research publication, the Australian Journal of Adult Learning (AJAL), and the 30th […]
Stories
Flagship journal in safe hands
After seven years, Associate Professor Trace Ollis is stepping down as Editor of the Australian Journal of Adult Learning (AJAL), ALA’s flagship research publication. Trace looks back over her time […]
Getting adult students out of survival mode and into learning
Amanda Wilson became a volunteer adult literacy tutor in 2011 when Libraries Tasmania put out a call for tutors in northern Tasmania. Volunteering in her local library, Amanda came to […]
A beloved learning centre under threat
A much-loved and well-utilised adult education provider in Melbourne is facing an uncertain future because it is located on the ground floor of one of the first public housing towers […]
Inspiring others to take the journey
Every Adult Learners Week, a small group of inspiring learners are chosen as Adult Learners Week Ambassadors. The stories of these learners – nominated by their learning providers – illustrate […]
Inspiring learners awarded Adult Learners Week 2024 prizes
ALA’s charitable arm, the Learning Changes Lives Foundation, supports the people who need it most to gain access to the life-changing capacity of education. In 2024, six recipients received prizes […]
2024 Adult Learners Week Scholarship winners
Meet the four outstanding adult learners who are this year’s scholarship winners. John Lindsay, South Australia 61-year-old River Ngarrindjeri man, John Lindsay, really liked being at school but always struggled […]
U3A: 40 years of lifelong learning, connections and friendships
When the University of the Third Age (now known as U3A) started in 1984, it is unlikely that anyone was predicting that in its 40th year, there would be over […]
School for seniors gathers and keeps people engaged
Mary Veldhuis has been convenor of the Launceston School for Seniors for the past five years and has never found it hard to find an interesting and willing speaker. Run […]
A legacy of learning
Former ALA President and Vice-President, Chris McCall, retired from the ALA Board at this year’s AGM after completing the maximum nine-year term. We took the opportunity to talk to Chris […]
Meet our new Board members
We have three impressive new Board members to introduce. Tim Catterall After many years’ governance and management experience within the adult education sector, NSW based Tim Catterall, has recently become […]
Celebrating women’s learning
Women of all ages and backgrounds come from across Melbourne, including many from outer suburbs, to be part of the community being built by the River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC) […]
Crafting opportunities
From a remote island off the north coast of mainland Australia, an Indigenous-owned and run organisation is providing local Yolngu people with training for a career in furniture making and […]
A passionate advocate for adult literacy
ALA’s newest board member, Isabel Osuna-Gatty, began her career in adult literacy provision while still living in her home country of Venezuela. Isabel said that she had always wanted to […]
A lifelong commitment to adult education
Elaine Butler has been working in and advocating for the adult and community education sector for more than four decades. So, she has seen an enormous amount of change in […]