Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall today launched a new publication to support educational opportunities for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) adult learners.

With nearly half of Victorians born overseas or having at least one parent who was, Mr Hall said the Responding to CALD Learners: Cultural Diversity in Action report provided a snapshot of regional and metropolitan communities to help Learn Local organisations meet the challenges of providing education and training to their culturally diverse adult learners.

“With more than 200 languages spoken by people from around 200 nations, Victoria is becoming an increasingly diverse place to live and work and we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can participate and thrive,” Mr Hall said.

“This publication, funded by Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board and developed by AMES, provides a snapshot of cultural and linguistic diversity in Victoria, emphasises the role of culture in successfully engaging diverse learners, and draws together key educational research findings and examples of good practice to help educators provide the best possible support to their students.”

Mr Hall said outstanding work was already occurring in Learn Local centres across Victoria.

 “Great partnerships between Learning Centres and Neighbourhood Houses are already reaping outstanding Mr Hall said.

“Many more CALD residents are accessing services in the Diamond Valley, for instance, thanks to ongoing work between Learn Local organisations Diamond Valley Learning Centre and North-East Neighbourhood House.

As CALD demographics evolve in the Eastern Suburbs, Learn Local organisations Coonara Community House and Mulgrave Community House are working to respond to changing

Responding to CALD Learners: Cultural Diversity in Action can be found at: www.acfe.vic.gov.au