The adult community education (ACE) program is a significant contributor to the education and training sector. ACE participants often face complex barriers to participation in learning or work; may be vulnerable, hard to reach and engage; or need to learn the skills to thrive in formal training settings. The ACE program delivers accredited and non-accredited foundation skills training in community centres, neighbourhood houses, libraries and councils, reaching a broad range of people, from the long-term unemployed, disengaged young people and mature-aged South Australians, migrant populations ... Show more
The adult community education (ACE) program is a significant contributor to the education and training sector. ACE participants often face complex barriers to participation in learning or work; may be vulnerable, hard to reach and engage; or need to learn the skills to thrive in formal training settings. The ACE program delivers accredited and non-accredited foundation skills training in community centres, neighbourhood houses, libraries and councils, reaching a broad range of people, from the long-term unemployed, disengaged young people and mature-aged South Australians, migrant populations and those whose language, literacy and numeracy skills are underdeveloped. ACE projects are delivered in welcoming and supportive community-based environments. ACE projects are targeted to local needs, capturing the interest of participants through engaging delivery, while underpinning learning competencies in the Foundation Skills Training Package.
In South Australia, there are currently 50 community organisations delivering ACE programs in 69 locations across the state. In 2015-16 some 156,000 student contact hours were delivered to over 4,000 ACE participants (2,922 in non-accredited courses and 1,173 in accredited). Identified as a 'gateway' or 'first step' on the training and work continuum, the ACE program provides literacy and numeracy training, digital competency and the capacity to develop employability skills. The ACE program makes it possible for many thousands of South Australians, often with significant hurdles, to become empowered with confidence and knowledge to navigate a path to volunteer roles, further training, or to enter or re-engage, with paid employment. This statement provides information about the program for 2018-19 and beyond.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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