Australian Adult Learning Working with New Zealand

Peter Peterson – May 2008

Australian Adult LearningAustralian Adult LearningWorking with New Zealand Working with New Zealand

Peter Peterson July 2008


THE HAMBURG DECLARATION THE HAMBURG DECLARATION ON ADULT LEARNINGON ADULT LEARNING

2. Adult education thus becomes more than a right; it is a key to the twenty-

first century. It is both a consequence of active citizenship and a

condition for full participation in society. It is a powerful concept for

fostering ecologically sustainable development, for promoting

democracy, justice, gender equity, and scientific, social and economic

development, and for building a world in which violent conflict is

replaced by dialogue and a culture of peace based on justice. Adult

learning can shape identity and give meaning to life. Learning

throughout life implies a rethinking of content to reflect such factors as

age, gender equality, disability, language, culture and economic

disparities


26. We solemnly declare that all parties will closely follow up the

implementation of this Declaration and the Agenda for the Future,

clearly distinguishing their respective responsibilities and

complementing and co-operating with one another. We are

determined to ensure that lifelong learning will become a more

significant reality in the early twenty-first century. To that end, we

commit ourselves to promoting the culture of learning through the "one

hour a day for learning" movement and the development of a United

Nations Week of Adult Learning.

27. We, gathered together in Hamburg, convinced of the necessity of adult

learning, pledge that all men and women shall be provided with the

opportunity to learn throughout their lives. To that end, we will forge

extended alliances to mobilize and share resources in order to make

adult learning a joy, a tool, a right and a shared responsibility.


IS THERE SCOPE FOR

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

TO SHOW REGIONAL

LEADERSHIP?


Confintea 2009Confintea 2009

• Should Australia and New Zealand collaborate?

• If so how?

• What is our MOU worth?

• Actions can we suggest any?

• What will happen in Korea????????

• Can we justify not showing leadership????

6Peter Peterson – May 2008

Australia in 2008Australia in 2008

• 100 – plus day of a new government

• Social Inclusion Unit established in PM&C

• education revolution

• a decade of strong economic growth

• inflationary pressure, high interest rates

• cuts in government expenditure

• historically low unemployment

• labour shortages

• Two major agendas: skills development and Social Inclusion


• Adult Learning Australia (ALA) is the peak Association for the promotion of Adult Learning in Australia.

• ALA is responsible for the coordination of Adult Learners week in Australia

• ALA aims to build social capital by encouraging ongoing learning in Australia

ADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIAADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIA


Peter Peterson

CEO

Mary Hannan

ACE E-Learning Coordinator

Janie McOmish

Assistant Director

Conference Coordinator

Dr Gillian Stillfried

Research recently left

Julia Gane

Business and Communication Manager

ALW Coordinator

Margo Brebner

Administration and Membership Officer

ADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIAADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIA


AA variety of Sector Membersvariety of Sector MembersHow can we best work together?????? How can we best work together??????

Capabilities

Provider types in the Community Education Sector

580 RTOs Community VET

190 RTOs Community Partic ipation

530 Providers

Community Learning Learning Centres

Telecentres

Technology Centres

Adult Education

Community Houses

SA ACE

Community Colleges

Group Training

J ob Network

Neighbourhood Houses

AMES and CAE

Community Colleges

Group Training

J ob Network

Large Vic ACE

Size

<10 staff

10 to 20 staff

> 25 staff

Community Education & National Reform Discussion Paper Report Prepared for DEST August 2006 by Ben Bardon, CWGA Research


Ministerial Declaration on Adult Ministerial Declaration on Adult Community Education (2002)Community Education (2002)

Focus:• Community capacity building through community

ownership• ACE sector as a pathway to further education and

training for ‘second chance’ learners and at-risk young people

• Incorporation of a ‘menu’ of strategies – provides States and Territories with the flexibility to choose

according to the needs and context of their local environment. – enables governments to respond to the dynamism, diversity and

responsiveness characteristic of the ACE sector



• Skilling challenges:– 4 million workers without a formal post school qualification

– 40% of working age adults lack adequate literacy and numeracy

to operate in the workplace

– Most vulnerable: Casual workers, long-term unemployed, people

with a disability, unemployed migrants, employees of small

business that do not provide training

“the ACE sector has considerable potential for an

enhanced role in responding to the COAG agenda”



ALA’s responses to the new Declaration:

• A Ministerial Declaration – Supported but needs…..

– Additional significant funding capacity

– Model for demand driven skill-building

– Address challenge of need for cultural change among stakeholders in

skill-building process

• Framework for Action – Supported but needs…...

– National Policy Framework

– Overcome disparities

– Ensure collaboration

– Ensure sustainable consistency in standards



ALA’s responses to the new Declaration:

• Promotion of national elements for delivery

– An ACE reporting and evaluation

– Further research on social and economic outcomes arising from

non-accredited learning

– National funding of adult learning activities


United we stand United we stand Divided we fallDivided we fall

The story of ACE?The story of ACE?


++


A sad state of affairs….A sad state of affairs….• NSW Government cut funding to community colleges by

nearly 60% between 2002-2006 (cut by $29 million)

• 9 colleges closed

• Colleges have raised fees and cut hobby courses– Courses which connected isolated people and bonded

communities

• The board governing Adult and Community Education volunteered to be disbanded, replaced with an advisory board

• The sector is now focussing more strongly on vocational training

From ‘Frustration mounts as college cuts bite’. SMH May 9 2008


A FAMILIAR MESSAGEA FAMILIAR MESSAGE

• 2008 UNESCO Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report – Adult literacy most neglected of the EFA goals

– Due to lack of financial allocations by governments and donors

• Since CONFINTEA V (1997)– Little or no investment in adult education across Africa, Asia and

Latin America

– Funds most likely to find their way into adult literacy programmes but even these are desperately under-funded

FINANCING OF ADULT EDUCATIONDAVID ARCHER - Action Aid



The life cycle approach to education The life cycle approach to education outcomes-ABS Modeloutcomes-ABS Model

Chris DuncanChris DuncanL

ifel

on

g L

earn

ing

0

Early Childhood Development

Literacy and Numeracy skills

Transition into working life

Early work experience

Balance of life and work

Developing component skills

Maintaining component and foundation skills

Maintaining component

skillsDeveloping

foundation skills

Age 85+


DIVERSITY OF ISSUESDIVERSITY OF ISSUES

• Supporting our members– Communication and services

• Build pathways to VET

• Engage the Disengaged– Senior Australians– Indigenous Australians– Unemployed Australians– Migrant Australians


DIVERSITY OF ISSUESDIVERSITY OF ISSUES

• Learning for Health Benefits

• Promote flexible learning methodologies– Remote delivery– Learning Circles

• International relations and policy

• R&D Co-ordination

• And many more


LITERACYLITERACY• Decreases with age

Level 3 – “minimum required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy”

ABS – Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, Australia 2006

Pro

port

ion

belo

w L

evel

3


LITERACY ACHIEVEMENTLITERACY ACHIEVEMENT

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Prose Literacy DocumentLiteracy

Numeracy ProblemSolving

HealthLiteracy

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4/5

%

Level 3 – “minimum required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy”



POOR PROGRESS IN 10 YEARSPOOR PROGRESS IN 10 YEARS

e.g. in Prose Literacy

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4/5

1996

2006

%



Document literacy distributions,Document literacy distributions, Australia and New Zealand: Australia and New Zealand: IALS (1996) and ALLS (2006)IALS (1996) and ALLS (2006)

CChris Duncan ABShris Duncan ABS

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1996 - Aust 2006 - Aust 1996 - NZ 2006 - NZ

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4/5

- 7%

-1%

+5%

+2%

-2%

+1%

Nochange

+2%


• BY AGE – More than 1/5 of Australians did not participate in any form of learning – Non-participation occurred at higher rates in older age groups

• 34% of those aged 60-64 years • 16% of those aged 25-29 years

• INFORMAL LEARNING– 8.1 million Australians participated in informal learning in the previous

12 months • 76% of males • 73% of females

LEARNING PARTICIPATIONLEARNING PARTICIPATION

ABS – Adult Learning, Australia 2006-7


LEARNING PARTICIPATIONLEARNING PARTICIPATION

• FORMAL LEARNING – Over 26% of participants undertook a Certificate III or IV – 18% undertook a Bachelor degree– 17% undertook a Postgraduate degree, Graduate diploma or Graduate

certificate

• NON-FORMAL LEARNING– 3.3 million persons participated in non-formal learning in the previous 12

months– 78% undertook a work-related course– 12% undertook Arts, Crafts or Recreational learning

ABS – Adult Learning, Australia 2006-7


DIVIDEDDIVIDED

Adult Learning Provision – The Prisoner’s Dilemma…


State by State ACEState by State ACE

VIC leads development but is it sufficient?

NSW restructuring for VET?

SA good policy and growing but from a low base

TAS good policy but need to rebuild its base

QLD getting off the starting blocks at last

WA a skills focussed policy and interest being renewed

ACT strong community interest but perhaps fragmented

NT little known


Interest in ALW is increasingInterest in ALW is increasing


THE NUMBER OF EVENTS IS UNDERSTATED FOR EXAMPLE THE NATIONAL THE NUMBER OF EVENTS IS UNDERSTATED FOR EXAMPLE THE NATIONAL EVENT PARTICIPATION IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT EVENT PARTICIPATION IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT

OF BUSINESSES. (Note National events is not the sum of the States)OF BUSINESSES. (Note National events is not the sum of the States)

ALW - No of Events (State/Territory)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD National

State/Territory

No

of

Ev

en

ts

2004

2005

2006

2007


As Batman and Robin would sayAs Batman and Robin would say


Holy Carpe diem

Seize the day

Documents

Australian Adult Learning Working with New Zealand