|
|
|
|
From Rainbows to Drugs!
|
 |
|
Welcome to December news, the final for 2017. This month brought us both good and bad news from Canberra. Finally, we had a positive outcome for the Same Sex Marriage Bill which was passed on 7 December. A great achievement for equality in this country and one, which demonstrates the power of a strong social movement to influence and change Australian law to make our country a fairer place.
The same can’t be said for other recently introduced legislation. Read more about the changes under our advocacy section below. The Welfare Reform Bill has been held over in the Senate until next year. The Bill includes the controversial drug testing and seeks to tighten exemptions for drug and alcohol dependence, increase wait times for unemployment payments, and axe the wife pension and bereavement allowance.
The people who will most likely be impacted by the proposed welfare changes are people who have poor literacy and numeracy skills and people who have had little or no opportunity for decent education and learning.
|
|
|
Lifelong Learning Provides Opportunities
In the 2015 report entitled, Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy – A snapshot of illiteracy in a global context (World Literacy Foundation), it estimated the cost of illiteracy in Australia at 33.29 billion dollars.
Imagine if we were to take a preventative approach and put even one quarter of that money into education, literacy and lifelong learning – what changes would we see? Improving literacy skills and providing opportunities for lifelong and lifewide learning can help people make the best of their lives and improve quality of life for both individuals and communities.
|
|
|
#Lifechangers Make A Difference
That's why ACE has an important role in providing pathways for people at risk of being left behind. Investment in adult and community learning is a #lifechanger that pays off in multiple ways. ALA’s quarterly Quest magazine pays tribute to some of the great success stories around the country and our December issue is a bumper one highlighting the positive outcomes of ACE in our communities.
|
|
|
#YOLL2018
|
 |
|
ACE staff celebrating year's end at Braybrook Community Centre.
We know that adult learning plays a key role in creating environments for individuals and communities to prosper. Healthy minds, bodies and spirits are important for all individuals to function and to engage with each other, community services and civil society. We will be taking this message to Canberra as we work towards the Year of Lifelong Learning or #YOLL2018.
|
|
|
ALA Advocacy
|
 |
|
ALA joined with the Hands Off Our Charities Campaign to voice concerns about legislation that bans international philanthropy for advocacy. Restricting advocacy by charities is not good for democracy.
ALA was one of 100 charities that raised concerns about the future of the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) and requested a robust process to appoint the new ACNC commissioner.
The Federal Government has since announced the appointment of The Hon. Gary Johns as Commissioner of the ACNC. This appointment is considered troubling by many charities, as the incoming Commissioner has previously campaigned against charities. To understand why it is a contraversial issue click here.
|
|
|
Further Advocacy
|
 |
|
|
Uluru Statement From the Heart
ALA joined with ACOSS and other peaks in calling for the Australian Parliament to respect and back the Uluru Statement from the Heart. ALA supports First Nations peoples' endeavours to have a voice and calls on the Australian Parliament to make this a national priority. More here.
Together with other national development and education agencies, ALA wrote to request that Australia commits to increased support for Education for Girls through Global Partnership for Education (GPE) at the GPE Financing Conference held in Dakar, Senegal on 2 February 2018.
ALA responded to the Business Council's release of 'Future Proof, Protecting Australians through Education and Skills, a discussion paper which outlines a new tertiary model that would enable workers to more easily retrain and reskill over their lives. Click here for ALA media release. Responses to the dicussion paper can be lodged until 19 January 2018. Submissions to [email protected].
Letter to the Editor published in The Age newspaper (19/12) in response to a previous newspaper article about a 70 year old woman going back to study. ALA encourages later life learners and second chance learners to take up every opportunity to keep learning.
|
|
|
Later life learners featured in AJAL
The recently released special edition of AJAL focussed on the 'Getting of Wisdom' (learning in later life) cultural exchange that took place earlier this year. The publication is available now.
Please note: In 2018, our special edition of AJAL will focus on lifelong learning. To submit an article for any future editions click here.
|
|
|
Upcoming ALA webinars and events
In 2018, we will double the number of professional development opportunities available to members. We are also looking at new ways to resource our members and enhance their opportunities for professional learning.
It is going to be a big year so keep an eye on the upcoming events.
|
|
 |
|
With Bruce Wilson (RMIT) and Professor Mike Osborne (City of Glasgow Unviersity) at the Lifelong Learning workshop - Putting Policy into Practice at Melton City Council
|
|
|
|
 |
|
With ALA Board member and Byron Community College Director, Richard Vinycomb and Nicole (VET Quality Control Manager)
|
|
|
|
Thank you to ALA Members
|
 |
|
ALA staff and I thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you in #YOLL2018 to celebrate the benefits of lifelong learning and the power of its success in transforming who we are and the world in which we live.
Start planning now for 2018 National Year of Lifelong Learning.
If you are looking for a good book to read over the summer, you may enjoy watching this video. Click here.
Peace and goodwill to all.
Jenny Macaffer
CEO
|
|
|
Job Vacancies – Teachers Needed
PRACE is seeking applications for the following positions in 2018:
1. Certificate 1 in Transition Education. Tuesdays & Fridays 9.30 am to 3.30 pm (12 hours)
Date: February 13th, 2018 to December 18th 2018
Applications must address the selection criteria and send with your resume to [email protected] by 5.00 pm Sunday 21st January December, 2017. Position description here.
2. Making Connections. A pre-accredited program for people with mild intellectual or learning difficulties. The program will develop employability and life skills, including literacy and numeracy, through a range of activities and experiences.
Mondays 10.00 am 1.30 pm & Fridays 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.
Send your resume to [email protected] or call Nadine on 9462 6077. Position description here.
|
|
|
Future for Shared Prosperity
The latest report from the Productivity Commission Shifting the Dial: 5 year productivity review offers advice on our priorities in terms of enhancing the national welfare. It states that, 'Achieving prosperity needs to focus on a new policy model and identifies why policies for shared prosperity must centre on health, education, cities and the better functioning of governments.'
The Age economics editor, Ross Gittins, responded to the narrow confines of the report saying that:
'As befits its obsession with productivity, the commission doesn't bother to acknowledge that knowledge is valuable for its own sake. Humans value knowing things about their world. But instead the Commission focus only on the more prosaic role of education and training to equip people with the skills that help them earn a living.'
|
|
|
Welcome to New Members
Amy Kazim (WA)
Angliss Neighbourhood House (VIC)
Central Australian Remote Health Development Services (NT)
Cathy Jones (NSW)
Denise Archie (NSW)
Helen Rodd (VIC)
Joblink Plus Training (NSW)
Sally Poole (QLD)
Wyndham City Council (VIC)
See you all in 2018 - Year of Lifelong Learning!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printer-friendly version
