Reaching the unreached learner: Lifelong learning, adult and community education in victoria, austra

Abstract

The project, "Lifelong Learning, Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Rural Victoria-Reaching the Unreached Learner," was undertaken in 2002 by the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Australian Catholic University (ACU National), under the auspices of the Adult, Community and Further Education Board (ACFEB) of Victoria, Australia. The project sought to identify the ways in which adult and community education provision is making a difference, to whom and how, and to contribute to the development of an evidence-based approach to policy practice in adult and community education. Particular focus was placed on a case study, the Kyabram Community and Learning Centre, which highlighted good practice in a community where the concept of making connections overcomes the barrier of geographic isolation experienced by a range of participants. From the project arose the recommendation that networks be implemented as a reform strategy in the operationalization of lifelong learning. This chapter reports on the project, which was designed to address: the ways in which adult and community education provision in rural Victoria is making a difference, to whom and how; the identification of barriers that impede access to lifelong learning and participation in Adult and Community Education (ACE) in rural Victoria; and the identification of existing effective practices and practical, costeffective ways of providing opportunities to lessen or remove the barriers for lifelong learners within existing resources in Victoria. It was also intended that the project would: contribute to the development of an evidence-based approach to policy and practice in adult and community education; contextualize adult and community education provision in the overall provision of lifelong learning; help to disseminate good practice and to assist providers to accept, adopt, and implement the successful strategies that have been used to reach the unreached learner; and encourage unreached learners to engage in learning from a range of providers. Three regions were selected by senior personnel from the ACE Division for intensive analysis in the project: 1. Goulburn Ovens Murray Region; 2. Central Highlands Wimmera Region; and 3. Loddon Campaspe and Mallee Region. The regional studies focused on barriers to participation in, and pathways into and through, adult, community, and further education. Data were collected from tape-recorded interviews with regional directors of ACE and focus group discussions with separate groups of providers, participants, and community leaders in each of the three regions. © 2006 Springer. Printed in the Netherlands.