Victorian Adult Community Education Awards
Since 2006 the ACFE Board has sponsored the Victorian Adult Community Education (ACE) Awards. This annual event acknowledges and celebrates the success of the people and organisations involved in Adult Community Education (ACE). The Awards shine a spotlight on ACE’s many achievements and demonstrate how the sector contributes to the strength of the Victorian economy and local communities.
2009 Victorian ACE Awards
Winners of the 2009 Victorian Adult Community Education (ACE) Awards were announced by the Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation at a Gala Luncheon on 19 August.
The winners and finalists of this year’s Awards reflect the many successes that Victoria’s ACE learners, practitioners and organisations achieve. Read on to discover about this year’s Victorian ACE Award Winners.
Outstanding ACE learner
Diem Nguyen, (pictured centre) Sussex Street Neighbourhood House
Nominated by Leigh Cook
Diem, who grew up in Vietnam, has been a student of Sussex Neighbourhood House since 2007. She has successfully completed a Certificate II in Spoken and Written English and is now continuing with more advanced studies at Sussex.As the mother of three children, Diem places a very high priority on educating the next generation. So much so that she is improving her English so that she can support her children with their education – particularly her son who has autism. She is clear that she is continuing to learn for her son’s sake and the future of all her children.
Diem’s new language skills allow her to be an active member of a support group for families caring for children with autism. 2009 has also saw Diem to achieve another success. For the first time she fully participated in parent-teacher interviews at her children’s school – another milestone towards her goal of being able to support her children’s future.
As Leigh Cook from Sussex puts it, Diem ‘shows a commitment to her learning and a tenacity of purpose that makes her stand out as an inspiration to both second language learners, and those of us who are native English speakers.
Finalists
Dora De Angelis, Inclusion Melbourne
Laura Elsom, Southern Grampians Adult Education
Sharee Knott, The Centre – Wangaratta
Jessica Paul, Diamond Valley Learning Centre
Outstanding ACE practitioner
George Katsikas, Living and Learning Nillumbik
Nominated by Jenny Baker
For the last three years, Living and Learning Nillumbik’s VET Coordinator, George Katsikas, has instigated improvements which have enhanced administration, strengthened teaching practice and benefitted learners and the wider community.
George put in place new pre-enrolment and orientation activity to ensure that new learners and their tutors are well prepared studies when they start.
He’s also brought with him a strong emphasis on data collection and analysis. His new learner satisfaction survey processes and analysis of enrolment data mean Nillumbik is more aware of learners’ needs and preferences and able to make changes to best deliver what learners across the community want.
George’s commitment also extends to supporting his colleagues’ professional development by sharing alternative teaching strategies and developing reference materials. He has forged networks with surrounding ACE providers, employment services and other community organisations across Nillumbik.
George’s efforts are best summed up by Nillumbik’s Committee Chair, Sherrilyn Ballard. ‘George inspires all of the staff and students around him and has developed networks with the agencies that employ our students. The positive feedback from these agencies is a testimony to his organisational skills and the work of the tutors in delivering quality training courses’
Finalists
David Lane, Education Centre Gippsland
Marj Sjostrom, Keysborough Learning Centre
Outstanding Koorie achievement in ACE
Education Centre Gippsland, Brayakoloong program
From its beginnings in a Work for the Dole scheme, the Brayakoloong program has continued with a variety of supports as a mechanism for Koorie men to build their knowledge of indigenous art, culture and heritage, further develop their artistic skills and improve their self esteem.
As well as benefitting those directly involved the project has been a catalyst for partnerships and collaboration between Education Centre Gippsland and a broad range of organisations to support ongoing initiatives to meet the needs of the Koorie communities of West Gippsland.
The initial success of the original Brayakoloong program has now lead to the introduction of a new dedicated arts group for Koorie women as well as the delivery of a school holiday program for West Gippsland indigenous children to learn more about their culture.
While art is a key element of the project, it has enabled the development of a range of other skills and participant learning has been broad and enriching.
Finalists
Mirrimbeena Aboriginal Education Group Inc
Upper Yarra Community House, Oonah Pathways program
Innovation in ACE learning
Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre, Prison to Community Education Program
As part of their rehabilitation, prisoners serving custodial sentences often undertake education programs within prisons. After release, some find the transition to employment or mainstream education difficult. Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre’s (BNC) Prison to Community Education Program overcomes this. Through the program, prisoners from the minimum security Beechworth Correctional Centre initially volunteer to undertake community work at BNC. For many prisoners this engagement transforms into an adult community education opportunity when they are offered places in a Certificate III in Active Volunteering program.
Delivered in partnership with The Centre – Wangaratta, the Certificate program not only draws on prisoners’ volunteering experience, it allows them to gain a formal qualification while connecting with the wider community. A key feature of the program is that prisoners participate in classes together with other members of the Beechworth community who are disengaged from work.
This program, which has run for two years, is innovative because it offers minimum security prisoners direct experiences relevant to successful reintegration post-release. It attempts to break down the stigma and divisions between the Beechworth community and prisoners. Partnerships between two ACE providers, the local corrections centre, Goulburn Ovens TAFE and local community health services have also been forged as a result.
Finalists
Coonara Community House
Morrisons
Outstanding pre-accredited program design and delivery
Eastwork Employment Inc, Succeeding at Work pre-accredited program
The Succeeding at Work pre-accredited program is one of a suite that Eastwork Employment runs to support people with disabilities. Delivering its programs across south east Melbourne, Eastwork seeks to support its learners create their own vocational and further education pathways.The ten day Succeeding at Work program was developed in line with the ACFE Board’s A-Frame quality framework. The delivery of the program has also been supported by the survey of 500 people with disabilities. This has allowed Eastwork staff to identify their client’s skill and include them in the design of the program. These skills include communication, team work, problem solving, planning and self management and technology familiarity.
A key feature of the program is its multiple teaching delivery methods, a deliberate strategy to ensure all learning styles are catered for. Art activities, games, video, interactive discussion, simulations and self-directed learning are all included as part of the program. Eastwork’s teachers are also mindful to adapt their program to cater for specific needs and interests of their CALD clients.
The number of former students who have both gone on to further education and secured suitable employment is a testament to the success of Eastwork’s program.
Finalists
Beaufort Community House & Learning Centre
Keysborough Learning Centre, Special Activities Group
Outstanding ACE organisation
Sandybeach Centre
Located in Sandringham, Sandybeach prides itself on serving the diverse communities of Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston.
The Centre delivers a broad range of quality pre-accredited and accredited adult education and a vast array of complementary programs in line with community needs.
- This includes:
- a comprehensive suite of disability and aged care programs;
- occasional childcare; and
- leisure/enrichment courses as a significant fee-for-service operation.
Sandybeach has a record of developing programs that directly meet the needs of learners and the wider community. The Centre has significant partnerships with federal and state governments, public housing estates and businesses such as Telstra and Bendigo Bank and is not afraid of building connections between seemingly unlikely partners.
For example its Link and Learn program connects people over 60 in the early stages of dementia with 15 to 25 year olds. Through planned activities those with early dementia gain access to a range of appropriate activities; young participants achieve competencies in units of the Certificate III in Aged Care.
With all of this activity it’s unsurprising that Sandybeach is a hive of activity from 9am to 9pm most weekdays.
Finalists
Coonara Community House
Morrisons
Beaufort Community House & Learning Centre
Continuing Education Bendigo
Southern Grampians Adult Education
Previous winners
Read about the:
2008 awards
2007 awards.
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