Our role
The Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board provides policy advice to the Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation on adult education matters.
ACFE programs support learners to return to study, improve their literacy and numeracy skills, gain a qualification, broaden their employment options or learn new skills.
Through the ACFE Board, the Victorian Government provides funding to community-based organisations, known as Adult Community Education (ACE) providers, and two adult education institutions, the
ACE providers deliver education and training to a broad range of Victorians – young people, older people, people with a disability, people from diverse cultural backgrounds – with a special focus on people who have had limited previous access to education.
Adult Community Education
Adult Community Education (ACE) organisations provide a unique, community-based context for learning. They have a genuine focus on the individual needs of learners and the flexibility to meet their learning requirements. For this reason ACE is particularly suited to meeting the needs of adult learners of all ages who wish to undertake programs that assist them to gain qualifications and employment.
ACE organisations are governed by voluntary committees of management whose members are drawn from the local community. They may be small operations with a particular education focus such as basic literacy, or larger, more complex organisations offering programs ranging from basic education to diploma-level qualifications.
The community basis and diversity of the organisations is one of the great strengths of ACE. There are more than 350 ACE organisations spread across Victoria. These organisations are often the only access point for adults to learning in the area.
Pathways through training
ACE provides a means to encourage people to take part in education and training, and ensures that learning provides new opportunities for people with no or low level qualifications.
Pre-accredited training are educational programs that lie outside the formal recognition system. They are designed for learners to gain confidence and skills. Many move on to nationally accredited programs or to paid or unpaid employment.
Accredited training provides the learner with sets of competencies or full qualifications that are nationally recognised and transferable.
ACE programs
The ACE program categories include:
- Adult Literacy and Numeracy - training for adults in literacy and numeracy skills including teaching English to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, for example English as a Second Language (ESL).
- Employment Skills - training in basic skills to support work or further learning, such as communications, teamwork, problem solving and job search skills.
- VCE/ VCAL - Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) for education and training for post-compulsory learners.
- Vocational education – assisting people gain the skills required for specific occupations, to start work, go back to work or change jobs.