Adult and Community Education Strategy

What is the NSW Adult and Community Education (ACE) Strategy?

The NSW Adult and Community Education (ACE) strategy provides a future vision for the NSW ACE sector between 2024 and 2028.

The Strategy was developed with contributions from a diverse range of stakeholders, including ACE providers, community services organisations, NSW government agencies, Australian government agencies, Community Colleges Australia, and various industry and peak representative organisations.

The sector's main role is to work within communities to help disadvantaged learners. ACE brings together people from different backgrounds, promoting social connection and a sense of belonging.

There are 31 ACE providers in NSW that receive funding to help the state's most vulnerable people access training. They offer pre-vocational and vocational courses as pathways to further education and jobs.

The Strategy includes six pillars:

1. To strengthen the educational workforce.
2. To enhance learning pathways.
3. Optimising access to learning
4. Strengthening partnerships to improve service to learners
5. Improve sustainability of the sector.
6. Increasing visibility to create awareness of the benefits and importance of ACE for learners.

Strategy purpose

The Strategy aims to strengthen the ACE sector and its ability to deliver training that is tailored to individual learner needs, better preparing them for further education, potential employment opportunities, and fuller participation in society.

Adult and Community Education (ACE) is a vital educational sector in Australia that focuses on providing foundational skills. Through accessible, community-based programs, ACE helps individuals improve their literacy, numeracy and digital skills, improving employment opportunities, further education, and participation in society.

Focus Areas for the ACE Strategy (2024-2025)

1. ACE Learner Centricity
   ACE providers and the department work collaboratively to ensure learners are at the centre of decision-making.
2. Outreach Support Officers
   Ace providers are supported to increase collaboration with, and responsiveness to communities through funded Outreach Support Officers and associated Community of Practice. 
3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tailored Support
   ACE providers work with Aboriginal communities in developing training with community, for community, and about community to increase participation in training and build skills for life and work.
4. Workforce development
   The department will provide upskilling and training opportunities for existing and new ACE trainers through programs and projects designed with the sector.
5. Partnerships across DoE, Community and Government
   The department will support existing or create regional working groups to strengthen connections with all local stakeholders who support disadvantaged cohorts.
6. Partnerships – Government
   The department will continue to improve partnerships with state government service delivery agencies to identify and support opportunities for ACE to provide learning to disadvantaged learners.
7. Strengthen Pathways between ACE providers, and TAFE NSW and the broader VET sector
   The department and sector work to strengthen pathways that better prepare and support disadvantaged learners to be successful in their training journey. 
8. Promotion and Marketing of the ACE sector
   The department will collaborate with ACE providers and Community Colleges Australia (CCA) to support the promotion and marketing of the ACE sector.
9. Implementing National Skills Agreement reforms
   The department will work collaboratively with the sector and the Australian Government to create high quality, responsive, accessible foundation skills training and implement reforms that will improve outcomes for foundation skills learners. 
10. Sustainability of the sector
    The department will work with Community Colleges Australia (CCA) and ACE providers to identify key capability and governance supports to strengthen the sector.