Policy and Research | Community Colleges

Community Colleges Australia (CCA) is committed to providing input into the adult education policy debate at federal, state and territory government levels. CCA undertakes to express its members’ interests to ensure that the vital work undertaken by locally-owned not-for-profit adult and community education (ACE) providers of VET, foundation courses, personal development and life-long learning is acknowledged and represented in future government agendas.

This includes not only education policy, but other key areas that CCA members work across, including social inclusion, disability, health and ageing, Indigenous, re-engaging youth and refugee/migrant education.

Recent contributions from CCA include the following:

2023

July

INPUT TO COMMONWEALTH DISCUSSION PAPER: Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program Redesign – Stream 1 Market Preparation Paper, 6 July 2023 – link to paper (PDF)

Why Australia Needs to Stop Using the Term “VET Market”, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 3 July 2023 – link to paper (PDF); summary published (html) in Pearls & Irritations, 7 July 2023

June

Submission to Training Services NSW on Smart and Skilled Program 2023/24 Allocations and Operations, 22 June 2023 – Link to submission (PDF)

May

Submission to Jobs and Skills Australia: Response to the Foundation Skills Discussion Paper, 8 May 2023 - Link to submission (PDF)

April

“Policy, Place and Partnership: The Interoperable Tertiary System”, presentation by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO, to AVETRA Conference, Melbourne, 27 April 2023 – Link to presentation in html or download in PDF

February

Submission on Jobs and Skills Australia to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, 10 February 2023 – Link to submission

January

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Adult and Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2021 Data, 16 January 2023 – Link to report

2022

December

Smart and Skilled Provider Expression of Interest: Submission to the NSW Government, 7 December 2022 – Link to submission (PDF)

November

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of Victorian Adult and Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2021 Data, 18 November 2022 – Link to report (PDF)

What “Free TAFE” Means for Australian Adult and Community Education Providers: A Submission by Community Colleges Australia to Federal and State Skills Ministers, 11 November 2022 – Link to submission (PDF)

Australian Government Productivity Commission public hearing, on how ACE can assist Australian productivity, 7 November 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO – Link to Dr Perlgut’s testimony (PDF).

October

Inequality in Australia: What can VET do to address it?, presentation by CCA CEO Dr Don Perlgut to WAVE Conference, Melbourne, 21 October 2022 – link to presentation

September

Jobs and Skills Summit Follow-up - Adult and Community Education Providers: letter to Minister Brendan O’Connor, 5 September 2022 – Link to submission (PDF)

August

CCA National Jobs and Skills Summit Briefing, 30 August 2022 – View in html or Download PDF

April

Inequality in Australia: How does vocational education and training address it? AVETRA Annual Conference presentation by Dr Don Perlgut, 29 April 2022 – Link to presentation

CCA 2022 National Election Briefing, 20 April 2022 – Link to Briefing

March

CCA Outreach Proposal to Re-engage Disadvantaged Learners Impacted by COVID-19, 9 March 2022 – Link to Proposal Summary

February

COVID-19 Impact on NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 23 February 2022 – Link to report

January

Pre-Budget Submission to the NSW Government: Infrastructure Maintenance Funding for NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 19 January 2022 – Link to submission and Link to submission summary.

2021

November

How Australia’s Adult and Community Education Providers Support the Growth of a Quality Trained Aged Care Workforce, presentation to Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Conference, 23 November 2021, by Evelyn Goodwin & Dr Don Perlgut – Link to presentation

October

VET Providers and the Aged Care Workforce, presentation to Macquarie University Aged Care Policy Forum, 26 October 2021, by Dr Don Perlgut

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Adult and Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2020 Data – Australian VET Fact Sheet 2 – Link to report

September

Supporting pathways in learning and life: Non-accredited training within the New South Wales - Adult and Community Education (ACE) Program, prepared by Dr Jim Cloutman, Riverina Community College – Link to report

Australian VET Students 2020 Fact Sheet 1 – Link to report

July

ACE Providers and Online Learning: Observations and Survey Insights, summary of CCA research by Evelyn Goodwin and Dr Don Perlgut, NCVER “No Frills” Conference, 7 July 2021 – Link to presentation

Submission to the National Skills Commission Care Workforce Labour Market Study, 6 July 2021

June

CCA National ACE Summit Foundation Skills Resolutions FINAL 29 June 2021 – Link to Resolutions

Statement of support for national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, 22 June 2021 – Link to Statement

Statement opposing the expansion of VET Student Loans to Certificate III level, June 2021 – Link to Statement

April

Upper Hunter By-Election Background Briefing for Candidates, 28 April 2021 – Link to Briefing

March

CCA Submission to Labor on National VET Policy, 25 March 2021 – Link to submission

Submission to the Inquiry into Adult Literacy and its Importance – Commonwealth Parliament Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training, 8 March 2021 – Link to submission

February

Pre-Budget Submission to the NSW Government: Infrastructure Maintenance Funding for NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 12 February 2021 – Link to submission

2020

November

Engaging Indigenous Communities Learner Guide, prepared for Community Colleges Australia by the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, 2020. Link to the Guide.

September

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW ACE Providers: Analysis of 2019 Data, September 2020

Link to Executive Summary (PDF)

Link to Full Report (PDF)

July

Submission to Productivity Commission: CCA Response to the Interim Report - National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development, 17 July 2020, Link to submission

May

Submission to the NSW Government: Infrastructure Maintenance Funding for NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 7 May 2020, Link to submission; Executive Summary of the Submission - Link

April

Request to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to re-broadcast two adult basic education TV series, submitted in conjunction with the Reading Writing Hotline, Australian Council for Adult Literacy and Adult Learning Australia, 7 April 2020; link to request

March

Submission to the NSW Government: Coronavirus Impacts on NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 31 March 2020, link to submission Executive Summary

February

CCA Statement on Sustainability and Climate Change Link to Statement

January

The Role of Adult and Community Education Providers in Sustaining Australian Democracy: A Discussion Paper, January 2020.

Link to Paper

Link to Executive Summary

2019

September

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers Analysis of 2018 Data, September 2019
Executive Summary (pdf)
Full Report (pdf)

May

Community Education Providers and Western Sydney Regional Economic Development.
Link to Executive Summary and Recommendations (html)
Link to Executive Summary and Recommendations (pdf)
Link to Full Report (pdf)
Link to Appendix B (pdf)
Link to Western Sydney Case Studies (html)

April

CCA's Federal Election Policy Platform. Link to Policy Platform.

March

CCA's NSW Election Policy Platform. Link to Policy Platform.

February

CCA Policy on Independent Special Assistance Schools. Link to Policy.

January

Executive Summary of CCA's VET Sector Submission. Link to Submission.

Community Colleges Australia Submission to the Australian Government Expert Review of the VET Sector, 25 January 2019. Link to Submission.

2018

November

Victorian Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector statement, in conjunction with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, ACE Victoria and Adult Learning Australia. Link to Statement.

September

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2017 Data. Link to Submission

August

Workplace Literacy in Australia: Joint Position Statement by Community Colleges Australia, Australian Industry Group, Reading Writing Hotline, Australian Council for Adult Literacy and Adult Learning Australia. Link to Statement

July

What Community Education Providers Need, 20 July 2018. Link to Article

May

Maintenance Costs of NSW Community Education Providers: Submission to the NSW Government 21 May 2018. Link to Submission

April

CCA Statement on Western Sydney Regional Economic Development 6 April 2018. Link to Statement

March

Review of NSW Government Tech Savvy for Small Business Program 28 March 2018. Link to Review
CCA Statement on NSW Aboriginal Economic Development 27 March 2018. Link to Statement
CCA Statement on VET Student Loans, 15 March 2018. Link to Statement

January

The Role of New South Wales Community Education Providers in Regional and Rural Economic Development.
Link to Full Report
Link to Executive Summary and Recommendations (html)
Link to Executive Summary and Recommendations (pdf)

2017

September:

Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers Analysis of Participants in Government-Funded VET 2016. Link to Submission

August:

Submission to the Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVETR) Act 2011. Link to Submission

Supplementary Submission to the National Vocational Education Training Regulator Review: Marketing and Naming". Link to Submission

April:

Community Colleges Australia Policy on TAFE and Community Education – submitted to the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments as well as TAFE Directors Australia. Link to Policy

Submission on Community Service Obligation Funding for NSW Community Colleges. Link to Submission

February:

The Role of Community Education in Australian Regional and Rural Economic Development - research, policy and recommendations to the Commonwealth, state and territory governments. Link to Policy Paper

2016

December:

Submission to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training on the Implementation of the VET Student Loans Program. Link to Submission

October:

Submission to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) on RTO marketing and naming. Link to submission

August:

Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Human Services. Link to submission

July:

Submission to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training on the Redesign of VET FEE-HELP. Link to submission

April:

Policy Statement of Ethics Regarding Vocational Education and Training and VET FEE-HELP. Link to policy statement

2015

September:

Inquiry into Vocational Education and Training in New South Wales. Link to submission.

August:

Response to the Victorian Government VET Funding Review Issues Paper. Link to policy submission.

April:

Submission to the Victorian Government on the Independent Review into VET Funding. Link to submission

February:

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the operation, regulation & funding of private VET providers in Australia. Link to submission

Submission to the VET Reform Taskforce – Discussion Paper on Training Packages and Accredited Courses. Link to Submission

2014

December:

Submission to the Department of Industry Discussion Paper: Towards a Contestable Model Industry Engagement in Training Package Development. Link to submission

November:

Submission to the Department of Industry Discussion Paper: Industry Skills Fund – Youth Pilot Programmes. Link to submission

2013

May:

Submission to the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) pricing VET under Smart & Skilled Issues Paper. Link to submission

April:

Submission to the ASQA 2013 Cost Recovery Impact Statement. Link to Submission

Submission to the National Skills Standards Council: Improving VET- The case for a new system. Link to submission

2012 and earlier

October:

Submission to the VRQA Proposed Ministerial Order – VRQA fees Commentary on the Regulatory Impact Statement. Link to submission

July:

Review of the Standards for the regulation of VET consultation paper. Link to submission

Submission to the VET Transparancy Reform Branch (DIISRTE) VET Activity Data Collection. Link to submission

May:

Submission to The Pathways Committee, Chaired by Ms Gabrielle Upton MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Tertiary Education and Skills. Link to submission

February:

Submision to the Australian Charities & Not-for-Profits Commission Implementation Design: Discussion Paper. Link to submission

Before 2012

Submission to DEC: Smart & Skilled-Making NSW number one. Link to Submission

Vocational Education & Training Fee and Funding Review – Submission to Expert Panel. Link to submission

Submission to VIC Essential Services Commission: VET Fee and Funding Review. Link to Submission

Submission to the National Foundation Skills Strategy Discussion Paper. Link to submission

Comments to the Productivity Commission Draft Report on VET Workforce. Link to submission

The National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC): Blueprint for Change. Link to submission

Research Projects

Community Colleges Australia undertakes research projects to assist Australia’s not-for-profit (NFP) community education providers to serve their communities, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged learners. These projects provide the evidence base that shows the successes and capabilities of CCA members and the NFP community providers. Current and recent research projects are described below.

Re-engagement of Learners in Adult and Community Education

CCA has proposed an outreach program to re-engage disadvantaged and vulnerable learners who have left training because of COVID-19 concerns. Adult and community education (ACE) providers over-perform in reaching disadvantaged groups, but have experienced a significant drop amongst these students throughout the pandemic and again in 2022, even more than in 2020 and 2021. (Download a copy of the CCA NSW Omicron impact report – PDF.)

The lack of ACE student engagement in vocational education and training (VET) is most acute with Indigenous (First Nations) learners; people with a disability; migrants, refugees and people from a non-English speaking background; and people from lower-socio-economic backgrounds. These groups have often been “left behind” during the pandemic, and often lag in vaccination rates; ACE providers engage easily with these learners. Recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) confirms that ACE providers excel at lifting unemployed learners into employment, with 13% of ACE learners moving from unemployment to employment, a greater increase than any other provider type.

Western Sydney Regional Economic Development

Western Sydney is Australia’s third largest economy, after Sydney and Melbourne central business districts. At least 11 current CCA members operate wholly or partially in Western Sydney. With the assistance of the NSW Department of Industry, CCA has investigated how the not-for-profit community education sector can assist the economic development of this important region.

Read:
The full report
The Executive Summary and Recommendations
Appendix B: Activities of Western Sydney Not-for-profit Community Education Providers
Western Sydney Case Studies

Read about CCA’s Western Sydney Regional Economic Development Forum, held in Parramatta on 26 October 2018, and view copies of Forum presentations.

Community education and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Community Colleges Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of our land, Australia. CCA acknowledges that our Sydney office is located on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

CCA is developing a strategy for how not-for-profit Australian community education sector can work collaboratively with Indigenous organisations and communities to achieve a real improvements in Indigenous educational attainment and empowerment, on local, regional and national levels.

Read CCA’s Statement on Aboriginal Economic Development (March 2018) and Statement on Indigenous Australians and VET, in honour of NAIDOC Week, July 2017.

Community Education in Rural and Regional Australia

Because a significant amount of community-based education takes place in rural, regional and remote Australia (more than 70% of government-funded VET students in New South Wales), community education providers have an important role to play outside of the capital cities. CCA has partnered with governments and peak regional and rural organisation to determine the most effective ways for community education to assist in Australia's regional economic development, and to achieve educational equity for all Australians. Read more here.

Foundation Skills and Adult Literacy

About one-third of Australians “have literacy skills low enough to make them vulnerable to unemployment and social exclusion”, which “can entrench cycles of disadvantage … exclude these people from the workplace [and] from emerging economy jobs that require a high level of literacy; particularly digital literacy” (SBS Explainer, 2016). CCA members are active providers of adult literacy and numeracy services, both through accredited and non-accredited programs, using professional trainers and volunteer tutors. CCA sits on the National Steering Committee of the Reading Writing Hotline, Australia’s national telephone referral service for adult literacy and numeracy. CCA is the project sponsor for a national research project undertaken by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) that examines how higher education and VET mobilises social, human and built capital in regional Australia. The research started in August 2018 and will complete in late 2019.

Migrant and Refugee Education

Many of Australia’s NFP community education providers deliver educational and other services to migrants and refugees, especially through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

Youth Support and Engagement

Every CCA member engages with young people, providing a wide range of services. These range from specialised job skills courses to independent not-for-profit special assistance secondary schools for young people who just don’t fit in to regular schools. CCA is currently cataloguing the diversity of these unique community-based initiatives.

“The challenge of ensuring that all young people remain in education long enough to make a successful transition to work is not new. However, the transition from education to full-time work has become increasingly difficult for young people …. This is because the world of work has been changing. Jobs have been transforming in the emerging knowledge economy and now require higher levels of knowledge and skills to obtain.” (Source: Kaye Bowman, Engaging Young People in Education and Training and How Young People Are Faring, Dusseldorp Skills Forum).

Community Education for People with Disabilities

With the roll-out of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme, community education providers have an important role to play in supporting people with disabilities. CCA research shows that Australia’s not-for-profit community education providers consistently engage many more learners with disabilities than either TAFE or private for-profit VET providers – frequently up to twice as many on a percentage basis.

Mental Health and Community Education

Community education providers frequently play an important role in supporting the mental health outcomes of their communities, working with Primary Health Care networks and other local and regional organisations to run collaborative projects. CCA has commenced working with a number of our providers, cataloguing best practice community education activities and models in mental health.

Mature Workers

Community education providers specialise in reaching and training older workers, defined as those aged 45 to 70 years. Because of their historic strengths in delivering lifestyle, leisure and personal development courses to older Australians, community providers are adept at reaching this group. Data from the NCVER shows this to be true: the percentage of people aged 45-plus participating in government-funded VET training in community providers is double the percentage studying with either TAFE or for-profit providers.

Innovation and community education

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." So says Alan Kay, American computer scientist and winner of the A.M. Turing Award. Last year CCA's national conference focused on the theme of innovation, under the title "Innovation: What's Next for Community Education?"

Work-based Learning in Community Education Providers

This research project focused on developing a better understanding of the extent to which community providers are delivering training, including foundation skills, through work-based learning arrangements, and the styles of work-based learning that have been successful in up-skilling workers. The research questions were:

To what extent are community providers providing work placements?
To what extent are community providers delivering work-based learning?
To what extent are community providers offering foundation skills to business?
What styles of learning have been successful for up-skilling workers?

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training through its Strategic Partnerships Program. Click here to view a copy of CCA’s interim report for this project (December 2015).