Recent and upcoming presentations by CCA staff, members and consultants include:
- “Outreach in Action: Adult and Community Education Learner Outreach Following COVID-19 and Natural Disasters”, National Vocational Education and Training Research (NCVER) Conference ‘No Frills’, Melbourne, by Evelyn Goodwin, Manager Policy & Projects and Dr Don Perlgut, CEO, 19-21 July 2023.
- AVETRA Conference, Melbourne, panel discussion speaker on “Policy, Place and Partnership: The Interoperable Tertiary System”, presentation by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO, 27 April 2023 – Link to presentation in html or download in PDF.
- Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) “Shifting Landscapes” Conference, Melbourne, presentation by CCA consultant Dale Renner (Latitude Network) on “Collaborative Data Projects - New ways to drive sector learning & outcomes” (based on the CCA data outcomes project), 10 February 2023.
- Community Colleges Australia Student of Year Awards, “The Learning Journey in Adult and Community Education”, Keynote Address by Joanna Maxwell, Chair, Sydney Community College, 7 February 2023 – Link to speech (PDF)
- Engagement Australia “The Engaged University Conference”, Sydney, on “Engaging vulnerable and disadvantaged students: Lessons from Australia’s adult and community education providers”, 22 November 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. – Link to presentation (PDF)
- National Youth Employment Body (NYEB) Community of Practice, Brotherhood of St Laurence, on Australian ACE providers, outreach, engagement and delivery of foundation skills, 10 November 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO.
- 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).
- “Inequality in Australia: What Can VET Do?”, Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE) National Forum, 21 October 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO - link to presentation.
- “Inequality in Australia: What can vocational education and training do?”, National Vocational Education and Training Research (NCVER) Conference ‘No Frills’, 8 July 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO – Link to video presentation (25’39”) and download a copy of the slides through VOCEDplus.
- “Inequality in Australia: How does vocational education and training address it?” AVETRA 24th Annual Conference: Are we there yet? Building a research community to shape VET’s future, online, 28-29 April 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. Download a copy of the presentation (PDF).
- “Australia’s Adult and Community Education in Perspective”, VERTO Conference, Blue Mountains, 28 April 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. Download a copy of the presentation (PDF)
- “The role and function of Australia’s adult and community education providers”, to the Pricing and Performance Branch, National Skills Commission, March 2022, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO.
- “How Australia’s adult and community education providers support the growth of a quality trained aged care workforce“, presentation to the 2021 Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Conference “Let It Shine!”, 23-24 November 2021, by Evelyn Goodwin, Manager Policy & Projects & Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. – Link to presentation (PDF)
- “VET providers and the aged care workforce,” presentation to Macquarie University Aged Care Policy Forum, "Where to for the residential aged care workforce?", 26 October 2021, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO.
- “Community Education Providers in the Age of COVID-19: Uncertainty, innovation and rapid change,” 30th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference ‘No Frills’ – Past informing the future, 7-9 July 2021, by Evelyn Goodwin, Manager Policy & Projects & Dr Don Perlgut, CEO – Link to presentation (PDF)
- “Western Sydney Regional Economic Development: The Role of Not-for-profit Community Education Providers,” Australasian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) 23rd Annual Conference, Melbourne, April 2021, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut & Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin.
- “What now? What next? Insights into Australia's tertiary education sector” podcast hosted by Claire Field: CCA CEO, Dr Don Perlgut appears, and discusses the Productivity Commission's report on the new National Skills Agreement, episode 40, 10 February 2021. (Don Perlgut discusses foundation skills at 13’45”.)
- "Driving Economic Development in Western Sydney: Adult and Community Education Providers," CCA Annual Conference, Brisbane, November 2019, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut.
- NSW Parliament Launch of CCA Report on NSW Vulnerable and Disadvantaged VET Students, 25 September 2019, Speeches by CCA CEO Dr Don Perlgut, CCA Chair (& CEO of WEA Illawarra) David Fuller and CCA Treasurer (& CEO of Macquarie Community College) Theresa Collignon; link to speeches
- "Collaboration with adult and community education providers: Leveraging VET and foundation skills to drive economic development in Western Sydney," TAFE Directors Australia Convention, Brisbane, September 2019, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut and Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin.
- "Connecting VET and regional economic development in Western Sydney", Independent Tertiary Education Conference (organised by Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, formerly ACPET), Surfers Paradise QLD, August 2019, by CEO, Dr Don Perlgut. Link to Presentation.
- “Factoring in equality of opportunity: A case study of Western Sydney VET”, 28th National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills', Adelaide, July 2019, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut and Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin.
- “Provision of foundation skills by community education providers in regional Australia - what does it look like and does it help get people into VET?" 28th National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills', Adelaide, July 2019, by Dr Lisel O'Dwyer, NCVER, and CCA Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin.
- “Adult Literacy, from International Literacy Year to Community Colleges”, Reading Writing Hotline 25th Birthday Celebration, Sydney, April 2019, speech by CEO Dr Don Perlgut.
- "Strengthening Community Cohesion, Resilience and Skills: Lessons from Australia's Community Education Providers", TAFE Directors 2018 World Congress, 8-10 October 2018, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut and Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin.
- "Developing Tomorrow's Skills and Building Community: Innovations from Australia's adult and community education providers", 27th National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills', Sydney, August 2018, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut and Policy Manager, Evelyn Goodwin. Link to Presentation.
- Australian Federal VET Policy Forum, VET Development Centre, Melbourne, July 2018. CEO Dr Don Perlgut speaks along with ACPET and TAFE Directors Australia, joining Assistant Skills Minister Karen Andrews MP and Shadow Minister Senator Doug Cameron. Link to Dr Perlgut's speech.
- "Australian Community Colleges: Welcome Address to the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community College Open Day", June 2018, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut. Link to presentation.
- "Inequality in Australia: what can vocational education and training do?", EduTECH International Congress, Sydney, June 2018, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut. Link to presentation.
- "Regional Economic Development in New South Wales: The Role of Community Colleges", Community Colleges Australia Regional Economic Development Forum, Mullumbimby NSW, 25 October 2017, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut. Link to presentation.
- "Leveraging Regional Development through VET", TAFE Directors Australia Convention, Adelaide, September 2017, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut. Link to presentation.
- "Inequality in Australia: What can vocational education and training do?" Australian Conference of Economists: Economics for Better Lives, Sydney July 2017, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut.
- "Community Education: The 'Passing Gear' of Australian Rural and Regional VET", 26th National Vocational Education and Training Research "No Frills" Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, July 2017, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut.
- “Special Purpose Schools from ALESCO and Beyond: Australian Secondary Schools Operating from Adult Education Organisations”, Alesco Learning Australia 2017 Conference, Newcastle NSW, June 2017, by Manager of Policy & Projects, Evelyn Goodwin, and CEO, Dr Don Perlgut.
- "Community Education in an Age of VET Uncertainty: Trends, Policies and Opportunities, "Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) 20th Annual Conference, Melbourne, April 2017, by CEO Dr Don Perlgut.
- “Meeting the economic challenges of regional and rural Australia: Leveraging community capacity to foster innovation in VET”, ACPET National Conference, Hobart, August 2016, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. Link to presentation abstract.
- “Leveraging philanthropy to foster innovation and financial sustainability”, at the Akolade conference, Innovative Business Models for VET: Enabling sustainable growth in an era of reform & compliance, Sydney, July 2016, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO.
- NCVER 25th National Vocational Education and Training Research "No Frills" Conference, Rockhampton, Queensland, July 2016, by Dr Don Perlgut, CEO. Link to full presentation.
- Australian Vocational Education & Training Research Association (AVETRA) conference, April 2016, Sydney, by Ruth Walker. Link to presentation abstract.
- Australian Council of TESOL Associations & Australian Council for Adult Literacy ACTR/ACAL Conference, Perth, April 2016, by Ruth Walker, Project Manager.
Publications
CCA Submission to NSW VET Review, 9 November 2023 - link to submission (pdf)
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
Submission to Jobs and Skills Australia: Response to the Foundation Skills Discussion Paper, 8 May 2023 - Link to submission (PDF)
“The long tail of COVID-19 impacts Australian training,” article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 6 March 2023 – link to article. Reprinted by Pearls and Irritations: John Menadue’s Public Policy Journal, 12 March 2023 – link to journal article.
“Foundation skills policy on the move,” article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 27 February 2023 – link to article.
Submission on Jobs and Skills Australia to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, 10 February 2023 – Link to submission
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Adult and Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2021 Data, 16 January 2023 – Link to report
CCA Year in Review - Achievements during 2022, 12 January 2023 – download PDF
Smart and Skilled Provider Expression of Interest: Submission to the NSW Government, 7 December 2022 – Link to submission (PDF)
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)
“Time to get serious about ventilation and air quality in training and post-secondary education,” article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 6 July 2022. . Reprinted in Pearls and Irritations – John Menadue’s Public Policy Journal, 17 July 2022.
“Social Capital Returns with the Labor Government and Assistant Charities Minister Dr Andrew Leigh,” article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 28 June 2022.
“Aged care skills training – a defining election issue for Australia’s immediate future,” opinion article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 17 May 2022.
“CCA proposes outreach program to re-engage disadvantaged learners impacted by COVID-19,” news update, 9 March 2022 (reprinted by Campus Review on 21 March 2022, under the by-line of Dr Don Perlgut).
COVID-19 Impact on NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 23 February 2022 – Link to report
CCA Year in Review achievements during 2021, 27 January 2022 (also PDF version).
“How can Australian training providers re-open safely?” article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 26 January 2022.
“Will Omicron Devastate Australian Vocational Education and Training in 2022?” opinion article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 6 January 2022. (Reprinted in Pearls and Irritations on 14 January 2022 with the title "A year of living dangerously for vocational education and training in Australia”, and in Campus Review on 13 January 2022.)
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Adult and Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2020 Data – Australian VET Fact Sheet 2, 18 October 2021
Australian VET Students 2020 Fact Sheet 1, 14 September 2021
“Is compulsory vaccination coming to Australian post-secondary education?” opinion article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 9 August 2021, reprinted by Campus Review [$] on 13 August 2021.
“Why Some VET Teachers Need to Receive Vaccination Priority,” opinion article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 22 January 2021, reprinted by Campus Review [$] on 25 January 2021, and by John Menadue’s Pearls and Irritations on 28 January 2021.
CCA Year in Review achievements during 2020, 21 January 2021 (also PDF version).
“What does a Biden presidency mean for Australian post-secondary education?” Opinion article by CEO Dr Don Perlgut, 11 November 2020. Reprinted by Campus Review on 16 November 2020, and by Pearls & Irritations (John Menadue) on 27 November 2020.
Engaging Indigenous Communities Learner Guide, prepared for Community Colleges Australia by the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, 2020. Link to the Guide.
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW ACE Providers: Analysis of 2019 Data, September 2020
Executive Summary (PDF)
Full Report (PDF)
Australian universities are in turmoil and that’s not good for VET, by Dr Don Perlgut, 27 June 2020; republished by Campus Review, 3 July 2020
Surviving the Coronavirus: Lessons for Australian Training and Skills, by Dr Don Perlgut, 10 June 2020; republished by The Mandarin, 16 June 2020
CCA Statement on Sustainability and Climate Change, 10 February 2020.
The Role of Adult and Community Education Providers in Sustaining Australian Democracy: A Discussion Paper, by Dr Don Perlgut, January 2020
Executive Summary (html)
Paper (pdf)
CCA’s submission to the Australian Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee Inquiry into Nationhood, Identity and Democracy has been published by the Committee as submission number 179.
Community Colleges Australia Achievements in 2019 (PDF)
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers Analysis of 2018 Data, September 2019
Executive Summary (pdf)
Full Report (pdf)
Community Education Providers and Western Sydney Regional Economic Development, May 2019
Executive Summary and Recommendations (html)
Executive Summary and Recommendations (pdf)
Full Report (pdf)
Appendix B: Activities of Western Sydney Not-for-profit Community Education Providers (pdf)
Western Sydney Case Studies (html)
Community Colleges Australia Federal Election Policy Platform, April 2019
Why has Universal Support for TAFE Become a Centrepiece of the NSW State Election?, by Dr Don Perlgut, 18 March 2019
Community Colleges Australia NSW Election Policy Platform, March 2019
CCA Policy on Independent Special Assistance Schools, February 2019
Executive Summary of CCA's VET Sector Submission, January 2019
Community Colleges Australia Submission to the Australian Government Expert Review of the VET Sector, 25 January 2019
Community Colleges Australia: The Year in Review 2018 - PDF version and html version
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers: Analysis of 2017 Data, 11 September 2018 - a report based on the NCVER Government-Funded Students and Courses 2017 report.
What community education providers need, by Don Perlgut, 20 July 2018.
This article is based on a speech by Dr Don Perlgut, and has been catalogued by Analysis & Observatory.
Western Sydney Regional Economic Development Statement, 6 April 2018
Review of NSW Government Tech Savvy for Small Business Program, 28 March 2018.
CCA Statement on NSW Aboriginal Economic Development, 27 March 2018.
CCA Statement on VET Student Loans, 15 March 2018.
The Role of New South Wales Community Education Providers in Regional and Rural Economic Development, 25 January 2018.
- Executive Summary and Recommendations (html)
- Executive Summary and Recommendations (pdf)
- Full Report
This report has been catalogued by Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO) and VOCEDPlus.
A summary of this report has been published in the AVETRA Research Today, June 2018.
Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Students of NSW Community Education Providers: Analysis of Participants in Government-Funded VET 2016, 28 September 2017 - a report based on the National Centre for Vocational Education Research "Government-Funded Students and Courses 2016" data.
The Role of Community Education in Australian Regional and Rural Economic Development, by Dr Don Perlgut, 7 February 2017. This publication has been catalogued by Australian Policy Online and VOCEDplus, NCVER's international tertiary education research database.
“More bad news for Australia’s private for-profit higher education sector,” by Dr Don Perlgut, 27 January 2017.
“Australian post-school education in the age of Trump,” by Dr Don Perlgut, Open Forum, 17 January 2017. Also re-published in the CCA website Comment section under the title “Australian VET in the Age of Trump”.
“No National Policy Direction on Vocational Education and Training Means that Community Education Loses Out,” by Dr Don Perlgut, 21 December 2016.
“What’s wrong with profit margins of Australia’s private VET providers?” by Dr Don Perlgut, Open Forum, 26 August 2016. Also published in the CCA Comment section as “What do bank profits have to tell us about Australia’s private for-profit VET providers”.
“Community education in vocational education and training: NCVER report shows that our numbers matter”, by Dr Don Perlgut, 20 July 2016
"Re-inserting 'community' into Australian Vocational Education and Training", by Dr Don Perlgut, Open Forum, 11 May 2016.