ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Can the minister inform the house about the support the state government is giving to the adult community education sector to assist South Australian adults to learn and develop new skills?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:04): I would like to thank the member for Torrens for this very important question. I was delighted that one of my very first activities in these new portfolios was to join tutors, students and community members in celebrating the centenary of that great South Australian institution, the Workers' Educational Association. In fact, I would like to acknowledge that the member for Reynell used to be a board member of the WEA, and it was great to see her there that day.

Clearly, training, skills development and formal qualifications are all really important pillars of an educated and creative community. This is very important not only to individuals but to our state's social and economic health and that's why we are working with industry, training providers and the adult education sector to support and invest in our skills. I give you, for instance, our Skills for All initiative.

Some courses result in a formal qualification while others are an opportunity to expand horizons at a personal level and, crucially, they also help provide very basic skills like literacy and numeracy, including digital literacy. I note that the Minister for Education and Child Development spoke about this earlier. These are very important skills not only for creating and sustaining employment but also enabling individuals to take part in community life. I offer the WEA my sincere congratulations. We are as a government investing more than $6 million into the adult community education sector and I look forward to working with them.