Adult Learners' Week

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about Adult Learners' Week.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: It is normal for some adults who are not participating in the community or learning to find it daunting to get out and try something new. My question is: can the minister tell the chamber how Adult Learners' Week encourages adults who are not currently engaged in community activities or learning to try something new?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The first Adult Learners' Week was celebrated in 1995 in Australia, making this year the 20^th anniversary of this particular celebration. Adult Learners' Week took place from 1 to 8 September, and this year's theme was 'Unlocking literacy: making literacy everybody's business', highlighting literacy as a fundamental skill needed for individuals to participate equally in social, community and professional life.

Being able to communicate ideas and information in the right way and at the right time, being able to use computers and other types of technology and to use mathematical and other problem-solving techniques are all crucial to participating in modern life and they are certainly critical to people being able to access employment. Indeed, it is a huge challenge for someone who suffers high or even moderate levels of illiteracy, particularly as an adult, to be brave and have the courage to put themselves out there, to expose themselves in a way that indicates that they have very undeveloped skills in those areas and that they are prepared to learn and gain new skills. I really very much admire these people. They are indeed incredibly courageous in being able to take up this challenge.

Despite our assumptions, not all Australian adults have the literacy skills they need in our emerging knowledge economy and many just do not have the opportunity to build on them. Placing literacy at the core of community and workplace learning gives a considerable number of adults the tools they need in order to participate more fully in life. Literacy skills, as we know, are not static; they do not remain the same throughout our lives. Even a young person may leave school with adequate literacy and numeracy skills; nevertheless, they may encounter issues and need support later on in life when some of those skills are lost.

People of my age in particular were not brought up on computers but have had to learn them as adults. I, like the Hon. Ian Hunter, have that found that fairly challenging as well. Adult community education can be an important stepping stone for people who may have educational, social and economic barriers. It is essential for people who want to learn and gain employment but may consider training and further education to be out of their reach. Over the past 20 years we have seen the breadth of organisations supporting Adult Learners' Week grow. This year there were over 40 events and activities targeting more than 1,000 participants spanning the community adult education, health, aged care, museums and environmental sectors across metropolitan and regional South Australia.

Adult Learners' Week is about encouraging adults who are not currently involved in community activities or learning to come and try something new. Participants have the opportunity to learn new skills and have some fun and connect with other people in their neighbourhood. Sometimes just taking that first step towards learning a new skill can be a catalyst to further learning and study, and the first step to pursuing a new career. Adult Learners' Week activities aim to do just that, to direct participants to a pathway to learning such as using the internet and mobile phones, cooking and gardening, arts, craft, social media, and the like.

I had great pleasure in attending the Adult Learners' Week awards dinner a couple of weeks ago. These awards recognise learners, mentors, learning programs and learning communities. The Adult Learner of the Year for 2015 was Bev Frayne from Oaklands Park, whose life was transformed thanks to volunteering and undertaking community learning. Bev is an inspiration to her community and has proven that, although it may be difficult to take that first step towards community learning, it can be done. Bev was keen to improve her skills and experience and started volunteering on the front desk of the Glandore Community Centre. She is now employed as the neighbourhood centre officer at Glandore and is helping others to make that initial approach, which then leads to participation in learning activities.

The Pooraka Farm Community Centre was the recipient of the Adult Learning Program of the Year Award. The program at Pooraka Farm consists of accredited and non-accredited training, targeting unemployed people, new arrivals, long-term unemployment, parents returning to work and people with mental health challenges. Participants have found the class to be instrumental in helping them to gain the ability to look beyond their personal circumstances and explore work opportunities and study.

The classes and sharing of personal experiences have also assisted participants to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and use this to build resilience and to look for future options and to gain confidence. I hope that participating in Adults Learners' Week this year opens the door to learning for those involved and inspire them to take the next step to re-engaging with learning and employment. I thank the honourable member for his question.