Teegan O’Farrell, Northern Territory

When Teegan commenced studying at STEPS Palmerston, she lacked confidence and was very quiet and shy. Over time, however, she started to builFard confidence and to participate in classroom activities and form friendships.

Teegan’s story is one of courage, growth, and ambition. Her connection to the program has not only helped her develop valuable skills but has also inspired those around her. She participates in all activities and supports her peers with computer tasks while staying on top of her own learning goals.

Her strong work ethic, time management, and motivation to build a better future for herself and her family make her a truly exceptional adult learner.

Ilya Myshkin, Tasmania

Ilya, 26, grew up in rural Russia, with his early schooling including a little English grammar and reading but minimal spoken English. The breakout of war between Russia and Ukraine led to Ilya moving to Burnie, Tasmania.

Ilya began the Burnie Library’s English Conversation and then moved on to one-on-one tutoring through Libraries Tasmania’s Adult Literacy Support Service. He still attends

weekly sessions with his tutor, as well as continuing his ongoing studies at TasTAFE in Aged Care.

Ilya is a resilient learner who has faced many challenges, including leaving his family and home country. He has never given up and has remained focused on learning English. He regularly arrives at his tutoring sessions with a list of questions for his tutor from his additional study undertaken at home. His dedication to improve his life through adult learning is inspirational.

Krystel Batiste, Victoria

Krystel grew up in out of home care. Giving birth to her first child at 19, Krystel’s battles with poor mental health, substance abuse disorder and unstable housing resulted in her daughter being removed from her care. This was the catalyst for Krystel getting sober, stable and working towards a brighter future for herself and her daughter.

Krystel was referred to the Reconnect Program at the Diamond Valley Learning Centre (DVLC) in May 2024. She came to the program with the goal of becoming a nurse.

Krystel is an outstanding adult learner because of her extraordinary resilience, determination, and commitment to personal growth. In March, Krystel commenced studying the Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) at DVLC and is on track to soon complete her qualification.

The post 2025 ALW Scholarship Winners appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

The three awards for Best Adult Learners Week events this year were given to the Shire of Harvey in Western Australian, Community College Northern Inland, New South Wales, and Murray ACE in Victoria.

Shire of Harvey, WA

The Shire of Harvey ran a program of 30 events for 30 years of Adult Learners Week. These ranged across locations and included events around tech help, health and wellbeing, history, and community connections.

Community College Northern Inland, NSW

Community College Northern Inland celebrated Adult Learners Week across its Gunnedah and Inverell campuses. On Tuesday, 2 September, Gunnedah students were encouraged over cake to have open conversations about adult learning. On Friday, the Inverell campus helped draw the Week to a close with a morning tea to #celebratelearningtogether. Winner of the ALW 30th anniversary STAR Award, Steff-Lee Frankland proudly showed off her certificate and there was great food to be enjoyed!

Murray ACE

Murray ACE in the Victorian Mallee town of Swan Hill held an Open House each day during Adult Learners Week, encouraging everyone to come in and take a tour, meet tutors, check out the courses on offer and ask lots of questions.

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This year’s Tasmanian ambassadors – Andrew Bartlett, Jenna Eastwood, Faye Hodgetts and Rohan Muthamala – spoke at the ALW launch (see Celebrating Learning Together).

These are the other 2025 Ambassadors:

Jessica Hastings, Victoria

Jessica, 32, is a mum of four who, despite considerable responsibilities, enroll ed in a pre-accredited healthbased short course at Community College Gippsland (CCG). When that didn’t lead to a job, she completed a pre-accredited aged care course, which led to a traineeship at a new aged care facility. Jessica is now continuing her Certificate III studies in Individual Support part-time, while working three days a week at the facility.

Adam Micklethwaite, Western Australia

Adam, 39, was working as a tradesman when he was placed in a leadership role without any prior training. Wanting to back up his practical know-how with theory, he sought out formal study and completed his Diploma of Business online through North Metropolitan TAFE in WA. It was a way to put years of hands-on experience into context, sharpen his skills, and test his limits.

Not one to stop there, Adam is now enrolled in both the Diploma of Project Management and the Diploma of Leadership and Management, aiming to finish them by the end of the year. Balancing full-time work, study, and family life hasn’t been easy, but it’s strengthened his resilience and determination.

Darren Finn – New South Wales

Darren’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of adult learning. A proud Kamilaroi man from rural NSW, Darren left school early. Without formal qualifications, he worked wherever he could, before successfully completing a Certificate IV in Community Services through faceto-face learning at Inverell Community College.

With support from staff and peers, Darren earned his first qualification, igniting a passion for helping others access education and employment. Darren is now a Jobs Australia Enterprise Manager and a visible role model in Inverell. His next goal is to complete the Diploma of Leadership and Management, equipping him with new skills to lead community initiatives and continue inspiring others.

Rabia (Rabi) Aftab – South Australia

When Rabi arrived in Australia from Pakistan, she brought with her a psychology qualification and a passion to help others. However, despite self-funding her application, her overseas qualification wasn’t recognised in Australia.

Determined not to give up, Rabi was supported by the Zahra Foundation and the Sliding Door Foundation to undertake further study in South Australia. She then successfully completed her Australian psychology degree. Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Rabi was offered a paid facilitation role and has become a valued member of the organisation’s senior leadership team, working in case management.

Bridie Searle – New South Wales

At just 20, Bridie is the Founder of ReadySkills, where she teaches life skills and supports learners from diverse backgrounds. A hands-on learner herself, she credits the balance of theory and practice in her training for her success.

Bridie’s journey began with a traineeship and a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice. With strong support from experienced mentors, she quickly gained respect in her field. In 2023, her achievements were recognised nationally when she was named both NSW Trainee of the Year and Australian Trainee of the Year.

Jeff Richardson – Queensland

Jeff is a proud Mandandanji man in his 70s whose life reflects strength, service, and a deep connection to community. He has long been a strong voice for Aboriginal people, working to improve health, wellbeing, and cultural outcomes. Jeff left school early and learned through life and work.

Later, he went on to complete several diplomas and worked as a Bringing Them Home counsellor supporting members of the Stolen Generations. Now retired, Jeff continues to value lifelong learning, storytelling, and the power of family and culture. He believes there are always new things to learn – at any age.

The post Inspiring Others to Learn appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

Attendees of the launch of Adult Learners Week 2025 on Monday 1 September were inspired by this video message sent by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC Governor-General. Ms Mostyn congratulated Adult Learning Australia (ALA) on the 30th anniversary of Adult Learners Week in 2025 and the focus on the “power and potential of accessible, inclusive adult learning and community education” and the “joy and purpose that comes from learning and being part of a community of learners”.

More than 140 people took part in the Adult Learners Week (ALW) launch either in person in Devonport, Tasmania, or online via the livestream, which can be viewed here. The power of adult and community education was celebrated throughout the launch, which was a welcome reflection of this year’s special 30th anniversary Adult Learners Week theme – celebrating learning together.

As Skills and Training Minister, Andrew Giles, said in his video message, this theme “highlights what make learning so powerful. It is the way it brings people together, opens new possibilities, and helps us all grow”.

Minister Giles – who attended last year’s launch but was unable to attend this year due to Parliament sitting – said he and the Albanese Government understand “how transformative adult learning is in building skills, boosting confidence and strengthening connection to communities”.

This year’s launch began with a Welcome to Country delivered by proud trawlwoolway man Dave mangenner Gough, who spoke about the importance of education in the survival of his ancestors. Dave says he is a “learner every day and a teacher, you can never know everything. And as the world continues to change, we need to be continually learning”.

Acting as MC, Tasmanian radio host, Giovanna Simpson, welcomed attendees before ALA President, Kathleen Priestly, thanked Dave and acknowledged the “importance of thousands of years of First Nations learning and teaching that precedes all of us”.

Kathleen outlined the origins of Adult Learners Week, including the role of renowned British adult learning advocate, Sir Alan Tuckett, who gave his support to ALA in 1995 when the organisation called on the Australian Government to respond to UNESCO’s “global call for governments to prioritise adult learning”. With an Australian Government grant, ALA ran a successful pilot Adult Learners Week in 1995, and this funding has been maintained ever since.

Each year, adult education providers nominate learners whose stories they believe could inspire others to start, re-start or continue learning to become Adult Learners Week ambassadors. These learners give media interviews and, if locally based, attend the Adult Learners Week launch.

A special guest at this year’s event was 2023 ALW ambassador, Brendan Murray. A 57-year-old Palawa man and Aboriginal Student Engagement Officer at the University of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast Campus, Brendan was raised in foster care and functionally illiterate until age 26. Brendan spoke to attendees about how enrolling in an adult literacy class had changed his life, to the extent that he is now the first in his family to attend university. Brendan is studying a Bachelor of Arts with the goal of becoming a historian. Brendan says he continues to share his story to inspire others, especially Aboriginal learners, to believe in their potential and embrace lifelong learning.

Of the 10 learners from across each State and Territory chosen to be 2025 ambassadors, four Tasmanians were able to attend the launch.

Andrew Bartlett’s journey hasn’t been easy. But with determination, support from Avidity Training and Development and the completion of a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), Andy has turned his life around. In 2024, Andy won the Vocational Student of the Year at the Tasmanian Training Awards. “When I started, I didn’t even know how to use a laptop, that was a big wall for me. But I got through and kept getting heaps of support to learn, continue to learn and not give up.” Andy told the launch that he is now teaching a cooking course too!

Jenna Eastwood struggled at school and lacked the confidence to consider doing more study after school. With support from a 26Ten Community Coordinator, Jenna began working one-on-one with an Adult Literacy Support Officer and volunteer tutors at Smithton library. This supportive, personalised approach helped Jenna build confidence and learn at her own pace. “I started getting more confidence in myself, more self-respect and it made me feel a lot better about myself as a person. I can now do things that I could not have done back before I started adult learning.”

At 45, Faye Hodgetts was offered a traineeship at Loaves and Fishes, a Tasmanian social enterprise organisation. After completing a Certificate III in Business, Faye transitioned into a paid role and has since progressed to become the State Operations Manager. Faye told the launch that “adult education gave me huge confidence. I am generally a shy person and to take on such a big role I had to get out of my comfort zone. I had a lot of self-doubt, but adult learning gave me the confidence to go out and do the role”.

Rohan Muthamala, 55, arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka with his wife and daughter in 2023. Rohan has been an active member of the Welcome Cultural Services English Conversation Group at the Devonport Library. He has recently taken up the Intro to Computing course at TasTAFE. Rohan talked about the importance of adult learning for health and wellbeing and a “better life. Every day, we want to move to a better life and for that you have to keep on learning”.

New 30th Anniversary STAR Award for an outstanding student mentor

To celebrate ALW’s 30th anniversary, a special STAR (Student Teaching And Relationship) Award was introduced, with a call out to providers to nominate adult learners who demonstrate exceptional commitment to mentoring fellow students.

At the launch, Steffi-Lee Frankland from Community College Northern Inland was announced as the winner. Steffi-Lee is pictured here with CCNI CEO Melanie Squires and Senior Campus Leader Tania Archer.

Steffi-Lee’s trainer said that “some people become quiet leaders in a learning environment, simply by how they show up for others. Steffi-Lee Frankland is one of those people”.

Two other students also stood out and were highly commended: ALW Ambassador, Faye Hodgetts, and Kaine Duggan from Chisholm Institute in Victoria.

Adult Learning Week Scholarships

The winners of Adult Learner Week Scholarships are also announced at each year’s launch. These $1000 scholarships are awarded to outstanding adult learners to enable them to continue learning. In 2025, there were 21 nominations from each State and Territory, with the $1000 scholarships awarded to Ilya Myshkin (Burnie Library, Tasmania), Krystel Batiste (Diamond Valley Learning Centre, Victoria) and Teegan O’Farrell (STEPS Palmerston, Northern Territory).

A further six adult learners received Learning Changes Lives Foundation prizes of $500 to enable them to continue their learning journey.

At the conclusion of the event, attendees were energised by an enthusiastic performance by the Drumettes, part of the Drum Collective, before afternoon tea provided by social enterprise, Loaves and Fishes Tasmania.

The post Celebrating Learning Together appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

In 2025, six recipients received prizes funded by the Foundation during Adult Learners Week.

Tegan Case – Northern Territory

Tegan has dyslexia and struggled with reading and writing in school. However, she now sees her learning difficulty as something which strengthens her understanding of the difficulties faced by young people learning to read and write.

Tegan started with the Young Mums Strong Mums program run collaboratively by the Batchelor Institute and Palmerston Child and Family Centre earlier this year and is now also studying a Certificate III in Community Services. Tegan has connected with the program by actively engaging in the content and making friends. Accessing the program’s wrap-around support, Tegan left a violent relationship two months ago. Despite all the turmoil and disruption to her family life, she barely missed any education classes.

By engaging with the program, Tegan has started to believe in herself and believe what is capable of. She is getting her life together and being a good example for her one year old daughter. Tegan has now decided to become a Primary School Teacher. When she first thought about becoming a teacher, Tegan couldn’t believe that she could go to university, get a degree and a professional job. Now she knows she can. Adult Learning has impacted her life by showing her what she is capable of.

Ashley Jensen – Queensland

Ashlee joined the SEE Programme at TAFE Queensland’s Logan Campus as an adult learner who wanted to improve her literacy and numeracy standards. Ashlee had to overcome obstacles in her younger life that made it very difficult for her to achieve a productive school education. However, she got to a point in her life where she realised that she had to turn her life around – and she now credits adult education with helping her do that.

Her tutors put it down to her incredible self-determination and hard work, saying it has been a pleasure to see her grow and be able to realise her educational and personal potential. Ashlee has extended herself daily during her course, looking for strategies to absorb the processes and details necessary to succeed. She approaches every new task with fresh energy, arriving early at campus and often leaving later to allow herself the time needed to absorb the lessons.

She is not too proud to ask for repeat lessons or to self-critique and do even better on her next attempts. She has also become a very effective mentor and support to the large percentage of adult migrant students in her cohort.

Ashlee is completing her SEE journey at the end of this year but now wants to continue studying to become a Youth Support Worker. She has seen what education and mentoring have done for her and wishes that she had found such an environment earlier in life.

Gayle Rohweder – Queensland

Gaye first joined the Sunshine Coast Beerwah Read and Write for Life program, where she demonstrated a passion for learning until the program was interrupted by the pandemic. In August 2024, when a spot became available in the Caloundra class, Gaye gratefully accepted an invitation to participate.

Gaye exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding adult learner. Born with significant hearing loss that also influences her speech, she has shown remarkable resilience. Although hearing implants have restored some connectivity, she continues to also rely on lip reading. She has endured discrimination and negative judgment from others due to her hearing loss. These challenges have not inhibited Gaye’s zest for life; she inspires classmates with her positivity and gratitude, forging strong friendships and enriching the classroom community through her experiences.

Gaye’s life story is marked by perseverance and inspiration, and she is a fierce advocate for her local community and wildlife. A lover of animals, gardening, and nature, Gaye has used the Read and Write for Life program to further educate herself and those around her with confidence. The class provides a worthy platform for self-expression and enables her to detail how outdoor activities have enhanced her life. Through reading, writing, and speaking in class, she has found new ways to share her stories and connect with others. The program’s format plays a crucial role in her journey, offering support and empowering her personal growth each week.

Monira Ghulami – Australian Capital Territory

As soon as Monira joined MTC ACT Belconnen’s Digital Literacy and Job Search course earlier this year, she set about learning how to write a cover letter and search for jobs in Australia. Monira was determined to be able to support her two young children as a single mother so she worked hard with her tutors to develop strong applications. And she did well, with her first applications leading to interviews and a job as a full time professional tailor within two weeks.

Not only did Monira commence her full time employment, she also decided to continue her MTC training part time so that she could further improve her workforce skills for better employment. When asked if she feels pressured working full time, studying and looking after her two children, Monira told her tutors that she is the happiest she has ever been. Having arrived through humanitarian assistance three years ago, Monira says that Australia has given her a new life.

Monira wants to go on to study a Diploma of Laser Therapy through the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Tiana Hokins – Tasmania

Adult learning has been a prominent theme throughout Tiana’s life – she has consistently been both a learner herself and someone who is dedicated to assisting other learners to thrive. As a Youth Development Coach in the Northern Territory, Tiana took great care and joy in mentoring young adults through the journey of adult education. This also extended to her roles in the NT and Victorian youth justice settings, where she helped young adults to transition successfully from detention to a successful, meaningful life. While at the Red Cross, Tian’s highlight was training and mentoring adult learners from all walks of life.

After completing a Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Tiana is now employed as a Community Storm and Flood Resilience Planner with the Tasmanian State Emergency Services. Part of Tiana’s role is to implement Person Centred Emergency Planning (targeted at people living with a disability and other risk factors) across Tasmania’s northwest. This involves supporting adult learners through the online facilitation course, as well as upskilling volunteers to have inclusive and informed emergency preparedness conversations in their communities.

Tiana has seen the profound impact that adult learning can have on people’s confidence, sense of purpose, and connection to their communities. As a mentor and facilitator, she always creates a learning environment where people feel safe, respected, and valued for who they are.

Diane Hardlitschke – South Australia

Dianne, currently in the recovery phase of her journey from domestic violence, wanted to expand her knowledge and skills in areas such as healthy relationships, informed decision-making, effective communication, and future planning. Her goal was to build a strong pathway of tools and resources to create a brighter future, with a deeper understanding of her rights, boundaries, and values. She connected with Zahra Foundation’s programs, which offer practical education, empowerment, and hope.

Dianne is an outstanding adult learner whose growth has been remarkable. When she first joined Zahra Foundation classes, she was quiet, hesitant to connect with others, and unsure how to use her voice or contribute her input. Over time, she has transformed into a confident and engaged participant who brings immense value to group discussions. She actively applies the education to her daily life and uses her journey to inspire and empower other women, showing them that they, too, can succeed.

Her newfound confidence and courage have led her to take the bold step of enrolling in further study at UniSA, a testament to her resilience, determination, and commitment to building a brighter future.

The post 2025 Learning Changes Lives Scholarships appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

Teegan O’Farrell, Northern Territory

When Teegan commenced studying at STEPS Palmerston, she lacked confidence and was very quiet and shy. Over time, however, she started to build confidence and to participate in classroom activities and form friendships.

Teegan’s story is one of courage, growth, and ambition. Her connection to the program has not only helped her develop valuable skills but has also inspired those around her. She participates in all activities and supports her peers in the classroom, often helping others with computer tasks while staying on top of her own learning goals. Her strong work ethic, time management, and motivation to build a better future for herself and her family make her a truly exceptional adult learner.

Over time, her trainer watched Teegan transform. She started participating in coffee making lessons, cooking and art and craft sessions. These sessions were more than fun; they were powerful confidence builders. It was like watching someone rediscover their voice. Now, Teegan is one of the most active and supportive students in our SEE classroom at Palmerston. She’s confident, focused, and speaks with purpose. Her classmates look up to her, and she’s showing strengths as a leader.

Ilya Myshkin, Tasmania 

Ilya, 26, grew up in rural Russia, with his early schooling including a little English grammar and reading but minimal spoken English. At 17, Ilya moved, without su

pport, to St Petersburg to study nursing. The breakout of war between Russia and Ukraine, however, led to Ilya spending a year working in Kazakhstan before moving to Burnie, Tasmania.

Ilya heard about the Burnie Library’s English Conversation Groups from a flat-mate and began attending straight away. Six months later, he began 1:1 tutoring through Libraries Tasmania’s Adult Literacy Support Service, with a focus on improving his written skills. He still attends weekly sessions with his tutor, as well as continuing his ongoing studies at TasTAFE in Aged Care.

Ilya is a resilient learner who has faced many challenges, including leaving his family and war-torn country of birth. He has never given up and has remained focused on learning English at a functional level. Ilya attends all learning sessions possible at the library (including sessions for Harmony Week and NAIDOC Week). He regularly arrives at his tutoring sessions with a list of questions for his tutor from his additional study undertaken at home. His dedication to improve his life through adult learning is inspirational.

Krystel Batiste, Victoria

Krystel has had a more complex life than most people her age. She was removed from her family as a small child and grew up in out of home care. In her early teens, she began engaging in high-risk behaviours which included her own substance use. Giving birth to her first child at 19, Krystel’s battles with poor mental health, substance abuse disorder and unstable housing resulted in her daughter being removed from her care. This was the catalyst for Krystel getting sober, stable and working towards a brighter future for herself and her daughter.

Krystel was referred to the Reconnect Program at the Diamond Valley Learning Centre in May 2024. She came to the program with the goal of becoming a nurse, a goal that started after being hospitalised as a teenager and receiving care from a wonderful team of nurses.

Krystel is an outstanding adult learner because of her extraordinary resilience, determination, and commitment to personal growth. Despite facing significant adversity from a young age Krystel has shown remarkable strength in turning her life around. Now over two years sober with a young son and her daughter returning to her care, Krystel is actively engaged in learning, parenting, and rebuilding her life with purpose.

In March 2025, Krystel commenced studying the Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) at DVLC and is on track to soon complete her qualification. The Certificate III will allow her to gain employment as a skilled carer in the short term and provide her with good foundations for future nursing studies.

The post 2025 Adult Learners Week Scholarship Winners appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

Dr Cheryl Ryan

Dr Cheryl Ryan is an academic lecturing in adult, professional and applied education at Deakin University and course director of the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (Learning and Teaching).

Cheryl’s teaching, scholarship and leadership in higher education are informed by her critical reflections on experiences from six significant careers spanning 47 years. Each career involved adult learning, community and peer-based teaching and learning projects, and leadership roles developing and managing social, educational, and professional services.

Cheryl’s research interests focus on adult education and learning, professional practice and learning, lifelong learning.

Dr Piper Rodd

Dr Piper Rodd is a lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University, specialising in social justice and critical pedagogy.

Piper has two decades of professional experience in the secondary, vocational and tertiary education sectors as a leader in teaching and social and educational policy in adult and community learning.

Piper also works in the community sector supporting not for profit organisations to better support young people and their families, recognising the complex socio-economic contexts in which they must operate, for all to thrive.

She is Chair of the Board of Future Connect, a local learning and employment network (LLEN), and was elected to the ALA Board in 2024.

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Dr Robyn Ober, Research Practice Lead, Batchelor Institute (Northern Territory)

Robyn has been re-elected after joining the ALA Board two years ago.

As the only member from the Northern Territory, Robyn says she is glad to be able to represent the Territory’s diverse educational contexts in adult teaching and learning sectors.

Robyn is an Indigenous Australian educator with over 30 years of experience in early childhood, primary and tertiary education in remote, rural and urban contexts in the Northern Territory and southeast Queensland. In 2019, she completed her PhD thesis entitled Aboriginal English as a Social, Cultural and Identity Marker in an Indigenous Tertiary Educational Context.

For the past 16 years, Robyn has been involved in research and evaluation projects focusing on Indigenous education, language and linguistics, educational leadership and both-ways philosophy and practice.

John Sheen, Deputy CEO and Director of Education, Wyndham Community And Education Centre (Victoria)

John is an experienced leader in adult education, with a strong commitment to lifelong learning. He has played a key role in the growth of the Wyndham Community & Education Centre over the past decade, overseeing diverse education, employment, and community programs.

John has also been instrumental in the development of the Wyndham Learning Festival, a major annual event that promotes lifelong learning across the community held to coincide with Adult Learners Week each year.

John also has extensive high-level strategic and operational leadership experience, having served for 10 years as Chairperson of Bridge Darebin, four years as Secretary of the Committee for Wyndham, and an appointee to the ACFE North-West Regional Council from 2019 until 2024.

Fleur Lerwill, Lecturer/Subject Coordinator, Kaplan Business School (South Australia)

Fleur has extensive cross-cultural experience in education, training, and advocacy in multi-national organisations, which have required responsibility, accountability, and leadership across various industries.

As an educator and mentor, Fleur focuses on adult learning principles, including literacy and numeracy, using her lived experience and transferable skills to apply a person and strength-centred approach. Fleur adopts a partnering and collaborative approach with mutual participation and cooperation to address needs and challenges to achieve positive outcomes.

Christopher Ward, Vocational Education Practitioner (Western Australia)

Christopher has worked for more than 15 years as a VET practitioner and adult educator and has consistently promoted lifelong learning principles in his work in training, assessment, and learning design.

Christopher has a Master of Education and Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education and is currently conducting PhD research, at Deakin University, on the value of professional development for VET practitioners.

Based in Western Australia, Christopher also has extensive experience in policy analysis and development and is passionate about the crucial role of adult and community education (ACE).

The post Meet our new Board members appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

From growing food to growing knowledge, we celebrate the learning that nourishes our communities and  connects us all.

Whether you are learning to grow food, working with your hands, creating something new, or sharing knowledge on the job – this is a time to celebrate the many ways learning connects us to each other, to the  land, and to our future.

It’s how we grow — as individuals, as communities, and as industries.

#CelebrateLearningTogether #ALW30Years #ALW2025

We chose this year’s theme because it speaks to  what makes adult learning so powerful – the way it brings people together, opens new possibilities, and helps us grow.

We also want to shine a light on the incredible learning happening outside our major cities – in rural towns, farming communities, and regional centres across the country. That’s why we’re planning to launch this year’s celebrations in a regional – Devonport Tasmania – to show that learning can happen anywhere and everywhere.

New 30th Anniversary STAR Award for an outstanding student mentor

To celebrate this year’s milestone, we are introducing a STAR (Student Teaching and Relationship) Award to recognise an outstanding adult learner who demonstrates exceptional commitment to mentoring fellow students.

This new award celebrates learners who go above and beyond to support other learners through guidance, knowledge sharing, and leadership.

Do you know a learner who fits this description? Nominate an exceptional learner who mentors others and shines like a STAR by 28 July.

Register events

Open days, come and try sessions, online classes, awards ceremonies – whatever activities you have planned for Adult Learners Week, register your events on our website to have them promoted nationally.

Be an early bird and win a cash prize

Organisations which register their events before 4 August can win 1 of 20 $200 prizes to cover costs.

ALW Best events

Three events will win $1000 after Adult Learners Week.

Nominate a learner

Stories about students whose lives have been turned around by adult education are inspirational to others.

Nominate an adult learner with an inspiring story for an Adult Learners Week scholarship before 22 August.

Nominee stories will be shared across social media and winners will be announced during Adult Learners Week.

Check out the Adult Learners Week website and Facebook page

Find ideas, tips, and tools for sharing and making your #ALW2025 celebration a success.

www.adultlearnersweek.org

www.facebook.com/adultlearnerswk/

The post Adult Learners Week 30th anniversary – celebrate learning together appeared first on Adult Learning Australia.

The Walking Words Literacy Trail is the latest initiative to be developed by a community committed to “creating a space where everyone who wants to learn, can”. This interactive walking trail pairs words with images and uses fun activities to both improve literacy and increase community awareness of the importance of literacy and numeracy.

Around 8000 people live in the Circular Head area, which covers about 5000 km2 and includes the main town of Smithton and the well-known tourist town of Stanley. Several key Tasmanian industries operate in the area, including beef processor Greenham and building supplier Ta Ann. Both bring workers to the area from non-English speaking backgrounds, many of whom face challenges with literacy and numeracy.

“We hear from a lot of employers who tell us that low literacy is having an impact on their employees’ abilities to do their jobs,” says Kate Grey, 26TEN community coordinator.

In 1999, the Circular Head Education and Training Consultative Committee (CHETCC) – an alliance of community, industry, and council – started working to promote lifelong learning. In 2019, this work led to the area becoming one of four Australian members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (the others are Wyndham and Melton in Victoria and Canning in Western Australia).

People within the Circular Head community can now take part in a range of learning programs to suit their interests and needs – for work, for school, to make social connections, or just for fun.

In her role, Kate has guided the Literacy Trail to life and recently oversaw the launch of a new Literacy Action Plan, which strongly encourages people to consider learning regardless of their circumstances.

“It doesn’t matter if you missed a lot of school or went to university, there’s always something new to learn if you’re willing to give it a go. You don’t have to love reading or be a maths wiz, there will be different ways to get involved and places to learn,” she said.

Kate moved to Circular Head 16 years ago after studying community development and is now using the extensive networks she built to link people into literacy and numeracy programs.

A community connection brought a young learner to Kate who was struggling with a lack of literacy skills. Kate connected Jenna Eastwood into literacy and numeracy programs run by Libraries Tasmania’s Adult Literacy Service and is thrilled by how well she has moved through these programs and built a new level of confidence.

For Jenna, it’s the one-on-one contact that makes adult learning so different to her schooling, where she struggled as a “very, very afraid child” to put her hand up and get the help she needed.

“Everyone here is so lovely and always happy to have a chat and really get to know you, as well as help you to learn,” she said.

Starting with learning how to improve her reading and writing skills, Jenna then moved on to numeracy and is now planning to learn sign language. “I have excelled a lot quicker than everyone expected me too,” Jenna said.

“Stories like Jenna’s and the impact of lifelong learning are what makes my job pretty special,” Kate said. Kate says she meets people of all ages and stages of life who need support to improve their literacy skills.

“We are also seeing that the COVID period is having an ongoing impact on young people who missed out on developing some of the basic skills during that period. This is now having an impact on being able to get into training or gain certificates to be able to enter the workforce.”

Kate is about to start a project with local rural health services to run literacy awareness sessions, with a focus on health literacy. “Not having health literacy skills can have life-changing impacts so we’ll be talking about what is needed to address adult literacy and what they can do as health providers.”

Over the next 18 months, Kate will continue to oversee the development of the Walking Words Literacy trail – which is now attracting visitors from around Tasmania, interstate and overseas.

Produced in conjunction with local artist, Hannah Bruce, the trail is located along the local scenic river trail, which includes running behind the McCain Foods factory. McCains main ingredient, potatoes, provided the inspiration for the initial stage of the trail – a variation of the “Simon Says” game called “Spud Says”. Some 17 spud-based characters encourage people of all ages to read through different, fun activities.

Other stages include I Spy and Find the Bone sections alongside a large dog park. Massive paw prints call people to count as they move along. Several stages are still to come including sections based around colour and Auslan. An Indigenous languages section, being designed in collaboration with the local Aboriginal Corporation, will feature local animals and their Indigenous names.

As Kate says: “You’re never too old or too young to learn. We can learn by ourselves, with someone to lend a hand, or in small groups. We can all learn for life!”

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