History

As one of the largest Adult Education Centres in non-metropolitan Australia it caters on average of 12,000 people annually through a broad range of learning activities. The Continuing Education Centre has been planning, implementing and evaluating adult education programs for over 3 decades.

English as a Second Language - 21 years as the largest provider of ESL in the region.

Early school leavers - 17 years developing innovative responses to the needs of young people and Adult Year 12.

Adult Literacy - 21 years of accredited and non-accredited delivery.

People with a Disability - 16 years of innovation in supporting access to Mainstream programs.

Unemployed/Youth Programs - 20 years of training and assistance.

Aged - Creative Learners and U3A program for 26 years.

Over the years the Continuing Education Centre has maintained a unique position as a cross border Education provider, registered in Victoria and New South Wales as an ACE provider and RTO. The Continuing Education Centre supports other smaller Victorian rural towns with Affiliated Centres who maintain their local autonomy. The Continuing Education Centre works with a wide range of education providers, community and government agencies and links with community services providing a holistic network of delivery and referral.

Building upon the extensive history and experience of the past the Continuing Education Centre has under taken an extensive renewal process to establish a sound and innovative base to enter the new millennium.

Development of programs and systems of outstanding quality which have influenced the provision and practice of adult education and learning.

  • Development of a National Award Winning Program for Access Learning, a program which has been maintained as a mainstream program to support people with disabilities within the Continuing Education Centre.
  • Development of FARMS, an innovative program which delivers Childcare to farmers in Rural areas, in venue and on farm. Following a three-year pilot this program is being replicated across Victoria and NSW.
  • Response by Mobile Childcare to operate childcare in the Bandiana Safe Haven for Kosovo refugees, dealing with children and parents suffering from trauma.
  • Development and achievement of ACE Quality Award. Continuing Education Centre Board of Directors policies cited as Best Practice in NSW and Victoria. Successful achievement at AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) Standards in 2004.
  • Continuing Education Centre is a charter member of the Learning City project of Albury Wodonga. It participates, as a foundation committee member, in promulgating the advantages of lifelong and community-wide learning to the community and region of Albury Wodonga. It is a committee member and annually promotes Adult Learning Week as well as the Learning City concept.
  • Continuing Education Centre is the host venue and manager of a cooperative venture, Learning Connections, which promotes and provides access to information about learning, education and career providers in the local and wider community.

Significant innovation in curriculum design, methodology or delivery modes of Training.

  • Development of flexible workplace delivery of Accredited courses in large firms (some programs for staffing of 30 or more) and for small businesses since 1999.
  • In 2004, introduced new flexible and blended methods of learning in offering over 300 online and distance education courses. Further e-learning and e-business initiatives to be developed during 2005-2007.
  • Development of flexible delivery for literacy students, in particular materials for farmers and part time/casual workers.
  • Provision of advisory service to business and industry on literacy needs.
  • Development of innovative programs for young people, including students at risk of leaving school, young offenders and early school leavers

Outstanding teaching practice, determined by significant outcomes over a period of time for learners.

  • English as a Second Language programs have been maintained as the largest program in the region, with extensive demand from refugees.
  • Second chance literacy and accredited literacy have been maintained and developed to meet the growing needs of not only adults but also young people and people with a disability for functional literacy.
  • Community programs have been maintained and grown, extending access through use of many community venues.
  • Review and redevelopment of the Adult VCE has resulted in the Continuing Education Centre becoming the largest provider of Adult Year 12 in rural and regional Victoria.
  • Extensive programs for older people (School for Seniors, Creative Learners) and expansion of the University of the Third Age.

Influence on policy and provision beyond the provider.

  • Continuing Education Centre has maintained support for Adult Learning Australia with staff successfully nominating to the National Executive and contributing 2 Presidents.
  • Secondment of staff member to become National GST Coordinator for ACE (ALA).
  • In past years staff or Directors have been regional representatives on the State Association, contributing 2 Executive Officers, 3 Presidents.
  • Staff and Directors have represented the sector on State and Regional Advisory Committees and Boards over the past years

Significant contribution to the professional development of adult and community educators.

  • Since 1998 the Continuing Education Centre has run extensive programs in Workplace Training and Assessment (Certificate IV and Diploma), i,e. Red Cross, Army, TAFE, Neighbourhood Houses.
  • In 1998 an extensive program "Resourcing Women" was run as a professional development activity for a wide range of organisations and Neighbourhood Houses.
  • In 1999 the Graduate Certificate in Front Line Management was run for staff in ACE Providers and the Regional Council across the Riverina.
  • The Continuing Education Centre contributes extensively to various regional, state and national peak bodies.

Outstanding achievement in running programs of excellence in an efficient and effective manner.

The Continuing Education Centre has developed a leadership style, which is quite demanding. The goals for the organisation are broad to enable quick responses to needs as they are expressed across the community. As a community based provider the Continuing Education Centre has faced difficult challenges over the past five years: shrinking funding base, higher levels of reporting and accountability, increased need and poverty in the community and significant gaps appearing in the education system. The Continuing Education Centre has taken on these challenges, responding with both innovation and vigour to greet the coming years ahead.