Each year Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the important role adult and community education plays in reducing the risk of long-term unemployment.
Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham and Federal Member for Hindmarsh Matt Williams launched the twentieth Adult Learners’ Week noting the theme for this year’s Adult Learners’ Week is ‘unlocking learning’ with a focus on life-long learning for everyone.
“Learning is one way of increasing people’s capacity to work by providing the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to successfully enter, remain in, or return to work,” Senator Birmingham said.
“Adult Learners’ Week promotes life-long learning, which supports improved workforce participation and productivity for adults through increased participation in education and training. It is celebrated nationally through activities that raise awareness of adult education and promote participation in further learning.”
Matt Williams said whether you want to learn new skills or change careers, access to education is vital to a socially inclusive, productive and innovative Australia.
“It is never too late to start learning or to try something new, whether for personal interest or enjoyment, if you want to look at changing careers, develop new skills to build on your existing career, or to address foundation literacy and numeracy skills,” he said.
Senator Birmingham said no Australian should be left behind when it comes to literacy and numeracy, and Adult Learners’ Week plays an important role in raising awareness of issues such as low literacy and numeracy skills among Australia’s adult population.
“I encourage everyone to get involved in Adult Learners’ Week activities to help raise awareness of literacy and numeracy issues, learn new skills, and explore the opportunities out there for further learning.”
Further details can be found at:www.adultlearnersweek.org.
Media contact: Caitlin Keage 0427 729 987 (Birmingham)
Daniel Forbes 0447 476 497 (Williams)