Australian Learning Communities Network Inc. – Position Paper
Proposal for the development of Lifelong Learning Communities in Australia
Prepared by the Australian Learning Communities Network Inc
Proposal
This paper calls for an injection of government funds to form a partnership arrangement with Local Government to increase the number of life long learning communities through Australia as part of the Education Revolution.
It envisages a total sum of money (say $10 – 15 million) to be offered as seed funding allocations to local governments upon an expression of interest and based on certain reciprocal arrangements and plans to encourage their adoption of lifelong learning principles within their communities and to ensure continuation of the program after the withdrawal of Commonwealth funding.
Present situation
Currently there are about 35 communities within Australia that identify with the term Lifelong Learning Community or Learning Communities. The membership of the Australian Learning Communities Network embraces such communities. Approximately half of these are local governments (see attachment)
What do Learning Communities Do?
Learning communities bring learning, educational and training resources together in a range of partnerships to support local people more effectively and make communities more cohesive and sustainable.
A prime example is the Hume Global Learning Village, which is
“a network of people and organisations committed to improving learning opportunities in Hume. ‘The Village’ has over 420 members including schools, neighbourhood houses, TAFEs, universities, job support agencies, not-for-profit organisations, businesses, Visy Cares and community groups. Supported by Hume City Council, the HGLV creates the framework for community and businesses to build a culture of learning in Hume. It acts as a driving force to encourage and empower the people of Hume to embrace learning as a way of life, for all of their life.”
Another different example is the Mt Evelyn Learning Community in Victoria
Morrison house situated in Mt Evelyn, Victoria has been in operation for 30 years. Innovation is one of the cornerstones of Morrison House and one of the most profound innovations was the decision to support the creation of a learning community in 1999.
Morrison house spearheaded the development of The Township Committee who drive the learning community agenda, which includes the development of a township plan, the organisation of of township planning days, focus groups and forums to identify community needs and issues and facilitate partnerships that create responses to these identified areas.
Integral to this development has been the adoption of the lifelong learning philosophy arguing that both lifelong learning and community development are intrinsically linked. It is this belief that gave birth to Mt Evelyn becoming a Learning Town.
The strategic objectives of this move were to strengthen the community through building partnerships, developing skills by more closely identifying learning needs, and growing business by expanding networks, stimulating initiatives and improving the skills of employees.
Projects have included building parks, development of a Youth Enterprise program, creation of an urban design frame work, construction of a community café, a better business forum and development of a marketing plan for the retail area, a health forum for Men, creation of a family Violence education network.
These projects have been undertaken in partnerships which have included:
Churches schools, the community bank, police, the library, doctors, local government Community health centres.