Adult Learners’ Week is an opportunity for organisations that offer any form of adult learning activity to either present a special promotional activity or to label their existing learning activities as ‘Adult Learners’ Week’ events.

If your organisation offers any form of learning - for example, courses, classes, lectures, exhibitions, tours, training programs, tutoring, discussion groups - then you should use Adult Learners’ Week as an opportunity to celebrate and promote what you do to the wider community.

You could hold an open day, set up a display in a shopping centre, host a learning expo, present demonstrations or performances .… anything that offers members of the local community an opportunity to find out where you are and what you do.

For more information click here

For individuals and learners

In Australia there are thousands of opportunities to become involved with learning and each year millions of Australians participate in a learning activity.

For more information click here

Do I need permission to present an Adult Learners’ Week event?

No. You can simply plan your event and enter it in the national online calendar of events.

To enter an event on the national online calendar click here

What help is available to me in planning my Adult Learners’ Week activities?

In each state there is an Adult Learners’ Week Coordinator who can assist in your preparations for the Week. For example, you may be able to apply for a grant to assist in the cost of staging your event, and many states offer awards for learners, providers and programs. For contact details of ALW Coordinators in your state or territory click here

There is also a National Coordination team at Adult Learning Australia who manage the Adult Learners’ Week website, co-ordinate national activities and provide advice and support for all coordinators of Adult Learners’ Week events.

The Adult Learners’ Week website contains all the latest information about Adult Learners’ Week including planning advice and updates. Kits are available to help you organise local activities as part of national initiatives.

How can I promote my Adult Learners’ Week activities?

State and Territory Coordinators: Contact your state Adult Learners' Week coordinator to see how you can become part of the promotion of events occurring locally. Go to the Adult Learners' Week website to find out the contact details for the coordinator in your state. For contact details of ALW Coordinators in your state or territory click here

Free online calendar: The national Adult Learners’ Week website features a calendar where you can enter and promote your Adult Learners’ Week events free of charge. This calendar is the main tool through which members of the general public and the media find out about Adult Learners’ Week activities. To enter an event on the national online calendar click here

Logos and flier templates: A blank A4 flier template is available for use in the production of photocopied fliers. You can also download the Adult Learners’ Week logo and icons from the website. To download logos and icons click here

Poster: A full-colour poster is available for display in the lead up to and during Adult Learners’ Week activities. To download the posters or other materials click here

What does “Sign Up Now” mean?

There are no forms or applications needed to sign up.

All you have to do is promote and present an Adult Learners’ Week event or just simply attend an Adult Learners’ Week (ALW) event in your area during September 1 - 8.

You can even register for the ALW e-Newsletter online. Information about events and other ALW activities will be forwarded to your email address.

For more information on how to “Sign Up Now” click here

I know someone who does not have access to the Internet or Email …how can they contact someone for more information?

Even if you do not have access to the Internet or Email you can call our National Hotline on 1300 I LEARN (1300 453 276) for the cost of a local call. An operator may ask you for your contact details and your information will be sent to an Adult Learners’ Week Coordinator who will contact you and provide you with more information.

How do I apply for an Adult Learners’ Week grant?

Most States and Territories offer grants to assist learning providers and community organisations to promote and present Adult Learners’ Week events.

For more information about grants that may be offered in your State or Territory click here

How do I nominate an organisation or individual for an Adult Learners’ Week Award?

Most States and Territories run an Adult Learners’ Week Award Program to recognise and celebrate the achievements of learning providers and individual learners.

If you know of any learning organisation, community group or individual that you feel has made a significant contribution to adult learning and/or continue to achieve in learning new skills we encourage you to nominate them for an Adult Learners’ Week Award.

For more information about Awards that may be offered in your State or Territory click here

I am having difficulty adding an event to the online calendar ….. can I get help?

Yes. You can talk to or email the ALW National Coordinator or the ALW Coordinator in your State or Territory. We will assist you to get your event on the online calendar.

For information on contact details click here

I need to change the details of my Adult Learners’ Week event. How do I edit the event on the ALW online calendar?

Yes. An ALW event organiser can edit the details of their event on the online calendar. When you registered your event you should have received an ‘event key’ contained in an email delivered to your nominated email address. Enter your ‘event key’ in the box provided and click ‘Edit”. You can change any of your details on the event template page; and please do save your changes before leaving the website.

If you do not remember your ‘event key’ you can retrieve this by entering the email address you supplied when you first entered details of the event. Enter your email address in the box provided and click “Retrieve Key”. The ‘event key’ will be sent to your nominated email address.

For more information about editing or amending ALW; or if you need to retrieve your ‘event key’ click here

How do I find an Adult Learners’ Week event nearest to me?

You can visit the online events calendar which has information about hundreds of activities and events across Australia.

You can search by entering your state or territory, or region; or simply just enter the postcode of the city or town you live in and easily locate events within 20, 50, 100 and 200kms of your location.

To search the online calendar click here

How do I find an adult and community education or learning provider nearest to me?

Many people wish to continue their education and there are hundreds of learning providers across Australia who can assist you with finding a course or program that suits your individual learning needs.

For a list of learning providers in your state or territory click here

For more useful links about learning in the community click here

I am having trouble with reading and writing …. who can I talk to?

Many Australians have trouble with their reading or writing skills.

You are not alone.

Help is just one phone call away.

Call the Reading Writing Hotline on 1300 6555 06 to get help now.

For more information about the Reading Writing Hotline click here

I am too old to learn …. or am I?

No matter how old we are - we learn everyday.

Technology is moving at a rapid pace and we understand that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with the ever changing world we live in.

Sometimes we feel left out because we do not understand the Internet, Emails or SMS messages (text messages on mobile phones). Maybe, you would like to complete a University accredited course, but feel that you cannot “fit in” with the “younger crowd”.

There are many opportunities for learners of any age.

University of the Third Age (U3A) has specially designed courses and programs for mature age learners; and there are hundreds of learning providers across Australia that either can help you with the new advances in technology or assist you in finding a course or program that will suit your individual learning needs.

For information about U3A click here

For a list of learning providers in your state or territory click here

To read about inspirational stories of mature age learners click here

I would like to know more about different types of literacy ….. are there any resources available?

Literacy is an important part of our everyday life – in the community, home and workplace.

We understand that the fundamental skills of reading, writing and arithmetic (the 3R’s) are essential basic learning principles; however there are numerous types of literacy that can help us to gain more knowledge and skills; and help us with everyday life and learning in the workplace.

For more information about different types of literacies click here