How to get involved
There are many ways in which you can become involved with learning and there are a number of places you can do it. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- community education centres (e.g. Adult and Community Education centres, Community colleges, WEAs (Workers Education Association)
- neighbourhood houses
- telecentres
- community centres
- evening classes at high school and senior colleges
- libraries (local and state)
- University of the Third Age (U3A) centres and U3A Online
- book clubs
- community action groups (e.g. Landcare, clean river groups, Amnesty International)
- community safety or support groups (e.g. first aid organisations, state emergency services, disability support groups, Lifeline, local P&C groups);
- visitor based institutions (e.g. museums, zoos, botanic gardens, galleries, historic homes, discovery centres, keeping places, heritage villages... Such places offer opportunities for learning either as a visitor or as a voluntary guide)
- societies, cultural organisations, clubs and associations (e.g. hobby clubs, historical societies, arts societies, the Country Women's Association (CWA), Council on the Ageing (COTA), Rotary, Lions Clubs, choirs, and community art groups)
- religious organisations and charities
- private tutors and training colleges
- TAFE colleges and universities
- Online or e-learning (learning over the Internet)
- correspondence or lifelong learning courses on the television or radio (eg. The ABC's lifelong learning programs or community radio programs)
- workplace training (e.g. professional development courses, conferences, apprenticeships/traineeships, accredited workplace training, language and literacy).
To find out about the learning opportunities that are available to you, you could:
- look in the Yellow Pages under 'O' for 'Organisations'
- ask a friend or colleague
- look in your local or community newspaper
- contact your local council or explore your local council's website
- look for flyers on noticeboards at your local council, library, health centre or shopping centre
- watch out for brochures in your mail box or in your newspaper
- ask your personnel office or manager at work, or ask at a Centrelink office or employment agency
- call the Adult Learners' Week phoneline 1300 303 212 (for the cost of a local call)
- have a look at the Adult Learners' Week event calendar
- check out our list of links to adult learning courses, providers and directories.