About ACFE
Adult, Community and Further Education Board
The Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board is a statutory authority under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. Its role is to plan and promote adult learning, allocate resources, develop policies, and advise the Minister for Higher Education and Skills on matters related to adult education in Victoria.
Through the Board, the Victorian Government provides funding to community-based organisations, known as Learn Local organisations, and two adult education institutions, the CAE and AMES, for delivery of education and training programs to a broad range of Victorians over compulsory school-leaving age - young people, older people, people with special needs, people from diverse cultural backgrounds – with a special focus on people who have had limited prior access to education.
Programs are designed to be flexible to meet learners’ needs and support them to return to study, improve their literacy and numeracy skills, gain a qualification, broaden their employment options and learn new skills. As part of the wider Vocational Education and Training sector, Learn Local organisations deliver programs in a range of industry sectors and across the spectrum of qualification levels.
Learn Local organisations provide a unique, community-based context for learning. They have a genuine focus on the individual needs of learners and the flexibility to meet their learning requirements. For this reason Learn Local is particularly suited to meeting the needs of adult learners of all ages who wish to undertake programs that assist them to gain qualifications and employment.
Learn Local organisations are governed by voluntary committees of management whose members are drawn from the local community. They may be small operations with a particular education focus such as basic literacy, or larger, more complex organisations offering programs ranging from basic education to diploma-level qualifications.
The community basis and diversity of the organisations is one of the great strengths of Learn Local. There are more than 320 Learn Local organisations spread across Victoria. These organisations are often the only access point for adults to learning in the area.
The Board works jointly with the Victorian Skills Commission whose responsibilities include further education in TAFE Institutes, to plan the overall direction and delivery of further education in Victoria. The Board also works with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
The Board is supported by the ACFE Division located within the Office for Skills Victoria.
ACFE Board membership
The Board has 12 members, including a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. Members of the Board are appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Higher Education and Skills. The composition of the Board reflects the breadth and diversity of adult education in the community and its links with government, industry and the community sector.
View current members of the ACFE Board.
ACFE Regional Councils
The ACFE Board has eight Regional Councils across Victoria, each with nine voluntary members who are appointed by the Minister for Higher Education and Skills.
The role of the Regional Councils is to:
• provide expertise and local knowledge about adult education needs
• advise the ACFE Board on regional priorities
• implement plans and policies that promote and support adult education provision
• recommend resource allocations to Learn Local organisations in their regions in line with priorities and guidelines established by the ACFE Board.
View current members of the Regional Councils.
The ACFE Regional Councils are supported by the eight ACFE Regional Offices located across Victoria.
Membership to the ACFE Board and a Regional Council
When vacancies arise on the Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board or on one of the eight Regional Councils of ACFE the Minister for Higher Education and Skills will call for expressions of interest.
If you would like to be notified of when the next round of nominations will be sought please email acfe@edumail.vic.gov.au with your contact details.
People with a vision for Learn Local education and training and a willingness to contribute to discussions and processes which will enhance the provision of adult education in the community are invited to apply.
People with experience in other stakeholder groups with an interest in Learn Local education and training, including industry and business, local government, community services organisations and youth agencies, are also encouraged to express interest.
Expressions of interest are encouraged from all members of the community including women, Indigenous people, young people, people with special needs and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
For more information on both the activities of the ACFE Board and ACFE Regional Councils and the Learn Local sector take a look at the latest ACFE Board Annual Report.
Download
Information and application form for membership of the ACFE Board (DOC, 374 KB)
Information and application form for membership of an ACFE Regional Council (DOC, 368.5 KB)