Planning pathways for women from adult community education to vocational education and training

Women make up the large majority of participants in Adult Community Education (ACE) programs. Equity of access to Vocational Education and Training (VET) for women in Australia is dependant on the existence of pathways between ACE and accredited VET courses. Large numbers of women participate in ACE, and the link between ACE and formal VET is a vital component for achieving the aims of the National Women's VET Strategy. The aim of this project was to investigate and document 'models or practices in states and territories that provide formal or informal pathways, linkages or articulation from non-accredited adult and community education programs to accredited programs of vocational education and training'. The project was to report on the findings on ACE-VET pathways, for women in ACE generally and with specific reference to the equity target priority groups of women identified in the national Strategy and to produce a print resource which could be used by providers to develop pathways. Part 1 outlines the objectives and methodology of the project. Part 2 describes research on pathways and discusses issues of equity, funding and competition. Part 3 outlines models of pathway planning, community development models and path to employment models. Part four explores the factors promoting pathway development in ACE, provides principles for planning pathways and some issues for consideration. Show less