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This Senate Inquiry was the first national account of adult and community education (ACE) since the 1944 Universities Commission Report by W. G. K. Duncan. Its terms of reference were to: (1) examine and describe existing policies and practices in ACE; (2) consider the impact of current demographic, economic and social change on patterns of ACE, on education providers and on education funding; (3) identify barriers to participation in ACE; (4) examine the educational, employment and personal outcomes of participation in ACE; (5) consider the training and supply of adult and community educators; and (6) recommend policies, strategies and processes to provide a coherent approach to the provision of ACE and to enhance its role and contribution. The Inquiry report investigated the nature and extent of education and training beyond the conventional formal structures and systems. It formally recognised ACE as the fourth sector of education and highlighted a number of significant features that differentiate ACE from other sectors, including: its philosophy and operations promote lifelong learning in ways other sectors cannot; it is predominantly a user pays sector; it is flexible; it enables the clients to enter and leave as they require; it is non-compulsory; and it plays an important role in giving people a 'second chance' to overcome skill deficiencies and remedy shortcomings in previous formal education and training.

A follow-up report, 'Beyond Cinderella: towards a learning society', which looked at the structural and policy changes at Commonwealth level in adult education since this Inquiry, is indexed at TD/LMR 85.645. Show less