Adult and community education: Performance trends: ACE data and outcomes: 2001 to 2005

The full extent of the Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector's contribution to human and social development in Australia remains unknown largely due to a lack of reliable, valid and comparable data on ACE activities and outcomes. The NCVER and State and Territory authorities collect some data on ACE outcomes mainly from public funded VET and non-VET activities – data that complies with the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS). ACE delivers a lot more than what is funded through public sources. There is compelling and anecdotal evidence indicative of ACE's assistance in re-engaging with learning and training, and initiating pathways to more training or employment. However, NCVER's own data suggests that up to one half of the total number of people who participate in ACE are excluded. For example, the NCVER (2002) estimated total ACE activity of between 1.1 to 1.3 million people in 2000; yet only 477,800 students were reported in the national VET data collection in that year. To gain a better understanding of activities and outcomes of the ACE sector, Adult Learning Australia funded a small project to collect more current and comprehensive data. This paper presents key findings from this project and recommends possible next steps for further data collection.