MACE is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $50,000 for Mansfield Adult Community Education Centre to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as MACE to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the funding, in partnership with Swinburne University, will be used to develop a Facilitated Online Regional Learning Model to provide learners in the Hume Region with access to a three tiered degree program.
He said, “This is a fantastic initiative which will have many benefits for people in the Benalla Electorate, particularly our young people who wish to commence further education without having to initially relocate to a Melbourne or a larger regional centre.”
MACE CEO, Paul Sladdin said, “Learn Local organisations such as MACE are committed to providing access to learning opportunities for people in the Hume Region.
“This additional funding is welcome in that it will enable MACE to engage with Learn Local organisations to ensure the roll out of the Uni4U project which is aimed at increasing the participation rate in higher education for people in the Hume region.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Waminda is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $36,020 for Benalla’s Waminda Community House to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Waminda to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the money would be used to provide opportunities to Learn Local organisations to develop programs and products aimed at building capacity and increasing the participation and attainment of learners.
He said, “The funding for Waminda will help the organisation to position itself as a preferred provider for the socio economically disadvantaged neighbourhood of West Benalla.
“Waminda will undertake research and community consultation, develop volunteers and develop sound learning pathways.”
Waminda Coordinator, Bobbie Titcher said, “The project will also work toward building the capacity of Waminda to serve the local community by strengthening the organisation’s governance and operating systems and establish stronger partnerships with other community organizations.
“A partnership has also been developed with The Centre to assist in the development of educational programs in the local community.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

This week in Parliament, Member for Benalla Bill Sykes highlighted the important work done by the nationally recognised Beacon program and the involvement of Euroa Secondary College and local business people in the initiative.
Dr Sykes said, “Last week I joined local business people and community leaders at Euroa Secondary College to learn more about the Beacon program courtesy of student ambassadors Sierra Weston, Lewis Meeny, Emily Wallace and Byron Craven.”
Beacon’s programs support young people to develop a positive attitude to education, employment, themselves and the wider community. The not for profit organisation currently works with 120 schools Australia wide.
Dr Sykes told Parliament that during the Community Connections Event at Euroa Secondary College on Wednesday 21 March 2012 student ambassadors spoke about the Beacon program and what it meant to them.
Euroa Secondary College student Sierra Weston said, “The Beacon program helps students gain many valuable skills such as public speaking skills, networking skills and a knowledge of how to present yourself. I am very proud of the leadership skills I have developed through my involvement with Beacon.”
Lewis Meeny said, “The Beacon program presents students with a great opportunity to connect with local businesses and the community.”
He also said it had helped him gain more of an understanding of careers and pathways. Most of all, he said he has really enjoyed speaking to successful and interesting people in the community.
Emily Wallace said Beacon had helped her explore many different careers and industries, some of which she did not even know existed. She said being a Beacon ambassador at Euroa Secondary College has definitely helped develop her confidence. She now finds speaking to a roomful of people exciting rather than scary.
Byron Craven said, “The Beacon program benefits not only students and schools but also local businesses and the community by raising interest and giving students the opportunity to talk to business people and find out potential pathways into the careers they want to be involved in after secondary school.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “I encourage all Euroa and district businesses and community leaders to get on board and support the Beacon program in its work in encouraging young people to achieve to the max.
“Remember, it takes a village to raise a child.”

Individuals, organisations and businesses in the Benalla Electorate with an interest in workforce participation by people living with a mental illness are being encouraged to make a submission to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes encourages members of the community to submit to the inquiry being conducted by the Family and Community Development Committee, which was initiated by the Coalition Government delivering on its commitment to enhance workforce participation for Victorians with a mental illness.
Dr Sykes said, “One in five Australians have experienced some kind of mental illness in the past 12 months (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and that includes people living in rural Victoria. Many rural families are also carrying the emotional scars of 10 tough years of drought, fires and floods and whilst things have improved many people will still benefit from help.”
He said mental illness can be a significant barrier for workforce participation.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge said the inquiry aims to help make it easier for people with a mental illness to participate fully in the community.
“People with a mental illness face a range of challenges that often makes it harder for them to secure and hold down a job, with many facing discrimination,” Ms Wooldridge said.
The Coalition Government wants to significantly increase the employment rate of people with a mental illness. To achieve this goal, the Family and Community Development Committee, chaired by Southern Metropolitan MLC Ms Georgie Crozier, is considering:

a) evidence of the low rate of workforce participation of people with mental illness and the social and economic costs involved
b) identification of the barriers that people with mental illness experience in gaining and retaining employment
c) the respective roles of, and collaboration between, local, state and Commonwealth governments, business and community organisations in supporting the workforce participation of people with mental illness
d) the effectiveness of programs that aim to improve the workforce participation for people with mental illness, including best practice models
e) opportunities for tailoring education and vocational training for the needs of people with mental illness
f) effective measures to support employers to recruit, employ and retain people with mental illness
g) the role of mental health services, and general health and community services, in improving the workforce participation of people with mental illness.
Dr Sykes said, “Helping people suffering from a mental illness back into the workforce is an important way to aid recovery and to help people with a mental illness to lead active and fulfilling lives. I encourage people to make a submission if they have ideas about how to overcome the challenges faced by Victorians with a mental illness wanting to enter the workforce.”
Submissions are due by 11 November 2011, although extensions may be granted to ensure the individuals and organisations have an opportunity to provide their views to the Victorian Parliament.
For information, telephone (03) 8682 2843, or visit www.parliament.vic.gov.au/fcdc