Adult, Community and Further Education Board

Full description

The Adult, Community and Further Education Board was established by the Adult, Community and Further Education Act 1991. Its primary functions are to support and develop programs and services relating to community-based adult education across Victoria and to allocate resources and develop policies relating to adult, community and further education. It also promotes awareness of adult, community and further education throughout Victoria.

As a statutory body, the Board is responsible for allocating Government funding for adult, community and further education programs. Providers of these programs include Adult and Community Education Centres, Neighbourhood Houses, Community Centres, CAE (VA 1195), Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES), Training and Further Education (TAFE) institutes and private registered training organisations. The Board also works with the Victorian Qualifications Authority to ensure that adult, community and further education courses are properly recognised and accredited.

From its creation until 2006, the Board was part of the education portfolio (see for example, VA 3098, VA 4828, VA 4829). Its policies and programs were implemented through the Adult, Community and Further Education division of the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE).

Following the re-election of the Bracks Government in November 2006, the Board was transferred to the Department for Victorian Communities (VA 4562), under Administrative Arrangements Order No. 192 (Victorian Government Gazette S 317). The Board became part of the Local Government, Employment and Adult Education Division and reports to the Minister for Skills, Education Services and Employment.