Adult and Community Education (ACE) courses offer an informal learning experience. You can study at an introductory level.
ACE courses can help you expand your skills and knowledge or prepare for a possible career change. They will give you a sense of personal achievement. ACE courses can be used as bridges to further education and training. Some are accredited – that is, they can count towards formal qualifications.
Many ACE courses deal with subjects related to employment and business. They may or may not provide you with a formal qualification. But employers may still value them if they are related to your area of work.
ACE courses can help your career in many ways – here are nine of them:
1. Return to study
You may not feel confident in your ability to return to study. If so you can make the transition gently through short ACE courses. These will be offered in a learner-centred, part-time, non-competitive environment. Use ACE to explore new learning areas or to supplement your current or planned study.
2. English and literacy
Take an ACE course to improve your English and literacy skills. All levels are offered, from beginner to advanced. These courses can help you open up further study and work options.
3. Professional development
If you want to gain a promotion at work, you could take an ACE short courses in management, supervising people or computing. Some courses can count towards more substantial accredited programs at other education and training institutions. It’s worth talking to your employer about any course that you want to do. They may be able to help you with any payment or time issues.
4. Soft skills
All ACE courses help you develop useful skills for personal growth, work and life in the community. These include communication skills, interpersonal skills, time management and problem solving. These soft skills are highly valued by employers.
5. Business skills
To start and develop an enterprise, business people need to be skilled, capable and experienced in many areas. When their business grows, they must respond quickly to changes in the market. Business owners can’t always bring in staff with the right skills and knowledge. Devoting a few hours a week to a short ACT evening course, can help them upskill quickly. ACE providers train many, mainly self-employed, people, to run small businesses.
6. Career change
As a career changer, what careers are open to you? With ACE courses, you can explore fields both similar and different. For example, an administrator considering a career in accountancy might take a MYOB course. Or a homemaker can check out the finance industry by going to a seminar about the stock market.
7. Re-entering the workforce
An ACE course can be your stepping stone back into the workforce. If you’ve been away from the workforceThis link will open in a new window for a while, you might want to practise your communication and team skills. An ACE provider will offer a relaxed environment to do this. Some courses can help you build your vocational skills. You can demonstrate to potential employers your self-motivation and ability to commit to activities.
8. Life balance
A career is more than a job. It includes the skills, knowledge and experience you gain in your various life roles. You could take an ACE course focusing on leisure or community issues. You could pick a workshop that enables you to develop skills you do not use in your regular work.
9. Career portfolio
List in your career portfolio any ACE courses you’ve attended. Using this form of education shows that you can:
- learn
- be committed to completing tasks
- acquire skills and knowledge
- follow your interest in a field of study
- direct your own ongoing learning
- willingly grow as a person.
