Purpose of these guidelines
The information provided in these guidelines has been developed to assist Learn Local providers, AMES Australia and the CAE in planning and implementing delivery of ACFE program training in 2025.
What’s new in 2025
- Regional loading increase to 25 per cent
- Introduction of Koorie access fee waiver
- Koorie protocols and principles supporting self-determination
- New locally developed modules in 2025 should use PQF+ templates
ACFE Board priorities for 2025 delivery
The Board’s strategic training priorities include:
- allocation of pre-accredited training funds, based on demographic data and the Board’s strategic objectives
- design and delivery of pre-accredited modules to people who have experienced educational disadvantage.
The priorities are outlined in the:
- ACFE Board Strategy 2020–2025
- Ministerial Statement on the Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020–25.
The priorities are demonstrated by the funded pre-accredited modules.
ACFE Board
Statutory body
The ACFE Board is a statutory authority under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Role
- plan and promote adult learning
- allocate resources
- develop policies
- advise the Minister for Skills and TAFE on matters related to adult education in Victoria
Funding
Through the ACFE Board, the Victorian Government funds the following entities to deliver education and training programs to a broad range of Victorians over compulsory school leaving age, with a special focus on people who have had limited prior access to education:
- Learn Local providers, AMES Australia and CAE.
ACFE Board strategy 2020–25
The ACFE Board Strategy 2020–25 is the primary means to implement the Ministerial Statement on the Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020–25.
The Strategy responds to:
- trends and challenges in the Learn Local sector, including changes in learner needs
- changing modes of skills acquisition
- changes in place-based models
- changes in industry and the nature of work
- policy and regulatory changes at the state and Commonwealth Government levels
- changes in society more generally.
Above all, it reflects the right of people to access core education and training.
Allocation of resources
There are fixed, limited funding resources for pre-accredited training delivery.
The ACFE Board aims to equitably distribute these government funds across the state to each of the 8 Regional Council areas:
- Barwon South Western
- Eastern Metropolitan
- Gippsland
- Grampians
- Hume
- Loddon Mallee
- North Western Metropolitan
- Southern Metropolitan.
This distribution of resources is determined by a demographically driven formula based on current Census data, moderated by demonstrated demand and provider capacity to deliver.
The resource allocation model reflects 2021 Census data. It entails redistribution of some resources among regions.
Allocations may shift over time according to need backed by data. However, every attempt is made to manage this in a sensitive way.
This formula incorporates weightings for:
- the Regional Council area’s share of Victorian working age population (people aged 15 to 69 who are not in school education, and who have not achieved a Certificate III or greater education)
- the proportion of the Regional Council area population experiencing educational disadvantage.
ACFE Regional Councils
The 8 ACFE Regional Councils were established in line with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Using their different expertise and local knowledge about adult education, Regional Councils advise the ACFE Board on the needs of adult education across their region.
They also contribute to statewide planning and policy development and advocate on behalf of the ACFE sector.
Regional Council areas
ACFE regional boundaries
Loddon Mallee region
Comprises Mildura, Gannawarra, Loddon, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander, Swan Hill, Buloke, Campaspe, Greater Bendigo and Macedon Ranges.
Grampians region
Comprises Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.
Barwon South Western region
Comprises Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Greater Geelong, Moyne, Surf Coast, South Grampians and Warrnambool.
Hume region
Comprises Moira, Indigo, Alpine, Benalla, Strathbogie, Murrindindi, Wodonga, Towong, Wangaratta, Greater Shepparton, Mitchell and Mansfield.
Gippsland region
Comprises East Gippsland, Wellington, Baw Baw, La Trobe, South Gippsland and Bass Coast.
ACFE metropolitan boundaries
North and West
Western metropolitan comprises Melton, Wyndham, Brimbank, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melbourne.
Northern metropolitan comprises Hume, Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Moreland, Darebin, Banyule and Yarra.
Eastern
Eastern comprises Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Shire of Yarra.
Southern
Southern comprises Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Stonnington.
Role of providers
Learn Local providers are among Victoria’s most valuable community assets, improving the lives and prospects of many Victorians, and playing a positive role in strengthening local economies and communities.
The Learn Local sector is an essential part of Victoria’s post-compulsory education system. It plays 4 crucial roles in supporting learners to enter and succeed in further study and employment, as outlined in the ACFE Board Strategy 2020–25 (page 8).
Role of the ACFE unit
The ACFE Unit sits within Skills and Employment, in the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (‘the department’).
In relation to this contract, it:
- manages the procurement of student contact hours, within parameters set by the ACFE Board
- executes and monitors contracts with providers within the delegations set by the ACFE Board
- makes regular reports to the ACFE Board on progress towards targets set in contracts and on broader strategic priorities.
The department conducts a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process to procure training delivery.
Purpose of government subsidised pre-accredited training
Primary purpose
Pre-accredited training provides opportunities for adult learners in Victoria to gain the educational capacity and core skills they need for study, work and life.
Core skills are defined in the Ministerial Statement on the Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020–25 as:
- language
- literacy
- numeracy
- employability
- digital skills
(LLNED).
Through the ACFE Board, the Victorian Government funds adult community education providers for delivery of education and training programs to a broad range of Victorians above compulsory school age and seeking to enhance their educational capacity and core skills.
Pre-accredited modules (courses)
Pre-accredited modules are short modules that focus on creating pathways for learners to further education, training and employment. They are:
- unique
- distinct from accredited training programs
- with their own module and session plans.
Design principles
Pre-accredited modules are designed to be:
- flexible
- meet learners’ needs and support their return to study
- improve their English language, literacy, numeracy, employability and digital skills
- improve qualification pathways and broaden employment options.
Contracted providers are expected to deliver pre-accredited modules aligned to one or more of the 4 objectives outlined in the ACFE Board Strategy 2020–25. See the role of the Learn Local sector on page 8 of the ACFE Board Strategy 2020–25.
Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practices and Protocols
As part of the Self-determination in Learn Local Koorie Education Initiative, the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc (VAEAI), in partnership with the ACFE Board, has developed a set of protocols that formalises an equal partnership between communities and between cultures. The protocols ensure Koorie voices are involved in strategies for engaging and delivering training to Koorie learners.
The protocols support Learn Local providers to:
- better meet the needs of Koorie learners and communities
- practically assist Learn Locals to provide culturally safe and supportive learning environments and include Koorie perspectives in curriculum
- further strengthen the ongoing partnership between VAEAI and ACFE.
The Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practices and Protocols are available via the VAEAI website.
Learn Local providers can also access the protocols via the Learn Local secure portal and limited numbers of hard copies can be ordered via the Learn Local printing portal.
A hard-copy of the Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practice and Protocols and a poster has been sent to all Learn Local providers.
VAEAI will run information sessions in Semester 2 2024, to support the implementation of the protocols by Learn Local providers.
Pre-accredited Quality Framework (PQF)
The Pre-accredited Quality Framework (PQF), launched in 2013, ensures quality and continuous improvement in pre-accredited modules by supporting module:
- planning and development
- delivery
- review.
It provides Learn Locals with evidence-based tools and guides that outline the quality practices and processes underpinning pre-accredited training.
The PQF is being updated to PQF+.
Learn Locals can continue to include existing locally developed modules aligned to the 2013 PQF in their delivery plans for 2025.
PQF+
The PQF+ delivery model is being developed through the ACFE Board’s Stronger by Design (SbD) initiative.
Terminology:
- ‘Stronger by Design’ is the ACFE Board initiative, including the pilot program with Learn Local providers
- ‘PQF+’ are the updated tools, templates and resources supporting the Stronger by Design initiative.
The model aims to improve the quality and consistency of pre-accredited training for Victorian adults with low capability in the domains of language, literacy and numeracy as well as employability and/or digital skills (LLNED).
More information on settings for 2025 will be provided at a later date.
2025 will be another transition year for PQF+ templates and resources
As a transition year, 2025 delivery will continue to comprise a mix of existing locally developed and PQF+ modules.
All providers can access:
- new PQF+ professional development modules
- face to face workshops
- support from PQF+ Learn Local mentors, to build their understanding of the new templates and tools.
The ACFE Board will subsidise 2 staff from every Learn Local to complete the new professional development, and the program will continue into 2025 to ensure new Learn Local staff have opportunities to participate in the program.
Providers can access the professional development and resources via the Learn Local secure portal.
Some providers have already developed and delivered new PQF+ modules as participants in SbD pilot groups.
Centrally developed pre-accredited modules
Centrally developed PQF+ modules are made available on the Learn Local secure portal for all providers to use. These quality assured curriculum products are a mix of:
- Learn Local provider developed
- ACFE Board-Learn Local provider co-designed
- Curriculum products privately developed and purchased by the ACFE Board.
These products were developed under the PQF+ and have been subject to the ACFE Board’s quality assurance process (see links under the Programs available section).
Learn Local providers should review and use or adapt the centrally developed resources on the Learn Local secure portal as a first consideration when planning their EOI responses.
Centrally developed PQF+ modules can be adapted by up to 30% to suit local needs.
More than 30% change is a new locally developed PQF+ module.
There is guidance on adaptation of centrally developed modules in the PQF+ Planning Pre-accredited Learning module in the Learn Local secure portal.
The use of centrally developed modules minimises duplication of resources and increases use of quality assured modules.
Regional teams will review this during the assessment of delivery plans.
Learn Local provider developed pre-accredited modules
- New locally developed modules should use PQF+ templates. Training in the use of PQF+ templates is available online at the Learn Local secure portal.
- Existing locally developed modules using PQF 2013 templates can continue to be delivered in 2025.
- Structured independent learning is permissible but must not exceed 10% of total module hours and must be detailed in the module plan. This will be monitored in 2025.
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