FORUM 26 February 2010

1. FORUM 26 February 2010

2. Why Hold this Social Inclusion Forum? • To understand why we have a Social Inclusion Program - Policy context and ACE values • To create opportunities for improvements in programs, projects and practice • To understand requirements of the ACE Funding Agreement

3. Why we have a Social Inclusion Program Policy context and ACE values • MINISTERIAL COUNCIL FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONMinisterial Declaration on Adult Community EducationDecember 2008 • GOALS • ONE : Work together to strategically position ACE to deliver vocationally focused courses by optimising the contribution of community education and training providers towards increasing vocational education and training employment outcomes. • TWO : Optimise the capacity of community education and training providers to deliver vocationally focused courses, leading to increased workforce participation and building personal, social and economic capital. • THREE : Extend the participation of individuals in vocationally focused courses in ACE, which will enable individuals to participate in the labour market and lead active and productive lives. • FOUR : Demonstrate the quality of ACE outcomes in developing human and social capital.

4. National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development 2009 - 2012 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) • TARGETS – Long term (out to 2020) and aspirational • Halve the proportion of Australians ages 20-64 without qualifications at Certificate III level and above between 2009 and 2020. • Double the number of higher qualification completions (diploma and advanced diploma) between 2009 and 2020. • Provides funds for the ACE Program - • Now includes Indigenous funds previously received separately as IEP

5. OUTPUTS • The following outputs will act as a proxy to measure progress towards outcomes. • Number of enrolments in VET • Number of course completions in VET • Number of unit/module completions in VET • Number of course completions by Indigenous Australians in VET • Number of enrolments by Indigenous Australians in higher level vocational education and training qualifications

6. Australian Govt Social Inclusion Agenda • The Australian Government’s vision of a socially inclusive society is one in which all Australians feel valued and have the opportunity to participate fully in the life of our society. • Achieving this vision means that all Australians will have the resources, opportunities and capability to: • Learn, by participating in education and training • Work, by participating in employment or voluntary work, including family and carer responsibilities • Engage, by connecting with people, using local services and participating in local civic, cultural and recreational activities and • Have a voice, in influencing decisions that affect them.

7. 2010 ACE Social Inclusion Program • The 2010 Social Inclusion Program brings together elements of three previous programs run under the ACE Program including: • Equity Program • Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Program • Indigenous Education Program (IEP) • The purpose of the Social Inclusion Program is to promote and increase vocational education and training for those who experience barriers to training and employment.

8. Priorities for 2010 - 2012 will be for vocational education and training that: • is at Certificate III level or above or can demonstrate pathways to Certificate III and above and/or employment • increases enrolments and completions by Indigenous Australians in Certificate III and above • delivers successful completions for qualifications (qualification awarded) and/or unit of competency/module completions (pass or RPL granted) • is accredited language and literacy that can demonstrate pathways to vocational training, higher level language and literacy qualifications and/or employment.

9. Information on Policies • Information on the key policies that drive the ACE Social Inclusion Program can be found in the 2010 ACE Program Guidelines on the Netfirst site • www.ace.nsw.gov.au/netfirst • Login: ace • Password: pbz16

10. 2010 ACE Social Inclusion Program • 2010 Social Inclusion Projects • 149 project applications were received totaling nearly $13.5 million • College applications ranged from a total $71,000 to $1.9 million • 96 projects received funding at either requested or amended levels totaling $4.6 million

11. Requirements of the ACE Funding Agreement • Lessons Learnt • Target Groups • A large number of providers did not deliver the program for which they received funding or target the agreed target group. • SCH • A large number of providers did not deliver their contracted student contact hours. • Variations • Many providers did not request variations and changed their program without consultation. • Evaluation Reports • These were not always returned on time.

12. Lessons Learnt • Data Quality • Matching enrolment data to contracted delivery was often difficult. Most common errors were: • No VET flagging • Incorrect source funding code • Incorrect course coding • Students were not able to be identified as a member of the contracted target group • Additional Evidence • When the above was inadequate and additional evidence was sought there was a significant amount of poor evidence, especially on class rolls • Communication within colleges • “Did we have an equity program?”

13. IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS YOU MUST MEET • Key Performance Measures • Implemented to enable better reporting and adjustments to be made based on funding offered. • You will be asked to report against these measures by 31 May 2010 and 28 February 2011. Late responses may affect timing of grant payments.

14. Variations • Variations to the Key Performance Measures including target groups or training delivery will be considered where circumstances change to warrant this. HOWEVER variations MUST be approved by the ACE Unit in writing before changes are made. • Need a variation ? – Email the ACE Unit with a variation request that includes an amended Key Performance Measures Form and an explanation of why the change is required.

15. Student Contact Hour (SCH) Targets • SCH targets for SI Projects were identified in funding offers and confirmed in KPM forms. • Targets are for identified target groups for identified training.

16. Quality Data – • READ “ATTACHMENT A” OF THE • 2010 ACE PROGRAM FUNDING GUIDELINES • All SI funded provision MUST be recorded as “Funding Source- National” value “11”in the Enrolment (Nat 000120 File) • All Qualifications/courses MUST be VET delivery and VET flagged (Nat 00030 – Course File) • All Module/Unit of Competencies MUST be VET delivery and VET flagged (Nat 00060 – Module/Unit of Competency File) • All SI provision MUST be recorded in the Client file (Nat 00080) and Disability Identifier File (Nat 00090) to identify client background information • All class rolls and enrolment info MUST use the correct name for the unit/module/course.

17. Communication within Colleges • All official documentation (eg. Funding Agreements) and notifications (eg. General ACE emails) are sent to the Principal/ Executive Officers of the College. It is the college’s responsibility to inform the relevant staff within the college of ACE Program requirements and communications. • The ACE Unit will be contacting your nominated SI contact person when seeking information on Social Inclusion Projects. It is the College’s responsibility to notify the ACE Unit in writing if that contact changes.

18. Web Sites • ACE Web site for public information www.ace.nsw.gov.au • Site for information on ACE Programs for funded organisations only…called Netfirst • www.ace.nsw.gov.au/netfirst • Login: ace • Password : pbz16

19. Contacts in the ACE Unit • Social Inclusion Program • Kathryn Couttoupes, ACE Project Officer • Ph: 02 9289 9227 • E : kathryn.couttoupes@det.nsw.edu.au • Young People and Schools Project • Sue Outhwaite, ACE Project Officer • Ph: 02 9289 9126 • E : sue.outhwaite@det.nsw.edu.au