What is the NSW Adult and Community Education (ACE) Strategy?
The NSW Adult and Community Education (ACE) strategy provides a future vision for the NSW ACE sector between 2024 and 2028.
The Strategy was developed with contributions from a diverse range of stakeholders, including ACE providers, community services organisations, NSW government agencies, Australian government agencies, Community Colleges Australia, and various industry and peak representative organisations.
The sector's main role is to work within communities to help disadvantaged learners. ACE brings together people from different backgrounds, promoting social connection and a sense of belonging.
There are 31 ACE providers in NSW that receive funding to help the state's most vulnerable people access training. They offer pre-vocational and vocational courses as pathways to further education and jobs.
The Strategy includes six pillars:
- To strengthen the educational workforce.
- To enhance learning pathways.
- Optimising access to learning
- Strengthening partnerships to improve service to learners
- Improve sustainability of the sector.
- Increasing visibility to create awareness of the benefits and importance of ACE for learners.
Strategy purpose
The Strategy aims to strengthen the ACE sector and its ability to deliver training that is tailored to individual learner needs, better preparing them for further education, potential employment opportunities, and fuller participation in society.
Adult and Community Education (ACE) is a vital educational sector in Australia that focuses on providing foundational skills. Through accessible, community-based programs, ACE helps individuals improve their literacy, numeracy and digital skills, improving employment opportunities, further education, and participation in society.
Achievement and highlights from (2024-25)
Access to learning
- An additional 1,283 disadvantaged students commenced an ACE program compared to 2023-24.
- An additional 261 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students commenced an ACE program compared to 2023-24.
- 34 new Outreach Support staff were funded within NSW ACE provider organisations to undertake community engagement, reaching disadvantaged and disengaged learners directly or through partnership organisations.
Enhanced learning pathways
- A new needs-based funding approach to foundation skills was delivered during this period to better support students seeking pathways into further training and employment.
- ACE program completion rates increased 1.7 percentage points to 96.7% compared to 2023-24.
Strengthened educational workforce
- 452 participants engaged in workforce development activities.
- 131 participants attended inaugural cultural competency workshops.
- The department published a comprehensive suite of foundation skills professional development opportunities in May 2025.
Focus areas for the ACE Strategy (2025-26)
Key focus areas for 2025-26 include strengthening capacity and capability within the sector to support and empower students experiencing disadvantage. This also aligns with the significant program of work underway to implement the National Skills Agreement - ensuring access to foundation skills.
Specific focus areas are:
- Review the ACE program and Outreach Support (OS) program to determine how design and funding can best support disadvantaged learners.
- Improve ACE visibility to ensure that all relevant students, referrers, communities and policy makers are aware of ACE services and their benefits.
- Continue to strengthen access to, and tailoring of, learning opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
- Continue to strengthen sectoral capability and capacity to enhance foundation skills training access and outcomes for priority students.