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 Education 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 (2024-26)
Access to learning
- An additional 1,283 learners experiencing disadvantage commenced an ACE program in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.
- An additional 279 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learners commenced an ACE program in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.
- 34 Outreach Support positions were funded within NSW ACE provider organisations in 2024-25, with 43 positions funded in 2025-26 to undertake community engagement and learner support functions, reaching learners experiencing disadvantage and disengagement directly or through partnership organisations.
Enhanced learning pathways
- 30 ACE providers funded to deliver Foundation Skills under the National Skills Agreement - Increasing Access to Foundation Skills between October 2025 to December 2026.
- ACE program completion rates increased 1.7 percent to 96.7% in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.
Strengthened educational workforce
- Over 450 participant engagements in foundation skills workforce development.
- 183 participants attended a series of face-to-face inaugural cultural competency workshops.
Focus areas for the ACE Strategy (2025-27)
Key focus areas for 2025-27 include strengthening capacity and capability within the sector to support and empower learners 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 learners experiencing disadvantage.
- Improve ACE visibility to ensure that all relevant learners, 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 learners.
- Continue to strengthen sectoral capability and capacity to enhance foundation skills training access and outcomes for priority learners.