The House Employment, Education and Training Committee has today presented the report of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance, which recommends an Australian national language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) strategy.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 22 March 2022

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee has today presented the report of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance, which recommends an Australian national language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) strategy. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘Too many Australians are leaving school with LLND skills gaps that limit their life choices. At the same time, many older Australians are finding that the skills they have relied on their whole lives are not keeping pace as technology changes.’ ‘The Committee found that there is a need to address factors that contribute to low LLND skills across all educational systems, at every stage of a person’s life course’, Mr Laming said. Mr Laming commented: ‘Adults with very low LLND skills are unlikely to sign up for accredited courses in the VET system. Instead, working with a volunteer tutor or attending a small class at a neighbourhood centre can help build their skills and confidence, which may then lead to employment and further education and training. However, the adult and community education sector is under resourced and currently unable to meet the high demand for adult LLND education. There is also a critical shortage of qualified adult literacy teachers in Australia.’ Mr Laming said, ‘The Committee agreed with the Productivity Commission that there needs to be a national LLND strategy, that provides a broad range of adult educational offerings to meet people’s varied needs and clarifies jurisdictional responsibilities across the range of programs being offered.’ The Committee has made 15 recommendations that address several other key areas of reform to improve adult LLND skills, including: support for whole of community and family LLND education programs for socially and economically marginalised Australians improved data collection to drive evidence-based policy and outcomes greater support for Australians with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) such as dyslexia campaigns to raise awareness of SLDs, the challenges people with low LLND skills face, and where people can access support recognition that English as an Additional Language or Dialect learners require the support of qualified Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) educators to maximise their educational achievement an increase in the number of specialist adult literacy teachers and TESOL educators support for measures that raise English LLND skills in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that are consistent with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, such as the Literacy for Life Foundation’s delivery of Yes, I Can! adult literacy campaigns a range of measures to ensure Australians with low LLND skills can access vital services. The report and further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s inquiry website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au 

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold its final hearing for its inquiry into Adult literacy and its importance, as it hears evidence from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on its administration of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 23 November 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold its final hearing for its inquiry into Adult literacy and its importance, as it hears evidence from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on its administration of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘The Committee has heard concerns of under sampling in PIAAC which has the potential to impact results across states and territories, but particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’ ‘Being the main source of national statistics on adult literacy, it is critical that sampling sizes are sufficient so the PIAAC survey can serve as a baseline for measuring the outcomes of policies aimed at increasing adult language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy proficiency’, Mr Laming said. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 24 November 2021 Time: 11.45 am to 12.30 pm (AEDT) Location: via videoconference Program: available here. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key peak bodies and other organisations by videoconference as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 18 August 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key peak bodies and other organisations by videoconference as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘the Committee has received a broad range of evidence on the need for improved strategies for supporting people with low English language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to improve their skills and to access vital services.’ ‘On Thursday, we will hear from the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia on migrant and refugee literacy issues. We will also hear evidence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages from the Australian Council of TESOL Associations’, Mr Laming said. Mr Laming continued, ‘To help us investigate First Nations literacy challenges, we will hear from the Literacy for Life Foundation, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.’ ‘The Australian Primary Principals Association and the Australian Council of State School Organisations will provide evidence about school education, and Community Colleges Australia and the Australian Council of Adult Literacy will give evidence about adult literacy provision.’ Mr Laming concluded, ‘The Committee will also hear from Family Planning New South Wales about the importance of health literacy, and the Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre, who will provide evidence on the difficulties people with low literacy experience accessing services and the support available to them.’ Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 19 August 2021 Time: 9.00am to 4.00pm (AEST) Location: via videoconference Program: available here. The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key organisations and experts based in Western Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Monday, 26 July 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key organisations and experts based in Western Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘the Committee continues to receive important evidence about the difficulties encountered by people with low English language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills.’ ‘We have heard that low LLND skills have a negative impact on labour force participation, wages and productivity, and limits people’s social and civic engagement. Australians with low LLND skills may have difficulty understanding and acting on emergency warnings and health advice and may not be aware of their legal and financial rights and responsibilities’, Mr Laming said. Mr Laming continued, ‘the Committee has heard that the Adult Community Education (ACE) sector plays an important role in helping people to develop their LLND skills, but that support for ACE varies across States and Territories and much of this vital work is carried out by volunteers. The Committee has also heard that stigma and shame are common reasons why people with low LLND skills do not seek assistance and support.’ Mr Laming added, ‘the Committee looks forward to examining these issues further during this week’s public hearings.’ Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2021 Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm (AEST) Location: via videoconference Date: Thursday, 29 July 2021 Time: 8.30am to 11.45am (ACST) Location: Territory Room, Mercure Darwin Airport, 1 Sir Norman Brearly Dr, Darwin, NT The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further details about upcoming public hearings are available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key organisations and experts based in Melbourne, Hobart and Caboolture as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Monday, 12 July 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key organisations and experts based in Melbourne, Hobart and Caboolture as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘the Committee has received valuable evidence from across Australia about the benefits of improving access and support for English language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills development.’ ‘We have heard that modern society requires an increasing level of skills, particularly digital literacy, and that for many Australians, the skills they were taught in school are not enough to keep up with the society we now live in. Other Australians may have missed out on developing essential LLND skills at school and need other opportunities to learn. The Committee looks forward to investigating these issues further.’ Public hearing details Date: Monday, 12 July 2021 Time: 10.30am to 5.00pm (AEST) Location: Melbourne, via videoconference Date: Tuesday, 13 July 2021 Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm (AEST) Location: Hobart, via videoconference Date: Monday, 19 July 2021 Time: 10.00am to 11.30pm (AEST) Location: Seminar Rooms, Caboolture Hub, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture, Queensland The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further details about upcoming public hearings are available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from adult literacy experts located in Western Australia and New South Wales by teleconference on Wednesday, 24 March 2021 as part of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 23 March 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from adult literacy experts located in Western Australia and New South Wales by teleconference on Wednesday, 24 March 2021 as part of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘The Committee continues to receive rich and varied evidence about the importance of adult literacy and the challenges that people face in improving their literacy and numeracy.’ ‘We have heard there is significant demand for adult literacy services, and there is unmet need in some parts of the country. The Committee will examine these and other issues in more depth at the roundtable hearing’, Mr Laming said. Appearing via teleconference from Western Australia will be representatives of the Community Adult Literacy Foundation, Read Write Now and the Western Australian Adult Literacy Council, as well as researcher and educator Dr Marguerite Cullity. The New South Wales Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council and the Reading Writing Hotline will also be appearing. Published submissions, hearing transcripts and further details about upcoming public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website as the inquiry progresses. To learn more about the inquiry, view a video featuring Chair Andrew Laming MP. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2021 Time: 11.40am to 1.00pm Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra Format: Roundtable via teleconference The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from the Department of Home Affairs and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 as part of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 23 February 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from the Department of Home Affairs and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 as part of its inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘It is concerning that many migrants and Indigenous Australians may not be able to participate fully in employment, education and training, and social and civic life because of literacy and numeracy challenges.’ ‘The Committee looks forward to hearing from the Department of Home Affairs and the National Indigenous Australians Agency about a range of Commonwealth-funded programs that support adult literacy and numeracy among vulnerable migrant and Indigenous populations’, Mr Laming said. The Department of Home Affairs delivers a range of programs to assist migrants to improve their English language and other skills, including the Adult Migrant English Program, the Humanitarian Settlement Program and the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support program. The NIAA plays a key role in ensuring the outcomes of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap are achieved and delivers a range of programs that support skills development, including literacy and numeracy in Indigenous communities. Submissions to the inquiry have been requested by Friday, 5 March 2021. Further details about upcoming public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website as the inquiry progresses. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 24 February 2021 Time: 11.30am to 1.00pm Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra 11:30am to 12:15pm               Department of Home Affairs 12:15pm to 1:00pm                 National Indigenous Australians Agency The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training will hold its first public hearing on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 as part of the Committee’s inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. The Committee will hear evidence from the Productivity Commission and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).

Media release issue date: Monday, 15 February 2021

The House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training will hold its first public hearing on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 as part of the Committee’s inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. The Committee will hear evidence from the Productivity Commission and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE). The Productivity Commission’s review of the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development found that there should be a coordinated national strategy to improve school education, ‘second-chance’ learning in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and other adult education services. This would seek to reduce the large number of Australians with low language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills. The review also proposed improvements in foundation skills, better credit pathways, an expansion of VET Student Loans and a trial of a new financing instrument for mature-age Australians to reskill and upskill. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘It is concerning that up to one in five adult Australians may have low literacy and/or numeracy skills, which limits their capacity to participate fully in employment, education and training, and social and civic life.’ ‘The Committee looks forward to examining the Productivity Commission’s findings and will seek evidence from DESE about a range of relevant Commonwealth-funded programs that support adult literacy and numeracy. These programs include the $1 billion JobTrainer Fund, Skills for Education and Employment, Foundation Skills for Your Future, Remote Community Pilots, and the Reading Writing Hotline’, Mr Laming said. Submissions to the inquiry have been requested by Friday, 5 March 2021. Further details about upcoming public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website as the inquiry progresses. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 17 February 2021 Time: 11.40am to 1.00pm Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra Witnesses: Productivity Commission and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has launched an inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 3 February 2021

The House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has launched an inquiry into adult literacy and its importance. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP, said ‘many adult Australians have poor literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills and this may limit their ability to participate fully in employment, education and training, and social and civic life.’ ‘The Committee’s previous inquiry into remote education found that poor adult literacy can also negatively impact on children’s participation and attainment in education’, Mr Laming said. ‘The Committee is interested in hearing how measures to improve adult literacy can foster greater labour market participation, increased productivity, improved education outcomes for children, and improvements to individual and community well-being’, Mr Laming said. The inquiry will examine adult literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills in Australia, including: The relationship between adult literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills and socio-demographic characteristics, particularly migrant status, First Nations status and individuals living in households that have experienced intergenerational unemployment; The effect that literacy and numeracy skills have on an individual’s labour force participation and wages; Links between literacy and social outcomes such as health, poverty, ability to care for other family members and participation in civic life; The relationship between parents’ literacy skills and their children’s education and literacy skill development from birth to post-secondary education; Whether changes to schooling in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 will have a disproportionate impact on the skill development of those children of parents with lower literacy and numeracy levels, and consider appropriate remediation programs which might address this; The availability, impact and effectiveness of adult literacy and numeracy educational programs in Australia and internationally; and, International comparisons of government policies and programs that may be adapted to the Australian experience. Submissions to the inquiry have been requested by Friday, 5 March 2021. Further details about upcoming public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website as the inquiry progresses. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.