List of recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.145

The Committee recommends that, by March 2023, the Australian Government resource effective whole of community and family language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) programs that target adults with low LLND skills including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, and other socially and economically marginalised Australian communities.

Recommendation 2

2.154

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government immediately fund the broadening of data collection by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the 2022 Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey and ensure all subsequent PIAAC surveys are appropriately funded, to include:

oversampling of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, including those living in very remote areas, and the immigrant populations

samples in sufficient numbers to provide statistically reliable results not only for Australia as a whole, but also for each state and territory

samples in sufficient numbers to provide statistically reliable results for all age groups, including extending collection to a younger cohort (15 years) and an older cohort (66-74 years).

2.155

The Coalition of Peaks and the National Indigenous Australians Agency must be consulted in considering how to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in the PIAAC surveys.

2.156

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community workers must, where possible, be trained and resourced to conduct PIAAC interviews in their communities.

Recommendation 3

2.160

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government provide ongoing funding for a new Australian Adult Competencies Survey to be conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the mid-point of each Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) cycle, with consultation on development to begin by March 2023 and the first survey to be conducted in 2026.

2.161

The new Australian Adult Competencies Survey must be:

comparable with the Committee’s expectations for future PIAAC surveys and provide statistically reliable data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including those living in very remote areas, for the immigrant populations, by state and territory and for all age groups

developed in consultation with the Coalition of Peaks, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, other peak bodies including the Australian Council for Adult Literacy and Adult Learning Australia, and the states and territories.

Recommendation 4

3.171

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government provide subsidised assessment and treatment for specific learning disabilities under the Medicare Benefits Scheme by March 2023 for all Australians.

Recommendation 5

3.188

The Committee recommends that the Treasurer refer to the Productivity Commission an inquiry into the accessibility, affordability and sustainability of Australia’s early childhood education and care system. The inquiry must consider the proposal to expand access to preschool by having children attend preschool for two years before primary school, and report no later than March 2024.

Recommendation 6

3.194

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government commission an independent review of the student with disability loading to determine whether it adequately reflects the costs of providing a high quality education to all Australian school students with disability. The review must report no later than March 2023.

Recommendation 7

3.199

The Committee recommends that, as part of the new National School Reform Agreement, commencing in 2023, the Australian Government seek the agreement of the states and territories to ensure funding for schools is based on student enrolment rather than attendance.

Recommendation 8

3.208

The Committee recommends that, as part of the new National School Reform Agreement, commencing in 2023, the Australian Government seek the agreement of the states and territories to:

require a proportionate number of qualified English as a second or additional language (TESOL) educators to be provided, on an ongoing basis, to the number of enrolled English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) learners in schools

undertake an appropriate and consistent EAL/D assessment for EAL/D learners in Australian schools, with the results of the EAL/D assessment, along with the number of qualified TESOL educators in schools, to be published alongside NAPLAN data on My School

implement a replacement to the language background other than English identifier in the index of community socio-educational advantage that better identifies EAL/D learners for the purposes of school resourcing.

Recommendation 9

3.219

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government deliver:

in consultation with the Department of Health, a national campaign to raise awareness of specific learning disabilities (SLDs) among medical and education professionals, employers and the broader community that provides information and resources about the signs and symptoms of SLDs and where individuals and families can go for assessment and support

in consultation with the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, peak bodies and key stakeholders, a national campaign to destigmatise and raise awareness in the community about the challenges people with low language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills experience, the benefits of improving LLND skills, where people can receive support and the education options available to them.

Recommendation 10

4.223

The Committee recommends that, by March 2023, the Australian Government:

ensure that all Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) participants are taught by specialist teachers with degree or post-graduate qualifications in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

commence an evaluation of the recent AMEP reforms that considers whether there have been any changes in learning outcomes for program participants since AMEP was split into two funding streams.

Recommendation 11

4.227

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government:

by March 2024, ensure that all Registered Training Organisations provide English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) learners with instruction from specialist teachers with degree or post-graduate qualifications in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

by March 2023, conduct a review of options for improving curriculum and assessment requirements for adult EAL/D learners in accredited courses, in consultation with the Australian Skills Quality Authority, Adult Migrant English Program providers, and TESOL and adult education specialists

by March 2023, update the Australian Core Skills Framework to include the Pre Level 1 supplement and incorporate the Digital Literacy Skills Framework to ensure users have a single reference document.

Recommendation 12

4.233

The Committee recommends that, by March 2023, the Australian Government establish a sustainable, ongoing funding model for the Literacy for Life Foundation to deliver Yes, I Can! campaigns in more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Recommendation 13

4.236

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with the state and territory governments to develop and implement a national strategy by March 2023, to renew the adult language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) education workforce.

4.237

The national workforce strategy must be developed with input from all sectors currently involved in the education and training of adult LLND educators and delivery of adult LLND education, and provide for:

clear career pathways for aspiring LLND educators

updates to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations to reflect best practice in LLND education and the Australian Government’s renewed emphasis on systematic phonics instruction in schools

the strengthening of existing specialist adult LLND and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) courses, and encouragement of vocational education and training (VET) providers and universities to offer these and other specialist courses

scholarships and fee support for VET and university students to undertake specialist adult LLND and TESOL courses

subsidised access to professional development and initial training programs with multiple entry points that build skills and knowledge, and support pathways to full qualifications, as appropriate.

Recommendation 14

4.243

The Committee recommends that, by March 2023, the Australian, state and territory governments jointly develop and, by March 2024, implement a national language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) strategy based on the model recommended by the Productivity Commission and the recommendations presented in this report, ensuring that:

input from all sectors currently involved in the delivery of adult education guides the strategy

a national adult LLND distance education scheme is established

adult and community education is supported to meet demand in all jurisdictions, including by:

building the capability of the sector to deliver sustainable non-accredited LLND programs through ongoing professional development delivered by Adult Learning Australia

funding the sector to deliver sustainable non-accredited LLND programs

resourcing and supporting the sector and relevant peak bodies to work with industry and business to co-design and deliver customised workplace adult literacy programs

there is consistency in the delivery of best practice pedagogy, assessment and data collection in corrections education

the diversity of learner’s starting points and needs is recognised and supported

all programs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are developed and delivered in ways that are consistent with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

an adult LLND information hub is established to support the delivery of best practice LLND education across all sectors

the strategy reflects a policy commitment by the Australian Government to inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning, in keeping with Sustainable Development Goal Four.

Recommendation 15

4.246

The Committee recommends that, by March 2023, the Australian Government ensure that:

there are safeguards in place to ensure that mutual obligation requirements for the JobSeeker Payment do not penalise Australians with low language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills for being unable to navigate online systems

all Australian Government forms and resources use a plain English approach that utilises Easy Read as set out in the Australian Government Style Manual

all Australian Government agencies mandate the use of Australian Government guidelines in the design of all forms, and ensure that all digital forms meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

all Australian Government agencies provide telephone support lines for people who are unable to attend physical service centres

the Australian Government establish funding for community organisations to assist Australians with low LLND skills with form filling and literacy mediation

the Reading Writing Hotline is appropriately resourced to maintain a database of form filling and literacy mediation services, and to provide advice to Australians with low LLND skills on where they can access these services

relevant Australian Government agencies provide proactive and accessible information about help that is available during disaster recovery

adult and community education providers be supported to reconnect learners who have become disengaged due to pandemics and natural disasters, such as floods and bushfires, particularly in rural and regional areas, through targeted community-based education programs and access to appropriate resources to cope with ongoing challenges.

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