TERMS OF REFERENCE
Inquiry into the Developments in Adult and Community Education
in Australia since 1991
On the 20 June 1996, the Senate referred to the Senate Employment, Education
and Training References Committee the following matter for inquiry and
report:
The developments in adult and community education in Australia since
the 1991 report of the Senate Employment, Education and Training Committee
entitled Come in Cinderella: The Emergence of Adult and Community Education,
with particular reference to:
1. Describing the structural and policy changes at Commonwealth level
in adult education since 1991, and assessing the impact these have had
on the delivery of adult education in the community;
2. Examining any significant changes in the patterns and level of participation
by adults in education and training over the last five years;
3. Describing the range of provision of structured adult education
by community-based providers (including that provided by organisations
such as libraries, museums, galleries);
4. Identifying those technological, demographic and economic trends
which are likely to influence significantly the nature and extent of
adult education provision in Australia, with particular attention paid
to the impact of the rapid expansion of computer-based resources such
as the Internet;
5. Examining the extent to which the training, professional development
and role of adult educators has changed since 1991; and
6. Proposing guidelines for the nature and level of contribution which
Australia should make to the forthcoming Asia-South Pacific Bureau of
Adult Education Conference to be held from 1 December to 8 December
1996 and UNESCO International Conference on Adult and Community Education
to be held from 14 July to 18 July 1997.