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ALCN Helps to Grow Learning Communities
The Australian Learning Communities Network Inc (ALCN) is a national network of leading-edge practitioners building sustainable communities using learning as the key element.
Upcoming News and Events
Celebrating Entrepreneurial Models of Learning Communities and Cities
Information about the successful Australian Learning Communities Network 2020 Virtual Roundtable Celebrating Entrepreneurial Models of Learning Communities and Cities can be found at:
Ripples Summer Newsletter
Read the latest ALCN newsletter which provides more detailed information about the Virtual Roundtable, information from around the networks and international learning city news.
2020 Global Learning Festival Report
A report produced by Melton City Council and Wyndham City Council on the outcomes of the 2020 Global Learning Festival.
Feature Story – Enable Social Enterprises – Renew Tech for Good Initiative
Hume Learning Community
Written by Julie Mckay, Founder and Director, Enable Australia
Since 2015, Enable have supported hundreds of people from disadvantaged backgrounds to connect with community, environment, and improve their prospects of employment through innovative work and learning programs.
Enable operate commercially in the Computer decommissioning and recycling, warehousing, fulfilment and storage and Online Retailing sectors with 100% of the profits from trade re-invested to operate and support a total of nine (9) work and learning stations to support participants with skill-building, confidence, and career decision-making.
Feature Paper – Learning Cities in Australia – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Written by Peter Kearns, AO
It is salutary to reflect on the things we do from time to time, especially when this involves worthwhile ideas such as learning cities. Even the most worthy of ideals date with the passage of time so we need to reflect, and discuss, how we revitalise our ideals in this turbulent world of disruptive changes.
I have been involved in the development of learning cities in Australia from the early days. This included ten years on the Board of the Hume Global Learning Village, so I observed the impact of this vision of the Hume community over some time. I have then been involved in the development of learning cities and neighbourhoods in various parts of the world – especially East Asia and Western Europe – through my work for the PASCAL International Observatory. This included founding the PASCAL PIE program of Exchanges between Learning Cities, and EcCoWell as an approach to integrated and holistic development. This experience guides my thinking on the future, and my reflections on the Australian story of learning cities.
What is a Learning Community?
A learning community is one that address its own learning needs through partnership. It uses the strengths of individual, social and institutional relationships across sectors to bring about cultural shifts in the perceptions of the value of learning. Learning communities explicitly use learning to enhance social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions on a sustainable, inclusive basis.
Image: Ballarat Work and Learning Centre receiving certificates for a cooking class.