The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Adult & Community Education and Community Partnerships provides the opportunity for BBCC to further increase the client base and community education programs by addressing previously recognised community needs that we have been unable to focus on due to funding restraints.
Funding received from ACE gives us the opportunity to develop existing and new Adult Education programs based at BBCC by;
*establishing outreach programs.
*encouraging partnerships with organisations.
*addressing clients needs.
*resourcing opportunities to involve those who are currently not participating in ACE programs.
*investigating user pay opportunities.
The Bowden Brompton Community Group offers such programs as:
* Basic and advanced life skills programs, this includes skill development such as consumer law, budgeting, personal care, growth and development as well as fundamental concepts such as domestic maintenance and simple trade based work.
Some of the participants in this course initially had problems socialising, experiencing low self esteem and confidence.
After completing the course over 12 months, many have gone on to engage in other learning at the Centre. One group of eight have become volunteers at the Centre and are now responsible for setting up for community lunches, helping with the serving of the meal and the clean up.
This would not have been possible 12 months ago.
*Comprehensive computer programs targeting clients whose skills in this
area may initially be limited.
The following courses are offered:
Basic Computing
Intermediate Computing
Advanced Computing
Basic Excel
Advanced Excel
Many of the participants of these courses were improving their computing skills to re enter the workforce.
Several have been referred into our program by unemployment agencies.
Literacy Lifeskills which is based on developing skills in clients that enables them to participate more inclusively within their chosen pathways.
ACE HISTORY
The Bowden Brompton Community Centre has a continuous history of providing Adult Community Education Programs to the Inner Western Community since 1989.
Over the years BBCC has effectively worked in partnership with a number of agencies, provided outreach and transport to our services and developed networks and support through out the region. The potential to develop a more extensive and cohesive partnership with agencies and small business has been limited by funding and resources.
Funding has provided a strong future to the Inner Western Region by developing Bowden Brompton Community Centre into a Learning Centre. This provided opportunities to extensively develop and strengthen existing and new partnerships by sharing resources, developing outreach programs and providing a learning base for clients.
Historically, our local community has been one of complex socioeconomic disadvantage with large numbers of low income families, a high percentage of unemployment and people from culturally and linguistically diverse back grounds.
The local area has experienced a significant increase in young families taking advantage of the Housing developments in the area.
More recently vacant land sites have begun to be developed into housing aimed at attracting a higher socio economic community.
Whilst this additional demographic provides an opportunity to explore user pays both for the community and small business, in real terms our client base remains one of significant disadvantage.
The Bowden Brompton Community Centre delivers a service that is client and community needs based by:
- providing learning and educational opportunities that reflect the client base and their style of learning.
- providing a range of skill development and community education that ensures that course participants are able to fully partake in Australian society.
- recognising that education is everyone's right.
- providing learning pathways that enable clients to move and explore further education, training and employment opportunities.
- further fostering and developing social inclusion.
- continuing to develop networks and partnerships that build communities of learning where personal growth and development are both recognised and respected.
We are working toward effectively promoting the Bowden Brompton Community Group as a Learning Centre that will be recognised as a integral focus of Adult Community Learning in the Inner Western Region, and that agencies, organisations and small businesses that we network with, will recognise the reciprocal benefits involved in developing partnerships in such ways as client referrals, non duplication of valuable and finite resources as well as outreach programs.
For further information about any of our ACE programs please call 08 8340 3013
