“Riding the waves”
Has the Community Engagement Project
succeeded in creating waves?
Dr Kaye Bowman

“Riding the waves”
1. Community engagement project aims
2. Project achievements
3. Factors contributing to project success &
How the project stacks up against the evidence base
4. Conclusions

Community Engagement Project
Aim 1 Aim 2 Aim 3
E-learning Learner
Creative capability Engagement
Community partnerships building
Aim 4. Sustainable e-learning

20 creative community partnerships
Primary partners Number
TAFE 11
ACE 62
School 3
University 2
Local gov’t & regional 14
Local business 6
Local community
6
services
State (issue) networks 10
State government 6

Community Engagement Locations

E-learning capability building
Project
ls
Local
oo
Community t team
E-
facilitators
leader
Some no Train the E-platforms E- Kit
TEXT TEXT
learning trainer
courses Own Workshops
Others ready program
to mentor 80+trained Referrals
during 14 Tool boxes
“Real time pilots After pilot
Learning” Digitalstory care

Learner engagement
• Over 1000 learners in • Taster programs
14 pilots
• VET subjects, informally
• Range 10-340 /pilot
• Targets included • Accredited VET
Single groups
Business or frontline management
or Youth and aged care work
Training and assessment
Whole small
OHS
communities Retail

Community engagement project
Success factors
E-
Shared Client focus Expert
Cham
commitment team
p
-top down -connections support
& on
bottom up and support
training

Partnership development
“Partnership work”
Cultural scoping -shared goals –win-win
Connection building- Clear roles, respectful processes, recognising contributions
Capacity building- securing resources, avoiding burn-outs
Collective work -runs on the board
Trust building-keep informed, recognising and addressing differing needs

E learning champions
case examples
1.Neighbourhood house
From no learning capability to a national award
to agent for VET
2.Small business development organization
From no learning capability to special program
to commercial operation

E learning champions
case examples
3. Cross education sector sharing
Until the pilot, the secondary schools and the community education
centres were unaware of the Framework and its resources.
Similarly,
the TAFE and ACE partners were unable to access the Multi Media
Victoria’s Learning Federation resources that have been developed
by primary and secondary schools.
Moreover, although some of the secondary teachers knew these
resources existed, none had previously been equipped to use the
resources…
Source; LEP pilot Final report

Client focus to engaging the learner
• Take time to induct the learner
• Offer relevant to them e-learning
• Provide considerable support
– One on one mentoring
– Learning circles for peer learning
– Work portfolios

Conclusions
The Community Engagement Project
Successful pilots, at a galloping pace
Learner engagement principles emerged
Activity continued beyond pilot funding
Model worked –waves created

Next Cycle with expert support team
Regional Learner
networks engagement
guidelines
New takers?
Here today
Multi phases
funding
Better &longer
performance
reporting