What is Adult and Community Education (ACE)?

The Adult and Community Education (ACE) Program has been designed to support to those who are disadvantaged and who need additional skills and knowledge to move into further study and/or gain employment.

The program will also offer support to small business owners and their staff by providing fully subsidised accredited and non accredited training in targeted courses in information technology, business services or foundation skills. This stream is referred to as Targeted Skills for Small Business (TSB) - see Targeted Skills for Small Business funding page.

Eligibility for ACE

You must be:

a) an Australian citizen, permanent Australian resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or a humanitarian visa holder or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a humanitarian visa holder, or is an eligible asylum seeker, and
b) be aged 15 years or older, and
c) live or work in NSW, and
d) no longer be at school or equivalent (except for registered home school students).

and ONE of the following:

• A person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
• A recipient of an Applicable Benefit, or is a dependent child, spouse, or partner of a recipient of an Applicable Benefit (see below for Applicable Benefits); or
• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or
• Has a disability or is the dependent child, spouse or partner of a person with a disability; or
• Has low language, literacy, numeracy or digital skills; or
• Identifies as culturally and linguistically diverse (eg low level proficiency in spoken English); or
• Is either:

            - unemployed
            - under-employed (working less than 25 hours per week)
            - returning to the workforce after a gap of over 12 months
            - looking to reskill or upskill:
                        (a) and are aged 55 or older, or
                        (b) due to unforeseen circumstances, e.g., COVID-19 impact, industry closure, recovering from injuries and or mental health issues; or

• Is affected by economic disadvantage – i.e. a person who is experiencing significant socio-economic hardship; or
• Is affected by personal circumstances that mean the student requires support to access educational opportunities (eg domestic/family violence/coercion situation; recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, exited the criminal justice system or at risk of entering the criminal justice system); or
• Is aged between 15-24 years; or
• Has not achieved year 12 or equivalent education

Applicable Benefits

• Age Pension
• Austudy
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Farm Household Allowance
• Family Tax Benefit Part A (maximum rate)
• Jobseeker Payment
• Parenting Payment (Single)
• Special Benefit
• Veterans' Children Education Scheme
• Veterans' Affairs Pensions
• Widow Allowance
• Youth Allowance

(Note: The Carer Payment is a specific benefit paid by the Commonwealth; this category does not include the Carer Allowance or Carer Adjustment Pay Step)

Courses Available

The College is currently offering a range of short courses designed to help improve your work skills. Click here for a list of current courses.

The focus of the ACE funding is to provide short courses to eligible applicants, however if barriers to attending an entitlement course up to and including Certificate III qualifications exist, limited full qualifications may be available.

Student Fees

No course fee for eligible students.

(Note: Due to limited funding, no more than two course enrolments per person under ACE/TSB funding can be accepted.)

What Next?

For more information please contact Susan Wilkinson on 9970 1000 or complete the below form and email it to vet@nbmc.nsw.edu.au. We can assess your eligibility and your training needs to work out an individual training plan to provide a pathway to further training and/or improved employment opportunities. (Please note that completing the form doesn’t guarantee placement in courses, enrolment in courses will be confirmed by email.)

Documents

ACE Enrolment Form (pdf)

Northern Beaches & Mosman College
Registered Training Organisation – National Code 90113