Literacy and language policies in Australia
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Thompson, Sally
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: International Conference on the Methods and Applications of Research on Literacy p. 1-18
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- Description: Australia faces a complex, intertwined set of language and literacy issues. Combined with emerging contextual issues, these issues affect access to education and employment for many Australian adults. In this paper, we identify and examine six such intertwined issues. Two of these issues are mainly related to language, specifically for Indigenous Australians and non-‐English-‐speaking migrants and refugees. One of the issues relates to the impact of very low literacy rates for rural and regional Australians, particularly as they age and withdraw from the paid workforce. The other three issues are contextual, including the deliberate swing away from public education towards ‘the market’, the surprisingly low average literacy levels of some Australian adults, and the elevated and increasing levels of youth unemployment. Our paper provides evidence and arguments for much more recognition of and attention to the issues of language and literacy in Australian public policy, research, programs and funding, not only in education but also in many other fields in which language and literacy acquisition and proficiency determine people’s life choices, chances and outcomes. This includes opportunities for more positively embracing and building Australia’s existing multiculturalism.
Ageing and learning in Australia : Arguing an evidence base for informed and equitable policy
- Authors: Cuthill, Michael , Buys, Laurie , Wilson, Bruce , Kimberley, Helen , Reghenzani, Denise , Kearns, Peter , Thompson, Sally , Golding, Barry , Root, Jo , Weston, Rhonda
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Current Aging Science Vol. 9, no. 3 (2016), p. 196-202
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- Description: Background: Given Australia’s population ageing and predicted impacts related to health, productivity, equity and enhancing quality of life outcomes for senior Australians, lifelong learning has been identified as a pathway for addressing the risks associated with an ageing population. To date Australian governments have paid little attention to addressing these needs and thus, there is an urgent need for policy development for lifelong learning as a national priority. The purpose of this article is to explore the current lifelong learning context in Australia and to propose a set of factors that are most likely to impact learning in later years. Conclusion: Evidence based policy that understands and incorporates learning opportunities for all citizens is required to meet emerging global challenges. Providing appropriate learning opportunities to seniors is one clear pathway for achieving diverse health, social and economic outcomes. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.