top of page

Adult Education in Australia

  • Jul 31, 2023
  • 4 min read

If you want to learn new skills, pursue a new career, or prioritise a special interest, you are not alone. Many people enrich and improve their lives though activities that set them up for future success or put them on a new path. Whether your goal is to have fun, meet new people, or engage with a subject seriously, there are plenty of options available.

 

In this article, we list some of the best ways to pursue education as an adult in Australia.

 


Community colleges

Community colleges offer a broad range of courses that cover crafts, hobbies, and career skills. There are community colleges in every state, for example Sydney Community College, which runs short courses in photography, finance, and music, among many more. WEA Sydney is an established provider of adult education in the humanities, languages, and the arts, and offer individual memberships. If you are interested in catching up on knowledge you missed during high school, or to improve your grades for university admission, you can re-take Year 11 and 12 at local colleges such as Canning College in Perth as well as your local TAFE.

 

Community colleges will likely have something of interest if you’re looking to try something different.

 

Links


 

TAFE

TAFE is a government-funded education provider that operates in every state and specialises in vocational skills. TAFE NSW has 158 campus locations as well as online options that serve over 400,000 students per year. TAFE offers Certificate and Diploma courses in many areas, including automotive, building, and engineering trades, and training for industries as diverse as hospitality and farming. There are also pathway options to university study for some courses. Delivery methods are often flexible with evening class options available.

 

TAFE is a low-cost way to improve your skills and to advance or change your career.

 

Links

 


University short courses

Many universities offer short courses to the wider community designed to advance career skills or pursue an intellectual interest. The University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education offers an extensive list of courses including business, IT, the humanities, and languages. The University of Technology Sydney provides career-focused short courses and micro-credentials across a range of areas such as business, law, and science.

 

Links

The University of Sydney CCE https://cce.sydney.edu.au/

 


University online and distance education

Many universities offer diploma and bachelor-level courses online, allowing adult students to gain qualifications part-time at their own pace without the hassle of attending campus for classes. The University of New England operates regional campuses plus an extensive range of online programs, while the University of Tasmania offers online degrees in Law and Business, as well as a Diploma of Arts. You can study a Juris Doctor and train to become a lawyer if you already have an undergraduate degree; Australian National University’s program is one example. An alternative to a longer course commitment is to study a Graduate Certificate, which provides a qualification for selected units and is often available through flexible study modes.

 

Links

University of New England https://www.une.edu.au/

 


Craft skills

Many of us spend too much time thinking and not enough doing. Learning a craft skill helps connect with ways of working that fully engage us in the moment. Whether it’s with wood, metal, clay, or glass, there are many options to get creative and create something you’re proud of.

 

Eveleigh Works in Sydney offers courses in blacksmithing and how to make a knife, axe, or spoon. Students who have completed a course can go on to access their fully equipped blacksmithing workshop to work on personal projects. At Among the Trees in Marrickville, you can transform timber into tables, chairs, stools and more, or rent a space at their workshop to progress your latest idea. Class Bento is a good starting point to find fun and social activities across the country including pottery-making, glass-blowing, jewellery-making, and cooking.

 

There are many craft skills to get involved with all over the country that can help build confidence by working with your hands.

 

 


Cooking

Learning to make your own meals is an underrated skill during a time when Uber Eats, restaurants, and ready-made options keep us well-fed (though perhaps less healthy). Learning to cook is a good way to save money and improve your diet.

 

Sydney Cooking School runs adult beginner cooking classes including making healthy and vegetarian meals and others based around nutrition and dessert.  The BBQ Cooking School makes a bold claim to be the best in BBQ, offering courses in most states that teach you to grill the perfect meat with a drink in hand (as tradition requires). They also offer pizza-making classes, as does In Cucina in Sydney.

 

Links

BBQ Cooking School https://www.bbqschool.com.au/

 


Men’s School

Men’s School offers adult education in every part of the country through our peer-to-peer learning programme and short courses, which provide materials and resources across a curriculum that includes philosophy, culture, economics, and politics. Independent learning is supported by online group discussions, guest lectures, and tutorials held in-person and online plus a group chat. We provide materials and support for members to get together in local areas to have good conversations, make new friends, and build local communities. It’s a new approach to learning that promotes community, collaboration, and conversation.

 

Links

Men’s School mensschool.co

 

We’ve only scratched the surface of adult education, which also includes music exams, learning a language, and public speaking. There are many ways to get active and learn new things in Australia – all you need to do is pick one and get started!

 
 
 

Comments

Commenting on this post isn't available anymore. Contact the site owner for more info.
Mens-School_1_v2.png
bottom of page