The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hear evidence from key peak bodies and other organisations by videoconference as hearings continue for the inquiry into adult literacy and its importance.
Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘the Committee has received a broad range of evidence on the need for improved strategies for supporting people with low English language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to improve their skills and to access vital services.’
‘On Thursday, we will hear from the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia on migrant and refugee literacy issues. We will also hear evidence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages from the Australian Council of TESOL Associations’, Mr Laming said.
Mr Laming continued, ‘To help us investigate First Nations literacy challenges, we will hear from the Literacy for Life Foundation, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.’
‘The Australian Primary Principals Association and the Australian Council of State School Organisations will provide evidence about school education, and Community Colleges Australia and the Australian Council of Adult Literacy will give evidence about adult literacy provision.’
Mr Laming concluded, ‘The Committee will also hear from Family Planning New South Wales about the importance of health literacy, and the Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre, who will provide evidence on the difficulties people with low literacy experience accessing services and the support available to them.’
Public hearing details
Date: Thursday, 19 August 2021
Time: 9.00am to 4.00pm (AEST)
Location: via videoconference
Program: available here.
The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.
Media inquiries
Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair
07 3821 0155
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4573
ee.reps@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.