Improve your communication skills in the workplace

ACE, or Adult Community Education, offers a range of training and learning opportunities in your community, all around Australia. Whether you live in a rural or urban area, whether you were born here or have just arrived, there’s a Foundation Skills Program to help you find your place in the employment market.

This documentary shows a group of Burmese workers in Victoria. Their employer has tapped into Adult Community Education resources to create English language training inside his company. Although some demographic groups, like these Burmese workers, are more likely than others to experience low levels of literacy and numeracy, the problem is not confined to identifiable groups. The notion that only equity groups need support in the development of Foundation Skills is outdated. While the program being delivered at Vertec Hume in Victoria is focused on English as a second language, the ‘call to action’ for their employer was an accident involving an Australian worker. Good communication skills, whether you speak English or not, are critical for staying safe in many workplaces. As recent research has shown, almost 50% of all working age Australians, including those born in Australia, do not have the literacy skills required for effective participation in modern life.

You aren’t alone if you need to brush up on your skills. For more information call 1300 I LEARN, or visit the Adult Learner’s Week website: adultleanersweek.org. Or visit your local library or community center, to find out what you can do in your area.

Download this video in WMV format