On a road to nowhere: the intersection between adult learning policies and programs and rural community capability

Despite reform agendas occurring within adult learning policies and practices in most countries, inequities in the provision, access and outcomes of adult education and training still persist. Concepts such as lifelong learning are not reflected in outcomes such as mass participation in education and training, changing patterns of inequality or people feeling they have greater control over their lives. Current research is revealing that community engagement and strengthening are government policies that have yet to significantly intersect with adult education and training policy and program development. A recent action research project in one rural community in Australia focussed on the key question of how successful Australian adult education and training reform has been in empowering rural communities to plan for, manage and deliver new adult learning programs. This research led to the conclusion that the potential medium to long term gains of adult education and training programs in Australia will continue to be compromised by the failure of governments to identify and resource community life and community processes leading to increased community capability