ALA WorkVentures

Affordable PC's for individuals, the adult and community education (ACE) sector; and other not-for-profit organisations

What is WorkVentures?

WorkVentures is a non-profit organisation working with communities to improve skills, employment opportunities and social infrastructure. Since its foundation in 1979, the organisation has been at the forefront of innovation in Australian community employment and economic development.

WorkVentures has a special focus on providing enterprising solutions that enable disadvantaged groups, through training and skills development, employment and small business advice to gain more control over their lives and futures.

In summary, WorkVentures business direction is customer and solutions driven - maximizing economic, environmental and social sustainability and forging innovative responses in work and community life. After 25 years of operation WorkVentures is a national leader in the growing field of Social Enterprise. They are committed to identifying and implementing innovative ways of 'building communities that work'.

How and why is Adult Learning Australia involved?

Adult Learning Australia has entered into a partnership with WorkVentures to deliver low-cost, affordable refurbished laptop and desktop PC's to the not-for-profit and adult and community education (ACE) sectors. In addition to this, ALA plans to link its' partnership with WorkVentures to the Unlimited Potential program.

The Unlimited Potential program offers free Microsoft software and office suites to qualifying not-for-profit, adult and community education providers; and some registered training organisations (RTO's). A large number of ACE providers in Australia do not have the funding or financial resources to purchase expensive computer equipment and/or software. Without this equipment and/or IT resources, numerous ACE providers are isolated from the "wider adult learning community" because they do not have ready access to the internet and e-mail - these e-tools are essential for adult learning providers to interface with information and communication technologies (ICT's); and other learning communities.

Adult Learning Australia has identified a need for all ACE providers to be equipped with e-technologies so they can continue to expand adult learning networks throughout Australia - enabling learning providers to have ready access to adult learning information and services; to expand their adult learning resources; and deliver a wider range of lifelong learning opportunities to adults in every local community.

This is another way that Adult Learning Australia plans to support community capacity building; by offering affordable access to computers throughout our learning communities; giving learning providers the capability and opportunity to link with national and international lifelong learning networks.