1. Brimbank
Community Learning Strategy
Engaging Adult Learners: Lessons from our
Learning Champions
Deb Chapman, Learning Coordinator, June 2012

2. Aim of Learning Strategy
– Create community of lifelong
learners
– Dimensions of Learning
• Obtain and maintain
employment
• Achieve personal fulfilment
• Build caring and cohesive
communities
• Add to quality of life
• Enable greater civic
participation
2

3. • Now, close your eyes….
3

4. • What prevents adults from
learning?
4

5. • One of our Learning
Champions:
Aunty Jean Mason, originally from
Wilcannia in NSW, has lived in
Keilor Downs for 25 years.
Currently studying at MumguDhal,
indigenous pathways program at
Victoria University, St Albans.
5

6. When English Made my Future
Better by Faten Chendeb,
Community West, Deer Park 2011
My name is Faten Chendeb and I was born in Lebanon. I have four
brothers and three sisters. We lived in a village, which was a very
nice place, because it had fresh air, fresh fruit and a very nice weather
in spring and summer.
I went to study at Arabic school, because my country only speaks
Arabic and I also learnt French. I went to university for four years
and then became a teacher for primary school at my country. I loved
my job.
After a few years I got married…my husband went back to Australia…I
waited one year in Lebanon before I received my visa. While
everything was happening I found out that I was pregnant. When my
visa came I got it but my daughter didn’t get the visa because
someone made a mistake with her birth certificate in Lebanon.
6

7. I had to fly to Australia...by myself. I was crying because I left my
daughter back there and I missed my family. I was never happy in
Australia because I didn’t speak English and I didn’t have my driver’s
licence. Everything was different and difficult….after one year my
daughter finally got the visa and came to Australia….
After a while I studied two months of English at Community West.
Then I stopped because I had four kids and had no time to learn or
work. After my kids went to school I started to study English at
Community West because the first time I went I was very shy
because I never talked English before….
My kids had been helping me how I say a word and what that word
means and sometimes I got to the library with my kids to read books
and learn new information’s. Sometimes I even read newspapers
and it often helps me and I even learn new words….
I am very happy now because my English is not bad...because
English had changed all my life….
7

8. What prevents adults from
learning… and informs our work in
creating learning environments…
• Let’s brainstorm a list together
by …
Reflecting on your own
experiences, and
the voices of Aunty Jean and
Faten
8