The History of AWCC

Approaching 50 years of Lifelong Learning
From humble beginnings in the early 1970s as an ‘independent adult education centre’, Albury Wodonga Community College has a proud history of community and educational achievements.

Today, as one of the largest Adult Education Centres in non-metropolitan Australia, the College caters for an average of 3,000 people annually, through a broad range of learning activities. 

The College employs more than 180 full-time and part-time staff and trainers/assessors, who each play a positive role in responding to the learning needs of our communities. We have a main campus in High Street Wodonga with a further 20 metropolitan, regional and rural venues across Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. 

The College’s success is attributed to:

• Being community owned and managed
• Being created as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee
• Leadership, based on strong community and business experiences
• People delivering programs and services with appropriate sector pedagogy
• A vision underpinned with strategic directions and targets, set and realised

Geographic Coverage
Over the years, Albury Wodonga Community College has maintained a unique position as a cross-border education provider, registered in Victoria and New South Wales (and in 2019, Tasmania) as an ACE provider, Independent Senior Secondary Schools and Registered Training Organisation.

Highlights and Milestones
The College has a long history of developing programs and systems of outstanding quality, these include education and support for:
 

• Early School Leavers - 25+ years developing innovative responses to the needs of young people and adults
• Adult Literacy - 25+ years of accredited and non-accredited delivery
• People with a Disability - 25+ years of innovation in supporting access to mainstream programs
• Unemployed/Youth Programs - 20+ years of training and assistance
• Independent Schooling - Indie School for Years 9 through 12
• Active Ageing - Creative Learners and U3A program for 30+ years

Development of programs and systems
Over the years, the College has developed high quality programs and systems required for the provision and practice of adult education and learning, these include:

• A National Award Winning Program for Access Learning, which has been maintained as a mainstream program to support people with disabilities within the College.
• Community Early-Years Childcare, an innovative program which delivers education and care services to rural areas.
• A response by Mobile Childcare to operate education and care programs in the Bandiana Safe Haven, for Kosovo refugees, supporting children and parents suffering from trauma.
• Development and achievement of ACE Quality Award. AWCC Board of Directors policies cited as Best Practice in NSW and Victoria. Successful achievement at AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) Standards.
• AWCC as a charter member of the Learning City project of Albury Wodonga.

Curriculum design, methodology and delivery modes of training
The College is responsible for significant innovation when it comes to curriculum design, methodology and/or delivery modes of training, these include:

• Flexible workplace delivery of accredited courses in large and small businesses
• Flexible and blended methods of learning distance education courses
• Flexible delivery for literacy students
• Innovative programs for young people, including students at risk of leaving school and vulnerable early school leavers

Outstanding teaching practice
The College prides itself on outstanding teaching practices, measured against outcomes.

Leadership and the Future
Albury Wodonga Community College has developed a unique and demanding leadership style. The goals are broad in order to enable quick responses to various needs, as they are expressed across the community. As a community based provider, the College operates with both innovation and vigor, in order to be ready for the years ahead.