STARTS NEXT WEEK! Festival Program of Events featured below.

Adult Learners Week is celebrated at the beginning of Spring with hundreds of events and activities promoting the benefits of learning. There are so many opportunities to learn available across Australia.

The current state of social engagement, public and private, in our society, requires urgent attention. An observation of the discourse around us results in three apparent issues. First, it is easy to see our dialogue as divisive wherein the voicing of personal opinions is seen as an attack rather than an opportunity for debate or dialogue. Second, the expression of differing values creates enemies of the “right” and “wrong” person rather than opportunities for mutual respect. Third, and perhaps the most important, is the general lack of discourse itself.

The work of the German Volkshochschulen as adult education centers suffers from the Corona pandemic. Most centers are closed, and to turn around and have all the face-to-face courses on-line in a short time is not possible. However, the number of on-line courses like for languages is growing.

During these difficult and unprecedented times of social distancing, isolation, and lockdown, many of us are realising the core tenet of social psychology- that humans need to belong to groups, to feel a sense of connection to humans around us, and to share a sense of identity and purpose.