Connecting people and communities
Wednesday, 18 June, 2014 Page 1W
www.awnw.com.au
www.awnw.com.au
Issue #237 - Wednesday, 18 June, 2014
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
Celebrating 40 years of education in Wodonga THE Albury Wodonga Community College (AWCC) is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year. In 40 years the college has been open it has grown from strength to strength thanks to a plethora of dedicated staff and the generosity of many in terms of time and money. But success did not come easily. Consistent growth within the college called for growth in venues, staff, courses and funds needed, all of which came about through clever planning and hard work. Today, the AWCC boasts up to 120 equivalent full time workers, plus tutors, servicing over 5,000 knowledge-hungry students. “When the Community College first formed it really came out of grass roots community initiatives,” AWCC CEO Rodney Wangman said. “The 40th anniversary is quite significant considering it started in one very small dilapidated old building into the site that it’s become. Gone are the days of having a handful of students and one person running the facility. “In my mind it’s a significant community asset
and continues to provide a service to our community that wouldn’t otherwise be here.” The AWCC services all ages, from babies and toddlers in early education right through to seniors wanting to further their education and skill set. It offers community services and education courses that cover learning of all types and outcomes, with four separate divisions. “The Community College now has grown to the point where we have different divisions providing services across the community in a wide array of areas,” Mr Wangman said. “We have U3A and active aging groups, child care, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and our Independent School. “Community early years child care goes all the way out to remote and rural facilities that wouldn’t otherwise be provided because the populous is too small. “We have a full Vocation and Education Training program which gives people nationally accredited qualifications that allow them to go out and secure
work. “And our Independent School is about providing a different alternative from the normal education curriculum in the way it’s actually taught. “It’s a very unique area we entered into eight years ago ... We found there were a lot of kids missing out on education because they didn’t fit to the traditional model. “Our Independent School still runs to Victorian curriculum standards or a modified New South Wales curriculum, but it’s taught a little differently. We have counsellors to back kids up for when they need extra help and extra support, and really small class sizes mean they get even more individual support. “In terms of evidence, we’ve seen the longer you can keep a young person in school the better the outcomes are socially, for their own progress in life and to hold down employment.” The 40th anniversary is also significant for the site itself, which has housed education since the mid 1800’s. “I think the fact that 63 High Street has always
been an education site is pretty significant,” Mr Wangman said. “While the Community College has been here for 40 years, we’ve actually had education on this site since 1857. The first school in the area was actually located here – School Number 37, the Belvoir Common School.” The complexities of operating a not-for-profit organisation as a modern corporate business relies heavily on the connectedness that the organisation can achieve with its local community, sector peak bodies and government funding agencies. In a frequently changing environment, the AWCC seeks to remain flexible, responsive and engaged, with a steadfast belief in learning as a tool of empowerment and growth, providing opportunities, choice and improved quality of life. “It’s about providing services to a community at a cost-effective way, providing an array of services that sometimes wouldn’t be provided for, and it’s about stepping out and meeting community needs.”
Special 4 page feature celebrating 40 years as a community organisation.