Our focus on how women participate in ACE and VET is unique in Australian lifelong education.

Our members come from higher education, vocational education (VET), and adult education in the community (ACE). We are students, teachers, coordinators, administrators, public servants, politicians and academics. Our national executive is the governance body of WAVE. Wherever possible, in each state and territory, we have an informal group of active members who work with a convenor to organise local activities.

WAVE is a feminist organisation interested in:

• national policy development and resource allocation to pathways for women and men in training and adult education

• curriculum development and other aspects of pedagogy

• accreditation

• terms and conditions of employment for women and men in VET and ACE

• women and information technology in VET and ACE

• community development through VET and ACE

• young women; older women; the needs of indigenous and bilingual women in a multicultural

• society; women with a disability

• women only learning opportunities

• pathways to further study and employment

• women as volunteers in adult and community education

• organisational management

• educational innovation

• WAVE started in 1987 at a conference in Canberra. In 1987 we became the first national and

• autonomous organisation for Australian women in:

• vocational education and training (VET);

• general/foundational education for adults; and

• adult and community education (ACE).

• We changed our name to WAVE in November 2000. Until 2000 we called ourselves the

• Network of Women in Further Education.

Values Statement

WAVE is an active feminist network of support, stimulation, sharing and communication for all women in adult education and vocational training in Australia.
We support and build connections between women as teachers and learners at local, community, state, national, and international levels.

WAVE works for the advancement and empowerment of women in adult education and vocational training through networking, lobbying and advocacy.

Equity is central. We argue that equity has to be a central organising principle in adult education and vocational training policy and practice.

Part of the women's movement. WAVE is part of a proud tradition of women’s struggle for justice and social change in Australia.

WAVE's strategies

1. Analysis. To generate a critical analysis of women's participation across VET and ACE as a basis of advice to government and to other agencies able to influence opportunities for women's learning

2. Consultation. To engage in broad based consultation with women in other non-government organisations to advance issues in relation to women's learning

3. Information. To produce and distribute information about the very diverse issues, experiences, and needs of women in VET and ACE

4. Connections. To be a channel for individual women to network and connect the ideas, skills and energy of members

5. Partnerships. To engage in alliances and partnerships to advance the status of women in ACE and VET

A Sample of our Activities

• Contributions to national ACE and VET policy

• Submission to the Review of ANTA Agreement

• Contributions to both Senate Inquiries into ACE

• Participation in Federal Government's Round Table of national women's organisations (not in 2000)

• As an official NGO WAVE attended the United Nations conference and NGO forum in Beijing;

• the Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education conference in 1996; and the Fifth

• International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) in Hamburg in 1997.

• Production of a national journal: Converse

• National and state conferences and forums

• Research and development projects: two in 2000

• This web site: Converse & Company

Converse & Company's Vision

Through this website we contribute to change in VET and ACE in Australia by:

• canvassing the broad sweep of knowledge, skills and experience held by WAVE members;

• connecting our members through joint projects, informed debate and a regular diet of strategic information; and

• critical analysis of structures, theories and practices relevant to WAVE members.
  Key words are: diversity, connection, critical analysis and transformation.
  

This Online Newspaper Values:

• Brevity

• Intelligence

• Debate

• Wit

• Imagination

• Liveliness

• Generousity of spirit

• Rigour