Blog

A “virtual” parliamentary event this week announced the latest Community Colleges Australia Report showing that Community Colleges continue to consistently out-perform TAFE, private for-profit and other providers, in supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged clients.

In January 2021, Gateway Community High, an independent high school in Carlingford, will open its doors to Year 9 and 10 students. It will be a place for young people to reconnect with their love of learning. Gateway Community High is an initiative of Macquarie Community College, a leading provider of Adult Continuing Education for over 70 years.

Online classes didn't stop the Calligraphy Intermediate students from producing a combined class project! The project has been sent to the Australian Society of Calligraphers and will likely be published in the September edition of their journal, 'Colophon'.

Working and studying during this ‘Covid-era’ has transformed the way we work and highlighted the importance of having up-to-date digital skills in order to connect and thrive in your workplace or studies. Macquarie Community College recently received a grant from the Good Things Foundation to purchase several electronic devices (laptops and tablets) to lend to students to help with their studies. We saw a need within our community where some adults wanted to enrol in a computer course but were deterred as they did not own their own device. With our Loan Device Program, our students can borrow a laptop or tablet during the course of their studies.

With some face-to-face classes recommencing in Term 3, we are pleased to unveil the new carpark at the Carlingford campus to our returning students! The College wants to extend a big thank you to the State Government for the NSW ACE Infrastructure Program in providing a partial contribution of $73,000. With the addition of a significant contribution from the College reserves, we were able to complete work on the carpark earlier this year.

This past month, we celebrated our 70th birthday! Established in 1950 under the Eastwood Evening College, we were one of the first Evening Colleges to open its classroom doors to local, adult learners. Much has changed and adapted since then, but many things still remain. Read more about MCC's history.

As Covid-19 social distancing and operating restrictions are easing across NSW, I am pleased to share our plans with you for Term 3 programs. We are currently in Stage 1 (online classes only) and are aiming now for Stage 2, with a gradual and safe return of students for some activities that were not possible to offer via online learning.  Read more about our plans for Stages 1, 2 and 3 and our Covid-Safe Plan.

We gratefully acknowledge a one-off Covid-19 Relief grant for $76,357 made available by the NSW State Government to a number of Adult and Community Education providers in these extraordinary times. NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education the Hon Dr Geoff Lee, noted in his letter that “Adult and Community (ACE) colleges deliver vital services and support to some of our most vulnerable citizens and I acknowledge the valuable contribution that the sector makes to our local communities”.

Child care student, Margot, recently entered a writing competition with Axcelerate, and wrote about her time studying with Macquarie Community College. "Of course there were times when I heard my negative inner critic take over, but Sue, Heather (Lead Trainer) and the staff at MCC stood by me and helped empower me to get through the course."

Our Creative Writing Tutor, Julie Thorndyke, gave us 3 fun creative writing exercises to do during the lockdown. Explore your creative side and you'll be writing in no time!