UNESCO Learning City Awardee 2021Wyndham, Australia
In 2021, the city of Wyndham received the UNESCO Learning City Award to mark its outstanding progress in providing lifelong learning opportunities for its population of more than 270,000.
Lifelong learning: key to Wyndham’s vision
Wyndham is one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria, Australia. More than 100 babies are born each week. It is a diverse municipality, with more than 50 per cent of residents born overseas, hailing from 142 different countries. More than 41 per cent speak English as a second language. Recorded unemployment is above the national average. Wyndham as a community faces a number of challenges.
To overcome these challenges and improve its future, Wyndham’s vision is to be a socially inclusive city with high levels of employment. Learning is key to realizing this vision.
As a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and with its 2018–2023 Learning Community Strategy, the city is working to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all of its citizens.
To overcome these challenges and improve its future, Wyndham’s vision is to be a socially inclusive city with high levels of employment. Learning is key to realizing this vision.
As a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and with its 2018–2023 Learning Community Strategy, the city is working to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all of its citizens.
Adele HegedichMayor of Wyndham
Strong partnerships
Lifelong learning in Wyndham is implemented by a broad network of relevant stakeholders, including the city administration, learning institutions, the private sector, the general public and many others.
Drawing on the thematic areas laid down in the learning city framework, Wyndham is addressing key issues such as education for sustainable development (ESD), citizenship education, entrepreneurship, equity and inclusion, planning and monitoring, and literacy.
Drawing on the thematic areas laid down in the learning city framework, Wyndham is addressing key issues such as education for sustainable development (ESD), citizenship education, entrepreneurship, equity and inclusion, planning and monitoring, and literacy.
Educating for sustainable development
Wyndham has established a number of innovative partnerships to find creative and sustainable answers to global and local challenges.
Innovative initiatives such as the city’s Habitat Heroes Program programme, Trees for Schools programme and Environmental Youth Summit bring city residents of all ages closer to nature. The aim? To empower Wyndham’s citizens to contribute to learning, for the benefit of the planet and a better future for all.
Innovative initiatives such as the city’s Habitat Heroes Program programme, Trees for Schools programme and Environmental Youth Summit bring city residents of all ages closer to nature. The aim? To empower Wyndham’s citizens to contribute to learning, for the benefit of the planet and a better future for all.
Jasmine HillLearning City portfolio holder
Strong relationships between residents and police
Wyndham Citizens’ Academy is an innovative programme in the west of Melbourne that provides participants with an opportunity to learn more about the Victoria police force.
The programme is designed for community members from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. It helps participants to gain a thorough understanding of the justice system, while at the same time building strong ties between the police force and Wyndham’s diverse community.
The programme is designed for community members from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. It helps participants to gain a thorough understanding of the justice system, while at the same time building strong ties between the police force and Wyndham’s diverse community.
Entrepreneurial spirit through learning
The 2021 ‘Learning for Earning’ festival was organized by the Learn West network, comprising six neighbouring councils in the west of Melbourne, including Wyndham.
Celebrations centred on themes such as learning; skills; career planning and pathways; employment; industry; and business and entrepreneurship. Participants not only learned how to start or change careers; they could also find out more about dominant and emerging industries, and discover opportunities for the future.
Celebrations centred on themes such as learning; skills; career planning and pathways; employment; industry; and business and entrepreneurship. Participants not only learned how to start or change careers; they could also find out more about dominant and emerging industries, and discover opportunities for the future.
Bettina MitchellTeacher
Equity and inclusion
Wyndham invests in understanding the diverse learning needs of its community. It strives to support the creation of learning environments that promote civic and social participation, foster creative thinking and innovation, and encourage equity and inclusion.
Due to its rich Aboriginal history – the region was home to the tribes of the Kulin Nation – it is particularly committed to improving the educational outcomes and well-being of Aboriginal students and Torres Islanders.
Due to its rich Aboriginal history – the region was home to the tribes of the Kulin Nation – it is particularly committed to improving the educational outcomes and well-being of Aboriginal students and Torres Islanders.
Literacy programmes throughout life
Wyndham delivers a wide variety of literacy programmes through its Libraries and Community Learning Department, community learning centres, and early years and youth programmes.
For example, Wyndham’s Literacy Numeracy Network is a collaborative community platform where ideas and research can be shared in order to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes among children aged 0–8. The network comprises representatives from schools; the Libraries and Community Learning team; the Child, Family, Health and Wellbeing unit; and the city’s Early Education and Care services. Each year, members of the network collaborate on a shared initiative, whose focus alternates between literacy and numeracy.
For example, Wyndham’s Literacy Numeracy Network is a collaborative community platform where ideas and research can be shared in order to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes among children aged 0–8. The network comprises representatives from schools; the Libraries and Community Learning team; the Child, Family, Health and Wellbeing unit; and the city’s Early Education and Care services. Each year, members of the network collaborate on a shared initiative, whose focus alternates between literacy and numeracy.
Celebrating lifelong learning
The annual Wyndham Learning Festival is a partnership between Wyndham City Council and Wyndham Community and Education Centre that brings people together through learning. Workshops, talks, projects and numerous other events motivate the community to try something new, and promote lifelong learning for all age groups, from young to old.
One of the festival’s priorities is to ensure that it is accessible to and inclusive of marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
One of the festival’s priorities is to ensure that it is accessible to and inclusive of marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
Connecting to a world of learning
Another festival is the Global Learning Festival, co-hosted by Wyndham and Melton Council along with more than 20 learning communities around the world.
The Global Learning Festival arose out of a time of challenge across the world during the global COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to bring unity and connection to communities all over the world, and to give learners a first-hand experience of the benefits that lifelong learning can bring, particularly during uncertain and challenging times. By combining resources and networks, learning communities around the world have access to a world of learning.
The Global Learning Festival arose out of a time of challenge across the world during the global COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to bring unity and connection to communities all over the world, and to give learners a first-hand experience of the benefits that lifelong learning can bring, particularly during uncertain and challenging times. By combining resources and networks, learning communities around the world have access to a world of learning.
Reece GainsLearner at the 2020 Global Learning Festival
Opportunities for all
The Learning Festivals show that Wyndham benefits as a learning city not only from international collaboration and strong policies spearheaded by the local government, but also from the exceptional engagement of its teachers, learners, local organizations, private sector and community members, among others.
By committing to lifelong learning, Wyndham has taken significant steps towards becoming an inclusive community that offers opportunities to all of its citizens – and its progress is certain to continue in future.
By committing to lifelong learning, Wyndham has taken significant steps towards becoming an inclusive community that offers opportunities to all of its citizens – and its progress is certain to continue in future.
Further information aboutthe UNESCO Learning City of Wyndham
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Learning City Award was established to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities. It is conferred on cities that have achieved outstanding progress in this regard. All awardee cities have demonstrated best practices that lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © City of Wyndham; pixabay / artisano; Getty Images / Ridofranz; pixabay / carlosacelyb, Stefan Dahl.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © City of Wyndham; pixabay / artisano; Getty Images / Ridofranz; pixabay / carlosacelyb, Stefan Dahl.
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Wyndham, Australia
Lifelong learning: key to Wyndham’s vision
Adele Hegedich
Strong partnerships
Educating for sustainable development
Jasmine Hill
Strong relationships between residents and police
Entrepreneurial spirit through learning
Bettina Mitchell
Equity and inclusion
Literacy programmes throughout life
Celebrating lifelong learning
Connecting to a world of learning
Reece Gains
Opportunities for all
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities