Northern Rivers Community Colleges deliver quality training and related services to over 25,000 people every year from Grafton through to the Tweed Valley.

We deliver more than training; we’re committed to building strong social and business networks, sharing knowledge and skills and fostering quality and growth.

We offer our services in comfortable and familiar surroundings and in both formal and informal settings.

We are non-profit organisations working with local communities and the money you spend stays in your Northern Rivers community.  
 

Photograph by Christobelle Baranay

What we offer

No matter what your interests you are bound to find something that appeals. There are 10 Adult and Community Education (ACE) centres across the North Coast all offering a great variety of courses.

From the links on our map you can go directly to the homepages of each of the centres where you will find their current course offerings.

Most of the colleges are Registered Training Organisations which means that they offer high quality Accredited Vocational Education and Training as well as an extraordinary range of interest and leisure courses.

Who we are

Northern Rivers Community Colleges are a cooperative group of community colleges who serve the New South Wales population from Tweed Heads to Grafton.

We deliver a range of general interest, leisure, business, educational and vocational courses designed to meet the needs of a diverse and growing population.

We are part of a State-wide network of ACE community colleges, committed not only to providing educational alternatives, but also to improving the quality of life and lifestyle options for our students.

What makes us unique is that our work is rooted in the local community. We understand the economic, social and employment factors that affect the lives of our students, their friends and families. We also understand how important it is that our courses be affordable, easily accessible and relaxed.

We also know you want your qualifications to be recognised and accredited – where and when it counts.

What Is ACE?

ACE stands for Adult and Community Education. The Adult and Community Education Unit is part of the Department of Education and Workplace Relations (DEWR). This Department provides much of the funding that enables Community Colleges across NSW to keep offering courses that meet the needs of their communities.

Community Links

Community Colleges work closely with community groups, including local indigenous groups, schools, councils, chambers of commerce and government to design programs that will assist those groups increase their employment and lifestyle options.

Benefits

The benefits of attending your local community college include central locations, friendly relaxed atmosphere, small classes, and flexible class times. These make Northern Rivers Community Colleges a unique and integral part of the communities they serve.

Our quality assurance

Adult and Community Education (ACE ) centres, also known as Community Colleges receive some government funding and are Quality Endorsed by the NSW Board of Adult and Community Education.