Arch Nelson Address
Lyn Wilson
At an ACAL conference a distinguished person in the field is asked to give an address in honour of Arch Nelson, a pioneer in adult education. This year we are delighted to welcome Lyn Wilson, TAFE NSW and Reading and Writing Hotline to give the Arch Nelson Address.
Addressing diverse needs: Rethinking the future of adult literacy education
Who are our adult literacy/numeracy learners in 2025, and who are we still leaving behind? What opportunities is our sector missing to address the quantifiably unknown literacy & numeracy needs of English-speaking adults and First Nations people?
This year’s Arch Nelson address will critically examine the roles of teachers in our co-disciplinary space.
Lyn will reflect on her long career in teaching and educational leadership in the sector to consider the evolution of the ESOL and Adult Literacy disciplines. She will discuss the current state, the crossover, the richness and pedagogy of each and their applicability to disparate learner groups. Is there a national narrative that has homogenised our understanding of diverse communities with literacy needs? How can workforce renewal in adult basic education and adult literacy help address historical and persistent disengagement of educationally disadvantaged L1 individuals?
Lyn Wilson
TAFE NSW and Reading and Writing Hotline
Lyn has worked in adult literacy and numeracy for 35 years and her career has included teacher, head teacher, and regional manager of adult literacy at TAFE NSW.
She has a passion for supporting First Nations communities to develop literacy & numeracy skills and over the course of her career has collaborated with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and industry groups to build scores of targeted pathways and pre-employment programs.
As chair of the Reading Writing Hotline Steering Committee, Lyn leads national discourse about the needs and unmet needs of learners across Australia. Her recent work includes creating a professional development course for aspiring LN teachers based on her advocacy in the area of workforce development.