Established in 1969 as the Further Education Sub-committee, the acronym “MADEC” was first derived from the Mildura and District Educational Council (MADEC). The Council evolved from the need to attract educational resources and services into Northwest Victoria and MADEC was formally constituted in 1970 as a community-based research and development organisation, focusing on the issues of regional education provision. During much of the 70’s, MADEC’s work involved documenting the gaps in education in north-west Victoria and, to a lesser extent, devising and providing delivery systems to meet these needs. At the time MADEC, along with other similar Victorian centres (including the Council of Adult Education), contributed to the emerging regional education system and to the development of the local TAFE.

The mid to late 70’s saw a significant shift by the MADEC Board towards the identification and use of local education resources. Throughout the 1980’s, this was expanded to include a diverse range of projects and programs including Commonwealth Employment Service funded initiatives, such as Skillshare and a wide range of other labour-market programs.

By the mid 80’s, the MADEC Board had diversified both its education programs and funding base in order to respond to the many and varied requests emanating from the general community. With emerging high levels of unemployment, the links between education, economic development and community cultural development were taken up by the Board as major issues for attention. This caused a redefining of the MADEC organisation to operate as an Incorporated Association, with a set of core and annually negotiable social objectives; and to provide the community sector with a range of services to those who were disadvantaged or unable to access learning of their choice. This change process was managed by a Board-appointed Executive Officer sourced from the private sector in 1982.

MADEC was formally recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as an organisation with Benevolent Institution status, and whilst autonomous in its management, became linked to both the State and Commonwealth Governments, via legally binding service agreements, i.e. where the Government tendered out services, which were then implemented and measured as a result of an expressed community need. The process of change continued through the 1990’s with governments continuing to retreat from the direct provision of services via government bureaucracies, to where community-based, not-for-profit organisations and private providers, were being increasingly contracted to deliver programs and services.

In 2009, MADEC celebrated 40 years of service to its expanding communities, further consolidating its position as a major provider of community services in Australia. MADEC now operates a range of programs through its core business units of Employment Services; Education and Training, and Community Development, throughout the Sunraysia & Mid Murray regions of Victoria, the Riverland, Yorke Peninsula, Murraylands, Southern Adelaide, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley in South Australia and in Wentworth and balranald, New South Wales.

Today MADEC’s strengths lie in its history of integrated service delivery, where participant and community outcomes are realised as part of a strategically planned process. MADEC’s voluntary Board of Management comprises 9 prominent members of the community who, as Directors, provide direction and guidance, based on a wealth of accumulated experiences, gained through long-term community involvement through business and social contacts. Now simply known as “MADEC Australia”, the organisation currently employs 250 full and part time staff, spread over 21 separate sites in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and has 51 community groups registered as Corporate Members. MADEC remains committed to retaining its links with the community at all levels, continually researching and developing new value added services, providing optimum community development, education, training and employment solutions, to meets its vision of “Regional Initiatives, Regional Solutions”.