The STAR Awards (Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition) are an awards initiative coordinated by AONTAS as part of the annual Adult Learners' Festival to acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by adult learning initiatives throughout Ireland. The awards celebrate the positive contribution that these initiatives make to individual adult learners, local communities and wider society. 

The winners will be announced on 5th March in Number 6 Kildare Street Dublin. Nominations were received under four categories and AONTAS have announced their shortlist as follows: 

Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote The Learner Voice

• BRIO - Building Recovery Inward and Outward, The SAOL Project
• Acorn Midlands Education and Training Service - Beauty Therapy Group, Offaly
• Making Connections Learning and Training Initiative Carlow, St Catherine's Community Service Centre
• Publication of New Writing, East Clare Community Cooperative

Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Digital Inclusion

• Digital Pathways Programme, An Cosán
• Online Today Northern Ireland, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Northern Ireland
• InsideOut @ KCFE, Kerry College of Further Education
• Mobile IT, Limerick

Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Wellbeing

Large Organisations

• Career Preparation Course, Skills for Work
• An Cosán University of The Third Age Group
• Soilse
• Roscrea Youthreach, Tipperary Education and Training Board

Small/Medium Organisations

• Moving On Programme, Blayney Blades
• Kickstart your Way to a Healthy Lifestyle, Tipperary Education and Training Board
• Nurture and Nature the path to wonder, ACCESS 2000 Wexford
• Health Matters Naturally, Southill Family Resource Centre

Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Social Inclusion

Large Organisations

• New Futures Project, One Family
• LINC Programme, Mary Immaculate College, Early Childhood Ireland, Maynooth University – The Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education
• RADE (Recovery through Art, Drama and Education)
• Certificate in General Learning and Personal Development, Mary Immaculate College

Small/Medium Organisations

• Integrated Learning, Brothers of Charity Ireland, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board
• CARA Outreach Support Service, National Learning Network, Waterford
• LWL Retail Skills Programme, Longford Women’s Link
• Local Training Initiative, Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology Centre