News & Events
Welfare to work, VET can make a difference
22 April 2009
Getting back into the workforce can be challenging for Welfare to Work recipients, but vocational education and training (VET) can improve the employment outcomes for some.
A paper released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), examines data from the Student Outcomes Survey to look at whether VET does increase the job prospects of Welfare to Work recipients.
Dr Tom Karmel, Managing Director, NCVER said people who completed certificate III and above had a better chance of securing employment.
"While our research found that training is associated with substantial increases in employment in a number of cases, it is far from being universal", Dr Karmel said.
"The partial completion of a qualification or the completion of certificate I or II is not likely to assist people from these welfare groups in getting a job. Substantial training makes the difference.
"If someone already has a good chance of employment then further training will not make much difference to their job prospects.
"In short, VET can make a difference, but not any VET, and not for all individuals."
To download a copy of Welfare to work: Does vocational education and training make a difference? visit NCVER's website: http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2105.html.
Media enquiries:
Jessica Justin, Marketing Officer or Colleen Young Manager, Marketing Services, NCVER +61 8 8230 8400
