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This report investigates the outcomes from lower-level qualifications
(certificates I and II) for young people aged 15 to 24 years. The data
analysed were largely derived from two of the national data collections
held by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The findings indicate that vocational and further study
outcomes for young people from certificate I and II qualifications could
be described as fair, at best, with some variations to these findings
according to age, gender and certificate level.
- Young
people's rates of completing courses at certificate levels I and
II are relatively low. It has been projected that about 33% who
enrolled
at certificate I level complete a course with 43% at certificate
II level.
- The
minority who complete (graduates) receive reasonable employment
outcomes in the 15 to 19-years age group, while they were less
reasonable for
the 20 to 24-years age group. Over a third of all graduates
reported no job-related benefits from the course..
- Reasonable
proportions of graduates enrolled in further study at a higher level
within six months after the course, with about a third of certificate
I graduates and 43% of certificate II graduates doing so. Similar
proportions of graduates completed a further qualification within
30 months after
their initial training (28% and 40% respectively), although not
always at a higher level.
- Subjects-only
completers, who form the majority of students at both certificate
I and II levels, do not receive as good employment outcomes as graduates.
Subjects-only completers were also more likely than graduates to
report
no job-related benefit from the course. Subjects-only completers
were less likely than graduates to enrol in further study at a higher
level,
or to complete an additional qualification.
- Preparatory
courses, which form a substantial proportion of enrolments at
certificate I level (about 47%), do not have good outcomes either
in terms of
employment or further study. Preparatory courses may, however, have
other short-term
benefits, which could lead to employment or further study outcomes
at a later date.
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