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- More realistic employment opportunities exist for Indigenous learners
who complete their vocational education and training (VET) programs in
urban areas, than those in regional and remote areas.
- Compared to regional and remote learners, urban learners encounter less
racist attitudes toward their entry into employment or training, are
able to access a wider variety of Indigenous employment and training
programs, and participate in programs more closely related to work available
to them.
- Indigenous learners in regional areas often compete with each other and
a large pool of unemployed people for specific Indigenous employment
opportunities.
- Employment opportunities for Indigenous learners in remote settings are
severely limited. They are largely unaware of opportunities for expanding
their learning, or for employment, and so have few aspirations for further
education or to seek work. Hence, VET needs to relate more concretely
to the conditions and opportunities presented by remote localities.
- The Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) appears to be the
only avenue for expansion in employment opportunities for remote learners.
- Considerations such as family and community responsibilities, and connection
to the land prevent regional and remote learners from relocating to urban
areas in order to greater access employment opportunities.
- Many regional Indigenous learners are committed to further training,
which may be related to the lack of immediate employment opportunities
and the alternative to unemployment offered by technical and further
education (TAFE) institutes.
- The majority of both regional and urban Indigenous learners are apprehensive
about moving into mainstream courses due to a lack of confidence in their
potential for success.
- The availability of desired courses, teaching staff and community attitudes
to vocational education and training in the various locations are all
issues impacting on successful outcomes for further training and employment.
- Further investigation is needed into how structures linking Indigenous
training to work opportunities can be established, in particular how
training can be more closely connected to the Community Development Employment
Program.
- Successful outcomes of Indigenous involvement in vocational education
and training are not always related to further education or employment.
Therefore, Indigenous learning approaches should acknowledge the importance
of outcomes such as increased confidence, improved literacy, and the
ability to promote and facilitate family and community knowledge and
wellbeing.
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