Frequently asked questions about the survey

• What is the Student Outcomes Survey?
• Why is the survey conducted?
• Who is included in the survey?
• When is the survey conducted?
• What information is available from the survey?
• Are my answers confidential?
• Do I have to participate?
• Can I complete the survey online?
• How has the survey changed over the years?
• Who's who?

What is the Student Outcomes Survey?

Why is the survey conducted?

The aim of the Student Outcomes Survey is to improve the economic and social outcomes of students who undertake vocational education and training (VET). This is achieved by providing the VET sector with information on the:

• outcomes from training (eg. employment and further study outcomes)
• relevance of the training
• benefits of the training
• satisfaction with the training
• reasons for not continuing the training (where applicable).

The information is used by national and state/territory bodies, along with local training providers, to ensure vocational training is of high quality and relevant to Australian workplaces. The survey highlights both the positive and negative outcomes from training and monitors the effectiveness of VET system. The information collected assists in administering, planning, and evaluating the VET system.

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Who is included in the survey?

The survey targets people who completed recognised vocational training in the previous calendar year. For example, the 2009 survey includes students who completed their training in 2008. Questionnaires are mailed each year to:

Both graduates and module completers must have:

• had an Australian address as their usual address
• undertaken vocational training, excluding recreational or hobby courses.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher
• Advanced Diploma
• Certificate IV
• Certificate III
• Certificate II
• Certificate I

When is the survey conducted?

The survey cycle begins in March and has three main stages: project preparation, fieldwork, and data analysis and reporting.

Project preparation (March - last Friday in May):

• The NCVER randomly selects the sample of students (graduates and potential module completers) stratified by institute, age, field of education, and training provider. Contact details of selected students are then provided directly to the contractor by state training authorities and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). At no time do NCVER staff have access to students' contact details.

Fieldwork (Last Friday in May - September):

• A personalised covering letter, information page, questionnaire, and a reply paid envelope are mailed at end of May each year. The letter asks respondents to return the questionnaire within two weeks. Participants are also given the option to complete the survey via the Internet. The introductory letter includes a link to the questionnaire along with a unique password and username for each participant.

Data analysis and reporting (October - December):

• After completion of fieldwork, quality checks are conducted and data are analysed. The results of the survey are released in early December.
  

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What information is available from the survey?

In early December, the publication Student outcomes is released presenting national (and some state) level findings. Excel data tables and data cubes provide key findings by state/territory as well as by student characteristics such as age, sex, and Indigenous status.

The following supporting/supplementary information is also provided:

• Technical notes
• Terms and definitions
• Survey covering letter
• Questionnaires
• Data dictionary

All products are available free of charge on NCVER's website at : http://www.ncver.edu.au/statistic/21065.html

Requests for more detailed statistical information or further information about the Student Outcomes Survey can be made to:

NCVER
(08) 8230 8400
surveys_req@ncver.edu.au

A charge will be generally made by the NCVER for more complex requests for information. See the fees and charges policy at http://www.ncver.edu.au/statistic/21075.html#protocols

Additional information is made available to various stakeholders including the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the States/Territories.

Are my answers confidential?

Yes, your privacy is assured. Your contact details and survey responses will remain confidential. The information you provide will not be used for any other purpose. Only group responses, not your individual responses, are reported. All names, addresses, and telephone numbers will be deleted from the survey database at the end of the project.

This survey complies with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988. Details on the privacy policies of NCVER and the Social Research Centre can be accessed from www.ncver.edu.au/sos/privacy.html

Do I have to participate?

No, participating in the survey is voluntary. However, your answers are important as they help improve future vocational training.

Can I complete the survey online?

You can complete the survey online at www.ncver.edu.au/sos, or alternatively you can send the hard copy survey back to us in the reply paid envelope provided (no stamp required).

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How has the survey changed over the years?

During 1995, 1997 and 1998 the survey was known as the Graduate Destination Survey. From 1999 onwards the survey was known as the Student Outcomes Survey.

1995 (conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics), 1997, and 1998

• A census of TAFE graduates with a qualification involving at least 200 hours or one semester of training.

1999

• A census of graduates with a qualification involving at least 200 hours or one semester of training.
• A small sample survey of module completers was introduced. Separate questionnaires were used for graduates and module completers.
• The survey was expanded to include students from TAFE, Adult and Community Education, private and other government providers.
• Only information on TAFE students was published.

2000, 2001, and 2002

• A sample survey of graduates and module completers.
• For graduates, the minimum training length condition was removed.
• Separate questionnaires continued to be used for graduates and module completers.

2003

• A sample survey of graduates and module completers.
• The option to complete survey via the internet was introduced.
• For the first time participants who identified themselves as graduates in the module completer component were included in the graduate segment for reporting. Previously responses of these people were collected but not used in reporting. At the aggregate level, this change makes no difference, but for sub-populations the effect may be greater; therefore caution is required in making comparisons with results published in previous years.

2004

• A sample survey of graduates and module completers.
• For the first time the same questionnaire was used for graduates and module completers.

2005

• A sample survey of graduates and module completers.
• For the first time, information on students from all VET providers was published.

2006 onwards

• A sample survey of graduates and module completers.

Who's who?

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
NCVER is a not-for-profit company owned by the State, Territory and Federal ministers responsible for vocational education and training. NCVER, under contract to the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), collects information and provides research on vocational education and training in Australia to governments, the training sector, industry and the community.

Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations
The Government department funding the survey. They will use the results to develop government policy to help employers and industry.

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