An overview

Moving towards lifelong learning

The notion that skill learning and re-learning must continue throughout one’s lifetime is gradually becoming an ingrained feature of Australia’s economic, social and cultural landscape and, consequently, of the Australian vocational education and training system. Australia has developed a vocational education and training system which is very broad in its coverage and scope. It’s now the case that nearly two-thirds of those who enrol in vocational education and training in Australia each year are over 25 years of age. Moreover, most enterprises in Australia with more than 10 employees provide some kind of training to their employees.

It has been recognised in Australia that it is no longer sufficient to have a vocational education and training system which is focussed mainly on preparation of youth for entry to the workforce. There are two main reasons for this:

• On the demand side, technological change and other changes stemming from globalisation of economies around the world are now so rapid that people cannot expect to work in the same occupation or industry over a lifetime. Even within particular work areas, changes are occurring continuously.
• On the supply side, the average age of the workforce, as in most countries, is increasing. There will be relatively fewer young people in the workforce than in the past. Therefore, skill formation policies must also be focussed on the adult workforce.

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