This systematic review of research provides evidence to enable vocational education and training (VET) policy-makers and practitioners to act and move forward in developing training that meets the aspirations and needs of Indigenous Australians (footnote).

The project forms part of a coordinated program of research developed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) in partnership with the former Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council (NCVER & Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council 2004) to address the four objectives of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander VET strategy for 2000­–05, Partners in a learning culture (ANTA 2000a).

Progress against the objectives expressed in Partners in a learning culture was assessed during a mid-term review in 2003 (Kemmis et al. 2004). Objective 3 of the strategy is concerned with ‘achieving increased, culturally appropriate, and flexibly delivered training, including use of information technology, for Indigenous people’ (ANTA 2000a). The mid-term review found that practice and research relating to this objective since 2000 had been focused on the use of information technology in training.

This study was therefore intended as a stocktake of research on good practice in culturally appropriate VET and adult and community education (ACE) for Indigenous Australians. New research was not commissioned because it was agreed that a significant existing body of research was available. This required careful and systematic evaluation to draw out the necessary factors which would enable Indigenous Australians to achieve positive outcomes from VET.

How we did it

We began by developing the following question to be answered through a systematic review:

This systematic review seeks to answer this question by exhaustively searching for all available research, in this case over the last ten years, using keywords implied by the research question. Abstracts are used to identify potentially relevant studies for selection. Selected studies are then evaluated in detail for findings relevant to the question; the quality of the research itself is also evaluated. High-quality and highly relevant studies are then synthesised to generate a comprehensive evidence base.

For this review, we would like to thank the 11 external researchers, several National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) staff and the Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council for their contributions (see appendix A). More detail on the process undertaken for this review can be found in Anlezark, Dawe and Hayman (2005).

What are the outcomes Indigenous Australians aspire to?

The outcomes Indigenous people aspire to through training include, from the foundations upwards, the development of personal skills, educational achievements, ‘employment’ and the development of their communities.

These outcomes are discussed within most of the studies reviewed, and confirmed in the recent NCVER survey of Indigenous VET students (Butler et al., forthcoming).

Personal outcomes

The personal outcomes Indigenous Australians aspire to and obtain through training are the most critical. These types of outcomes include:

Such outcomes are the enabling factors for achieving other positive outcomes detailed below.

Educational outcomes

Indigenous Australians participate at high rates in VET, but more in lower-level courses, and many do not complete them. The educational outcomes people aspire to include:

Educational participation and outcomes are the intermediate steps towards gaining employability skills, employment itself, supporting community development, and fulfilling personal goals.

‘Employment’ outcomes: paid work, community development and Indigenous enterprises

The ultimate outcomes from training sought by Indigenous Australians are employment and community development. However, public and private paid employment is generally limited in rural and remote areas where labour markets are small. Indigenous people undertake significant amounts of relevant and time-consuming unpaid and community work which is not recognised as ‘employment’ in labour market statistics. Thus, the types of ‘employment’ outcomes people aspire to include:

This systematic review finds strong evidence that there is a great deal of work to be done for these outcomes to be fully recognised and incorporated into VET policy and provider practices.

What are the required factors to achieve positive outcomes?

If these are the desired outcomes, how can VET and ACE policies and programs better facilitate their achievement? This systematic review has found there are seven critical factors required to ensure that positive outcomes are achieved in any context.

Community ownership and involvement

There is unequivocal evidence that the single most important factor in achieving positive outcomes is Indigenous community ownership and involvement in the training from start to finish. The more control and authority a community has in its training, the more successful that training will be. At present, ownership and involvement are diverse in meaning and practice, and applied to varying degrees across Australia—from minimal involvement in mainstream programs to high-level and ongoing involvement in Indigenous-specific courses and Indigenous-controlled training providers.

Indigenous identities, cultures, knowledge and values

Training needs to reaffirm students’ own identities, cultures and histories to provide the appropriate space in which people can acquire skills for employment, community development and self-determination. Participation in education and training is a social activity, and as such must be negotiated between students and teachers to ensure that the structures, environment and content are congruent with Indigenous backgrounds.

True partnerships

The development of ‘true’ partnerships is essential, as they establish a process through which Indigenous community aspirations can be incorporated within VET provider, industry and government priorities. Partnerships involve joining up with organisations, within communities and with external parties, which have the professional, financial and structural means to assist Indigenous communities to meet their aspirations. These types of partnerships can reduce duplication of services and wastage of effort.

Flexibility in course design, content and delivery

The above three factors in turn rely heavily on the flexibility of VET systems, policies, organisations, programs and staff. Flexibility ensures that communities can maintain involvement throughout the training process, that programs can be adapted according to local conditions, and that funding can be more appropriately distributed. Some key aspects of flexibility include:

The flexibility of individual staff, including teachers and tutors, is also critical. This allows for a responsive training system that adapts to the needs and backgrounds of students.

Quality staff and committed advocacy

There is clear evidence that program effectiveness is directly affected by the commitment, expertise, understanding and sensitivity of teachers, tutors, support staff and administrators. The evidence also shows a need to appoint and develop more Indigenous people in these roles.

Student support services

Educational support services, such as tutoring and literacy support, are essential for Indigenous students to start and stay in training, and to achieve positive outcomes. Students must also have access to financial, social and cultural support. Partnerships with various organisations can provide this access using ‘linked up’ services.

Funding and sustainability

Funding levels must be responsive to the realities of location and requirements, and new initiatives that are effective must be backed up with long-term funding. Flexibility in application and administrative demands must be allowed  in instances where funding originates from multiple sources.

All factors all of the time

This systematic review of research reveals that all of these seven factors, known to improve Indigenous people’s experiences and outcomes from training, must be present in every program.

Additional information relating to this research is available in Aspects of training that meet Indigenous Australians’ aspirations: A systematic review of research—Support document.