Work in Progress
Skilling a seasonal workforce: A way forward for rural regions
Summary
- Item:
- 10238
- Title:
- Skilling a seasonal workforce: A way forward for rural regions
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR3020
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 5 September 2003
- Contact:
- Sue Kilpatrick
- phone: +61 3 6324 3018
- email: sue.kilpatrick@utas.edu.au
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to investigate employer provision of training to meet the needs of seasonal workers within two geographic regions. The study will investigate barriers and enhancers to the provision of training by employers and of participation for employees and identify the 'fit' between current VET provision and needs.
Approach
Literature review, survey two regions with a concentration of seasonal workers and analyse resulting data.
Research questions
1. What training is being undertaken by seasonal workers in two regional areas?
* Which industries and industry sectors are employing seasonal workers, and which are accessing training or employing trained workers?
* Who is delivering training?
* What training is being delivered, including the use made of Training Packages (or part thereof)?
* To what extent are the skills required and delivered in training common to more than one industry or industry sector?
* What are the skill gaps for casual seasonal workers that could be addressed through training?
2. What are the factors that enhance and inhibit use of structured training to meet the training needs of seasonal workers and their employers? What is the potential for cross-industry qualifications to meet these training needs?
3. What roles can regional industry and government personnel play in developing a 'community of practice' to address training needs for seasonal workers?
Methodology
This will be a qualitative in-depth investigation. Interviews will be conducted employers in Queensland and Tasmania and and 30 seasonal workers from a range of industries. Training providers, training schemens and industry stakeholders will also be interviewed.
Organisations
The project will be carried out through the CRLRA at the University of Tasmania Launceston. In its five years of existence, the CRLRA has conducted more than 100 research projects and consultancies for a wide range of Commonwealth, State and local government clients, as well as clients from a wide range of private and corporate sectors. The successful completion of this research and consultancy work has earned the Centre a national and international reputation in the fields of adult and vocational education and training, and community and regional development. In addition, it is a key dissemination and research unit for the fields of rural and regional adult and vocational education and training and learning.
