The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has today released new research that shows pre-apprenticeship programs can significantly boost the chances of successfully completing an apprenticeship.
The report, Understanding the value of pre-apprenticeships, found that students who completed a pre-apprenticeship in the same field of education as their apprenticeship were 7.3 percentage-points more likely to finish their apprenticeship than those who did not enrol in a pre-apprenticeship program.
NCVER Managing Director John King said the findings highlight the important role pre-apprenticeships can play in preparing students for success.
‘Pre-apprenticeships help turn initial curiosity into commitment, building both skills and passion.’
The positive effect of pre-apprenticeships was particularly evident in the trade occupations, where those who had completed a pre-apprenticeship were 4.1-percentage-points more likely to complete their apprenticeship.
‘This may reflect the value of hands-on preparation and the motivation among students who actively choose trade pre-apprenticeships,’ said Mr King.
The research found that some groups benefit more than others. Younger apprentices, males and those not identifying with an equity group were more likely to both commence and complete an apprenticeship after enrolling in a pre-apprenticeship.
‘Helping more students complete their apprenticeships is a national priority. This research confirms well-designed pre-apprenticeships can make a difference, especially those aligned to job tasks and tailored to different learner needs,’ said Mr King.
The study also found that around one in three students who did not complete their pre-apprenticeship still moved into apprenticeships with employers. However, they were less likely to complete their apprenticeship when compared to those who had not enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship.
Mr King said, ‘We need to understand why students who leave pre-apprenticeships early are less likely to complete their apprenticeship. That insight could help the VET sector design better supports to ensure students succeed.’
Download the report: Understanding the value of pre-apprenticeships
Background:
This research consisted of several complementary elements to evaluate the value of pre-apprenticeships in delivering improved apprenticeship outcomes:
- a novel methodology was used to track the apprenticeship pathways of pre-apprenticeship students from four jurisdictions within data from the National VET Provider and Apprentice and Trainee collections.
- the probability of apprenticeship completion was modelled, comparing results for apprenticeships with a prior pre-apprenticeship enrolment to those without.
- interviews with students and employers were conducted to gain insights into their pre-apprenticeship experiences.
For this research, ‘pre-apprenticeship’ and ‘apprenticeship’ include both apprenticeships and traineeships.
An apprenticeship is defined as a combination of a student, their jurisdiction, and a program enrolment, rather than the traditional contract-based measure.
For the purposes of this research, government skills departments in four jurisdictions provided data on students who received funding for training intended as a precursor to an apprenticeship. Jurisdictions define and fund pre-apprenticeships differently, with programs taking various forms, from introductory vocational training to structured pathways into specific trades. This research analysed the outcomes of 280 707 apprenticeship commencements of which 4% (11 210) had a prior pre-apprenticeship program enrolment.
Enquiries: Chantal Deutrom P: +61 8 8230 8418 E: chantaldeutrom@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the main provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.