About

Since 1992, NCVER’s mid-year National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference has been bringing together diverse perspectives in relation to policy and practice from across the VET sector to share, discuss and present on priority issues.

'No Frills' provides an opportunity for networking and ideas sharing in a friendly and informal atmosphere with a cross-section of industry representatives, practitioners, researchers and policymakers. The conference also contributes to building capacity and capability in VET research by providing opportunities for engagement and learnings for early stage career researchers and more experienced researchers.

The conference became colloquially known as 'No Frills' because no fees were charged for attending in its early years and participants had to be largely self-sufficient.

Past Conferences

DateLocationCo-host Keynote Speakers Papers and Presentations
19-21 July 2023MelbourneRMIT University Melbourne City CampusProfessor Peter Dawkins AO and  Ms Danielle Wood.View papers
6-8 July 2022 Online The 31st 'No Frills' conference was held online, without a co-host Sophie Renton, Alex Jackson, Simon Walker View papers
7-9 July 2021 Online The 30th 'No Frills' conference was held online, without a co-host Dr Borhene Chakroun, Dr Liz Allen, and Adam Boyton View papers
7-10 July 2020 Online This conference was held online, without a co-host Dr Kate Raynes-Goldie, Adam Boyton and E/Prof Tracey Horton AO View papers
10-12 July 2019 Adelaide TAFE SA, Adelaide, Regency & Tonsley campuses Dr Fiona Kerr and Gabrielle Kelly View papers
15-17 August 2018 Sydney First international with New Zealand's Industry Training Federation and Ako Aotearoa Lene Tanggaard and Andrew Charlton View papers
5-7 July 2017 Hobart TasTAFE, Hobart, Tasmania Adrienne Dawson, John Hooper and Stacey Joseph View papers
4-6 July 2016 Rockhampton

Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland

Linda Brown and Jodi Schmidt View papers

6-8 July 2015

Parramatta University of Western Sydney, TAFE NSW Western Sydney and South Western Sydney Institutes Peter Shergold and Nicholas Wyman View papers

9-11 July 2014

Moorabbin Holmesglen, Moorabbin campus Steve Sargent and Mark Burford View papers

10-12 July 2013

Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast TAFE, Mooloolaba campus Tom Karmel, Nik Babovic and Daniel Gschwind View papers

11-13 July 2012

Adelaide TAFE SA, at TAFE SA Adelaide campus and Adelaide College of the Arts Robyn Archer AO, David Finegold and Adrian Smith View papers

11-13 July 2011

Coffs Harbour North Coast TAFE, at Coffs Harbour Education campus Elizabeth McGregor, Peter Coolbear and Berwyn Clayton View papers

7-9 July 2010

Perth Polytechnic West, at Central Institute of Technology, East Perth campus Dilip Chenoy and Linda Howard View papers

8-10 July 2009

Ballarat University of Ballarat, Mt Helen Campus Barbara Pocock and Martha Kinsman View papers
9-11 July 2008 Launceston TAFE Tasmania, at University of Tasmania, Newnham campus Oona Nielssen and Rob Simons, John Smyth View papers
11-13 July 2007 Alice Springs Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs campus Tom Karmel and Metta Young View papers
12-14 July 2006 Mooloolaba Sunshine Institute of TAFE, Mooloolaba campus Bill Martin, Clive Chappell and Janelle Allison View papers
5-8 July 2005 Wodonga Wodonga Institute of TAFE Tom Karmel, Berwyn Clayton and Sue Richardson View papers
13-16 July 2004 Tweed Heads Southern Cross University, Tweed Gold Coast campus  View papers
8-11 July 2003 Perth Central TAFE and WA Department of Education and Training at eCentral Campus  View papers
9-12 July 2002 Brisbane North Point Institute of TAFE  View papers

10-13 July 2001

Geelong RIPVET (Gordon Institute of TAFE and Deakin University)  View papers

4-7 July 2000

Coffs Harbour North Coast Institute of TAFE  View papers
6-8 July 1999 Toowoomba Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, Toowoomba College  View papers
1998 Wagga Wagga Charles Sturt University  View papers
8-11 July 1997 Melbourne University of Melbourne  View papers
9-12 July 1996 Launceston University of Tasmania  View papers
1995 Darwin Northern Territory University  View papers
7 July 1994 Townsville James Cook University  View papers
1-2 July 1993 Brisbane Griffith University  View papers
July 1992 Sydney University of Technology  View papers