Australia's national VET data custodian

2001 publications

1 – 20 of 41 results
Information should be visual: New and emerging technologies and their application in the VET sector for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing

By Janice Knuckey, Lorna Lawford, Judie Kay

This project explored the use of a range of learning technologies by TAFE students who are Deaf and hard of hearing. Infrastructure requirements, such as access to interpreters skilled in Auslan signing for the profoundly Deaf, were also explored. The report discusses the range of ways information in the classroom can be made more visual. It also discusses barriers to the implementation and use of these new learning technologies.

Graduate satisfaction and entry-level training in office skills

By Michael Long, Lyn Robinson, Jeff Malley

This report presents results from the 1997 TAFE Graduate Destination Survey and from interviews conducted in 1998 with staff from nine courses in entry-level office skills. The aim of the report is to compare satisfaction ratings and the outcomes achieved by graduates from courses at similar levels and in similar fields of studies across different training organisations.

Contractor alliances and the new world of work

By Christine Owen, Helen Bound

This research investigates what knowledge, skills and attitudes independent contractors, working in alliances with others, need to operate successfully in their working life. It also shows how the existing vocational and education training (VET) system meets these needs and what the implications are for VET for the future.

What are the essential capabilities for those who manage training organisations?

By Victor Callan

This project developed and tested a management and leadership capability framework for vocational education and training (VET) directors and senior managers. Nine capabilities emerged as required of VET leaders and managers: provides corporate vision and direction; focuses strategically; achieves outcomes; develops and manages resources; change leadership; interpersonal relationships; personal development and mastery; business and entrepreneurial skills; and develops and empowers people.

What convinces enterprises to value training and learning and what does not?

By Jane Figgis, Anna Blackwell, Anna Alderson, Keith Mitchell, Ann Zubrick, Anne Butorac

This report focuses on the training/learning culture in small to medium-large sized enterprises and investigates what factors enhance the value of training and learning in an organisation. The report highlights the importance of informal learning and identifies lessons for marketing training and learning to Australian enterprises. An appendix containing the case studies is available from the web as a pdf file.

School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work

By Erica Smith, Annette Green

This project examines different ways in which young people still at school experience workplaces through paid work, vocational placements and work experience. The study is based on a survey of students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 13 schools in NSW and SA. In fact, 1451 responses were received. In addition, case studies were carried out in five schools.

The quest for a working blueprint: Vocational education and training in Australian secondary schools

By Jeff Malley, Jack Keating, Lyn Robinson, Geof Hawke

This report focusses on the implementation of vocational education and training (VET) in schools over the period 1996-1999. The report is comprehensive and provides an overview of school-based VET, historic and international aspects of vocationalism in secondary schooling, policy influences on the implementation of VET in secondary schools in Australia, a statistical description of VET provision in Australian secondary schools, a description of school-level implementation, discussion of cost and resourcing issues and then a suggested blueprint for school-based VET. Part 2 elaborates on the major findings and issues presented in part 1 and is available as a pdf file only.

Outcomes for vocational education and training diploma and associate diploma students

By Tom Dumbrell, Wendy Finnegan, Rowena De Montfort

This study investigates the differences in terms of outcomes between those who completed courses at diploma level and those who chose to complete only portions of these courses. It draws on the 1999 Student Outcome Survey and compares data on graduates and module completers who either completed or undertook modules within associate diploma, diploma or advanced diploma courses. The report analyses the data on graduates and module completers by age, prior highest qualification employment, industry of employment, field of study, reasons for undertaking study, why module completers did not complete their course, student satisfaction with the course, employment outcomes and income.

Reasons for new apprentices' non-completions

By Mark Cully, Richard Curtain

This report investigates the reasons why apprentices and trainees do not complete their contracts of training. It involved telephone interviews with a national sample of non-completing new apprentices and their employers. The study also investigated what those who did not complete their contracts were doing at the time of the survey - whether they were working, in study, unemployed or not in the workforce. The study concludes with some suggested strategies to reduce non-completion.

Successful longer-term career outcomes for VET participants: 1992-2000

By Peter Dwyer, Aramiha Harwood, Debra Tyler

The aim of this project was to investigate and document successful longer-term career outcomes of a selected sample of VET graduates. The sample was taken from the Youth Research Centre database of 29 000 Victorians who have completed their schooling in 1991. For the quantitative analysis a target group was chosen from the database comprising the 400-500 VET participants who indicated they had established themselves in full-time on-going employment or jobs that they considered to be career jobs. In addition the researchers interviewed over 200 young people with VET qualifications and analysed this data and also drew on interview transcripts from 80 interviews with young people. The data in this report cover such issues as how success in a career is defined, what percentage of young people are in jobs and what kind of jobs are they in three years after they completed their studies, how they assess their career success, how secure they feel in their career and the extent to which their studies have contributed to their success.

Learning to manage change: Developing regional communities for a local-global millennium

By Ian Falk

Contributing authors from Australia, USA and Canada provide leading-edge information, analysis of issues and hundreds of best practice examples of building strong communities through active and critical learning. The theme is that Australia should become a learning society in order to build capacity and manage regional change for social and economic benefit for all.

Mapping and tracking: Data collections for monitoring post-compulsory education and training

By Richard Teese, Louise Watson

This project investigates the usefulness of institutional data collections for monitoring student pathways between the following education sectors: schools, VET, higher education and adult community education. The main purpose of institutional data collections is to gather data for administrative as well as policy and planning purposes. The purpose of this project was to identify areas in which the current collections could be enhanced from the perspective of researchers who use the data.

Using training indicators to improve planning for vocational education and training

By Stephen Saunders

'Training indicators' - current and future indicators of VET demand and supply that guide investment decisions in skill training - are increasingly important in the national, State and regional VET planning cycles. This report makes recommendations for good practice in the use of training indicators and for improvements in their range and their dissemination.

Improving the validity of competency-based assessment

By Peter Thomson, John Saunders, John Foyster

This study considers the status of validity in the context of the assessment of VET in Australia. The project has involved reviewing the literature, reporting the outcomes of case studies, presenting the key findings and developing a diagnostic tool to guide assessors.

Increasing opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships in Melbourne's western region

By Tess Demediuk, Sue Holden, John Martino

This project provides an insight into the perceptions held by young people, businesses and educational authorities about the utility of new apprenticeships in the western region of Melbourne. It takes a critical look at new apprenticeships and aims to provide a way forward for all groups involved so that the quality of apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities and outcomes can be improved.

An entitlement to post-compulsory education: International practice and policy implications for Australia

By Richard Curtain

This report surveys European and United States approaches to public funding for post-compulsory education. It discusses the concept of entitlement which, in this report, applies to those policies which determine allocation of government funds to the training and education needs of the individual beyond initial or basic education. The report also identifies the different underlying principles that governments use in funding post-compulsory education in Europe and USA.

Women in vocational education and training: An analysis of 1996 and 1999 data

By Oanh Phan

This report relating to the participation of women in the vocational education and training (VET) sector during 1999 was commissioned by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, Vocational Education, Employment and Training (MCEETYA VEET) Women's Taskforce. Production of the report was funded by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA. The purpose of the report is to provide an analysis of existing data from the national data collections and other relevant information to enable an assessment of the participation of women in VET in 1996 and 1999. In addition, the report also provides detailed information of participation of women from the various target equity groups in VET.

Factors that contribute to retention and completion for apprentices and trainees

By Roger Harris, Michele Simons, Ken Bridge, John Bone, Heather Symons, Berwyn Clayton, Beverley Pope, Gail Cummins, Kaaren Blom

This study explored retention in apprenticeships and traineeships and factors that influence this process. The study is based on interviews with over 400 apprentices and trainees as well as with teachers, trainers and workplace supervisors. The study identifies a range of personal, industry, labour market, workplace and training factors that contribute to the likelihood of an apprentice or trainee completing their training. The study concludes with the view that retention is the collective responsibility of all parties involved - the individual, the employer and the provider of training.