Australia's national VET data custodian

2001 publications

1 – 17 of 17 results
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.

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.

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.

Return on investment in training: Research readings

By Andrew Smith

This publication, edited by Andrew Smith, summarises the outcomes of research projects funded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee on the subject of return on investment in training.

Returns on investment in training: Research at a glance

By NCVER

A new body of research has just been completed on the returns to investment in training in Australia. Prior to this research effort, little empirical research had been undertaken on the returns to training in Australia. This research at a glance synthesises the findings of the recent Australian research.

Skill trends in the building and construction trades

By NCVER, DEWRSB

There has been growing concern about skill shortages in a number of sectors in the Australian labour market in the past couple of years with an increased demand for some skills as a result of improvements in the Australian economy. However, such concerns are not particularly new since skill shortages are a recurring and persistent feature of the Australian labour market. In this report, available evidence about patterns and trends in trades employment and training in the building and construction industry is reviewed to guage the nature and extent of any skill shortages in these building and construction trades.

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.

Factors influencing demand for vocational education and training courses: Review of research

By Sue Kilpatrick, Kim Allen

This publication reviews research relating to demand for VET. Demand is expected to increase for 'knowledge work', 'soft' and literacy and numeracy skills. Current policy's focus on the needs of industry and enterprises needs to be re-evaluated in the broader context of the demands of other stakeholders who have longer term interests.

Evaluating on- and off-the-job approaches to learning and assessment in apprenticeships and traineeships

By Andrew Strickland, Michele Simons, Roger Harris, Ian Robertson, Maddy Harford, Angelina Edwards

This report summarises the views of Australian apprentices and trainees on their learning and assessment experiences in on- and off-the-job settings. It also examines through some 20 case studies the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches to learning and assessment that are being used today.

Developing industry linkages: Learning from practice

By Josie Misko

This short publication examines mechanisms used by training providers to develop industry linkages through a series of case studies. Its particular focus is the hospitality information technology and electrical/electronics industries.

The economics of vocational education and training in Australia: CEET's stocktake

By Chris Selby Smith, Fran Ferrier, Damon Anderson, Gerald Burke, Sonnie Hopkins, Michael Long, Leo Maglen, Jeff Malley, Phillip McKenzie, Chandra Shah

The book builds on CEET's review of the economics of vocational education and training for the Australian National Training Authority in 1994. Seven chapters discuss: the overall purpose of the review; changing employment patterns; demand for VET; supply of VET; special supply issues; finance and market issues; and finally, future research, access and equity, and research impact.

Training for the skilled trades in Australia, 1980-2000: Training reforms

By Elizabeth Webster, Thea Bainger, Ross Kelly, Alfred Michael Dockery

This report examines trends in occupational mismatch in the metal, building, vehicle and electrical trades and questions whether the process of award restructuring has created incentives for unskilled blue collar workers to pursue skill-based career paths in the trades. The report examines the reasons for high attrition rates by qualified workers from their trade as well as the motives behind employers' decisions to hire unqualified workers to do trade work.

Linkages between vocational education and training providers and industry

By Jihee Choi, Josie Misko, Oanh Phan, Kyeong-Jong Kang

This comparative study describes the vocational education and training systems of Korea and Australia. Its particular focus is on the linkages between training providers and industry in both countries. Researchers from the Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research have collaborated in conducting the research and writing this book.

Factors affecting the provision of entry-level training by enterprises

By Katrina Ball, Brett Freeland

This publication seeks to identify the key determinants of apprentice and trainee employment in Australian small and medium-sized enterprises. The investigation is based on data collected in the ABS Business Longitudinal Survey over the period 1994-95 to 1997-98. The study concludes that there is no evidence of a single business characteristic acting as a trigger for small and medium-size enterprises to provide apprentice and trainee training although there are a number of characteristics which affect an enterprise's propensity to undertake apprentice and trainee training, including the number of employees and the rate of expansion of the enterprise.

Training for productivity

By Leo Maglen, Sonnie Hopkins, Gerald Burke

Is spending on training personnel worthwhile? Many of the firms in the research reported here believed so; and what is more, results in manufacturing (footwear, wire products) suggest that it delivered sizeable returns in labour productivity. Importantly, findings support the view that firms should be undertaking long-term strategic planning, not just targeting day-to-day problems. The research sought to investigate whether comparative case studies of similar enterprises could be used to demonstrate a relationship between training expenditure and productivity. The method proved ineffective in the services sector (top class hotels, supermarkets), apparently because of greater differences between enterprises.

Evidence of skill shortages in the automotive repairs and service trades

By Jessie Borthwick, David John, Mark Werner

This publication provides information on apprentices and trainees in the automotive repairs and service trades over the period 1995-1999 including age, AQF level and geographic region, along with employment trends and forecasts for occupations in these trades.