All publications

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e. wheth… Show more

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e. whether they change field of education and/or move between the VET and higher education sectors). Show less

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of this paper… Show more

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of this paper is to examine – through the conduct of a case study of engineering qualifications (AQF6) delivered in Victoria – how education and training providers and students are likely to respond to different fees and funding arrangements under the student entitlement model. Show less

Using data from the 2009 Student Outcomes Survey, this report looks at the pay-offs of completing of… Show more

Using data from the 2009 Student Outcomes Survey, this report looks at the pay-offs of completing of a vocational education and training (VET) qualification on a range of outcomes, and identifies the groups for whom completion is particularly important. Show less

This report compares the outcomes for young people who complete certificate I or certificate II qual… Show more

This report compares the outcomes for young people who complete certificate I or certificate II qualifications with the outcomes for similar individuals who are not participating in post-school education and training, using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. Show less

In this podcast, Sue Webb, a researcher, talks about the initial findings from work looking at the u… Show more

In this podcast, Sue Webb, a researcher, talks about the initial findings from work looking at the use of migrant women's skills in regional areas. Show less

Lorraine Dearden talks in this podcast about work she has co-authored on widening participation in h… Show more

Lorraine Dearden talks in this podcast about work she has co-authored on widening participation in higher education in the United Kingdom (UK). Show less

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled migrant… Show more

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled migrants. This report explores the question of whether participation in further training differs for these migrants compared with that of native-born workers in similar jobs. The research shows that foreign-born workers in Australia seem to receive the training they need, but this depends on whether or not they are native English speakers. Non-native English-speaking migrants demonstrate low training participation rates. They also have lower literacy skills and are less likely to be in employment. Show less

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The a… Show more

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The authors employ the ‘ORU’ model to compare the required level of education for a job and the actual level which is held by an individual in that job. This model defines an individual as being over-educated (O) for their job, having the right level of education (R), or being under-educated (U). Credentialism is then measured against the benchmark ‘right’ level for older cohorts. Findings show that younger cohorts will suffer from credentialism to the extent that more of them are over-educated compared with the older cohort. The ‘bite’ of credentialism is then measured by the wage penalty associated with this over education. However, the penalty is a modest one and on the whole additional study results in skills which are rewarded by higher wages. Show less

An increasing and important requirement of any funded research program is the ability to demonstrate… Show more

An increasing and important requirement of any funded research program is the ability to demonstrate that it is relevant and useful to public policy and to practitioners. This study takes the framework NCVER developed for measuring research impact to assess the outcomes from research and activities funded under the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth Research Innovation and Expansion Fund. It finds that the purpose of the fund, to start a ripple effect in the use of the LSAY data, was met, and that the research undertaken had strong resonances in the media as well as proving useful to government officials and practitioners working in the area of youth transitions. Show less

Assessing the impact of research in the social sciences is important in demonstrating that the resea… Show more

Assessing the impact of research in the social sciences is important in demonstrating that the research is useful and has been used. This good practice guide firstly provides indicators of how to best assess impact across four domains - producing knowledge, building the capacity of researchers and end users, influencing policy, and influencing practice. The guide secondly discusses ways to maximise the impact of research such as approaches to dissemination, using contacts and networks (including end users), knowledge translation, and developing programs of research. Show less

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the cap… Show more

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the capacity of individuals and groups to make transitions through learning, training and work across locations.  Three research projects will examine how regional or community factors and social capital affect those transitions. The three projects are: the influence of job conditions on geographic labour mobility; migrant women in regional Australia; and neighbourhood factors in the decision to participate in post-school education and training and the labour market. A synopsis of each project is given in this paper. Show less

This report investigates the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) for its coverage of wel… Show more

This report investigates the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) for its coverage of wellbeing questions. It is an area of considerable interest to policy-makers, and having a valid set of wellbeing questions in LSAY will enhance the capacity to investigate the links between wellbeing and other domains of interest for young people. The analysis finds three robust factors, which can be termed social wellbeing, material wellbeing and career. The three factors do not cover all the dimensions of wellbeing discussed in the literature, particularly the psychological aspects. Suggestions are made for enhancing the current list of wellbeing questions in LSAY. Show less

This conference paper was presented to the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational… Show more

This conference paper was presented to the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 13–16 May 2012, in Shanghai. It argues that there are two key factors behind Australia's good record of employment for young people: high levels of post-school education with the consequence that there is not a large cohort of people in their mid-to-late teens flooding on to the labour market; and a flexible education system which gives individuals multiple choices. Show less

To provide insights into how young people may fare in the current economic downturn, this study exam… Show more

To provide insights into how young people may fare in the current economic downturn, this study examines the experience of youth in a previous downturn. Show less

How do leaders in private providers juggle the educational and business imperatives of their organis… Show more

How do leaders in private providers juggle the educational and business imperatives of their organisation? Through interviews with senior leaders and managers, as well as employees from several enterprise, industry and commercial registered training organisations, this report examines this overarching question.  Show less

This paper aims to explain the extent to which variation in apprenticeship completion rates can be a… Show more

This paper aims to explain the extent to which variation in apprenticeship completion rates can be attributed to factors relating to 'culture' of the employer and apprentice.  Show less

This paper quantifies the impact of different dimensions of socioeconomic disadvantage on Year 12 co… Show more

This paper quantifies the impact of different dimensions of socioeconomic disadvantage on Year 12 completion. Show less

This publication provides information on tertiary education and training in Australia, including sta… Show more

This publication provides information on tertiary education and training in Australia, including statistics on participation, pathways and outcomes. The data in this publication are sourced from the National VET Provider Collection and the Higher Education Statistics Collection. The publication covers participation in Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certificate I qualifications through to doctorates by research, as well as enrolments in a single vocational subject. Information is presented on students and equivalent full-time students.textFurther tables on pathways were added to the Excel data tables in March 2013. Show less

This paper discusses how a 'gap-taker' can be defined, noting that gap-taking is not the same as def… Show more

This paper discusses how a 'gap-taker' can be defined, noting that gap-taking is not the same as deferral. Show less

This report was prepared for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to thro… Show more

This report was prepared for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to throw light on the growing trend of taking a 'gap year' between school completion and commencing university study. Show less