All publications

There have been major advances in online learning in recent years. However, the use of some technolo… Show more

There have been major advances in online learning in recent years. However, the use of some technologies - such as web conferencing - have not been fully explored in the vocational education and training (VET) sector. This paper reports on a trial of web conferencing that was conducted by the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE. There was a high level of participation and interaction by both students and teachers during the trial, and most were positive about using web conferencing as a means of communication. Show less

This paper draws on a research project which developed a change management strategy to assist two TA… Show more

This paper draws on a research project which developed a change management strategy to assist two TAFE institutes in addressing and improving their planning culture. It outlines the principles and processes which emerged from the research and presents the guidelines for linking the strategic planning process to actions and performance within the different levels of a complex vocational education and training (VET) organisation. The paper should be of interest to VET organisations seeking practical ideas and guidance in how to implement organisational change and development processes. Show less

In the context of an ageing population, the opportunity for people aged 45 years and older to update… Show more

In the context of an ageing population, the opportunity for people aged 45 years and older to update their work-related skills and knowledge is potentially important in enabling some of these workers to remain in, or return to, employment. This study considers the diverse nature of older workers in the labour force and their learning preferences. It suggests that some changes to skill development activities are required to accommodate the motivations, objectives and ways of learning of older workers. These changes include a mix of organisational factors, such as integrating learning and work, and teaching and learning factors, such as flexibility and responsiveness to learner needs. Show less

This study shows how a group of employers understand the provision of literacy, numeracy and employa… Show more

This study shows how a group of employers understand the provision of literacy, numeracy and employability skills and the continuing development of these skills in their workplaces. It demonstrates that some employers accept that it is both necessary and the employer's responsibility to provide learning and development opportunities for these skills. However, employers are looking for support in doing this. The challenge for training organisations is in building capability and capacity to support this effort. Successful development strategies in the workplace tended to be part of the normal cycles of skills training and continuous improvement. Show less

The linkage between tertiary education and the labour market in Australia is examined in this paper… Show more

The linkage between tertiary education and the labour market in Australia is examined in this paper presented, in 2004, to the Korea Research Institute of Vocational Education and Training at the 7th Anniversary International Seminar on Linkage between Higher Education and Labour Market. Show less

This paper was a before-dinner address to the Management Team Retreat of NCVER in October 2007. It l… Show more

This paper was a before-dinner address to the Management Team Retreat of NCVER in October 2007. It looks at how education and training has changed over the last 15 years, and discusses topics such as sustainable development, leadership and management, and literacy and numeracy. Show less

This paper explores issues of engagement, response rates, access, confidentiality and security in re… Show more

This paper explores issues of engagement, response rates, access, confidentiality and security in relation to the Canberra Institute of Technology's move from a paper-based student experience survey to an online survey. It discusses a variety of theories and strategies which will inform the future development and implementation of online student experience surveys, including benefits such as lower costs, ease of administration, fewer errors and quicker data entry. The paper does show, however, that online surveys can have drawbacks such as lower response rates, and require effective promotion and enthusiastic teachers to encourage students to take part. Show less

Australia needs highly skilled workers to sustain a healthy economy. Current employment-based traini… Show more

Australia needs highly skilled workers to sustain a healthy economy. Current employment-based training models have limitations in meeting the demands for highly skilled labour supply. The research explored current and emerging models of employment-based training to propose more effective models at higher VET qualifications that can maintain a balance between institution and work-based learning. Show less

This research examined recent pilots of accelerated apprenticeships in the automotive industry in Qu… Show more

This research examined recent pilots of accelerated apprenticeships in the automotive industry in Queensland. Interviews with apprentices, employers and teachers showed that the traditional model is still well regarded. It is not failing, but does require evolutionary change. Show less

This report examines young people's participation in career advice activities while at school and th… Show more

This report examines young people's participation in career advice activities while at school and their perceptions of the usefulness of the advice they receive. The data are from the 2003 15 year old cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY). Research report no. 53 This report, published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), is part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) research program. Show less

This report investigates the role that vocational education and training (VET) can play in the trans… Show more

This report investigates the role that vocational education and training (VET) can play in the transition from welfare to work. Case studies showed that VET can, and often does, help people move into paid work. However, target groups have varied needs and the study concludes that the VET sector has more to do in catering for these subgroups. Show less

This publication provides a brief overview of migration, with an emphasis on the contribution migrat… Show more

This publication provides a brief overview of migration, with an emphasis on the contribution migration has made to the workforce. It shows that Australia has been using targeted migration programs to expand and enhance the skills base of its workforce for some time. Show less

Through the experiences of refugees from Bosnia, Iraq and Sudan, this research sought to explore the… Show more

Through the experiences of refugees from Bosnia, Iraq and Sudan, this research sought to explore the role multicultural community organisations play in creating important informal networks and learning spaces that connect people from refugee backgrounds to the wider Australian community. In particular, the research sought to identify how such organisations assist refugees in their learning of English language and work skills. Show less

The welfare-to-work policy aims to encourage certain welfare recipients to pursue pathways that lead… Show more

The welfare-to-work policy aims to encourage certain welfare recipients to pursue pathways that lead to paid employment. This report explores the role that the vocational education and training (VET) system can play in assisting people move from welfare to work. The researchers examined the experiences of VET students from the relevant welfare groups and sought the views of other key stakeholders such as TAFE and Centrelink personnel. Conclusions include that VET can play a positive role but that there needs to be collaboration between VET and income support sectors to ensure that potential barriers are overcome. Show less

This report examines the vocational education and training (VET) pathways pursued by young people si… Show more

This report examines the vocational education and training (VET) pathways pursued by young people since leaving school. It investigates the characteristics of those who pursue VET, their persistence in those programs, and the labour force and related outcomes that they experience following their VET participation. The investigation uses data collected as part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) program. It is based on survey data collected annually since 1995 from young people who were in Year 9 at school at that time (the Y95 cohort). Research report no. 52 This report, published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), is part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) research program. Show less

This brief publication accompanies the report 'Who's supporting us? TAFE staff perspectives on suppo… Show more

This brief publication accompanies the report 'Who's supporting us? TAFE staff perspectives on supporting students with a mental illness'. Aimed at TAFE staff, it provides a summary of the key findings of the report, including lessons from participants about strategies to help students with mental illness, and useful resources. Show less

Students reporting a mental illness do poorly in vocational education and training (VET) compared wi… Show more

Students reporting a mental illness do poorly in vocational education and training (VET) compared with other disability groups. This is a challenge for the VET sector. Teachers and support staff are at the frontline in responding to the needs of these students and this research explored staff perspectives on how TAFE institutes in Australia are supporting students with mental illnesses. Show less

Research messages 2007 is a collection of summaries of all research projects published by the Nation… Show more

Research messages 2007 is a collection of summaries of all research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2007, including conference papers and occasional papers. It also has an overview of the research highlights for the year. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context. Show less

Developed for practitioners, this resource introduces adult literacy educators to the principles of… Show more

Developed for practitioners, this resource introduces adult literacy educators to the principles of strength-based practice, a technique that concentrates on the strengths, capacities and aspirations of individuals and uses these as a catalyst for change and growth. The resource provides examples of key processes and techniques, as well as information about where to access additional resources relating to strength-based practice. Show less

Around a quarter of all Australian wage and salary earners are casual workers. Casual workers, in ge… Show more

Around a quarter of all Australian wage and salary earners are casual workers. Casual workers, in general, receive less training than those in ongoing employment. This paper considers whether the prevalence of casual employment is sustainable. It looks at the home and community care sector in which vocational education and training has a prominent role in developing the skills of workers, and in which casual employment is relatively high. It notes that, where employers pay for training, they usually prefer to use ongoing part-time employees rather than casuals. But many employers believe that casual employees prefer the flexibility of casual employment. Show less