All publications

This study provides a comprehensive picture of the way in which employers navigate the Australian… Show more

This study provides a comprehensive picture of the way in which employers navigate the Australian training system and establish partnerships with registered training organisations. It provides insight into how practices have evolved over the last 20 years. Show less

This research examines the 'psychological contract' or the unwritten expectations of employers and… Show more

This research examines the 'psychological contract' or the unwritten expectations of employers and employees in an employment relationship. The particular aim of this study was to discover whether mismatched expectations have any effect on retention in apprenticeships and traineeships. Overall, there was a very high level of agreement on the obligations of the two major parties and so mismatched Show less

In this 30 minute podcast, Steve Davis talks with Tom Karmel, Erica Smith and Damian Oliver on… Show more

In this 30 minute podcast, Steve Davis talks with Tom Karmel, Erica Smith and Damian Oliver on insights from research into apprenticeships.textInterested in the story behind the numbers, Tom discusses the findings from his work on individual completion rates that show occupation and employers' size matters, with the implication being that the relationship between employer and apprentice is Show less

This good practice guide is based on research that set out to identify the features of high-quality … Show more

This good practice guide is based on research that set out to identify the features of high-quality traineeships and those factors that either facilitate or inhibit their quality. To assist providers and employers offering traineeships, the guide sets out the features of good traineeships, starting from the recruitment phase through to completion. Show less

This report focusses on employability skills that young people entering work for the first time, or … Show more

This report focusses on employability skills that young people entering work for the first time, or novice workers, need. It examines the nature of the skills that employers seek when recruiting young people and the processes and techniques which can be used in the workplace to develop these skills. The report synthesises the findings of a comprehensive literature review and 12 case studies. Show less

This study of school students in workplaces looks at their perceptions of what they learned, why… Show more

This study of school students in workplaces looks at their perceptions of what they learned, why and how. It also examines the application of learning from school in the workplace and vice versa. An extension of the report by Smith and Green, "School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work". Show less

This project examines different ways in which young people still at school experience workplaces… Show more

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. Show less

This report is a review of the literature, available research and current Australian practice on… Show more

This report is a review of the literature, available research and current Australian practice on work placements. Its purpose is to draw together findings on work placements from three educational sectors in order to inform policy and practice in the VET sector. Show less