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In this interview, Steve Davis talks with Tom Karmel about his report 'Apprenticeships in the… Show more

In this interview, Steve Davis talks with Tom Karmel about his report 'Apprenticeships in the downturn'. Apprenticeships have a very long history in Australia, building on the traditions of the medieval guilds. The essence of the apprenticeship is the contract of training--a legal contract between an individual, an employer and a training provider. The defining characteristic is the combination Show less

The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with… Show more

The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them. Show less

This study examines employers’ views, taken from the NCVER Survey of Employer Use and Views on the… Show more

This study examines employers’ views, taken from the NCVER Survey of Employer Use and Views on the VET System, on the three ways they can engage with the VET system: by having vocational qualifications as a job requirement; employing apprentices and trainees; and using nationally recognised training. In particular, the authors focus on employers’ suggestions for improvement to the VET system Show less

In light of recent developments in educational policy and the positioning of vocational education… Show more

In light of recent developments in educational policy and the positioning of vocational education and training (VET) across the European Union, it was timely to explore these new directions and the lessons for Australian VET. Show less

The report highlights that there is no simple fix to increasing employer investment in training… Show more

The report highlights that there is no simple fix to increasing employer investment in training which has generally not been a core component of long-term business planning. Show less

This report examines the costs that both employers and apprentices incur for undertaking training… Show more

This report examines the costs that both employers and apprentices incur for undertaking training in the plumbing and electrical industries. The importance of understanding costs is fundamental. Employers will not take on apprentices if the cost is too high, and prospective apprentices will not undertake an apprenticeship if the future benefits (increased wages) do not outweigh the immediate Show less

The place of women in the manual trades is examined in this paper, which sets out strategies for… Show more

The place of women in the manual trades is examined in this paper, which sets out strategies for encouraging them to study and work in areas such as building and construction. Such strategies include introductory and pre-apprenticeships courses, clustering female students, and support from teachers in opening up job opportunities. This paper is the result of a 2008 NCVER New Researcher Award. Show less