All publications

Around a quarter of young people in the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) report… Show more

Around a quarter of young people in the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) report moderate to high levels of financial stress, but other reasons appear to influence study outcomes.  Show less

The purpose of this paper looks at the fundamental issue of whether VET does improve the employment … Show more

The purpose of this paper looks at the fundamental issue of whether VET does improve the employment prospects of the groups in question. It exploits data from the Student Outcome Survey to construct samples that proxy three welfare groups and models the post-training employment outcomes. Show less

On the whole, educational achievements and outcomes from vocational education and training (VET)… Show more

On the whole, educational achievements and outcomes from vocational education and training (VET) are relatively poor for students reporting a disability. This paper sought to isolate the direct effect of being a member of a particular disability group. It found that the direct effect of the disability differs between groups, and is highest for those with a mental illness, a medical condition or a Show less

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

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

The study looks at what factors encourage young people to pursue an apprenticeship. Information… Show more

The study looks at what factors encourage young people to pursue an apprenticeship. Information from students and courses indicates that the key drivers of apprenticeship uptake are intrinsic interest and academic ability. School students with higher academic ability are less interested in apprenticeships. In contrast, those who are part way through their apprenticeship are very positive about Show less

Small businesses account for the great majority of businesses and half the private sector… Show more

Small businesses account for the great majority of businesses and half the private sector employment in Australia, but only one third provide structured training for their employees. This study, a systematic review of existing research, set out to find clear evidence of intervention strategies that meet small business needs in relation to the provision of information, skills and knowledge in the Show less

Using wage data from the Student Outcomes Survey, this study examines whether there is a pay off to … Show more

Using wage data from the Student Outcomes Survey, this study examines whether there is a pay off to actually completing a vocational education and training (VET) qualification, noting that many VET students do not complete full qualifications. Show less