All publications

Paying particular attention to older workers, this report examines the relationship between the… Show more

Paying particular attention to older workers, this report examines the relationship between the skills of workers and the skill requirements of the jobs in which they work. Show less

 This paper summarises the findings from the first year of a three-year research program… Show more

 This paper summarises the findings from the first year of a three-year research program investigating the role of vocational education and training (VET) for older workers.  Show less

Australia, in common with many industrialised countries, must adjust in the coming years to an… Show more

Australia, in common with many industrialised countries, must adjust in the coming years to an ageing population. The labour force participation rate is projected to fall and there will be a record number of older people who have retired from work. Thus, there will be fewer workers as a share of the population to generate the income needed to support the entire population. This publication looks Show less

Using data from the 2009 Australian Work and Life Index, this report examines how work-life… Show more

Using data from the 2009 Australian Work and Life Index, this report examines how work-life pressures influence the capacity and motivation of individuals, particularly low-paid workers, to engage in education and training. Show less

An analysis of student verbatim responses in the Student Outcome Survey provides suggestions for… Show more

An analysis of student verbatim responses in the Student Outcome Survey provides suggestions for how the vocational education and training (VET) system could be improved. Show less

This paper reflects on the impact of the recent financial crisis on particular groups in Australian … Show more

This paper reflects on the impact of the recent financial crisis on particular groups in Australian society and comments on whether the VET sector is well placed to meet the challenges of the recovery.  Show less

The relationship between job requirements, individual skills and the participation of workers in… Show more

The relationship between job requirements, individual skills and the participation of workers in further education and training, with an emphasis on older workers, is the focus of this report. 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 paper provides an account of the management strategies and processes that TAFE institutes use… Show more

This paper provides an account of the management strategies and processes that TAFE institutes use to evaluate their performance. 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

This paper aims to provide a picture of the occupations in the community services and health… Show more

This paper aims to provide a picture of the occupations in the community services and health industry, and how the workforce obtains the required skills. The authors argue that planning for the industry should concentrate on occupations specific to the industry and those which require high skill levels. Findings suggest that the qualification levels of community services and health workers have 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

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

As part of a program of research examining the capability of vocational education and training… Show more

As part of a program of research examining the capability of vocational education and training (VET) providers, this study examines the career pathways of a wide range of VET employees. It found that careers in VET are characterised by high levels of mobility and self-directed career behaviour aimed at achieving two outcomes: job satisfaction and security of employment. Show less

This paper is a review of literature on employer engagement with vocational education and training… Show more

This paper is a review of literature on employer engagement with vocational education and training (VET). The main conclusion is that the major form of engagement is through the competency-based training system, which is manifested through training packages. Another way employers are encouraged to engage with VET is through competition amongst training providers. This provides employers with 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

Helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job-seekers find and keep a job has been the focus of … Show more

Helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job-seekers find and keep a job has been the focus of recent reforms announced by the Australian Government. This guide describes seven essential characteristics of employment service organisations that lead to successful employment outcomes for their Indigenous clients. Based on a selection of good-practice examples, the guide describes how these Show less

This report describes seven essential characteristics of employment service organisations that lead … Show more

This report describes seven essential characteristics of employment service organisations that lead to successful employment outcomes for their Indigenous clients. Show less

In this interview, Steve Davis talks with researcher Barbara Pocock about her paper, 'Low-paid… Show more

In this interview, Steve Davis talks with researcher Barbara Pocock about her paper, 'Low-paid workers, changing patterns of work and life, and participation in vocational education and training'. Show less

The difficulties experienced by vocational education and training (VET) teachers in delivering the… Show more

The difficulties experienced by vocational education and training (VET) teachers in delivering the generic employability skills embedded in industry training packages are considered in this paper. Show less