All publications

This research used a survey to investigate the attitudes of people with a disability towards… Show more

This research used a survey to investigate the attitudes of people with a disability towards undertaking training. The findings show very positive attitudes towards training by participants and, although the ability to generalise to the wider population is limited, one thing is clear: generally, people with a disability are willing to undertake VET and consider it a good option in helping them Show less

Helping people with disability participate in the labour market is one way to enhance their… Show more

Helping people with disability participate in the labour market is one way to enhance their economic and social well-being. However, low levels of education among people with disability generally can hinder their participation. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, this study looks at the role of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications not Show less

In this report the authors examine how skills development in domestic plumbing occupations has… Show more

In this report the authors examine how skills development in domestic plumbing occupations has responded to an increased emphasis on environmental sustainability and 'greening'. They find that rather than sustainability and greening requiring major changes in thinking, plumbing skills need to be responsive to changing technology and more generic skills such as dealing with customers are required. Show less

The author explores the prospect of improving pathways and opportunities for tradespeople in… Show more

The author explores the prospect of improving pathways and opportunities for tradespeople in Australia through the introduction of a masters-level qualification. The study investigates the views and opinions of senior industry representatives and professional educators to determine whether the introduction of a master trade or master artisan qualification will lead to greater prospects for 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

This report investigates attrition in the trades by comparing the rate at which tradespeople leave… Show more

This report investigates attrition in the trades by comparing the rate at which tradespeople leave their occupation with that of professionals. It also determines whether attrition is influenced by economic conditions, and if a trade can provide a good start to a career in the professions. The report concludes that attrition in the trades is no higher than in the professions; the rate of Show less

Pre-vocational programs, including VET in Schools, are increasingly providing a pathway into… Show more

Pre-vocational programs, including VET in Schools, are increasingly providing a pathway into traineeships in the same way that pre-apprenticeships are an established route into apprenticeships in the traditional trades. This report uses data from the 2010 Apprentice and Trainee Destination Survey and finds that the benefits of pre-vocational programs are mostly apparent for early school leavers Show less

What makes for a good approach to leadership development in vocational education and training… Show more

What makes for a good approach to leadership development in vocational education and training (VET)? This paper evaluates the existing leadership development program at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Participants in the program felt that it was useful and that they could articulate what the institute wanted its leaders to do, but did not identify themselves as responsible for this. The Show less

This final report from a three-year research program puts the focus on the ability of VET to… Show more

This final report from a three-year research program puts the focus on the ability of VET to respond to workforce development challenges, particularly in industries characterised as low-skill entry points to the labour market. The key findings highlight the lack of incentive for workers in the meat processing and childcare sectors to train beyond mandatory levels due to casualised working Show less

Integrating learning into the workplace is the focus of this paper. A variety of strategies were… Show more

Integrating learning into the workplace is the focus of this paper. A variety of strategies were identified and their effectiveness tested in a pilot training program based in the health industry. Personal motivation, having access to resources in the workplace and being able to network and share ideas were critical to being able to integrate learning into the workplace. The research was funded Show less

This report examines the linkages between innovation and skills development in vocational education … Show more

This report examines the linkages between innovation and skills development in vocational education and training (VET) across three industry sectors: mining, solar energy and computer gaming. Using a case study approach, the research finds that each of the industry sectors differs in their relationship between innovation and the education and training system. However, the formal VET system is Show less

This report provides a portrait of the initial formal training for VET teachers in private and… Show more

This report provides a portrait of the initial formal training for VET teachers in private and public registered training organisations. It describes the features and content of generic courses offered both in the VET sector and higher education ranging from certificate IV TAA to graduate diplomas. It also provides details about the characteristics and numbers of students enrolled in a range of Show less

In this paper, the authors identify various educational paths involving school and post-school… Show more

In this paper, the authors identify various educational paths involving school and post-school study and assess the effectivness of these in relation to post-school outcomes at age 25 years. They use the 1995 cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth and find that, for males, undertaking an apprenticeship after completing senior secondary and university are attractive paths. For Show less

Amongst recent initiatives aimed at lifting Australia’s productivity has been a push for a greater… Show more

Amongst recent initiatives aimed at lifting Australia’s productivity has been a push for a greater number of course completions in both the vocational education and training and higher education sectors. With this, it could be assumed, come benefits for the individual such as better job opportunities and higher wages. Using the 1995 and 1998 cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Show less

Increasing productivity by moving people from welfare to employment is a priority for the… Show more

Increasing productivity by moving people from welfare to employment is a priority for the Australian Government. This report considers the complex issues of helping those marginalised from the labour market into employment. Case studies of innovative intermediaries illustrate that both demand and supply factors must feature in order to provide successful assistance to disadvantaged job seekers. Show less

This monograph is the culmination of a three-year research program undertaken by the University of… Show more

This monograph is the culmination of a three-year research program undertaken by the University of South Australia's Centre for Work+Life. It considers the barriers, support and benefit of vocational education and training (VET) for workers in the low-paid occupations (that is, those earning around $17 per hour). The research considered a wide range of quantitative data as well as the experience Show less

This report looks at what factors influence the participation of low-skilled and low-paid workers… Show more

This report looks at what factors influence the participation of low-skilled and low-paid workers in vocational education and training. Information comes from students, employers, employees and providers in the retail, food-processing and non-residential aged care sectors across four Australian states. It finds that although barriers to training do include lack of money and time to study, many of Show less

This paper was originally developed to help the Training and Skills Commission in South Australia… Show more

This paper was originally developed to help the Training and Skills Commission in South Australia consider the pathways between elements of the vocational education and training (VET) system, how they are working and what improvements can be made. It has been revised to make it national in scope. The authors reveal that quite substantial numbers of VET graduates go on to university level study or Show less

This research investigated pre-apprenticeship training in Australia through a variety of research… Show more

This research investigated pre-apprenticeship training in Australia through a variety of research methods—keyword searches, lists of prescribed pre-apprenticeship courses from state and territory contacts, and a unit record enrolment file. An analysis of this data found that there were ten nationally accredited and 24 training package courses with pre-apprenticeship activity. There were Show less

This report looks at the potential use of information from the Student Outcomes Survey, including… Show more

This report looks at the potential use of information from the Student Outcomes Survey, including the use of student course satisfaction information and post-study outcomes, as a means of determining markers of training quality. Show less