All publications

The focus of this paper is on the factors, other than access, that influence the decision for… Show more

The focus of this paper is on the factors, other than access, that influence the decision for Indigenous Australians to participate in education.  Show less

This report aims to throw some light on the role that skills sets play in meeting the needs of… Show more

This report aims to throw some light on the role that skills sets play in meeting the needs of clients compared with full qualifications, which are seen as the foundation of the vocational education and training (VET) system. Show less

This report investigates the role that qualifications play in the labour mobility of foreign… Show more

This report investigates the role that qualifications play in the labour mobility of foreign workers who come to Australia for permanent or temporary migration. Show less

This report explores the movements that workers make in the workforce and whether there are any… Show more

This report explores the movements that workers make in the workforce and whether there are any commonalities. Show less

Increasing education and training is considered one means by which to reduce the extent of social… Show more

Increasing education and training is considered one means by which to reduce the extent of social exclusion and as such has been a key focus in recent public policies. This study investigates the impact of education and training on the extent of social exclusion using a measure of multidimensional social exclusion. A simulation of the effect of the COAG target relating to halving the proportion Show less

This working paper is an initial examination of what is known about pathways in tertiary education, … Show more

This working paper is an initial examination of what is known about pathways in tertiary education, as well as the loose associations between vocational qualifications and the jobs graduates do. The author is also interested in the link between educational qualifications and work and finds that these are not as strong as might be expected in a vocationally oriented tertiary education system like Show less

Focusing on four vocational streams – financial services, primary industry, healthcare/community… Show more

Focusing on four vocational streams – financial services, primary industry, healthcare/community services and trades/engineering – this paper is an initial exploration of pathways into the labour market and how people actually use these pathways. Show less

This discussion paper introduces the overarching concepts for the three-year research program,… Show more

This discussion paper introduces the overarching concepts for the three-year research program, 'Vocations: the link between post compulsory education and the labour market'. The paper also outlines the key findings from the initial investigations of each of the related research strands in the program. Overall, initial research has found that, due to the fragmentation of pathways within education Show less

As part of the three-year research program, 'Vocations: the link between post compulsory education… Show more

As part of the three-year research program, 'Vocations: the link between post compulsory education and the labour market', this working paper sets the policy context and direction of the entry to vocations research stream. After looking at the current ‘in-school’ element of VET in Schools programs and jurisdictional differences, the paper raises a set of questions for discussion. For example, Show less

What would prompt people to undertake education and training in their mid-20s and beyond and what… Show more

What would prompt people to undertake education and training in their mid-20s and beyond and what are the benefits? The authors investigate what motivates people to undertake education and training at more mature ages and the impact of this on their labour market outcomes. They found that males who undertake further education and training after the age of 25 years did so for reasons related to Show less

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e.… Show more

This report explores the transitions students make in undertaking a second qualification (i.e. whether they change field of education and/or move between the VET and higher education sectors). Show less

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of… Show more

The distinction between VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of this paper is to examine – through the conduct of a case study of engineering qualifications (AQF6) delivered in Victoria – how education and training providers and students are likely to respond to different fees and funding arrangements under the student entitlement model. Show less

Using data from the 2009 Student Outcomes Survey, this report looks at the pay-offs of completing… Show more

Using data from the 2009 Student Outcomes Survey, this report looks at the pay-offs of completing of a vocational education and training (VET) qualification on a range of outcomes, and identifies the groups for whom completion is particularly important. Show less

This report compares the outcomes for young people who complete certificate I or certificate II… Show more

This report compares the outcomes for young people who complete certificate I or certificate II qualifications with the outcomes for similar individuals who are not participating in post-school education and training, using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. Show less

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled… Show more

In recent decades Australian immigration policy has focused mostly on accepting high-skilled migrants. This report explores the question of whether participation in further training differs for these migrants compared with that of native-born workers in similar jobs. The research shows that foreign-born workers in Australia seem to receive the training they need, but this depends on whether or Show less

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The… Show more

This report examines whether expansion in education has led to credentialism in the workforce. The authors employ the ‘ORU’ model to compare the required level of education for a job and the actual level which is held by an individual in that job. This model defines an individual as being over-educated (O) for their job, having the right level of education (R), or being under-educated (U). Show less

An increasing and important requirement of any funded research program is the ability to… Show more

An increasing and important requirement of any funded research program is the ability to demonstrate that it is relevant and useful to public policy and to practitioners. This study takes the framework NCVER developed for measuring research impact to assess the outcomes from research and activities funded under the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth Research Innovation and Expansion Fund. Show less

To provide insights into how young people may fare in the current economic downturn, this study… Show more

To provide insights into how young people may fare in the current economic downturn, this study examines the experience of youth in a previous downturn. Show less

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the… Show more

This paper provides a conceptual basis for a three-year (2011–13) research program exploring the capacity of individuals and groups to make transitions through learning, training and work across locations.  Three research projects will examine how regional or community factors and social capital affect those transitions. The three projects are: the influence of job conditions on geographic Show less

How do leaders in private providers juggle the educational and business imperatives of their… Show more

How do leaders in private providers juggle the educational and business imperatives of their organisation? Through interviews with senior leaders and managers, as well as employees from several enterprise, industry and commercial registered training organisations, this report examines this overarching question.  Show less