All publications

As part of a three-year program of research, the authors are investigating how the training system… Show more

As part of a three-year program of research, the authors are investigating how the training system might be more effective in providing continuing education and training across workers' lives, since the tertiary education and training sector is currently geared to entry-level training; that is, getting young people ready to enter the labour market. This working paper sets the scene for the next Show less

Mental illness can be particularly disruptive to education and training outcomes. This report… Show more

Mental illness can be particularly disruptive to education and training outcomes. This report explores the factors that contribute to successful course completion for students with a mental illness, with a particular focus on the role of disclosure.  Show less

This paper aims to 'lift the lid' on completion rates, explaining how they are defined and how they … Show more

This paper aims to 'lift the lid' on completion rates, explaining how they are defined and how they are calculated.  Show less

This paper investigates the role of lead vocational teachers in TAFE Queensland and their personal… Show more

This paper investigates the role of lead vocational teachers in TAFE Queensland and their personal and career development needs. Focus group discussions with these teachers ascertained that they wanted to feel valued by their institutes and have more opportunities to contribute to business development. It was revealed that their values did not match those of the institutes and this led to a Show less

Encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce has become a policy priority. At the same time,… Show more

Encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce has become a policy priority. At the same time, the life expectancy of Australians has increased dramatically over the past several decades, effectively inserting a new stage in the life course, often called the 'third age'. This report explores the possibility of using that third age to embark on an encore career, a concept originating in the Show less

This research suggests that while mixed-sector and dual-sector providers are still only small in… Show more

This research suggests that while mixed-sector and dual-sector providers are still only small in number, they likely to become more important but they face specific challenges in the quality of their provision.  Show less

Using interviews with adult migrants over a period of two years, the authors look at how… Show more

Using interviews with adult migrants over a period of two years, the authors look at how undertaking an English as a second language (ESL) class helps to facilitate integration into Australian society. 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

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

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

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

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