Group training is an Australian initiative to encourage the employment of apprentices and trainees. This report examines the structure and function of group training organisations (GTOs) over time and identifies the factors that drive GTOs to change their structure and function. The authors find that group training is a critical component of Australia's skill formation system, and GTOs are highly responsive and adaptive to their policy and commercial environment. However, the authors warn that increasing commercialisation of group training has the potential to threaten the quality of training, and in particular the training opportunities for the more disadvantaged.
This report identifies student characteristics - demographic and life-stage factors - which influence successful completion of vocational education and training (VET) subjects. It finds the likelihood of passing is significantly reduced for people who are Indigenous, have a disability, are of non-English speaking background, are unemployed or are aged 19 years or less. The research is based on statistical analysis.
Group training organisations act as intermediaries between enterprises and apprentices and trainees to facilitate on- and off-the-job training. This report examines the role of the group training organisations (GTOs) in Australia's labour market. The authors find that GTOs, at their best, help promote sustainable work-based learning solutions by sharing the risks associated with employment and gaining new skills. However, the authors argue that changes in policy since the early 1990s are likely to undermine the provision of quality group training services. Instead, they state the best features of the group training model, such as operating on a not-for-profit basis, should underpin future reforms to all GTOs.
This report investigates the medium-term outcomes of vocational education and training (VET) programs delivered by rural schools. It discovers school-based VET programs successfully retain students who may have left school, and assist students' transition from school to work. Work placements are particularly valuable to assist the transition from school to local jobs and apprenticeships, thereby increasing youth retention in the community. These findings suggest school-based VET programs in rural areas have the potential to develop skills and pathways for the future workforce of rural Australia. Additional information to this report is available in 'Pathways from rural schools: Does school VET make a difference? - Support document' on NCVER's website .
This report provides an overview of funding arrangements implemented as a result of the 1992 Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Agreement. The Agreement sought to establish a unified national system of vocational education and training (VET) with joint Commonwealth, state and territory responsibility. The report discusses the outcomes of government, industry and individual investment in training, and includes examples of overseas funding models.
This report uses four case studies to examine how human resource practices of TAFE institutes have changed to accommodate flexible delivery and the changing roles of staff. It reveals that a whole of organisation customer-service philosophy is a useful basis for flexible delivery and the trend is towards team-based approaches. The detailed findings in this report mirror those in the report 'The impact of flexible delivery on human resource practices: Survey of TAFE managers'.
This volume is a companion to Getting connected: Professional development of contract and casual staff providing flexible delivery - Volume 1. The detailed report of the project is contained in volume 1 while volume 2 contains the appendices.
The experiences of contract and casual staff 'getting connected' with flexible delivery and online learning technologies and engaging in professional development is the focus of this report. The study finds a significant proportion of professional development relies heavily on learning by doing, informal learning, and networking with colleagues.
This report explores how, and to what extent training packages are locally customised to meet the needs of stakeholders in regional and local communities. In doing so it investigates who the stakeholders are, what they want from training and whether their needs are being met.
Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains how generic skills can be fostered in vocational education and training (VET) programs and workplaces. It also focuses on research into describing, teaching, learning, assessing, recognising, and certifying these important skills, and includes the views of a variety of groups. A complementary publication 'Defining generic skills: At a glance' is also available.
This report is based on interviews with workers who have lost their jobs due to changes in the workplace and are thus 'displaced workers'. It investigates how generic skills are perceived and valued by these workers, where they acquired their generic skills and what the implications of this are for teachers and trainers in the workplace and in registered training organisations. The study finds that the workplace is the most important influence on the development of generic skills and therefore teachers and trainers in formal education settings have to create opportunities for skill development through experiential learning in workplaces. The report is published in two volumes. Volume 1 is the main report and volume 2 contains the appendices and is available in PDF format only.
This paper was presented to the IIEP/UNESCO-KRIVET International Policy Seminar on 'Making Lifelong Learning a Reality' in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in June 2003.
Recent research into workplace learning in Australia is reviewed and important findings are synthesised in this publication. It finds that six elements are required to be in place for effective workplace learning and proposes that the 'ideal' workplace learning situation fosters innovation, and involves a systematic approach. Additionally, the 'At a glance' emphasises that the networks and partnerships of the workplace learning system - the workplace, individual, external training provider and a variety of community and government organisations - are crucially important.
This report focusses on employability skills that young people entering work for the first time, or novice workers, need. It examines the nature of the skills that employers seek when recruiting young people and the processes and techniques which can be used in the workplace to develop these skills. The report synthesises the findings of a comprehensive literature review and 12 case studies.
This report examines training practices that demonstrated positive benefits over a period of time in large Australian firms. It primarily focusses on the integration of teaching and learning within the firm, factors which influence firms to train workers, the use of accredited training and training packages, the development of career structures within firms, the impact of globalisation on training and learning practices, and how the success of training is measured. Conclusions are derived from over 50 case studies about the major elements which contribute to successful enterprise training and learning practices.
This report examines the prospects of adults over 25 in the traditional trades. Aided by companies around Australia, researchers have studied adult opportunities to qualify and work in these trades. A companion volume, 'Getting adults into the trades: Case studies', is available on NCVER's website.
This study of school students in workplaces looks at their perceptions of what they learned, why and how. It also examines the application of learning from school in the workplace and vice versa. An extension of the report by Smith and Green, "School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work".
This report builds on and extends earlier work examining the key drivers that affect the quantity and nature of training undertaken by Australian enterprises. It focuses on enterprises in the entertainment related and process manufacturing industries and explores how they view training and its importance within their overall operating structure.
This publication provides information of recent research into issues affecting the demand for skills in Australia and the implications of current trends in training and education on future skill supply. It also summarises the impact of Australia's ageing population on future levels of participation and presents a synopsis of Australia's position internationally. Finally, implications for the future of education and training within Australia are summarised.
This publication provides a summary of recent research into issues affecting the demand of skills in Australia and the implications of current trends in training and education on future skill supply. It also summarises the impact of Australia's ageing population on future levels of participation and presents a synopsis of Australia's position internationally. Finally, implications for the future of education and training within Australia are summarised.