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Destination of 1999 school leavers who participated in structured workplace learning

The Enterprise & Career Education Foundation (ECEF), formerly the Australian Student Traineeship Foundation (ASTF), was established with funding from the Australian Commonwealth Government to promote opportunities for young people to gain workplace knowledge and experience before graduating from secondary school. This national study investigates the March 2000 destinations of school leavers who had participated in structured workplace learning (SWL) programs supported by the ECEF. SWL programs involve a combination of on-the-job training delivered in the workplace by employers or their representatives and off-the-job training delivered at school by suitably qualified teachers from the school or from TAFE institutes or other registered training organisations. The main focus of the program is the work placement and programs generally cater for students in Year 11 and 12 with some available to students in lower grades. The study revealed that most of the 1999 school leavers who had participated in SWL programs moved onto either full-time or part-time work or full-time studies or a combination of these options. The findings support the important role of SWL in preparing students for work and confirm that university pathways remain an option for students involved in VET programs in secondary school. In addition, the research found that students acquired the generic workplace skills enabling them to find employment in other industry areas from those in which their SWL work placement was situated. In general, the findings support the continuation of SWL programs and of strategies for tracking the destination of school leavers. Further issues for investigation arising from the research are highlighted.

The Enterprise & Career Education Foundation (ECEF), formerly the Australian Student Traineeship Foundation (ASTF), was ...  Show Full Abstract  

Authors: Misko, Josie
Corporate authors: Australia. Department of Education, Science and Training. Enterprise and Career Education Foundation (ECEF)
National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
Date: 2001
Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia
Resource type: Report
Subjects: Vocational education and training; Research; Employment;

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