Search results

The traditional divisions between the sectors of schools, vocational education and training, higher education and adult community education are gradually disappearing as student participation patterns increasingly involve more two-way movement between vocational education and training and higher education. This movement is in accordance with the Australian government's policy to promote lifelong learning. In this paper, the authors argue that separate funding arrangements for each sector limit the achievement of lifelong learning policy objectives because they make it more difficult for educational institutions to implement seamless course provision and they create financial barriers to student participation. The authors present a preliminary analysis of the arguments for reforming the present funding system and identify issues to consider in the development of a cross-sectoral funding system that require further research.