Industry training in Australia: the need for change [Dawkins report]

During the late 1980s, the Australian government introduced many reforms to the nation’s education and training system in order to develop a highly skilled and adaptable workforce as part of the push to reform the industrial environment and improve the competitiveness of Australian industry in international markets. This discussion paper represented a further step in the process and was mainly concerned with the need for mandatory training expenditure requirements for industry. It followed on from the outline of government initiatives to reform technical and further education (TAFE) in ...  [+] Show more

During the late 1980s, the Australian government introduced many reforms to the nation’s education and training system in order to develop a highly skilled and adaptable workforce as part of the push to reform the industrial environment and improve the competitiveness of Australian industry in international markets. This discussion paper represented a further step in the process and was mainly concerned with the need for mandatory training expenditure requirements for industry. It followed on from the outline of government initiatives to reform technical and further education (TAFE) in ‘Skills for Australia’ (indexed at TD/LMR 85.648). The aim of the paper was to stimulate debate on measures to improve the quality of training and to increase the amount of training being undertaken. The issues and options canvassed in the paper provided the basis for wide ranging consultations and debate. The paper: identified the broad deficiencies in Australia’s industry training system and the need to increase industry investment in training; outlined the changes occurring in the industrial environment relevant to training; addressed the issue of who should bear the costs of increased training effort; and set out a range of options to stimulate greater effort in industry training.