This paper outlines the Australian Commonwealth Government's intention to 'meet the employment, education and training demands of structural adjustment' and the ways in which this can be done. It is one of a series of documents issued by the Commonwealth in late 1987 and throughout 1988 and 1989 that connected the industrial relations and training agendas, and advocated the inclusion of TAFE in the economic reform process and the development of its responsiveness to the skill needs of employers. The paper advocates 'greater industry involvement in TAFE and more diversified arrangements... [+] Show more
This paper outlines the Australian Commonwealth Government's intention to 'meet the employment, education and training demands of structural adjustment' and the ways in which this can be done. It is one of a series of documents issued by the Commonwealth in late 1987 and throughout 1988 and 1989 that connected the industrial relations and training agendas, and advocated the inclusion of TAFE in the economic reform process and the development of its responsiveness to the skill needs of employers. The paper advocates 'greater industry involvement in TAFE and more diversified arrangements for vocational education and training generally'. It also explains the implications of award restructuring for education and training, proposing that the number of job classifications and the demarcations between them be reduced to enable more broadly based training to meet Australia's changing skill needs. It also proposed the adoption of a 'competency based' approach to training and the expansion, improvement and diversification of Australia's training infrastructure by placing more emphasis on industry-based formal training provision. This was seen as a way of providing competition for TAFE and enhancing the efficiency, quality and relevance of formal training provision. Following on from the recommendations in the Australian Council of Trade Union's (ACTU's) 'Australia reconstructed' (indexed at TD/LMR 85.647), the need for direct industry investment in the education and training system is highlighted. Two possible mechanisms were identified for formalising the required increased contributions by industry to training costs: (a) acceptance by industry of responsibility to provide for the funding of increased training, particularly as part of award restructuring processes; and/or (b) the establishment, by legislation, of a framework for training funds to be financed by industry, which would also have the primary responsibility for the effective use of those funds. The paper also describes past achievement and future directions in assisting those people disadvantaged in the labour market to find employment. These areas include income support and assistance to young people, women, Indigenous people, immigrants. The Government aimed to improve the forms of assistance provided to the long-term unemployed and sole parents, and to address the education and training needs of rural Australia. The paper concludes by outlining the improved administrative arrangements that will underpin these reforms.
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