The Australian Vocational Certificate Training System [Carmichael report]

This report outlines a staged strategy for meeting Australia's training needs to 2001, and was intended to be an essential part of broad structural reform. It addresses vocational education and training for Australian Standards Framework (ASF) levels 1, 2 and 3. Change was needed to improve Australia's international competitiveness, to complement changes in work organisation and industrial relations, and to improve the coverage, quality and equity of vocational certificate training in Australia. The Employment and Skills Formation Council (ESFC) proposed that a competency-based...  [+] Show more

This report outlines a staged strategy for meeting Australia's training needs to 2001, and was intended to be an essential part of broad structural reform. It addresses vocational education and training for Australian Standards Framework (ASF) levels 1, 2 and 3. Change was needed to improve Australia's international competitiveness, to complement changes in work organisation and industrial relations, and to improve the coverage, quality and equity of vocational certificate training in Australia. The Employment and Skills Formation Council (ESFC) proposed that a competency-based Australian Vocational Certificate (AVC) Training System be established. The focus of such a system was on outcomes, the attainment and demonstration of specified knowledge, skills and application by an individual, rather than on inputs, such as time served. The system should provide flexible delivery arrangements to meet by 2001, the training participation and attainment targets of 90 per cent completing Year 12, and 90 per cent attaining level 3 certificates, or higher qualifications. These targets were considered to be achievable and necessary. The report lists a large number of proposals to achieve these aims, including the provision of a training allowance, and an increase in annual Commonwealth expenditure.

A summary of the key findings, messages and recommendations is indexed at TD/TNC 30.14.