A fair go for all? Equity frameworks and landmark documents in Australian vocational education and training

The VOCEDplus landmark documents are key documents considered by history and authoritative commentary to have influenced the development of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system, providing vision and/or leading to significant change. This paper is part of a series of overviews that analyse and describe how these landmark documents impacted on the development of various aspects of Australia's VET sector. This review examines the concept of 'equity' in the Australian VET system and provides evidence, along with historical, social and economic context, of the...  [+] Show more

The VOCEDplus landmark documents are key documents considered by history and authoritative commentary to have influenced the development of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system, providing vision and/or leading to significant change. This paper is part of a series of overviews that analyse and describe how these landmark documents impacted on the development of various aspects of Australia's VET sector. This review examines the concept of 'equity' in the Australian VET system and provides evidence, along with historical, social and economic context, of the shifting approaches to equity associated with the landmark and other reports of key importance, including influential international documents. The review is available either as a condensed version or a full-length version. Given the plethora of reforms in VET and their significant impacts on equity, the period under review begins in the late 1960s, with most attention from the 1970s to until just prior to the federal elections and change of government on 21st May 2022. The focus is on national reforms.

The first section provides an overview in which to locate the ensuing discussion of notable documents and frameworks relevant for tracking the shifting fortunes of equity in Australian VET. Attention then turns to a number of 'eras' for equity in VET, from Kangan and TAFE to the formation of a national training system, along with designated economic waves that drive change. Thereafter, the review tracks the many shifts in the national VET system along with key documents that either influenced or were directly related to equity. The review demonstrates the complexity of the term 'equity' in the training system and its many meanings and applications in policy documents.

The landmark documents covered in this analysis are: TAFE in Australia: report on needs in technical and further education, April 1974 [Kangan report] (TD/LMR 85.637); Young people's participation in post-compulsory education and training: report of the Australian Education Council Review Committee [Finn review] (TD/LMR 85.641); Key competencies: report of the Committee to advise the Australian Education Council and Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training on employment-related key competencies for postcompulsory education and training [Mayer report] (TD/LMR 85.658); A changing workforce (TD/LMR 85.675); Industry training in Australia: the need for change (TD/LMR 85.664); Improving Australia's training system (TD/LMR 85.676); Skills for Australia (TD/LMR 85.648); Training costs of award restructuring: report of the Training Costs Review Committee [Deveson report] (TD/LMR 85.635); The Australian Vocational Certificate Training System [Carmichael report] (TD/LMR 85.646); Moving on: report of the high level review of training packages (TD/LMR 85.653); Enterprising nation: renewing Australia's managers to meet the challenges of the Asia-Pacific century [Karpin report] (TD/LMR 85.651); Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Labour Market Programs [Kirby report] (TD/LMR 85.649); Review of Australian Higher Education: final report [Bradley review] (TD/LMR 85.696); Australia reconstructed: ACTU/TDC mission to western Europe: a report by the mission members to the ACTU and the TDC (TD/LMR 85.647); Working nation: the white paper on employment and growth (TD/LMR 85.650).