Lifelong learning and employment prospects: an Australian case

This document is the final report documenting the Australian case for UNESCO Bangkok’s research project on lifelong learning and employment prospects/employability. This project analyses the relationships between lifelong learning (LLL) and employment prospects in policy and practice in the Asia-Pacific region. It is guided by the headline question, ‘In what ways can LLL continually enhance employment prospects?’ This report offers a response to this question from an Australian perspective. The Australian case study has been guided by two objectives: (1) identify the relationship between LLL and employment prospects in policy and practice; and (2) document existing LLL policies, strategies and programs that illuminate such policies and practices, which are offered at national, regional and local levels through formal, non-formal and informal channels, and which contribute to the enhancement of employment prospects or employability of working-age citizens in the target country. The report is presented in two parts. Part one presents a critical commentary in response to the slightly adapted headline question ‘In what ways does LLL continually enhance employment prospects in Australia?’ It draws on data reviewed in part two of the report, which is itself comprised of four sections: section A presents a review of the economic, social, cultural and political profiles of lifelong learning and employability Australia. This includes description of industry, employment and educational attainment trends and discusses their relationship to employment patterns and challenges; section B describes the education and training system in Australia. It outlines the structure, financing and participants of the system and describes the programs and approaches taken to lifelong learning and employability. It examines the roles of government, industry and education providers and the curriculum challenges and social issues faced in the system; section C outlines contemporary policies, incentives and initiatives that manifest lifelong learning and its relationship to employment prospects in Australia. It draws on the most current policy initiative around vocational education and training as an exemplar of the ethos and approach that underpins an Australian approach to lifelong learning; and section D discusses participants of lifelong learning in Australia. It describes their motivations to participate in learning as well as the barriers that prevent this.

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