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This report focuses on careers' exploration practices and programs for girls and young women in Australian schools. It emphasises strategies that promote active exploration of, and engagement with, study pathways in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and careers in non-traditional occupations and industries, and identifies how career choices and long-term economic outcomes can be improved for Australian women. It includes a range of innovative practices in Australian secondary schools that aim to assist young women to convert their school success to career success in STEM and other non-traditional occupations and industries. Consultations for this research focussed on identifying best practice approaches to careers' exploration for young women.

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The National Women's Vocational Education Strategy sits under the umbrella of the Australian National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training which establishes a framework for a quality vocational and education system that is responsive, accessible and efficient. The Strategy sets a direction for governments, industry and training providers to ensure that the needs of women are consistently addressed as a priority in policy making, planning, resourcing, implementing and monitoring vocational education and training.

'Equity performance measures for women in VET' (available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 50.49) is a key project supporting the Strategy. Show less

This report was produced by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training on behalf of the Vocational Education, Employment and Training Advisory Committee (VEETAC) Women's Standing Committee. It examines policies and strategies towards the efficient and flexible use of human resources in Australian industry, by achieving a broadening and recognition of women's skills and the reduction of the social and cultural barriers to women's participation in the full range of the community's economic activities.

It is a policy review of the 1987 report 'Women in apprenticeship' (indexed at TD/ERD 87.10), and recommends implementation of the recommendations in that report. The Working Party believes there is a need for a comprehensive strategy, and recommends that VEETAC support the establishment of a comprehensive review of the current and emerging issues affecting the participation of women in non-traditional entry-level training programmes including, but not being restricted to, apprenticeship training. Show less

This report examines the progress made in advancing equal opportunity and equal status for women in Australia as detailed in the National Agenda for Women. It reviews the extent to which the objectives of the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 have been met, and makes recommendations to further equality for women. The areas of paid and unpaid work, employment opportunity, income security, leisure and sport, recognition, education and training, women with particular needs (e.g. Aboriginal women, women with disabilities), and legislation are discussed. There is a dissenting report included from a sub-group of the Committee. The Government response is indexed at TD/ERD 87.18. Show less

Vocational education and training (VET) has a long history in Australia, however the 'official' history of women as active participants in VET and the relationship between women and VET in Australia is an unfolding story, much of which is located in contemporary times. This report takes the form of a critical literature review focusing on the multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral arena encompassing the broad field of women and VET. It does not purport to represent a definitive view of women and VET, but intends to indicate the breadth of the field and highlight selected contemporary debates and challenges. It is drawn from many different academic disciplines from both within Australia and overseas, and includes the work of individuals, research teams, diverse community groups and government and non-government organisations. Show less

[The authors of the paper] use new training data from waves 3-6 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia [HILDA] Survey to investigate the training and wages of full-time men. We explore the extent to which the data are consistent with the predictions of human capital theory or with recent alternative theories based on imperfectly competitive labour markets. According to the raw data, most work-related training received by full-time private sector men is general but it is also paid for by employers. Our fixed effects estimates reveal that this training is associated with higher wages in current and in future firms, and that the effect in future firms is larger and more precisely determined. These results are more consistent with the predictions of human capital theory based on imperfectly competitive labour markets than with the alternative of perfect competition.

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The Victorian Government has developed the state's first 'Women in Construction Strategy: Building Gender Equality' in conjunction with the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC). The BICC is a forum for dialogue between Government, employers, industry associations and unions on significant economic and industrial relations issues in the building and construction industry (Victorian Government, 2020). The focus of the Strategy is on women in trades and semi-skilled roles who currently make up just 1 per cent of trades and technician positions in the construction industry. The Government has invested $500,000 to create a strategy to diversify the male-dominated construction industry.

The Strategy is based on three key themes: Attract: women need to be aware that construction is an attractive and viable career option; Recruit: Women must be proactively recruited and have access to strong career pathways; Retain: Workplaces must be inclusive and adaptive to ensure women want to stay. According to industry stakeholders, the strength of this Strategy lies in its comprehensive Work Plan, which will deliver on a range of tangible positive outcomes which are industry-led and will lay the foundation for lasting change. This research project responds directly to two points of intervention outlined in the Strategy: women's wellbeing and communities of practice, both of which are outlined under Priority 3: Retain.

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This report results from a study undertaken to: review experience to date in Australia and some overseas countries in programs to improve women's participation in technical and further education (TAFE); analyse current participation of women students in TAFE colleges and, through visits and consultations, identify issues which affect that participation; and make recommendations to improve women's participation in vocational education. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. This overview report describes the conclusions and recommendations of the research and provides a brief background to the recommendations. The contents are: Background to the report; Women, work and training; A summary of women's participation in vocational education in TAFE; The TAFE system: its implications for women; Australian initiatives to improve women's participation in vocational training. Show less

The National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE (NPAWT) was the first national approach to improving access, participation and outcomes for women in technical and further education. The aim of the National Plan was to draw together Commonwealth, state and territory policies into a consistent statement of nationally agreed goals 'to provide a long term, comprehensive approach to improving women's participation in TAFE'. The aims of this evaluation, specifically, were to: assess the effectiveness of NPAWT over its three-year implementation, induding progress towards meeting national objectives and performance indicators; identify policies and strategies which facilitate successful access, participation and outcomes by women in TAFE; assess outcomes of national projects towards meeting the National Plan targets; advise on the relevance of the national projects and national targets to the broader vocational education and training (VET) sector and indicate priority areas for action; and recommend on a strategic approach to improve outcomes for women in TAFE and the broader VET sector and indicate priority areas for action. Show less

In early 2000, the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) Vocational Education, Employment and Training (VEET) Women's Taskforce conducted an evaluation of the National Women's Vocational Education and Training Strategy (strategy indexed at TD/ERD 87.23). This report documents the findings in terms of the impact of the strategy in promoting a more accessible and equitable vocational education and training (VET) sector which will in turn ultimately contribute to the social and economic advancement of women. Endorsed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers in 1996, the strategy outlined a direction for governments, industry and training providers to ensure that the needs of women were consistently addressed as a priority in policy making, planning, resourcing, delivering and monitoring of VET. Key features of the strategy are its emphasis on establishing benchmarks and key performance indicators and the identification and implementation of best practice. The strategy identified six outcomes for improving the access, participation, and outcomes for women in VET. The evaluation drew on statistical data, national research, the outcomes of national implementation projects and information provided by State and Territory systems, Commonwealth agencies, industry and unions. The report is divided into two sections. Part one, 'The evaluation', examines changes in the participation and outcomes for women in VET during the period of the strategy, against key performance indicators. Part two, 'Major issues and future directions', elaborates on issues identified by the evaluation which require further investigation and action and proposes future strategies to address these issues. This section contains an analysis of labour market and industry employment and skill shortage projections which need to be considered when developing further strategies to improve the profile of women in VET and employment. The evaluation finds that a strong national framework of government bodies and agencies has been established with a demonstrated commitment to, and success in, improving women's participation and outcomes in VET. While some significant improvements have been achieved in the rates of female enrolments in VET, this evaluation has identified a number of issues which require monitoring and intervention from a national perspective. Show less