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This eight page booklet offers a brief summary of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) research report ‘Qualitative impact of training packages on vocational education and training clients’ (indexed at TD/ANTA 82.163). Show less

In this nine minute interview, Steve Davis talks with Tom Karmel about the report 'Attrition in the trades' [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 104.36]. This report investigates attrition in the trades by comparing the rate at which tradespeople leave their occupation with that of professionals. It also determines whether attrition is influenced by economic conditions, and if a trade can provide a good start to a career in the professions. The report concludes that attrition in the trades is no higher than in the professions; the rate of leaving particular occupations may vary, but overall the results between the two are very similar. The economic climate also makes little difference to the attrition rate.

Published abstract. Show less

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the basis in analysis and thought of the Australian National Training Authority's (ANTA's) Board's proposal that Australia work towards making participation in post secondary education and training a universal experience. This paper has been developed to provide in greater detail information and arguments to support some of the conclusions and directions outlined in the National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 1998-2003 (indexed at TD/TNC 85.683). It examines: The links between education and training (E & T), and economic growth and competitiveness of nations, firms and employees; Australian industry's requirements for skilled people; How Australia measures up in international terms; International policy directions in E & T and Vocational Education Training (VET) in particular; and A proposed integrated policy approach to VET for Australia. The paper concludes that: A number of studies have suggested that E & T attainment of qualifications is an important determinant of productivity and competitiveness, including at the national level as well as the firm and individual levels; The demand for skilled people with VET qualifications from Australian industry appears to be higher than the rate of supply of skilled people with VET qualifications; Australia's adult population is poorly qualified by international standards and the gap appears to be widening; Australia's mix of academic, vocational and basic general skills, including literacy, is not in balance with emerging needs: our level of vocational and basic general skills is particularly low; Leading economies are developing VET as a central plank in their package of E & T reform to meet the challenges of the new economy; and Australia needs to take action to at least maintain and then bridge E & T gaps which will require a major contribution from the VET sector (and also schools) to increase the VET qualifications gained by young persons, a focus by the VET system also on the existing workforce to further boost the recognised skills of older workers and reduce the qualifications gap between younger and older workers, and an overarching commitment by States to work with industry to ensure VET delivered through national training reform adds value and optimises the work skills results. Show less

This paper estimates the completion rate of VET course enrolments with a mathematical modelling approach in order to fill a gap in performance measures for the sector. The technique used is to track all VET course enrolments within a three-year window, centred on the year of interest. Then, using an absorbing Markov chain model for a VET course enrolment, to estimate the proportion of VET course enrolments commencing in the year of interest that will eventually be completed. This approach allows an estimate of the completion rate without the necessity to track course enrolments longitudinally over a long period of time. Course enrolments at certificate III level had the highest rate of completion at 33.5 per cent compared with other qualification levels. One of the distinctive characteristics of the VET sector is that many students wish to learn specific skills and have no intention of completing a full qualification. For these students a more sensible measure of success is the proportion of modules passed (the load pass rate). Overall, the load pass rate of 2005 enrolments was 79.1 per cent. Show less

In late 2008, NCVER commissioned six people to write essays about competition in the Australian training market. Most were from outside the vocational education and training (VET) sector. In order to ensure their ideas were tied into current concerns within VET, NCVER went on to invite six insiders to respond to the essays. The results from both groups are contained in this volume. It should be noted that the participants in this exercise do not entirely agree with each other. But there is general acknowledgement that the risks associated with the state determining the supply and demand for training mean that governments cannot retreat from the training market. However, the role of the state, relative to that of individuals and employers, remains contentious. Papers and their responses include: Markets and central planning in meeting labour market needs: lessons from higher education / Andrew Norton, discussant: Leslie Loble; A market for vocational education and training in the Australian Federation / Mark Burford, discussant: Pat Forward; Competition policy and the VET sector / Richard Denniss, discussant: Megan Kirchner; Contestability, information asymmetry and quality signals in a competitive training market / Terri Seddon, discussant: Robyn Tudor; Improving information flows for users of post-secondary education / Nicholas Gruen, discussant: Gerald Burke; Possible governance structures and autonomy of TAFE institutes / V. Lynn Meek; discussant: Michael Keating. Show less

This report provides an overview of the entire Australian workforce based on the methodology used in the American study titled 'Education for what? the new office economy' by Anthony P. Carnevale and Stephen J Rose (an executive summary of this study may be found at TD/INT 54.13). Data from five Australian censuses (1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, and 1996) have been analysed to provide a time series profile of the Australian workforce, focusing on types of functions instead of just where people work or what occupation they have. The project report reveals relationships between what people do, how much they earn, and how educated they are.

Section 1 details the rationale behind the functional approach taken to analyse economic activities and the workforce. An overview is provided of the trends on the total workforce for the past twenty years, and presents findings on employment share, and the education and earnings of workers in the various function groups.

Section 2 explains the job level analysis (elite, good, and less-skilled) in greater detail and presents findings on employment share, education and earnings in terms of these categories.

A booklet containing highlights of this report may be found indexed at TD/ANTA 59.01. Show less

The ‘ABC of VET 2002’ series contains 10 leaflets, each providing an overview of one aspect of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. The titles are: Australian National Training Authority [ANTA]; Australian Quality Training Framework [AQTF]; A fair go for everyone: making training equitable; Flexible learning; National marketing strategy for VET: meeting client needs; Skilling up Australia: VET’s role; Training: it pays to stay; Training packages; Training package support material; VET research. Show less

This document sets out the revised workplan for carrying out improvements to training packages following the high level review. The review looked at how training packages could be improved to better meet skill needs and support teaching and learning. The workplan outlines priorities for action up until 30 June 2005, when ANTA's [Australian National Training Authority's] responsibilities are transferred over to the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). These priority areas include employability skills, development and review processes, guidelines for VET [vocational education and training] qualifications, and cross-industry qualifications. The workplan covers three years, so after 30 June 2005 the responsibility for implementing the workplan will rest with DEST.

Published abstract.

The final report from the high level review of training packages is indexed at TD/ANTA 78.01. Show less

In recent years, the vocational education and training (VET) system in Australia has undergone major change in response to the national training reform agenda. Underlying these changes is the recognition that the VET system, of which publicly funded colleges of technical and further education (TAFE) form the major component, must become more client-focused. More than ever before, it is imperative that TAFE focuses sharply on the needs and concerns of its principal client base, the individual student. The report discusses the above concepts and the principal research instrument was a national survey of TAFE students by questionnaire. Show less

This publication provides overviews of the 14 Victorian projects funded by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) as part of the Demonstrating Best Practice in Vocational Education and Training (VET) project. A diverse range of organisations and a diverse range of best practice approaches are documented here by the organisations who undertook the projects. Show less