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This 'At a glance' looks at whether graduate programs - a type of employment program targeted at recent graduates - are feasible for vocational education and training (VET) students. These programs are more common in higher education but could have the potential to improve the number of VET students employed in their intended occupation after training. However, to improve their uptake, the benefits of employing recent graduates need to be promoted to employers. It also touches on work-integrated learning to improve the work experience of VET students.

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Undertaking research in the vocational education and training (VET) and disability area is not easy. The challenges include the limitations of the available data, accessing people with a disability and the diversity of disability type and severity. This publication looks at ideas on workable funding models and services such as career advice and staff development, and underlines the difficulties in building knowledge, given the unreliability of the data available for studying the topic. This publication addresses these issues. Some recent statistics on VET students with a disability are presented and the findings of recent research published or being undertaken by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) are summarised. Finally, the challenges of undertaking research in this area are discussed. Show less

This publication offers a snapshot of developments in employability skills since 2002. It finds that most research has focused around teaching, assessing and reporting on employability skills, where consistency remains a key challenge. There also continues to be a lack of understanding of employability skills among some teachers. Until these issues are addressed, the sector could fall short in providing learners with the skills they need to succeed in their vocations. Show less

Ensuring all Australians have equal access to education has been a key driver of state and federal governments since the late 1980s. 'Lifting' skills of individuals through education, training and employment is an integral focus of public policies to redress disadvantage and improve social inclusion. Using Australian and international research, this 'At a glance' explores how the vocational education and training (VET) system responds to and fosters the social inclusion policy agenda. It finds that, overall, the data from 2006 to 2010 indicate an increase in the proportion of students from disadvantaged groups participating in and completing their training, and there is evidence that the training experience can be a useful stepping stone towards participation in the community and labour market. However, the key messages from this paper indicate there remain some entrenched problems to overcome in achieving an inclusive Australia, and considers some of the challenges and successful practices. Show less

Innovation is seen as a way of increasing productivity in firms and also increasing prosperity for the nation. This 'at a glance' publication examines what is meant by innovation, the relationship between innovation and productivity, and the types of skills that are relevant to innovation. It also discusses the implications of innovation for the training system, government and enterprises. Show less

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), informal learning is by far the most prevalent form of adult learning. This type of learning offers benefits to all age groups and people, including older workers, migrant groups and refugees, and people who are disengaged from learning. It is also of great benefit to small business who lack the resources to formally train staff and plays an important role in the workplace. This publication investigates the idea of informal learning, which has been described as an iceberg: mostly invisible at the surface and immense in its mostly submerged informal aspects (Livingstone 2000). It considers the learning that goes on daily in a variety of everyday contexts: from the workplace to the home, and through technology and the mass media. It does so in order to offer some definitional clarity and discusses when recognition and measurement of informal learning can be useful. However it cautions against giving too much structure to this type of learning in order not to stifle its incidental nature and the benefits that accrue from this very widespread way of learning. Show less

Australia, in common with many industrialised countries, must adjust in the coming years to an ageing population. The labour force participation rate is projected to fall and there will be a record number of older people who have retired from work. Thus, there will be fewer workers as a share of the population to generate the income needed to support the entire population. This publication looks at older workers in terms of their employment characteristics and describes ways to boost their participation or to remain at work. Show less

Over the past ten years the changing landscape of society, work and education has led to significant changes in career development services in Australia. School students now have access to an array of information about potential career paths. This publication gives a snapshot of recent research exploring how these services respond to the different client groups, concluding that more needs to be done in terms of: greater promotion of vocational education and training (VET) pathways; greater support for parents and adults involved in students' career decisions; and improved collection of data on career development services. Show less

Vocational education and training (VET) has a key role in facilitating regional economic development. One way that VET can do this is by forming partnerships with other organisations, such as other training providers, business/industry, schools and local government. This brief publication gives an overview of recent research exploring how partnerships can address regional needs. Show less

This report summarises the most recent research for young people up to 24 years of age with the aim of providing a clear picture of young people's participation in vocational education and training (VET) and the impact and role of VET on their transitions to work. Using longitudinal research findings where possible, it seeks to answer the following questions: (1) How important is VET for young people? (2) Is VET helping the transition from school to work? (3) What factors impact on the employment outcomes that result from VET? The statistics indicate that VET is clearly an important pathway for young people, and could also benefit the 'at risk' group who experience multiple or prolonged periods of unemployment. However, until now, researchers have lacked an accurate understanding of the role VET plays in assisting the transition to work for young people. The difficulty in researching transitions and outcomes for young people is due to the individual and complex nature of their pathways from school to the workplace or further study. By tracking young people, researchers are now able to conclude that VET does assist the transition to work, although the smoothness of this transition does vary depending on student demographics and the nature of the VET program undertaken. Students undertaking certificates 1 and II may not, in the short term, attain the jobs they hoped for without further study. Career development services can have a positive impact on transitions by better informing prospective students of the typical outcomes and further study required after completing particular VET courses. Show less