Improving the quality, capability and status of the VET teacher workforce

This report highlights the importance of improvement of quality delivery and training, learning outcomes for students, and ongoing workforce capability as topics for the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector to address. The author notes further that they are also topics that are not necessarily being addressed with a national strategy in mind as there are different state-based approaches and these are tied into regulatory requirements at both Commonwealth and State level.

This Fellowship aimed to explore: (1) VET teacher qualifications; (2) professional teaching standards and/or registration; (3) professional development - maintaining teaching and vocational currency (examples of how teachers maintain teaching and vocational currency and competency through continuous professional learning); and (4) the impact of the broader VET system on quality teaching. The author conducted interviews and attended an international conference. Interviews were underpinned with questions aimed at building a broader picture of the VET system and environment in which VET teachers work. The research looked at models of leadership in teacher training, professional development and practice in countries across Europe to compare and contrast with those in Australia. This research aims to inform how the quality of VET teaching can be improved at a national and registered training organisation (RTO) level.

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