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By definition, youth transitions involve young people moving between school, post-school study and employment. It is a time of flux, as young people try out different school, post-school work and study options. But are those who don't find work immediately likely to make a poor transition? Given that many may well have a spell out of the labour force, everyone needs to understand when this becomes a risk factor. This briefing paper draws on related research and some primary data analysis to consider whether being "at risk" is a permanent or transitory state. It suggests that, rather than counting the numbers of young people who are detached from work, study or other meaningful activities, everyone should focus on those who remain disconnected. It is important to be able to identify who may be most "at risk" of an unsuccessful transition to ensure that targeted and appropriate interventions can be implemented. Young people who accumulate disadvantage through poor literacy and numeracy and who are uninterested in school appear particularly vulnerable. They tend to leave school early and suffer disproportionally in the labour market. If this detachment from work or study continues for an extended period of time, the young person's inability to develop employability skills and their lack of work experience adversely affect their prospects of future employment. This is detrimental not only to the individual but also to the nation's productivity. Therefore, programs which help young people to make smoother and faster transitions into further study or employment are important. (Contains 6 tables, 3 figures and 4 footnotes.)

Language, literacy and numeracy are necessary for greater workforce participation, productivity and social inclusion. Being able to measure the level of proficiency in these skills, and any changes in the level of skills, is important for getting a sense of how well language, literacy and numeracy programs are working. Two measurement tools used in Australia are the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALLS) survey and the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). This paper outlines a National Centre for Vocational Education Research study which will investigate whether it is possible to map the performance levels of the ALLS to the performance levels of the ACSF in order to gain more frequent information than is currently available about the literacy and numeracy progression of adult learners against national goals. Appended are: (1) About the ALLS survey and the ACSF; and (2) Delphi method and descriptions of ALLS items. (Contains 1 table and 9 footnotes.)

Two features of the labour market for vocationally qualified workers are explored in this technical paper: the likelihood of self-employment versus wage employment and the determinants of income. The analysis showed that demographic, occupational and local labour market characteristics all influence the likelihood of self-employment. Self-employed people were more likely to be older, married and born in a non-English speaking country. High self-employment was found for managers, males in construction and female hospitality managers. Generally, employees were shown to earn more than self-employed workers, suggesting that the self-employed are willing to sacrifice monetary income for other perceived benefits of self-employment. (Contains 10 tables.)

Youth transitions refer to young people's journeys from school to post-school study and on to employment. This is a time when young people experience rapid biological, psychological and physical changes, as well as changing social and economic situations, as they begin to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. In this paper, the authors first define a "successful youth transition". They then consider a range of factors that affect transitions. Following this, they discuss a number of interventions which can help young people to make the transition successfully. (Contains 1 table and 2 footnotes.)

The Survey of Employer Use and Views of the VET System is designed to provide detailed information on the way employers interact with the vocational education and training (VET) system and their satisfaction with these dealings. The aim of the survey is to provide information enabling the Australian Government and state and territory governments to monitor, over time, employer engagement and satisfaction with vocational education and training in meeting the skill needs of the workforce. The survey also identifies and ranks the factors that influence employer engagement and satisfaction with vocational education and training. As part of the review of the survey, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is consulting with users to identify their information requirements and how the survey may be modified to better meet their needs. This paper has been prepared to: (1) confirm the survey is collecting data relevant to policy and information requirements; (2) provide information on data items currently collected in the survey; (3) determine the most suitable scope and methodology for ongoing surveys; and (4) canvas ideas on options for 2013 onwards. Appendices include: (1) Excerpt from the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development; and (2) List of data items available from the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 surveys. (Contains 5 tables and 1 footnote.) [For related report, "Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: Employers' Use and Views of the VET System, 2009", see ED507550.]

This paper describes responses to linguistic pluralism in Australian policy in relation to Australia's Asian language context, and the teaching and learning of Japanese within these two frameworks. Finally, the paper considers some ideas relating intercultural language learning to all second language study termed: the Third Place. There are three approaches typically taken toward multilingualism in a given society, looking at multilingualism as a problem, a right, or a resource. Australia viewed multilingualism as a problem through the middle of the 1970s. This eventually led to a contestation of that approach, which culminated in the language as a right movement, which gained considerable ground in the later 1970s and through the 1980s. By the 1990s, the language a resource school began to gain influence. Regarding multilingualism as a resource involves construing the diversity of languages within the community as a public as well as an individual benefit and fashioning public policies accordingly. All of Australia's languages are reviewed, including a review of the role of Japanese language studies in Australian education and Japanese studies. Cultures, general knowledge, and intercultural language teaching are also discussed. (Contains 18 references.) (KFT)

Vocational education in schools declined significantly following the demise of the 1970s of technical high schools. By the 1990s, it had undergone a renaissance after formal school vocational education and training (VET) programs became an accepted feature of the latter years of schooling. There is now a diverse range of school VET options available to young people in their senior years of schooling. Over 90% of senior secondary schools offer VET subjects and programs, and nationally over 40% of students participate in VET in Schools programs. Young people participating in the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) can be tracked as they make their transitions from school to work, providing an opportunity to assess the impact of VET in Schools programs on their educational and employment outcomes. This briefing paper uses previous research on the impact of VET in Schools and some primary analysis of the data from LSAY participants who were first interviewed in 1995 or 2003 (Y95 and Y03) to assess the effect of these programs on school retention, post-school VET and employment, and young people's school and post-school aspirations. The results of the regression models are appended. (Contains 15 tables and 3 footnotes.)

The purpose of this study is to explore aspects and indicators most commonly used to assess the quality of education systems in different countries through the comparison of 12 national publications describing the state of the educational system. To compare indicators the CIPP model was chosen. This model is organized in four main parts: Context, Input, Process and Product. Each main part was then divided into categories based on the research literature (e.g., Input is divided into human, financial and material resources). Based on the CIPP model an electronic database for quality indicators comparison has been designed and implemented. This system is dynamic and easy to update. Using the database it is possible to compare countries according to several criteria (e.g., main parts and categories of the CIPP model, ISCED [International Standard Classification of Education] level, level of data collection). The database is available to the public and is designed for researchers and scholastic decision makers. A first comparison shows that processes at the classroom level are rarely considered, whereas public financial resources as well as achievement results are always included. The study concludes with a discussion of the findings of the comparison, as well as suggestions for future research aimed at further defining relevant indicators for the assessment of education quality." An appendix presents: "The on-line database: structure and functions. (Contains 5 figures and 7 footnotes.) [This paper was produced by INVALSI - National Institute for the Educational Evaluation of Instruction and Training.]

Diana Wilkinson, Chief Social Researcher with the Scottish Government, assisted National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) to facilitate a forum to discuss the development of national research priorities for the vocational education and training sector. This paper summarises Diana Wilkinson's impression of the forum and uses two contrasting case studies of Scotland and Australia to consider the extent to which it is feasible to align academic research investment with medium-term priority-setting. (Contains 13 footnotes and 1 table.)

Data relating to occupations has been collected in the national apprentice and trainee collection since 1994. The coding used conforms to classifications endorsed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest version issued from the ABS is the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The classification previous to ANZSCO is the second edition of the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO). Currently occupation data is collected using both ANZSCO and ASCO codes. Although ANZSCO was only introduced to the Apprentice and Trainee Collection in 2007, states and territories were asked to back-code ANZSCO on all contracts that were active as at 1 July 2000. Therefore while ASCO codes appear on records from the beginning of the collection, ANZSCO codes, only appear on records from 1 July 2000. Thus, although the database has a field for ANZSCO, the value is missing for all records prior to this date. This technical paper is a description of the methodology used to impute values for records in the National Apprentice and Trainee database that have missing ANZSCO codes. Appendices include: (1) Method (detailed); and (2) System charts. [For the accompanying report, "Apprentices and Trainees: September Quarter 2009," see ED508817.]

Over 20 years ago, during a period of high youth unemployment, Peter Kirby recommended that a system of traineeships be adopted for disadvantaged 16- and 17-year-olds. Growth in traineeships was initially slow until the mid-1990s, when rapid growth followed a series of reforms to traineeships. The reforms included the introduction of employer incentives and the widening of traineeships to existing workers, part-time workers, and older workers. This paper builds on work commissioned by the Victorian Interdepartmental Policy Unit on Youth Transitions into the effectiveness of traineeships for the youth cohort. Findings suggest that traineeships are an important pathway for female early school leavers. However, if the target group for traineeships is disadvantaged young people, then they are poorly targeted. The employment outcomes from traineeships are good, particularly for young early school leavers, but they find little evidence that traineeships have had a significant impact on skills acquisition. Overall, the authors conclude that the traineeship model is a good one, as the mixture of formal education and experience in the workplace is educationally very attractive. Their suggestions for improvement relate to better targeting of government support. In particular, they suggest that government support be targeted towards disadvantaged job seekers, such as early school leavers. Appendices include: (1) Consultations methodology; (2) Detailed history of policies relating to the traineeship system; (3) Illustrative case studies of wage costs and implicit wage subsidies; (4) Most popular training packages for Australia; and (5) Further study. (Contains 12 footnotes, 4 boxes, 24 tables, and 5 figures.)

Apprentices with a learning disability can face significant barriers to completing their training. This paper explores what these apprentices, their lecturers and disability support staff see as the most effective strategies for helping them to overcome these difficulties. Instructional approaches which accommodate students' learning styles, individual tutoring and supportive relationships were endorsed by all groups as effective. This research was undertaken by a novice researcher in the Community of Practice scholarship program, which is funded through NCVER's Building Researcher Capacity initiative. Appended are: (1) Questionnaire; and (2) Focus group questions. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

This paper estimates vocational education and training (VET) course-completion rates, in order to fill a gap in performance measures for the VET sector. The technique the authors use 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, they estimate the proportion of VET course enrolments commencing in the year of interest that will eventually be completed. This approach allows them to estimate the completion rate without having to longitudinally track course enrolments over a long period of time. Findings reveal that: (1) The national estimated completion rate of VET course enrolments at certificate I level or above commencing in 2005 is 27.1%. For full-time VET students aged 25 years and under in 2005, this rate is 34.7%; (2) When cut by fields of education, the completion rates in 2005 range from 13.3% (for course enrolments in Mixed field programs) to 48.3% (for course enrolments in Education); and (3) Course enrolments at certificate III level had the highest rate of completion at 33.5% 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%. Appendices include: (1) Completion rate of new VET students; (2) Flow diagram; (3) Completions formula; and (4) Sample sizes. (Contains 9 tables, 2 figures, and 2 footnotes.)

This paper is based on one prepared for South Australia's Training and Skills Commission. It comes at a time of strong interest in the quality and professionalism of the vocational education and training (VET) workforce. This interest is underpinned by research into what constitutes quality teaching, as well as initiatives such as the strategic audit of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment under the auspices of the National Quality Council. The author argues that professional development is just one approach to improving the quality of the VET workforce. A strong professional culture in the workplace and better approaches to recruitment, job design, industrial relations, workplace and performance management also need to play their part. Whatever the approach, professional development needs adequate resourcing if it is to be effective. He does not shy away from two areas surrounded by controversy--the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and the registration of VET practitioners. On the former, the author's view is that the certificate IV is a sound qualification as long as it is taught well and adequate support is provided. On the latter, he opposes mandatory registration but notes that under the Australian Quality Training Framework it is possible to audit so that providers not only have staff with the necessary qualifications and skills profile but also have an ongoing professional development program in place that helps the organisation run--and improve--its core business of teaching and learning. Perhaps these audit requirements should be particularly rigorous for providers issuing teaching qualifications. (Contains 22 footnotes.)

This paper examines the history of initial VET (vocational education and training) teacher training, both through the literature and the author's own experience. Finding of this survey include: (1) The minimalist regulatory approach of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment as the mandated qualification for VET teachers and trainers needs to change and it is time to accept a broader range of qualifications as a suitable foundation for teaching in VET. This should be based on a wider range of issues: the teaching role, the provider profile and the characteristics and needs of their students; (2) A more rigorous application of regulatory requirements for staff to maintain vocational competency and develop their teaching skills will ensure that teachers do not remain with minimal qualifications; (3) The "skill set" approach mooted for the new Diploma in Training and Assessment will lead to more formal professional development being taken up by staff. These skill sets need to be based on specific work roles as well as generic teaching and assessment skills; and (4) More active collaboration between universities and the VET sector will yield better teacher training and professional development. (Contains 2 footnotes.)

Partnerships between literacy teachers and community service workers have the potential to engage people with low literacy levels in learning. Through interviews and surveys with these two groups, this paper explores their views on literacy, how it impacts on their work, and their ideas about partnerships with each other. Overall, partnerships are viewed more favourably by literacy teachers than community service workers. In addition, if partnerships are to proceed, both groups need to develop a greater awareness and appreciation for each other's roles. This research was undertaken by a novice researcher in the Community of Practice Program and was funded as part of NCVER's Building Researcher Capacity initiative. Appended are: (1) Definitions; and (2) Survey. (Contains 9 tables and 2 figures.)

"Mixed-sector" institutions are relatively new in Australia, but numbers are likely to increase as the boundaries between vocational education and training (VET) and higher education become increasingly blurred. In 2009 the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) published research examining the nature of higher education offered by public VET providers ("Higher education in TAFE" by Leesa Wheelahan, Gavin Moodie, Stephen Billett and Ann Kelly). Gavin Moodie and his colleagues are continuing their research and this paper has been written with the intention of provoking discussion. It presents an initial account of mixed-sector tertiary education in Australia--separating institutions accrediting their own higher education programs, most of which are large public universities, from other tertiary education institutions, primarily smaller private providers. A range of issues about the emerging character of mixed-sector provision is flagged and will be considered as part of the research, including: (1) How relevant will the sector designations be if the distinctions relating to tertiary education continue to blur, and if Australian governments allocate public support for teaching by mechanisms that do not distinguish between types of institutions?; (2) To what degree is mixed-sector provision affected by the extent to which the smaller sector is integrated with an institution's organisational structure, the level of the organisation at which vocational and higher education are integrated and the level of autonomy granted to organisational units?; and (3) What are the implications of mixed-sector provision for the students, staff and institutional futures? (Contains 6 tables, 2 figures and 3 footnotes.)

This paper is concerned with the strategies being adopted for vocational education and training (VET) in Australia and the lessons that could be learned for them from policies in other countries. Six issues are considered in the paper, each relates to or more of the objectives and particular strategies in the Australia's National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 2004-2010: (1) Workforce/adult training and retraining in the light of ageing and shifting occupational structures; (2) Equity issues for indigenous and other groups; (3) Managing demand and funding so that priorities are met; (4) Developments in qualification structures and quality assurance; (5) Enhancing provider capacity to ensure quality and responsiveness; and (6) Regional and community capacity building. The approach taken was to analyse national strategies, policies, objectives and priorities of government agencies to provide a point of comparison with Australia's National Strategy for VET. Analysis was most focused on the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and limited for Canada, due to the decentralised nature of that system. Implications for Australia are set out by strategy. (Contains 6 footnotes and 2 boxes.)

This project on national standards and accreditation of career practitioners is set against a background of unprecedented interest by governments nationally and internationally in the provision of career guidance services. Currently more is known about the policy and delivery of career guidance than at any other time in history. There is growing interest in the relationship between career guidance and public policy because the benefits of career guidance to individuals, society and the economy have been recognised. In this regard, strategic alliances are being formed between career guidance practitioners and policy makers in order that policy commitments relating to the provision of quality career services are enhanced. Such an alliance is evidenced in the collaboration between the Department of Education, Science and Training and the Career Industry Council of Australia on this project. This project constitutes a very necessary step in a move towards a quality industry. The purpose of this scoping paper is to: (1) identify current standards guiding career practitioners in Australia; (2) review international work on standards including examples of best practice and advise on how this work might be relevant to the development of national standards and accreditation in the Australian context; (3) be informed by outcomes of national workshops, forums, and conferences 2000-2004; (4) identify the current membership requirements of professional career associations and bodies both nationally and internationally; (5) assess how prior learning or qualifications might be recognised and developed to fit within and meet the requirements of the quality standards; and (6) identify the issues that need to be addressed in the development of national standards. To achieve this purpose, this paper is structured around four main sections--international quality standards, national quality standards, standards guiding Australian professions, and the Australian career industry. Following this a number of themes related to the development and implementation of quality standards will be elaborated. A number of issues relating to the development and implementation of quality standards and accreditation in the Australian career industry will then be raised. Appended are: (1) Glossary of terms; (2) Table of Comparative Competencies; (3) Entry-level Qualifications of Australian Career Practitioner Associations; (4) Standards of Australian Career Practitioner Associations; and (5) Comparison of Quality Standards Across Career Case Studies.

Apprentice and trainee data are reported by the State and Territory Training Authorities to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on a quarterly basis, starting at the September quarter of 1994. The set of data submitted that quarter is referred to as Collection 1. The sets of data submitted in subsequent quarters are referred to as Collection 2, Collection 3 and so on. At the time of writing, the set of data being submitted is for the June 2009 quarter and is referred to as Collection 60. Of particular interest is the numbers of contracts of training that commence, complete, cancel/withdraw, re-commence, expire or suspend and the time at which these events occur (referred to as the "date of effect"). From these events, the number of contracts in training at a given time can be calculated. Between the occurrence of one of these events and the appearance of the corresponding datum in the national collection, there is a chain of administrative processes that must be followed. It is not unusual for some time to elapse before information about events appears in the national collection. These time gaps are referred to as "reporting lags". Thus, data about events occurring in a given quarter might require several collections to be completely reported. As a result, accurate counts take time to accumulate. However, waiting for the all the data to be submitted reduces their usefulness. In order to get timely information that can be used for monitoring apprentice/trainee activity and formulating policy, a reliable estimate of the "final" counts is required as soon as possible after the quarter in which the events occur. The current method of calculating estimates from the Apprentice and Trainee collection was endorsed in September 2004 by the National Training Statistics Committee. The purpose of this technical paper is to describe: (1) the way data accumulate over many collections; (2) how items derived from the data change as the data accumulates; (3) the endorsed estimation method (developed from the analysis of the above); (4) the formulae for calculating the required estimates; and (5) potential weaknesses in the method. Supporting data is appended. (Contains 4 tables and 8 figures.) [For the accompanying report, "Apprentices and Trainees: September Quarter 2009", see ED508817.]

The key drivers of technical and further education (TAFE) institutes' systems for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness and efficiency are accountability for government funding, compliance with legislation and quality assurance requirements. The need to supplement government funding with commercial income requires institutes to understand the training markets in which they operate and to maintain productive networks with industry and local communities. This paper provides an account of the management strategies and processes that TAFE institutes use to evaluate their performance. It concludes that institutes use similar practices to understand their business and it provides some suggestions for the type of information that would be beneficial. Two appendices are included: (1) State strategic objectives; and (2) Examples of information that states are required to provide to state funding bodies. (Contains 1 table and 19 footnotes.) [Additional information relating to this research is available in the support document: "Tracking Our Success: How TAFE Institutes Evaluate Their Effectiveness and Efficiency--Case Studies." See ED507215.]

This study examines employers' views, taken from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Survey of Employer Use and Views on the VET (vocational education and training) System, on the three ways they can engage with the VET system: by having vocational qualifications as a job requirement; employing apprentices and trainees; and using nationally recognised training. In particular, the authors focus on employers' suggestions for improvement to the VET system and, for those employers who are dissatisfied with the system, their reasons for dissatisfaction. Three appendices are included: (1) Reasons for dissatisfaction code frame; (2) 2005 Suggested improvements code frame; and (3) 2007 Suggested improvements code frame. (Contains 2 tables, 2 footnotes and 1 figure.) [Funding for this paper provided through the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]

Growth in mixed-sector institutions offering both vocational and higher education qualifications is expected to increase given recent and predicted policy changes. This issues paper focuses on the provision and management of higher education in technical and further education (TAFE) institutes. Issues raised for discussion include the governance of mixed-sector institutions as well as ensuring access and maintaining progression to higher education without sectoral division in the institution. Implications arising from the Bradley review of higher education are canvassed and the authors are inviting discussion on a range of questions related to the nature of policies and practices influencing the provision of higher education in TAFE. A section listing the TAFE institutes that have been registered to offer higher education qualifications and their accredited higher education qualifications, at February 2009 is appended. (Contains 5 tables and 3 footnotes.) [Funding for this document was provided through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]

Building the research capacity of the vocational education and training (VET) sector is a key concern for the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). To assist with this objective, NCVER supports an academic scholarship program, whereby VET practitioners are sponsored to undertake university study at honours', master's or doctorate level. The author received an academic scholarship in 2008 to assist with his Master's of Education at Charles Darwin University. He is a Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Youth Work at Charles Darwin University. His research investigates the flexible delivery of VET in Wugularr, a remote Indigenous community near Katherine in the Northern Territory. As part of its core business, Charles Darwin University offers a range of VET training programs to Wugularr. One of these programs is the Sunrise Health Service's youth worker training program. This paper evaluates the program from the community's perspective. The lessons learned, which are applicable to the wider VET sector, are also identified. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.) [Funding for this document was provided through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]

Information on the divergence between student numbers and delivery hours for the period 2002 to 2007 is provided in this technical paper. The change in hours from one year to the next is decomposed into three effects, one of which is "hours inflation", whereby nominal hours increase over time for the same unit of competency or module. Here we show that the "hours inflation" explains relatively little of the divergence between students and hours. However, another form of hours creep, whereby new modules have higher average hours than ceased modules, was of some significance at the start of the period in question. A list of tables representing change in hours by state and territory is appended. (Contains 2 footnotes, 7 tables, and 3 figures.) [This work has been produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) as a joint initiative of the Australian Government, and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]

The preference of students to choose a career in events management over hospitality despite low demand for skills is the focus of this paper. The need for greater involvement of external stakeholders is identified as important in ensuring that students make an informed decision when choosing a career path. A model representing the ideal situation for student decision-making on career choice is proposed. The research was funded through the Building Researcher Capacity initiative of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and was undertaken by a novice researcher in the Community of Practice scholarship program. A list of interview questions is appended. (Contains 4 figures.)

The findings of a cultural industries skills audit undertaken in 2008 in Katherine, Northern Territory, are explored. The case study focusses in particular on the practical challenges and implications of auditing skills in a diverse industry sector and considers the usefulness of such an audit in preparing an industry for predicted change. This paper is the result of a 2008 NCVER New Researcher Award. (Contains 2 footnotes and 4 tables.) [This research was commissioned by the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training and managed by CHARTTES Training Advisory Council. The project team was made up of Catherine Curry, Roxy Lancaster, Debra Bennett and Jen Richardson, with research mentoring support from Ruth Wallace and David Morgan.]

Australian employers' appraisal and use of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications were examined through case studies of 15 small, medium, and large organizations in 8 of Australia's "old" and "new" economy industries. Data were collected through interviews with management/employer representatives, middle managers, and union representatives at each organization and a company profile that was administered during the site visits. Employer confidence in the ability of Australian VET providers to meet business needs was mixed. Although providing training was not part of their core business or primary focus, they generally considered it important in supporting their business goals. This view was particularly evident in the use of training for recruitment and for meeting legislative requirements. All sectors but the surfing industry used formal training. The employers were also ambivalent toward training providers. Their comments on training providers were generally negative, in some cases, expressing the view that all training is lacking but training supplied to their own organization was satisfactory. When asked what they want in VET training, the employers mentioned flexibility of VET qualifications and training, flexibility in delivery, and training organizations that listen to and are responsive to business needs. A need for greater understanding and knowledge of recent changes to Australia's national training system was identified. (Contains 60 references.) (MN)

In 2005, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) produced a statistical compendium examining vocational education and training (VET) students with a disability as a whole group; it also compared different disability groups, focusing on their participation levels, achievements and outcomes from VET in 2003 (Cavallaro et al. 2005). The report found that, on the whole, educational achievements and outcomes from VET are relatively poor for students reporting a disability, but there is considerable variability between types of disability. In addition, educational achievement prior to commencing VET was found to have some bearing on students' results in VET. Generally, students reporting a disability in VET have lower prior education and poorer outcomes from VET than all other VET students. This implies that the poor educational performance of students reporting a disability may be due to their educationally disadvantaged position rather than their disability. The present paper seeks to highlight the direct effect of the disability by controlling for the background characteristics (notably educational background, but also age, level of study and field of study) in a simple statistical model. Findings indicate that the direct effect of the disability differs between groups, and is highest for those with a mental illness, a medical condition or a physical disability. Appended are: (1) Regression Results; (2) Average Values of Independent Variables in Calculation of Adjusted Module Completion Rate; and (3) Decomposing Module Completion Rates. (Contains 4 tables and 2 footnotes.) [This work has been produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) as a joint initiative of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.]

Improvements in lifelong learning are necessary for a range of overlapping reasons, including changing needs of the labour force in a globalised economy, the aging of the population in high-income countries and inequalities in education, work and income. Increased lifelong learning, for all, is important for productivity, but also to support social cohesion which in the longer term may underpin productivity. The paper draws on recent international discussions to consider: (1) Existing unmet needs and emerging needs for education and training; (2) Funds required compared with what is provided; and (3) How the additional funds can be found (freeing funds through efficiencies or reallocation in the provision of education and training and new forms and places of learning; stimulating employers to enhance learning in the workplace and the provision of education and training through increasing the benefits and reducing the costs or mandating employer provision of education and training; stimulating increased individual expenditure by improving access to funds and by increasing the benefits and reducing the costs; and increasing government spending). The need for additional funding varies among rich countries and between rich and poor countries. The possibilities for implementing various forms of funding also vary with the prevailing political and economic structures. The paper highlights some of the issues with reference to the experience of Australia, a rich country with low public expenditure. (Contains 2 boxes and 6 tables.)