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This occasional paper is the first in a series on the National Quality Framework (NQF). This paper offers detailed insights into education and care service quality ratings for Quality Area 1 -- Educational Program and Practice, which focuses on ensuring that educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging, enhances children's learning and development, and meets children's individual learning and development needs. Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has chosen to focus this first occasional paper on Quality Area 1 because of its vital contribution to child outcomes and because the evidence indicates that services are less likely to meet the National Quality Standard (NQS) in this Area. Additionally, the paper is timely given ACECQA's work in period 2014/15 with Regulatory Authorities and Professional Support Coordinators to deliver national workshops to educators to help them better understand and meet the requirements of Quality Area 1. The paper provides a brief overview of the NQS, its rating system, quality areas and overall ratings to date. It then examines Quality Area 1 looking at differences across jurisdictions, management types, service sub-types, and socioeconomic and remoteness classifications. The paper culminates by examining patterns in the distribution of Quality Area 1 ratings and discusses possible explanations for these variations, as well as implications of the report findings and future directions. The paper is intended to be of interest to people who deliver education and care services, people who provide training and professional development services to the sector, and to officers in the Regulatory Authorities that conduct quality rating. Unless otherwise stated, the paper draws on data from the National Quality Agenda Information Technology System (NQA ITS) as at 31 December 2015.

The topic of more frequent and timely vocational education and training (VET) data has been an issue of interest for a number of years. Since 2015, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has collected and reported data on government-funded students and courses on a quarterly basis. These quarterly data submissions are cumulative and allow additional data to be reported and corrections made to previously submitted data. The first year of quarterly reporting has provided a useful insight into how training activity is reported by the different jurisdictions over a calendar year. This paper presents the results of some initial analysis of that data using the reporting scope that was in place for 2015 reporting, broadly defined as all activity delivered by government providers and government-funded activity delivered by community education and other registered providers.

This paper addresses the significant role that writing plays in research. It argues (using the form of 10 email conversations between the authors) that too often writing is oversimplified, consigned to the final "stage" of a research process and designated as "writing up." Research methodology texts and websites rarely discuss writing as integral to research practice. The advice postgraduate students receive not only glosses over the difficulties of constructing an extended argument but also of working within the genres and power relations of the academy. This paper interrogates the notion of "writing up" and its effects. It offers an alternative view of writing as research and research as writing. Contains 31 references. (Author/RS)

This is a support document to the "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide" report. Developed for users of LSAY, the user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. This support document provides employment information for the guide. [For the main report, "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide. Technical Paper 74," see ED536971. For other supporting documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements A--Demographics. Technical Paper 74A" (ED536979); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B1--Education (School and School Transition). Technical Paper 74B1" (ED536973); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B2--Education (Post-School). Technical Paper 74B2" (ED536975); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements D--Social. Technical Paper 74D" (ED536972).]

This is a support document to the "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide" report. Developed for users of LSAY, the user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. This support document provides social information for the guide. [For the main report, "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide. Technical Paper 74," see ED536971. For other supporting documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements A--Demographics. Technical Paper 74A" (ED536979); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B1--Education (School and School Transition). Technical Paper 74B1" (ED536973); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B2--Education (Post-School). Technical Paper 74B2" (ED536975); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements C--Employment. Technical Paper 74C" (ED536974).]

This is a support document to the "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide" report. Developed for users of LSAY, the user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. This support document provides post-school information for the guide. [For the main report, "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide. Technical Paper 74," see (ED536971). For other support documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements A--Demographics. Technical Paper 74A" (ED536979); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B1--Education (School and School Transition). Technical Paper 74B1" (ED536973); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements C--Employment. Technical Paper 74C" (ED536974); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements D--Social. Technical Paper 74D" (ED536972).]

This is a support document to the "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide" report. Developed for users of LSAY, the user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. This support document provides school and school transition information for the guide. [For the main report, "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide. Technical Paper 74," see ED536971. For other supporting documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements A--Demographics. Technical Paper 74A" (ED536979); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B2--Education (Post-School). Technical Paper 74B2" (ED536975); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements C--Employment. Technical Paper 74C" (ED536974); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements D--Social. Technical Paper 74D" (ED536972).]

This is a support document to the "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide" report. Developed for users of LSAY, the user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. This support document provides demographics information for the guide. [For the main report, "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide. Technical Paper 74," see ED536971. For other supporting documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B1--Education (School and School Transition). Technical Paper 74B1" (ED536973); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B2--Education (Post-School). Technical Paper 74B2" (ED536975); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements C--Employment. Technical Paper 74C" (ED536974); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements D--Social. Technical Paper 74D" (ED536972).]

Developed for users of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), this user guide consolidates information about the LSAY 2009 cohort into one document. The guide aims to address all aspects of the LSAY data including: how to access the data; data restrictions; variable naming conventions; the structure of the data; documentation; classifications and code frames used; weights; and derived variables. Updates to the Y09 data file are appended. (Contains 14 tables, 9 figures and 6 footnotes.) [For supporting documents, see "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements A--Demographics. Technical Paper 74A" (ED536979); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B1--Education (School and School Transition). Technical Paper 74B1" (ED536973); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements B2--Education (Post-School). Technical Paper 74B2" (ED536975); "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements C--Employment. Technical Paper 74C" (ED536974); and "Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) 2009 Cohort User Guide: Data Elements D--Social. Technical Paper 74D" (ED536972).]

The Student Outcomes Survey is an annual national survey of vocational education and training (VET) students. Since 1995, participants have been asked to rate their satisfaction with different aspects of their training, grouped under three main themes: teaching, assessment, and generic skills and learning experiences. While the composition of the bank of satisfaction questions has remained fairly constant over time and the suitability of the three overarching satisfaction categories has been validated statistically on several occasions, little progress has been made on creating summary measures that encapsulate the three main themes of student satisfaction. Such summary measures would be much more useful to researchers than responses to the bank of 19 satisfaction questions, which are very detailed. This paper compares three methods of creating a composite score and evaluates their statistical veracity. These methods are Rasch analysis, weighted means and simple means. This report finds that all three methods yield similar results and so recommends using the simple means method to create the summary measures. (Contains 7 tables, 2 figures and 2 footnotes.) [Funding for this paper was provided through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.]

Apprentice and trainee data are reported by the State and Territory Training Authorities to NCVER (National Centre for Vocational Education Research) 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. NCVER publishes data on 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. Due to time delays in reporting data on the status of contracts to NCVER, the most recent data are estimated. Further details regarding this methodology are provided in the technical paper produced by NCVER, Estimation of Apprentice and Trainee Statistics, which can be found at http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2267.html. The purpose of this technical paper is to document the adjustments that are made to the estimates at each collection, and produce a cumulative document of these adjustments, commencing at Collection 60, June 2009 estimates. (Contains 15 figures.) [For the main report, "Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: Apprentices and Trainees. September Quarter, 2010", see ED516870.]

The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) ask participants how satisfied they are with aspects of their lives. Their answers give us a measure of the subjective wellbeing of our youth and can be used to explore the link between education, employment and wellbeing. Yet, wellbeing is broader than satisfaction with life. It also encompasses physical, mental and emotional health, as well as social aspects of life. Therefore, to gain a better understanding of the state of young people's wellbeing, this briefing paper uses national statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to examine the major trends that can affect their participation in education and employment. Based on this broader definition of wellbeing, young people are generally disability-free and rate their state of health as "excellent", "very good" or "good". However, there are some concerning trends in their wellbeing over time; for instance, one in four young people suffers from a mental health disorder and over 30% are overweight or obese. This paper also analyses the responses of LSAY participants interviewed between 1995 and 2006 to explore how subjective wellbeing changes during the transition from school to work, and finds evidence of notable changes to the average life satisfaction ratings of the cohort between ages 16 to 25. The period between their late teens and early 20s is a particularly happy time for young people. They are finishing school and embarking on early work experiences or post-school study. The majority of them are still living at home and enjoying their social lives. This is also a time when young people's satisfaction with their future and their level of independence begin to grow. By age 25, young people are less happy with their social life, home life, and career prospects and work. This may be related to unmet expectations or not having a satisfying career. Data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey indicate that this downward trend in life satisfaction continues beyond age 25. Previous research on the relationship between education, employment and wellbeing is summarised and we discuss some of the measures of wellbeing, particularly those used in LSAY. This discussion highlights the need for further work on definitions of wellbeing and the development of a consistent framework for measuring this complex construct. (Contains 3 tables, 11 figures and 6 footnotes.)

During the recent economic downturn, media and industry reports of skill shortages in the trades continued to appear. The intent of this paper is to examine the evidence for skill shortages in the trades persisting during the economic downturns over the last 20 years, using various indicators. These include employment growth, vacancy rates, unemployment rates, apprentice completions and occupational mobility. This paper contains the following key messages: (1) There is no evidence of persistent skill shortages during downturns in the construction, automotive and engineering trades, and unconvincing evidence of persistent shortages in the electrotechnology and telecommunications trades, the food trades and hairdressing; (2) Declining numbers of apprenticeship completions account for much of the persistent shortage in the electrotechnology and telecommunications trades during the 1990s and 2000s, but apprenticeship completions (expressed as a proportion of employment) for this trade have now recovered to pre-1992 levels. If recent completion numbers are maintained, it should be possible to avoid future skill shortages; and (3) Very high job churn creates the perception of persistent skill shortages in the food trades and in hairdressing. Many food tradespersons and hairdressers swap employers but remain in their occupation. Two appendices are included. (Contains 22 tables, 21 figures and 4 footnotes.)

Despite significant improvements in the areas of education and employment, the gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth remain. Across some indicators--for example, university participation--the gap has actually widened. This is mainly because improvements for non-Indigenous young people have matched or surpassed the gains made by Indigenous young people. Governments at both federal and state levels are striving to improve Indigenous people's educational attainment and employment participation. The consistently lower scores in reading and maths assessments achieved by Indigenous youth have meant that improving their performance in literacy and numeracy has become one of the key target areas on the national agenda to assist in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), this briefing paper explores the impact of literacy and numeracy levels on the educational gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. The paper focuses on the early post-school outcomes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people between 1999 and 2007. Appendices include: (1) Measuring the Gap; and (2) Additional Table. (Contains 11 tables and 3 footnotes.)

Apprentice and trainee data are reported by the state and territory training authorities to the National Centre for Vocational Education and Training (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 are the numbers of contracts of training that commence, complete, cancel/withdraw, recommence, 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. 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 accumulate; (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, 8 figures and 1 footnote.) [This paper is an updated version of the "Estimation of Apprentice and Trainee Statistics. Technical Paper" report. For the original paper, see ED510131.]

To what extent do local governments use vocational education and training as a staff retention strategy? Human resources personnel from a selection of councils around Australia believed that a lack of career development or training opportunities might cause an employee to leave their organisation. They had some reservations about the quality and value of VET, but planned to continue to use it for staff development as it is the most widely available option. This paper is by a novice researcher from the Community of Practice program, which is part of NCVER's Building Researcher Capacity initiatives. The research for this paper was undertaken while the author worked as National Workforce Development Advisor at Government Skills Australia. The paper investigates the extent to which local government councils offer vocational education and training as a strategy to retain their employees. The study comprised interviews with key human resource personnel in 14 councils around Australia, as well as an analysis of council records on staff training and turnover. Appended are: (1) Interview questions; and (2) Turnover data analysis by council. (Contains 9 tables and 10 footnotes.)

There are many factors which might cause a student to drop out of a course of study; some of these are preventable. This paper describes the piloting of a survey tool designed to identify students at risk of not completing. Attendance was found to be the strongest predictor of module completion; low or declining scores on the survey were also predictive of students dropping out. The research for this paper was undertaken by a novice researcher in the Community of Practice Scholarship Program, which is funded through National Centre for Vocational Education Research's (NCVER's) Building Researcher Capacity initiative. Appended are: (1) Defining completion; (2) Surveys; (3) Comments from student surveys; and (4) Correlation values--survey scores (all measures). (Contains 5 tables, 7 figures, and 6 footnotes.)

In the year to February 2002, one in every five of the 9.8 million people who worked in Australia experienced at least one job separation. This paper looks at the determinants of job separation within a stayer/mover framework using individual-level data for Australia. Conditional on job separation the paper also investigates the determinants of job-to-job turnover (differentiated by occupation) and job-to-joblessness turnover (unemployment and exit from the labour force). The results show the importance of the normal demographic variables (age, gender, immigrant status and place of residence) but also qualifications and other labour market variables (hours of work, reason for job separation) for explaining turnover behaviour. Appended are: (1) mathematical description of the logit model and that of calculating the marginal effect; and (2) tables and figures. (Contains 10 tables, 13 figures and 8 footnotes.)

In March 1997, all State, Territory and Commonwealth education ministers agreed on the national goal: that every child leaving primary school should be numerate and able to read, write and spell at an appropriate level. To provide focus for this goal, ministers also agreed to a sub-goal: that every child commencing school from 1998 will achieve a minimum acceptable literacy and numeracy standard within four years. To help support the achievement of these goals, ministers agreed to the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan, the essential features of which are: (1) early assessment and intervention for students at risk of not achieving minimum required standards; (2) development of national benchmarks for each of years 3, 5 and 7; (3) assessment of student progress against these benchmarks; (4) national reporting of benchmark data, and (5) professional development for teachers. Education authorities in all States and Territories, assisted by the Commonwealth, have been engaged in implementing these elements of the plan since its formulation. This paper concerns the national reporting of benchmark data for 2007 and follows on from earlier editions of the "National Report on Schooling in Australia," which published data for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The publications reflect the continuing development of the benchmark reporting process. This 2007 edition also provides data on the performance of students in metropolitan, provincial, remote and very remote areas. In each State and Territory, students' school locations are categorised using the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) Geographical Location Classification, and procedures closely related to the approaches of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. From 2005, States and Territories commenced collecting information on student socioeconomic background through school enrolment processes. Preliminary data from this collection approach has indicated there is a relatively low response rate from parents/care-givers. Information about student socioeconomic background will be published in the relevant chapter of the full "National Report on Schooling in Australia." (Contains 36 tables and 12 figures.) [For "National Report on Schooling in Australia, 2006. Preliminary Paper. National Benchmark Results Reading, Writing and Numeracy Years 3, 5 and 7," see ED534692.]

Taking a gap year--a break between high school and university--is becoming increasingly popular with Australian students. In terms of length and purpose, the traditional notion of a gap year being a year off between school and university has expanded considerably over time. For the purposes of the analysis reported in this paper, a person who takes a gap year is defined as "an individual who commenced university one to two years after completing Year 12. This includes those who accept and defer their university placement for one to two years" (Curtis, Mlotkowski & Lumsden 2012). Highlights of this report include: (1) In Australia the incidence of taking a gap year has increased from 10% in the period 1999-2000 to 24% in 2009-10; (2) The top four primary activities undertaken by gap students in 2009-10 were work (51%), full-time study leading to a non-university qualification (10%), other study (6%), and travel (6%); (3) Characteristics of gap-takers include: (a) being academically less inclined than non-gap-takers; (b) living in regional locations when at school; (c) having English speaking backgrounds; (d) being employed when in Year 12 at school; and (e) being less likely to receive Youth Allowance payments while at school; (4) In their first year of university, gap-takers are more likely to study in the areas of education and creative arts; and (5) Those who don't take a gap year are substantially more likely at age 24 to be employed full-time and to work in professional occupations than gap-takers. Much of this difference can be attributed to the fact that, in terms of their careers, gap-takers are a year or two behind those who don't take a gap year. The data do not allow the authors to measure the longer-term outcomes of both groups because the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) stops at age 25. Appended are: (1) Gap year definitions; and (2) LSAY cohorts sample sizes and durations. (Contains 13 tables.) [For "Bridging the Gap: Who Takes a Gap Year and Why? Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. Research Report," see ED533077.]

In March 1997, all State, Territory and Commonwealth education ministers agreed on the national goal: that every child leaving primary school should be numerate and able to read, write and spell at an appropriate level. To provide focus for this goal, ministers agreed to a sub-goal: that every child commencing school from 1998 will achieve a minimum acceptable literacy and numeracy standard within four years. To help support the achievement of these goals, ministers agreed to the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan, the essential features of which are: (1) early assessment and intervention for students at risk of not achieving minimum required standards; (2) development of national benchmarks for each of years 3, 5, and 7; (3) assessment of student progress against these benchmarks; (4) national reporting of benchmark data, and (5) professional development for teachers. Education authorities in all States and Territories, assisted by the Commonwealth, have been engaged in implementing these elements of the plan since its formulation. This paper concerns the national reporting of benchmark data for 2006 and follows on from earlier editions of the "National Report on Schooling in Australia," which published data for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. The publications reflect the continuing development of the benchmark reporting process. This 2006 edition also provides data on the performance of students in metropolitan, provincial, remote and very remote areas. In each State and Territory, students' school locations are categorised using the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) Geographical Location Classification, and procedures closely related to the approaches of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In this 2006 edition, results for the performance of Indigenous students by geolocation are reported for the first time. (Contains 30 tables and 12 figures.) [For "National Report on Schooling in Australia, 2005. Preliminary Paper. National Benchmark Results Reading, Writing and Numeracy Years 3, 5 and 7," see ED534693.]

Following the collapse of the US investment bank Lehmann Brothers in September 2008, the world economy began a downward spiral, with many countries falling into recession. Australia experienced significant stock market losses and unemployment rates began to climb. This briefing paper considers how young people fared in previous downturns and discusses how structural labour market changes over the past 20 years have affected young people this time around. It also looks at the qualitative evidence from respondents in the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), exploring common themes in how they perceived the economic downturn had affected their work and study intentions in 2009. The author finds that, although Australia experienced a relatively mild downturn, young people bore almost the entire weight of the full-time job decline (including apprenticeships), and a disproportionate share of the increase in unemployment. Those unable to find a job or who have been made redundant are at risk of remaining unemployed for a significant time, with potential longer-term scarring effects. Recent structural changes to the labour market, such as rising educational participation, appear to provide some protection for young people. However, full-time work for 15 to 19-year-olds has become even more concentrated in industries more sensitive to economic changes such as building and construction, and retail. Calculation of Impact of Change in Employment is appended. (Contains 8 tables, 16 figures and 2 footnotes.)

In recent times social capital has received considerable attention because it is seen as having the potential to address many of the problems facing modern society, including the poor educational outcomes of considerable numbers of young people. This paper uses data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) to explore the relationship between social capital at age 15 and participation in education and training at age 17. The issue is whether social capital is yet another factor which advantages the already advantaged, or whether social capital operates separately from family background. Findings reveal that social capital influences educational participation "over and above" the effects of background characteristics such as parents' education levels, parental occupation, geographic location, cultural background, school sector and academic achievement. For both males and females, participation in a diverse range of activities has the greatest influence on participation in education and training, followed by the strength of the relationship students have with their teachers. Increasing rates of participation in sport also increase educational participation for females. The authors note that, if anything, the findings underestimate the net effects of social capital because the results cannot fully account for the accumulation of social capital prior to the age of 15. The finding that social capital matters for school education is a very positive one. It implies that activities that promote and encourage engagement at school can go some way to redressing economic and social disadvantage. Appended are: (1) Factor analysis; (2) Distribution of social capital; (3) Logistic regression (1); (4) Logistic regression (2); and (5) Distribution of social capital by academic orientation. (Contains 10 tables, 12 figures and 6 footnotes.)

This paper was originally developed to help the Training and Skills Commission in South Australia consider the pathways between elements of the vocational education and training (VET) system, how they are working and what improvements can be made. It has been revised to make it national in scope. The authors reveal that quite substantial numbers of VET graduates go on to university level study or further study within VET itself. Significant numbers of university graduates also go on to study in VET. However, not all VET graduates choose to study at a higher level; a substantial proportion of students going on to further study do so at the same or lower level. This suggests that entitlement models need to consider horizontal (skills broadening) as well as vertical (only qualifications at a higher level) in their funding mix. Additional data tables are appended. (Contains 13 tables and 2 footnotes.)

Migration patterns to and from Australia are becoming complex with migration programmes increasingly targeted towards meeting the needs of the labour market and regional development. This paper provides an analysis of the permanent and temporary movements of people to and from Australia in the last three years and their impact on the skilled labour supply in Australia. The paper also provides an analysis of occupational mobility of permanent immigrants. The results are consistent with previously published results of initial downward occupational mobility among immigrants. The consequence of this is wastage of skills which the country can least afford in times of reported skills shortages. Skills wastage can be minimised by making available to newly arrived immigrants appropriate programmes for recognising previously acquired qualifications and occupational licenses; updating occupation-specific skills; and providing up-to-date information on the labour market and its operation. In this respect, the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) system in Australia is uniquely placed to play a key role. (Contains 7 footnotes, 1 figure, and 21 tables.)

In March 1997, all State, Territory and Commonwealth education ministers agreed on the national goal: that every child leaving primary school should be numerate and able to read, write and spell at an appropriate level. To provide focus for this goal, ministers agreed to a sub-goal: that every child commencing school from 1998 will achieve a minimum acceptable literacy and numeracy standard within four years. To help support the achievement of these goals, ministers agreed to the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan, the essential features of which are: (1) early assessment and intervention for students at risk of not achieving minimum required standards; (2) development of national benchmarks for each of years 3, 5, and 7; (3) assessment of student progress against these benchmarks; (4) national reporting of benchmark data, and (5) professional development for teachers. Education authorities in all States and Territories, assisted by the Commonwealth, have been engaged in implementing these elements of the plan since its formulation. This paper concerns the national reporting of benchmark data for 2005 and follows on from earlier editions of the "National Report on Schooling in Australia," which published data for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The publications reflect the continuing development of the benchmark reporting process. This 2005 edition also provides data on the performance of students in metropolitan, provincial, remote and very remote areas. In each State and Territory, students' school locations are categorised using the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) Geographical Location Classification, and procedures closely related to the approaches of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. (Contains 30 tables and 12 figures.) [For "National Report on Schooling in Australia, 2004. Preliminary Paper. National Benchmark Results Reading, Writing and Numeracy Years 3, 5 and 7," see ED534694.]

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. NCVER publishes data on 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. Due to time delays in reporting data on the status of contracts to NCVER, the most recent data are estimated. The purpose of this technical paper is to document the adjustments that are made to the estimates at each collection, and produce a cumulative document of these adjustments, commencing at Collection 60, June 2009 estimates. (Contains 12 figures.) [For the accompanying report, "Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: Apprentices and Trainees. Annual, 2009", see ED510873.]

Apprentice and trainee data are reported by the State and Territory Training Authorities to NCVER (National Centre for Vocational Education Research) 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. 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. Throughout the main text of this document data for New South Wales commencements and expired contracts are used as examples to illustrate the concepts being discussed. Supporting data is appended. A glossary is included. (Contains 4 tables and 8 figures.) [For the accompanying report, "Apprentices and Trainees: December Quarter, 2009", see ED510135.]

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. NCVER publishes data on 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. Due to time delays in reporting data on the status of contracts to NCVER, the most recent data are estimated. The purpose of this technical paper is to document the adjustments that are made to the estimates at each collection, and produce a cumulative document of these adjustments, commencing at Collection 60, June 2009 estimates. (Contains 6 figures.) [For the accompanying report, "Apprentices and Trainees: September Quarter 2009," see ED508817.]

This paper investigates change in employer satisfaction with vocational education and training (VET) between the years 2005 and 2009. Employer satisfaction was measured using the Survey of Employer Use and Views of the VET System, conducted biennially since 2005. Key measures from the survey are employer satisfaction with: vocational qualifications as a job requirement; apprentices and trainees; and nationally recognised training. To determine whether the distribution of responding employers accounts for the large differences in survey estimates, employer satisfaction is modelled taking into account the size and industry of responding employers. Appended are: (1) Differences in the survey estimates; and (2) Regression results. (Contains 11 tables and 3 figures.)

This technical paper examines some large and unusual movements for data in the 2007 VET (Vocational Education Training) Provider Collection by comparison with 2006. Changes in the patterns of courses undertaken explain most of the divergence between students, enrolments and hours. Appendices include: (1) Derivation of the decomposition; (2) Tables of enrolment growth and its effects--2006-2007; and (3) Reporting hours and enrolments for common, new and ceased modules by state. (Contains 48 tables and 1 footnote.) [This work has been produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments with funding provided through the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relation.]

In 2015, for the first time in its history, PISA (the Programme for International Student Assessment) asked teachers to describe the various aspects of their working environment and teaching practices. This paper examines how teacher, student, and school characteristics are related to science teachers' satisfaction in 19 PISA-participating countries and economies. The findings show that the most satisfied science teachers tend to be those who are initially motivated to become teachers. The results also highlight the positive relationship between science teachers' satisfaction and teacher collaboration, good disciplinary climate in science classes, availability of school resources, and the opportunity to participate in professional-development activities.

This paper investigates large differences in employer satisfaction with vocational education and training (VET) between 2005 and 2007. Employer satisfaction was measured using the Survey of Employer Use and Views of the VET System, which was first conducted in 2005 and repeated in 2007. It measures employer satisfaction with vocational qualifications as a job requirement, apprentices and trainees, and nationally recognised training. Differences in weighted estimates of employer satisfaction were examined in light of sample sizes and the distribution of employers' responses to the survey. A model-based approach to estimation was used, which accounted for the relationship between satisfaction and the size and industry of the employer. Key findings included: (1) In three out of five cases, the large differences in employer satisfaction between years were found to be real and not as a result of the structure of the sample; (2) In the remaining two cases, the differences in employer satisfaction were found not to be significant. This suggested that the structure of the sample had the potential to reveal differences that did not hold up under closer scrutiny; and (3) Survey estimates of large differences between years need to be treated with some caution and a model-based approach to estimation provides a tool to give assurance that large differences are real and not a result of peculiarities in the sample. An appendix, comprising the majority of the report, provides the regression results. (Contains 7 tables.) [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.]

Lower-level qualifications (certificate I and II programs) provide little or no immediate return to the individual in terms of increased wages. However, lower-level qualifications are intended to prepare students who would otherwise not be capable of enrolling in and completing a higher-level qualification or making a successful transition into the workplace, because of their ability, social circumstances, or previous educational experiences. The aim of this report is to test whether lower-level qualifications serve a broader purpose by functioning as a "stepping stone" to further study or into the labour market. The critical part of the methodology is the selection of the comparison group. Using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), the research matches certificate I and II graduates to other young people who share similar characteristics but who have neither completed nor are undertaking study or training at a higher level. The report compares their further study, training, employment and overall wellbeing outcomes two years after graduation and at age 26. The findings do not relate to certificate I or II qualifications completed as part of an apprenticeship or traineeship. Appended are: (1) Characteristics of certificate I and II students; and (2) Statistical methodology. (Contains 19 tables.)

This report reviews the use of loans for learning in 33 European countries and analyses the schemes in eight selected Member States: France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Finland, Sweden and the UK. The analysis shows that loan schemes vary considerably across Europe in terms of types and levels of learning covered, conditions of access, repayment and governance. Some loans aim to increase participation in learning in general, while others are designed to promote equity. The report attempts to assess the selected loans and discusses their strengths and weaknesses and determinants of performance, while considering if a given scheme operates on a large scale or targets niche groups. The evaluation results provide a basis for identifying good practice principles for designing and implementing loans. Policy recommendations are formulated based on these findings. Annexed are: (1) Methodology; (2) Key terms and definitions; (3) Information on countries/schemes selected for in-depth analysis; (4) Proposed typologies of VET loan schemes; (5) Tables and figures; (6) Tosmana truth tables; (7) Questionnaires; (8) Basic characteristics of non-European loan schemes. (Contains 37 tables, 5 figures, 20 boxes and 33 footnotes.)

This research used a survey to investigate the attitudes of people with a disability towards undertaking training. The findings show very positive attitudes towards training by participants and, although the ability to generalise to the wider population is limited, one thing is clear: generally, people with a disability are willing to undertake vocational education and training (VET) and consider it a good option in helping them find employment. Some factors affected attitudes more than others, including level of school-based education; highest qualification level completed; whether people had single or multiple disabilities; and, to some extent, gender. (Contains 10 tables and 1 footnote.)

Apprentice and trainee data are reported by the State and Territory Training Authorities to 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. NCVER publishes data on 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. Due to time delays in reporting data on the status of contracts to NCVER, the most recent data are estimated. This technical note provides a cumulative record of the adjustment notes relevant for the estimation of apprentice and trainee figures at each collection. This document commences with the adjustment note for Collection 64 (June 2010 estimates used to produce the March quarter 2010 publication). (Contains 15 figures.) [This is a support document for "Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: Apprentices and Trainees, March Quarter 2010"]

This paper provides an analysis of revenue for and expenditure on Australian education institutions. It includes a review of funding from public and private sources and from overseas. Analyses are made for education as a whole and for the major sectors: schools, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education. Estimates are considered in current and constant prices. Analysis is made of changes in expenditure per student or hour of training. Consideration is given to non-institutional expenditures including student assistance and employer expenditures. In the last few years expenditures on educational institutions have grown in real terms by about 2 per cent per annum. Private expenditure and expenditure by overseas students have grown faster than public expenditure, though part of the expansion of private expenditures has been financed by government, such as grants to non-government institutions and advances to support the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). Most of the additional resources for education have gone to schooling. On average, both government and non-government schools have experienced continuing substantial growth in real expenditure per student. The total real resources in VET in 2001 were about the same as in 1997 but hours of training had increased by about 4 per cent per annum. There are various ways in which efficiencies have been pursued to offset the effects of the apparent reduction in resources per hour. An increased proportion of expenditure in this period went to non-TAFE (Technical and Further Education) providers and, as with universities, there was a reduction in the share of expenditure on personnel. In higher education there has been little growth in publicly funded Australian student numbers in recent years and a small decline in real public funding per student. The most notable changes are the continued growth in the proportion of the public expenditures funded through HECS and the expansion in fee paying overseas students and Australian students in postgraduate courses. The decline in staffing ratios in higher education is significantly larger than the decline in funding per student. The gap is a matter for further analysis. An appendix, The Nature of the VET Financial Data, is included. (Contains 9 footnotes and 32 tables.)

This project, conducted by the Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) during 2003, set out to investigate the relationship between innovation and the provision of appropriate education and training in regional Australia. The project was designed as a pilot study with two main purposes: (1) To test whether and how the issues could be investigated, with the aim of using the findings as a basis for larger and more comprehensive studies in the future; and (2) To collect and analyse information about innovation and the provision of relevant education and training in some specific regions that would advance understanding of the major concerns and issues, both within the particular area and more generally in regional Australia. The Gannawarra Shire of northern Victoria was chosen for this pilot study because contacts made in the Shire indicated considerable support for investigating the issues and offered opportunities for access to local government, enterprises and training providers. Preliminary discussions and examination of published material also indicated substantial innovation in the region. The project comprised a search for sources of information about the Gannawarra region including geography, population, industries and employment; analysis of this material to gain an understanding of the major characteristics of the region; consultations with relevant people and organisations within and outside the region; and a survey of individuals and enterprises on the Gannawarra Business Register. Opportunities for presenting the preliminary and final survey results within the Shire to local enterprises and training providers enabled the findings to be discussed and contributed to ongoing refinement of the conclusions. Key findings include: (1) Considerable innovation is occurring in the industries and enterprises of Gannawarra, contributing to changes in the types of training being sought; (2) A balance of formal and informal provision of education and training in Gannawarra, although further investigation is recommended to determine that the balance is optimal to needs; and (3) Establishment of Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) by the Victorian Government has been successful in strengthening relationships between educational providers, communities and industry in Gannawarra. Two attachments are included: (1) Regional Development, Skill Needs and Training Questionnaire; and (2) Initiatives of the LLENs in Gannawarra Shire. (Contains 10 figures and 40 tables.)

The Career Interest Test (third edition) is a 63-item forced choice and individually administered instrument of 7 vocational interest categories: Outdoor, Practical, Scientific, Creative, Business, Office, and People Contact. The test is designed for use in vocational contexts as a practical guide to educational and vocational planning. The item content has been revised from the 1988 edition and subsequent revisions. The Career Interest Test is now made freely available. Descriptive data on some 900 Australian high school students and occupational data are available together with information relating to the reliability and concurrent validity of the results. This manual replaces the earlier version. (Contains 12 tables, 6 figures, and 16 references.) (Author/SLD)

This study used Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey data to assess changes in child poverty in Australia between 1982 and 1995-96. The findings suggest a dramatic one-third drop in before-housing child poverty during this period, largely as a result of the very substantial increases in government cash payments to low-income families with children. However, while there have been sharp falls in poverty among dependent children, poverty rates among 15- to 18-year-olds who have left the parental home or who are still living at home but not in full-time study have increased very sharply. In addition, the after-housing poverty rate has changed little, apparently due to a compositional shift in the types of family in after-housing poverty. (Author)

An exploratory study was the first part of an extensive study of retention in vocational education and training (VET) modules in Australia. These four major categorical variables were used to explore patterns in the withdrawal rate: year, gender, state/territory, and area of study/discipline. Withdrawal rates declined significantly from 1995-97. The rate at which males and females failed to complete modules differed by slightly less than 1 percent. Differences among states and territories were quite marked--from a withdrawal rate of just over 4 percent in South Australia to more than 21 percent in the Australian Capital Territory. Area of study also greatly affected withdrawal. Differences varied from a low 8.3 percent in Built Environment to a high 18.1 percent for Humanities. Data showed a significant inverse relationship between withdrawal rates for males and females across disciplines. Females had withdrawal rates higher than males in states where withdrawal rates were relatively low; this reversed in states where withdrawal rates are relatively high. A range of methods were explored to understand the interactions among these four variables: hierarchical breakdown analyses; additive analyses (analysis of variance, logit analysis, iterative fits); and weighted net percentage difference analyses. It was found that gender played a role in withdrawal rates only through its mediation by other variables, and that discipline had an important role. (Contains 16 references, 14 tables, and 9 figures.) (YLB)

The relationship between prior educational attainment and participation in formal and On-the-Job Training (OJT) in Australia was examined through an analysis of unit record data from the 1993 Survey of Training and Education that was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Univariate analyses were performed to document employee participation by level of educational attainment in three different types of training activities: external training, in-house training, and OJT. Multivariate analyses were then conducted to separate the effect of educational attainment from other variables (for example, age and occupation) that might affect training participation. Educational attainment was found to have a significant impact on employee participation in both formal and on-the-job training. Low levels of participation in training were particularly evident for individuals who had not completed secondary school and who held no postschool educational qualifications. Females, individuals in the 30-44 age bracket, individuals born in Australia or other English-speaking countries, individuals with their current employer for fewer than 3 years, individuals working in the public sector, and full-time employees in nonmetropolitan rural locations were most likely to participate in training. (Five tables and two graphs constitute approximately 50% of this document. (Contains 16 references.) (MN)

This combination report/guide summarizes practical "how-to" information on the development and operation of national training boards that was gathered in a series of case studies of the effectiveness of national training boards in Canada, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom and in studies of training boards in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, and South Africa. The introductory chapter describes the research on which the guide is based, discusses common themes affecting the quality of training in the countries studied, and examines the rationale for training programs. Chapter 2 summarizes the subsequent discussion of the effectiveness of national training boards in the form of a checklist and guidelines for use by countries considering establishing a national training board. Chapters 3-9 synthesize research findings into practical recommendations dealing with the following aspects of initiating and operating national training boards: enabling legislation, training board composition, training board structure, financial resources, delivery of training, institutional planning and operations, and testing and certification. Chapters 10 and 11, which are more analytical than the chapters preceding them, examine the perception and images of national training boards and lessons learned from the case studies. Contains 59 references. (MN)

The combination of work and study has been hailed as crucial to ensure that youth develop the skills required on the labour market so that transitions from school to work are shorter and smoother. This paper fills an important gap in availability of internationally-comparable data. Using the 2012 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), it draws a comprehensive picture of work and study in 23 countries/regions. Crucially, it decomposes the total share of working students by the context in which they work (VET [vocational education and training], apprenticeships or private arrangements) and assesses the link between field of study and students' work. The paper also assesses how the skills of students are used in the workplace compared to other workers and identifies the socio-demographic factors and the labour market institutions that increase the likelihood of work and study. Finally, while it is not possible to examine the relationship between work and study and future labour market outcomes at the individual level, some aggregate correlations are unveiled.

This paper presents the first results of a project initiated in 2004 by the OECD in collaboration with Eurostat and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and aimed at developing a regular and internationally comparable production system of indicators on the careers and mobility of doctorate holders. A first data collection was launched in September 2005, from which the results for seven countries are presented here. These data shed light on the main demographic, educational, labour market and mobility patterns of doctoral graduates. They also mark some progress in the understanding of both the measurement issues and patterns of international mobility, notably by the use of qualitative indicators such as the intentions or reasons for mobility. The results show in particular that the share of doctorate holders in the population or labour force is two or three times larger in Germany and Switzerland than in Australia, Canada and the United States. In these five countries, women represent only one-quarter to one-third of doctorate holders. The United States has an older population of doctorate holders than the other countries analysed in the paper and this population is still aging, as is also the case in Canada. Unemployment rates of doctorate holders remain low, but are relatively higher in natural sciences and in engineering. There are important salary differences between men and women and across sectors, especially in the United States. In the United States, as well as in Portugal and Argentina, salary is one of the main reasons why doctoral graduates are dissatisfied with their employment situation. There is a high share of foreign doctorate holders in Switzerland and also a higher share of foreign-born doctorate holders in Canada and Australia than in the United States. Many foreigners, however, come to work to the United States having been trained for research abroad and this trend has grown stronger in recent years. On the other hand, very few doctorate holders from the United States are internationally mobile. Among mobile young Canadian citizens, three-quarters choose the United States as their next destination. (Data tables are annexed. Contains 4 footnotes, 13 figures, 1 chart and 35 tables.)

This technical paper examines the issue of attrition bias in two cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), based on an analysis using data from 1995 to 2002. Data up to 2002 provided eight years of information on members of the Y95 cohort and five years of information on members of the Y98 cohort. This study suggests that researchers using the LSAY data sets can be confident that the post-stratification and attrition weights ensure that the remaining sample members represent the population from which they were selected. If comparisons are to be made with concurrent data--such as a comparison between Year 12 completion rates in LSAY and apparent retention rates published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics--then researchers are advised to explain how the results differ and why they are not expected to be the same. Such an approach recognises the design of LSAY and the limitations of using LSAY for point-in-time estimates. A list of tables representing the numbers of sample members interviewed and attrition rates is appended. (Contains 6 footnotes, 15 tables, and 7 figures.)

The "Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education" were developed and adopted to support and encourage international cooperation and enhance the understanding of the importance of quality provision in cross-border higher education. The purposes of the "Guidelines" are to protect students and other stakeholders from low-quality provision and disreputable providers (that is, degree and accreditation mills) as well as to encourage the development of quality cross-border higher education that meets human, social, economic and cultural needs. The "Guidelines" are not legally binding and member countries are expected to implement them as appropriate in their national context. Based on a survey about the main recommendations of the "Guidelines", this report monitors the extent to which Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and a few non-member countries comply with its recommendations. The Survey was sent out in June 2010 to all OECD countries. The main conclusion of the survey is that (responding) countries report a high level of compliance with the Guidelines recommendations. On average, responding OECD countries conform to 72% of the main recommendations made to governments, tertiary education institutions, and quality assurance and accreditation agencies. The level of compliance decreases to 67% when recommendations to student bodies are included, but the level of missing information, and thus uncertainty about actual compliance, increases significantly. Appended are: (1) Country Overview of Compliance Levels with the Guidelines for Different Stakeholders; (2) Country Overview of Compliance Levels with Six Key Objectives of the Guidelines; (3) Methodology; (4) Country Answers to the Survey; (5) Overview of National Contact Points; and (6) Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education. (Contains 2 tables, 12 figures and 1 footnote.)

In March 1997, all State, Territory and Commonwealth education ministers agreed on the national goal: that every child leaving primary school should be numerate and able to read, write and spell at an appropriate level. To provide focus for this goal, ministers agreed to a sub-goal: that every child commencing school from 1998 will achieve a minimum acceptable literacy and numeracy standard within four years. To help support the achievement of these goals, ministers agreed to the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan, the essential features of which are: (1) early assessment and intervention for students at risk of not achieving minimum required standards; (2) development of national benchmarks for each of years 3, 5, and 7; (3) assessment of student progress against these benchmarks; (4) national reporting of benchmark data, and (5) professional development for teachers. Education authorities in all States and Territories, assisted by the Commonwealth, have been engaged in implementing these elements of the plan since its formulation. This paper concerns the national reporting of benchmark data for 2004 and follows on from earlier editions of the National Report, which published data for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. The publications reflect the continuing development of the benchmark reporting process. This 2004 edition also provides data on the performance of students in metropolitan, provincial, remote and very remote areas. In each State and Territory, students' school locations are categorised using the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) Geographical Location Classification, and procedures closely related to the approaches of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. (Contains 33 tables and 18 figures.)

An epidemic of obesity has been developing in virtually all OECD countries over the last 30 years. Existing evidence provides strong suggestions that such epidemic has affected certain social groups more than others. In particular, education appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of obesity, especially among women. A range of analyses of health survey data from Australia, Canada, England and Korea were undertaken with the aim of exploring the relationship between education and obesity. The findings of these analyses show a broadly linear relationship between the number of years spent in full-time education and the probability of obesity, with most educated individuals displaying lower rates of the condition (the only exception being men in Korea). This suggests that marginal returns to education, in terms of reduction in obesity rates, are approximately constant throughout the education spectrum. The findings obtained confirm that the education gradient in obesity is stronger in women than in men. Differences between genders are minor in Australia and Canada, more pronounced in England and major in Korea. The causal nature of the link between education and obesity has not yet been proven with certainty; however, using data from France we were able to ascertain that the direction of causality appears to run mostly from education to obesity, as the strength of the association is only minimally affected when accounting for reduced educational opportunities for those who are obese in young age. Most of the effect of education on obesity is direct. Small components of the overall effect of education on obesity are mediated by an improved socio-economic status linked to higher levels of education, and by a higher level of education of other family members, associated with an individual's own level of education. The positive effect of education on obesity is likely to be determined by at least three factors: (a) greater access to health-related information and proved ability to handle such information; (b) clearer perception of the risks associated with lifestyle choices; and, (c) improved self-control and consistency of preferences over time. However, it is not just the absolute level of education achieved by an individual that matters, but also how such level of education compares with that of the individual's peers. The higher the individual's education relative to his or her peers, the lower is the probability of the individual being obese. (Contains 3 tables and 10 figures.)