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This publication provides a summary of the outcomes of apprentices and trainees aged 15 years or over who undertook an apprenticeship or traineeship during 2022. It includes those who completed an apprenticeship or traineeship (completers) and those who cancelled or withdrew (non-completers). The figures are derived from the 2023 National Student Outcomes Survey. Information is presented on apprentices' and trainees' reasons for training, reasons for non-completion, employment outcomes, further study outcomes and satisfaction with the apprenticeship or traineeship. An apprentice or trainee is a person who undertakes a contract of training with an employer and a training provider.

This publication presents information on the vocational education and training (VET) undertaken by school students as part of their senior secondary certificate of education (SSCE). Students can undertake VET through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway, or other pathway. Highlights include: (1) In 2022, in Australia there were 242 945 VET in Schools students, consisting of: (a) 8.5% (or 20 765) school-based apprentices and trainees; and (b) 91.5% (or 222 180) students undertaking other VET in Schools programs; (2) An estimated 26.8% of the Australian population who were at school and aged 15 to 19 years participated in VET in Schools in 2022; and (3) In 2022, compared with 2021, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia decreased by 3.3%. Across a five year period, 2018 to 2022, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia increased by 5.3%.

The aim of this research was to identify the teaching practices and student support services that facilitate the successful online delivery of vocational education and training (VET), including in blended delivery. To achieve this, the research examined the characteristics of teaching approaches and student support services across eight qualifications delivered online, with these qualifications also representing diverse student cohorts (including apprentices and trainees), industry types and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels. Using information collected from interviews with 37 registered training organisations (RTOs) who deliver at least one of the eight case-study qualifications, it explored: (1) how teaching practices and student support services vary across the diverse VET system (that is, differing RTO type, student cohort, training type and industry) and across delivery mode (that is, blended and fully online delivery, synchronous and asynchronous delivery); and (2) the elements of VET that are being delivered online, including for apprentices and trainees. [For the support document, see ED628927.]

This publication provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, subjects and training providers in Australia's government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system, defined as all Commonwealth and state or territory government-funded training delivered by technical and further education (TAFE) institutes, other government providers (such as universities), private providers and community education providers. [For the 2020 report, see ED629480.]

This publication provides a summary of the outcomes of apprentices and trainees who completed an apprenticeship or traineeship during 2020. The figures are derived from the 2021 National Student Outcomes Survey. Information is presented on apprentices' and trainees' reasons for training, their employment outcomes, further study outcomes and satisfaction with the apprenticeship or traineeship. An apprentice or trainee is a person who undertakes a contract of training with an employer and a training provider. [For the previous survey report, see "Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: Apprentice and Trainee Destinations, 2010" (ED513950). For the support documents, see: (1) Terms and Definitions (ED620623); (2) Technical Notes (ED620619); and (3) Data Dictionary (ED620620).]

This publication provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, subjects and training providers in Australia's government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system, defined as all Commonwealth and state/territory government-funded training delivered by technical and further education (TAFE) institutes, other government providers (such as universities), private providers and community education providers. [For the 2019 report, see ED600838.]

There is a lack of distinction and definition around how the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia might effectively recruit and retain suitably qualified teachers, trainers and assessors. The logic is clear: in order to enable and develop an immediate pool of competent and qualified workers for new and developing industries, as well as develop the skills and knowledge of workers in the stalwarts of Australian industry, such as the mining, building, finance and service industries, particular talented individuals are required. This is a requirement for a dynamic training environment that is also impacted by, for example, the internet of things, the diversity of learners and the consequences of an aging population. In order to make sense of the VET landscape and the demand for VET practitioners, the following literature review firstly provides a snapshot of the current state of the VET workforce and the changing industry climate in Australia. It then considers some of the factors that appear to be barriers or 'stumbling blocks' to recruiting teachers and trainers into vocational education and training. This is followed by examination of some of the incentives that have been adopted in other countries in an effort to boost their VET workforces, and exploration of other strategies that might help to increase the number of educators and to retain their services. [For the research report "Attracting Industry Experts to Become VET Practitioners: A Journey, Not a Destination. Research Report," see ED615947.]

There is general consensus that vocational education and training (VET) faces a number of workforce problems, including the ageing of VET teachers, the high level of casualisation, the need to increase the capacity of trainers, and the maintenance of industry currency. These issues, along with the need for the VET sector to respond to critical national workforce development requirements, have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry experts, who are highly knowledgeable and experienced in their sector, are an underutilised resource as VET practitioners. Their knowledge and experience can provide rich information on up-to-date workplace skill needs, thus adding value and quality to the VET sector. The continuing debate associated with the minimum qualifications for VET practitioners and flexibility in entry points to the VET profession indicates that further input into innovative and practical solutions is required. Through interviews and surveys with registered training organisations (RTOs) and VET practitioners, this report explores approaches to attracting industry experts to become and remain VET practitioners. Drawing on findings from the research, the authors provide strategies for consideration by government, industry, regulators, RTOs and VET practitioners that can help the journey from industry expert to VET practitioner be more rewarding and productive. [For the supporting literature review "Attracting Industry Experts to Become VET Practitioners: Literature Review -- Support Document," see ED615948.]

This report explores, from a variety of perspectives, the volume and nature of recognition of prior learning (RPL) currently granted in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. Of particular interest are the areas where most RPL is taking place, including the qualifications being completed with high rates of RPL. The report also includes an analysis of the factors that most affect the likelihood of RPL being granted to a student. Over the last four years, the rate of RPL being granted has fallen. During this time, the completion of subjects through RPL has only represented a small proportion of all successful results. Some general trends are identified in the areas where the rate of RPL granted is higher. In 2018, a higher proportion of successfully completed subjects with an RPL result (7%) was found in training package qualifications, compared with less than 1% for any other program type. Significant differences in the granting of RPL among the Australian states and territories are evident. Between 2015 and 2018 the trends in granting RPL also differed between the states and territories, with some rising or falling, while others remained stable. The student perspective on the granting of RPL is also examined in the report. Overall, the student analysis found that no single element of a student's background or characteristics was a strong determinant in the granting of RPL. The overall analysis demonstrated that no single element stood out as a predictor of RPL being granted, with the results confirming that the granting of RPL relies on a complex interplay of factors. While some factors might be more likely to predict an RPL outcome than others, no one single factor can be relied upon to explain RPL outcomes.

This report examines whether a distinction can be made in Australian VET between initial vocational education and training (IVET) and continuing vocational education and training (CVET), as applies in a number of other countries. Assisting students to more effectively identify and undertake courses that will optimise their outcomes from VET is the major rationale for this investigation. The other objective of this research is to enhance our understanding of VET, enabling useful input into future policy development and implementation. This report covers the following: (1) a brief overview of key aspects of IVET and CVET internationally (with a focus on Europe) and commentary on the Australian context; (2) an outline of the context of the Australian VET system and the features pertinent to the IVET/CVET distinction; and (3) a summary of expert views in relation to six questions on the distinction between IVET and CVET.

The number of post-degree certificate and diploma programs offered by British Columbia (BC) post-secondary institutions, in addition to enrolment in graduate and first professional degrees, is perceived to have grown considerably over the past decade. This growth, however, has not been previously studied in a systematic manner. This study involved conducting a literature review, creating a taxonomy of current programming, analyzing available provincial data on program enrolments and offerings, and surveying all public provincial institutions about the reasons for the growth of these credentials. This project was designed: (1) To review the current array of post-degree programs offered in BC public post-secondary institutions; (2) To develop a taxonomy for classifying the range of programming; (3) To analyze trends in program and student characteristics; (4) To identify any issues that fall within the mandate of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer; and (5) To provide recommendations about implications for policy development and system-wide consistency in future. The findings of this study underscored some implications for the BC public post-secondary system, including areas for further attention. Of particular importance are the need for consistent terminology, as well as greater awareness of how federal immigration policy affects enrolment demand from international students in certain types of credentials.

The online delivery of training is well established in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, and it is not unusual for a course to include training that is delivered online in one or more units. However, little is known about the online delivery of entire qualifications in VET and how this works, given the overarching role of the competency-based training system in the sector. This research provides a contemporary view of how online learning is used to deliver complete qualifications in the Australian VET sector. It estimates the extent to which entire qualifications are delivered online, as well as investigates the nature of this online delivery and whether this training is providing students with a similar experience and outcomes to that of face-to-face training. The final element of this research identifies the factors that contribute to good practice in online delivery. Key messages include the following: (1) It is estimated that 8.6% of all VET program commencements in 2017 were in courses delivered fully online; (2) Online VET is characterised by higher subject withdrawal rates and lower course completion rates; (3) Higher subject withdrawals and course non-completion can be due to many factors, such as poor quality training, the delivery mode not suiting the student, issues with securing a work placement (if required), or the student lacking access to the necessary tools or technology to complete the course; (4) For those students who completed an online course, the outcomes were mixed but in general, comparable to other delivery modes; and (5) The attributes of good practice in online delivery include, a positive and supportive attitude, students with realistic expectations of the course and delivery mode on enrollment, well-structured, up-to-date and engaging resources, effective and accessible student support, and skilled and knowledgeable teachers and trainers.

This supporting document sets out the content analysis technique and detailed findings that underly part of the research conducted for the report titled "VET for secondary school students: acquiring an array of technical and non-technical skills." That report is the first in a set of studies that aims to understand the value of vocational education and training (VET) delivered to secondary school students. This supporting document reflects the detailed investigation of the extent to which training packages assist VET for secondary school students in the development of non-technical or generic skills. In this support document the authors provide detailed information on the findings of the content analysis technique they used to investigate the non-technical skills covered in selected training packages and Australian curriculum units reported on in the main report on "VET for secondary school students: acquiring an array of technical and non-technical skills." They describe the aims, method and processes for conducting the 'content analysis' and present the Skills Terminology Guide used to provide direction for the collection of the data. Also included are detailed findings of the content analysis of each of the training package qualifications investigated, the case studies of Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery, and Certificate IV and Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Engineering. [For the full research report "VET for Secondary School Students: Acquiring an Array of Technical and Non-Technical Skills. Research Report," see ED594428.]

The role of vocational education and training (VET) in preparing secondary school students for employment, further training and the changing world of work has long been a topic of interest among employers, educationalists and policymakers. More recent attention has also been on VET's role in assisting in the development of non-technical skills (for example, employability skills), with employer groups vocal about the need for potential employees possessing these skills. This study is one part of a larger program of research investigating whether VET programs delivered to secondary students add value to their post-school destinations. In this report, the authors explore whether VET undertaken by secondary students, and in some cases by post-school students, equips them with the skills (including the non-technical skills) required to successfully participate in an ever-changing world of work. To do this, the authors analysed the VET programs of secondary students over the last 20 years, focusing on the number and types of programs undertaken and the characteristics of the participating students. They also undertook a content analysis of the core units of qualifications in selected training packages to identify whether these facilitate the development of non-technical skills. Data on the numbers of secondary school students in these programs from 2003 onwards have been provided to the National VET in Schools Collection by the jurisdictional boards of studies, and these form the underlying data used in this report. Due to definitional issues and reporting pathways, these data are likely to underestimate the total number of secondary school students undertaking VET programs. [For the supporting document to this report, "VET for Secondary School Students: Acquiring an Array of Technical and Non-Technical Skills -- Support Document," see ED594430.]

Skill sets have become recognised as an important short form of training for the modern world of work. They are seen to have a variety of purposes, including upskilling, compliance and licensing, meeting a defined industry need and as an entry pathway to further training. An analysis of nationally recognised or training package skill sets forms the specific focus of this report. The investigation uses data from the National Register of VET and the National Provider Collection -- Total VET Activity. The report identifies how much training package skill set activity is occurring and where, with the findings indicating that activity is clustered around only a small number of skill sets and a small number of training packages.

Basic education is essential if societies and economies are to thrive and become sustainable in challenging times. However, many people have never had an opportunity to benefit from education and many others leave the initial phase of education without attaining the level of proficiency in literacy and numeracy needed to participate fully in society. The scale of the problem is large yet qualifications systems in many societies still limit their focus to qualifications acquired formally and do not offer opportunities for young people and adults to re-engage in learning pathways that have been interrupted. In order to avoid a significant loss of human potential, the non-formal and informal learning of young people and adults should be made visible and valued. Systems should be in place to ensure it is recognized, assessed and accredited. The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), in partnership with UNESCO's Section of Partnerships, Cooperation and Research, has undertaken a number of comprehensive analyses of policy and practice in this area, which have highlighted the need to focus on the recognition, validation and accreditation (RVA) of youth and adult basic education. This report summarizes the research and policy dialogue of an international expert group invited by UNESCO to three meetings in 2016. It focuses on three themes -- principles, policy and practice -- and provides examples of how the issue is being approached across the world. It offers 12 conclusions, based on the evidence considered by the expert group, and proposes a number of key messages for stakeholders in Member States, including policy-makers and the research community.

This publication presents information on VET in Schools, the vocational education and training (VET) undertaken by school students as part of their senior secondary certificate of education (SSCE). The VET in Schools arrangement offers two main options: students can undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships; or they can enrol in other VET subjects and courses as part of their school curriculum. Data are presented by the state or territory of the senior secondary assessment authority. In 2018, there were: (1) 230 700 VET in Schools students; and (2) 18 200 school-based apprentices and trainees, representing 7.9% of all VET in Schools students. In 2018, compared with 2017: (1) VET in Schools students decreased by 4.7%; (2) school-based apprentices and trainees decreased by 8.9%; and (3) students undertaking other VET in Schools programs decreased by 4.3%. From 2014 to 2018: (1) VET in Schools students decreased by 6.7%; (2) school-based apprentices and trainees decreased by 13.3%; and (3) students undertaking other VET in Schools programs decreased by 6.0%. [This work was produced with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.]

The purpose of this Decision Regulation Impact Statement (Decision RIS) is to recommend preferred options for improving the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. The Decision RIS follows the public release of the Consultation RIS and incorporates stakeholders' views and comments received during the ten week stakeholder consultation process from November 2014 to January 2015. The Decision RIS provides feedback on proposed options canvassed in the Consultation RIS throughout the abovementioned period. As such, the Decision RIS provides a 'point in time' analysis. This Decision RIS identifies the nature of the issues to be addressed and explains the rationale for the preferred options. It also assesses the costs and benefits of the options under consideration. This Decision RIS follows the guidelines of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in the Best Practice Regulation Guide. It has been approved for release by the COAG Education Council. [This Decision Regulation Impact Statement has been prepared with the assistance of Deloitte Access Economics.]

This occasional paper provides the views of 17 "thought leaders" in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector. Their insight and opinions were sought to inform a larger research project focused on the student entitlement reforms that were introduced into the national VET system from 2012. These individuals offered a variety of senior-level vantage points on the topics of: (1) Australia's national training system: why it has been developed, what its key elements are, and the aspects where consistency has been sought and the aspects where flexibility has been sought; (2) VET student training entitlements: why this initiative has been introduced and the implications of the agreed flexibility in approach to its implementation by jurisdictions, in terms of maintaining a functional national training system; and (3) the implications of the VET student entitlement initiative for future national VET reform. A particular emphasis has been on the implications of the reforms and the challenges faced in its implementation in the context of achieving a balance between national consistency and jurisdictional flexibility. The interviewees considered key elements of the national training system, namely: standards for VET products (training packages and materials); standards for VET providers; and a flexible training market. The interviewees commented on the consistency and flexibility sought in each of these key elements, highlighting where tensions exist, particularly in student training entitlements. The following are appended: (1) Project statement provided to interviewees about the project and Project protocols; and (2) Interview guide questions. Information about the NVETR Program funding is provided at the end of this paper.

This report provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, training providers and funding in Australia's government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system (broadly defined as all activity delivered by government providers and government-funded activity delivered by community education and private training providers). The data in this publication cover the period 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2015. In the six months from 1 January to 30 June 2015 there were 1.07 million students enrolled in the government-funded VET system, of which: (1) 63.4% were attending TAFE and other government providers, (2) 38.1% were aged 25 to 44 years; (3) 88.2% were enrolled in an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level program; (4) 37.2% were studying certificate III programs; and (5) 17.5% were enrolled in engineering and related technologies. A total of 1828 training organisations delivered training during this period. As this is the first year that government-funded VET data have been collected and reported on a quarterly basis, caution must be used when interpreting data from these initial data collections.

This publication provides summary information on equity groups in vocational education and training (VET) delivered by 4601 Australian providers in 2014, under the first collection of "total VET activity" data. In 2014, there were: (1) 146,500 Indigenous students (3.7% of all students); (2) 201,000 students with a disability (5.1% of all students); (3) 527,100 students from a non-English speaking background (13.5% of all students); (4) 558,100 students from rural/remote localities (14.3% of all students); The subject load pass rate for all students was 83.4% in 2014, compared with: (5) 74.4% for Indigenous students; (6) 74.6% for students with a disability; (7) 80.7% for students from a non-English speaking background; and(8) 85.6% for students from rural/remote localities. It is important to note that 2014 is a transition year in which a number of training providers were granted exemption from reporting and others did not report their training activity. The coverage and completeness of the data should improve over time once reporting exemptions are removed and training providers adapt to mandatory reporting requirements.

A common complaint from business and industry is that employees entering the workforce are not "job ready." They often lack the practical skills, maturity, and workplace experience to perform well in their roles, leaving employers to fill the gap by providing training either at their own expense or with public funding. In contrast, a new employee with previous experience as a volunteer in an emergency services organisation comes into the workplace with an understanding of teamwork, a demonstrated sense of community and responsibility, and an appreciation of the role of organisational culture, thus accelerating their emergence as an asset to their employer. This case study of the South Australia Country Fire Service (SA CFS) examined key factors in the resourcing and efficacy of training for volunteers. It was undertaken as a joint initiative of Government Skills Australia (GSA), the SA CFS and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The SA CFS delivers nationally endorsed and non-endorsed training to their volunteers, all funded from the annual operational budget it receives from the South Australian Government. It maintains a training centre at Brukunga in the Adelaide Hills and several regional training resources across the state. The SA CFS is a registered training organisation. The research sought views through qualitative and quantitative sources, interviewing brigades, employers and key industry stakeholders--242 volunteers responded to the quantitative survey. The core hypothesis for this research was that SA CFS volunteers who trained under the Australian Qualifications Framework's (AQF) Public Safety Training Package are taking skills and knowledge gained in roles as firefighters, trainers and incident managers into their paid employment. Formal transferrable skills revealed in the case study included safety and first aid, truck driving, equipment use (e.g. using a chainsaw), training and assessment. Such skills have valuable alignment with jobs in Agriculture; Food and Forestry; Mining; Public Administration and Safety; and Health Care and Social Assistance industry areas. Other generic skills acquired informally are in management, leadership, communication and logistics. The SA CFS training model is not funded to recognise these latter skills. The data gathered also show that the SA CFS provides pathways for young people through its programs for cadets; the inclusion of SA CFS volunteering in the South Australian Certificate of Education for Years 11 and 12; and the provision of nationally accredited units in operational training. This is important given the need to recruit and retain new, younger volunteers in the emergency service sector. The findings indicate that volunteers are more strongly aware of the benefits of SA CFS training to the workplace than their employers. Their skills acquisition and transfer have multifaceted, multi-directional benefits: volunteers who are drawn from a broad range of industries bring professional skills to the brigade and transfer knowledge among the volunteer cohort; they also take skills imparted during their volunteer experience back to the workplace and to their communities. Greater recognition of this process is warranted, especially in order to elucidate the overall gains for both employers and the community from the activities of the SA CFS as a learning organisation. Appended are: (1) Survey Questions; and (2) Employer Telephone Interview Survey Script.

Completion rates are an obvious performance indicator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Previously published figures indicated overall completion rates as low as 27%. One response to this is the argument that there are many students who do not need to complete their qualification as they acquire the skills they need without going through the entire curriculum of a qualification. For them, completion is not an issue. To throw further light on this issue this paper identifies groups of students for whom there is a clear benefit in completing their qualification. The authors use data from the 2009 Student Outcomes Survey to test whether completion is beneficial in relation to a number of predefined post-study outcomes. These are employment, further study, a combination of employment or further study, "improved" employment, occupational status and salary. The authors find that completion has an overall strong positive effect on these pay-off variables. However, the extent of the pay-off varies greatly across different groups of students. Appended are: (1) Model results; and (2) Tree diagrams. (Contains 15 figures, 9 tables and 10 footnotes.) [For the 2006 edition of the report, see ED495916.]

This publication presents estimates of apprentice and trainee activity in Australia for the September quarter 2009. The figures in this publication are derived from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection no. 62 (December 2009 estimates). There were 425,500 apprentices and trainees in-training as at 30 September 2009, a decrease of 2.4% from the previous year. In the 12 months to 30 September 2009, compared with the previous year: (1) commencements decreased by 6.9%, to 269,000; (2) completions increased by 5.8%, to 158,700; and (3) cancellations and withdrawals decreased by 4.8%, to 127,500. For seasonally adjusted data, comparing the September quarter 2009 with the June quarter 2009: (1) commencements in trades occupations decreased by 0.6%; (2) commencements in non-trades occupations increased by 1.0%; (3) completions increased by 1.1%; (4) cancellations and withdrawals decreased by 0.7%; and (5) in-training numbers decreased by 0.2%. (Contains 19 tables, 3 figures, and 5 notes.) [For the supporting documents, see "Adjustment Notes for Apprentice and Trainee Estimates. Technical Paper" (ED508818); "ANZSCO Imputation in the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection. Technical Paper" (ED508821); "Estimation of Apprentice and Trainee Statistics. Technical Paper" (ED508819); "Apprentices and Trainees: September Quarter 2009. Terms and Definitions" (ED508820); and "Authentic Learning Environments in Higher Education" (ED508837).]

This document was prepared by the authors to support their report "Job Requirements and Lifelong Learning for Older Workers." This document contains the following sections: (1) Definition of variables; (2) Descriptive statistics; and (3) Additional figures. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.) [Funding for this document was provided through the Australian Department of Education. This document was produced by the authors based on their research for the report "Job Requirements and Lifelong Learning for Older Workers" and is an added resource for further information. For the main report, see ED507237.]