Abstract
While vocational subjects have always been part of the school curriculum, formal vocational ducation and training (VET) in the last two years of secondary education has been a policy focus for the last decade. In the Australian context,VET in schools is defined as courses that lead to industry recognised qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework while at the same time contributing to the standard Year 12 certificate. The number of students doing such courses has increased dramatically and is now close to one in two. The article looks at some history, the characteristics of the courses, the success of the policy in terms of school retention and labour market outcomes, and remaining challenges.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen Consulting Group (2000)Review of the ANTA VET in Schools Program: Final Report to the Australian National Training Authority, ANTA, Brisbane.
Allen Consulting Group, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and National Centre for Vocational Education Research (2003)The Cost of VET in Schools: An Analysis of the Costs of Delivering VET in Schools Including an Analysis of Cost Efficiencies, DEST, Canberra.
Anlezark, A., Karmel, T. and Ong, K. (2006)Have School Vocational Education and Training Programs Been Successful?, NCVER, Adelaide.
Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities (2004)ACACA VET Report: VET in Senior Secondary Certificates, ACACA, Wayville, SA.
Australian Education Council Review Committee (1991)Young People’s Participation in Post-compulsory Education and Training (T B Finn, chair), AGPS, Canberra.
Barnett, K. and Ryan, R. (2005)Lessons and Challenges: Vocational Education in Schools — Research Overview, NCVER, Adelaide.
Butler, E. and Woolley, R. (2005)Getting Real: Young Women and Girls, Working Futures, VET and VET in Schools, Security4Women, Melbourne.
Committee of Enquiry into Education in South Australia (1971)Education in South Australia: Report of the Committee of Enquiry into Education in South Australia 1969–1970 (Peter Karmel, chair), Government Printer, Adelaide.
Davis, J. and Searle, J. (2001)VET in the VCE: Destination Survey 2001, VET in Schools Centre, Gordon Institute of TAFE, Geelong.
Department of Education, Science and Training 2003,The Cost of VET in Schools: An Analysis of the Costs of Delivering VET in Schools Including an Analysis of Cost Efficiencies, DEST, Canberra.
Department of Education, Science and Training 2007,Annual Report 2005–2006, DEST, Canberra.
Evans, B. (2005)Strategic Evaluation of Vocational Education and Training in Schools in New South Wales: Establishing the Value for Students, Employers and the Community of Vocational Education and Training in Schools Qualifications, NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training, Sydney.
Hill, A. and Helme, S. (2005) ‘VET in schools for Indigenous students: ‘hands on’, ‘default’, or promising?’,International Journal of Training Research, vol.3, no.1, pp. 1–22.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training (2004),Learning to Work: Report on the Inquiry into Vocational Education in Schools, House of Representatives Publishing Unit, Canberra.
Johns, S., Kilpatrick, S., Loechel, B. and Prescott, L. (2004)Pathways From Rural Schools: Does School VET Make a Difference?, NCVER, Adelaide.
Committee of the Enquiry into Education in South Australia, (1971)Education in South Australia. Report of the Committee of the Enquiry into Education in South Australia, 1969–1970 chaired by Professor Peter Karmel, Government of South Australia, Specialty Printers Pty Ltd, Adelaide, February 1971.
Lamb, S. and Vickers, M. (2006)Variations in VET Provisions Across Australian Schools and their Effects on Student Outcomes, Research report, Australian Council for Educational Research, Melbourne.
Little, T-L. (2005)Improved VET Outcomes for People With a Disability: A BVET Commissioned Project: Final Report — June 2005, DETNAC, Sydney.
Malley, J., Keating, J., Robinson, C. and Hawke, G. (2001),The Quest for a Working Blueprint: VET in Australian Schools, NCVER, Adelaide.
MCEETYA Taskforce on Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools (2001)Report of the MCEETYA Taskforce on Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools, MCEETYA, Carlton South, Victoria.
Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (1999),Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-first Century, MCEETYA, Carlton South, Victoria.
Nitschke, D. and McColl, M. (2002),Vocational Education and Training in Schools: Pathway Planning for Students With Disabilities, Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with Disabilities, Adelaide, 2002.
Phillips KPA (2005),Quality of Structured Workplace Learning, DEST, Canberra.
Polesel, J., Teese, R., Lamb, S., Helme, S., Nicholas, T. and Clarke, K. (2005)Destination and Satisfaction Survey of 2004 HSC VET Students in New South Wales: Final Report, NSW Dept of Education and Training, Sydney.
Polesel, J., Helme, S., Davies, M., Teese, R., Nicholas, T. and Vickers, M. (2004)VET in Schools: A Post-compulsory Perspective, NCVER, Adelaide.
Polesel, J. and Teese, R. (2002)Transitions From the VET in Schools Program: The 2000 Year 12 Cohort, Dept of Education and Training, Melbourne.
Porter, J. (2006)What Makes Vocational Training Programs in Schools Work?: A Study of New South Wales and Queensland Schools, NCVER, Adelaide.
Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies (2003)VET in Senior Secondary Syllabuses: A Discussion Paper, Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies, Brisbane.
Queensland Studies Authority (2004)Education and Training Reforms for the Future VET in Schools Project: Final Report, Queensland Studies Authority, Spring Hill, Queensland.
Ryan, C. (2002)Individual Returns to Vocational Education and Training Qualifications: Their Implications for Lifelong Learning, NCVER, Adelaide.
Smith, E. (2004) Vocational education and training in schools in Australia: what are the consequences of moving from margins to mainstream?,Journal of Vocational Education and Training, v. 56, no. 4, p. 559–578.
Tasmanian Dept of Education, Office of Post-Compulsory Education and Training (2004)A Summary of Advice on VET in Schools and Articulation, extracted from 2004 training demand information provided to the Office of Post-Compulsory Education and Training (OPCET) as industry advice, Dept of Education, Hobart.
Tasmanian Dept of Education, Office of Post-Compulsory Education and Training (2005),The Local Area! The People! The Comfort Zone!: The Motivations of Adults in VET in School Programs, OPCET, Hobart.
Taylor, A. (2004)Entering Industry: A Case Study of Links Between a School Vocational Program and the Building and Construction Industry, NCVER, Adelaide.
Tennant, M. and Yates, L. (2003)Changing Pedagogy: Vocational Learning and Schools, OVAL Research, Sydney.
Western Australia. Dept of Education and Training (2002)Review of Vocational Education and Training in Schools 2002, Dept of Education and Training, Perth.
Wheelahan, L. (2003) Global trends and local bends: Australian VET developments,Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, vol.9, no.1, pp. 32–50.
Wheelahan, L. (2004) What are the alternatives to training packages. Paper presented to 7th AVETRA Conference, Canberra, 17-19 March.
Woods, D. (2005)Young People and Vocational Education and Training Options: At a Glance, NCVER, Adelaide.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karmel, T. Vocational education and training in Australian schools. Aust. Educ. Res. 34, 101–117 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03216868
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03216868