This paper was presented at the Professional Historians Association (NSW) Islands of History conference held on Norfolk Island in July 2010. It argues that the reliance on overseas workers to address skills shortages has been present ever since the first white settlement of Australia, which has, in turn, shaped attitudes to the governance of…

Competency-based training is not a singular model; it embeds radically different conceptions of competence, depending on whether delivery and assessment of training incorporate industry standards. Models that maintain a tension between the outcomes and processes of education and training, rather than a focus solely on outcomes, are most…

Responding to the need for a definition of the role and status of human resources development (HRD) practitioners in Australia, this paper explores the nature of HRD and the educational requirements of HRD trainers. After discussing problems associated with the terms "training" and "development," the paper presents three models…

In the globalized world economy three types of jobs are emerging: routine production, in-person service, and symbolic analysis. In Australia, routine production is still the largest category, females outnumber males in service, and only one in five are symbolic analysts, predominantly male. Vocational education and training must change focus and…

Quality assurance in vocational education is critical to the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the work force. The process involves vision and mission, management commitment, standards, monitoring, and continuous improvement. (SK)

The author discusses various elements of the PEP (Participation and Equity Program). These include participation and retention, equity and equality, equality and excellence, ripple effects, economic and educational justifications, and symbolic effects of the program. (CT)

Learning for work is the focus of public policy in Australia, New Zealand, and Britain. However, meaningful public debate about the presumed benefits of training and lifelong learning has been stifled by rhetoric about competitiveness and economic survival. (SK)

Secondary school-industry programs in Australia include the Australian Student Traineeship Foundation and TRAC, a national cooperative vocational program. These programs feature local involvement in curricula, experiential education, criterion-based assessment, and establishment of new paths into higher education. (SK)

The two papers in this newsletter focus on youth employment and training programs in the United States and the government response to unemployment in Australia. In the first paper, "Looking at Other Countries, No. 1: United States. Youth Employment and Training Programs during the First Two Years of the Reagan Administration" by Ralph E.…

Notes suburban Australian newspapers have traditionally relied on a junior workforce, which means they have a significant influence in training cadets and shaping the journalists of the future. Suggests lack of staff and resources mean that the loftier ideals of journalism often give way to more practical issues. Discusses the challenges facing…

The "market" is not a natural phenomenon but a social relationship. Growing gaps in income distribution and changes in employment patterns are dramatically increasing inequality. Vocational and adult educators accept too readily the claim that training can change the economic environment. (SK)

Events in the development of competency standards for the teaching profession in Australia are documented, including publishing articles and reports, conducting conferences, commissioning sets of standards, validating support for the competency framework, and promoting of standards by government and professional organizations. Competency-based…

This booklet is written for the general reader who wants to understand important trends in vocational education and training. It aims to give the reader an understanding of industry restructuring by answering three key questions: What is industry restructuring? Why restructure? How is industry restructuring achieved? The first part describes…

A study was conducted in Australia, to determine the factors that affect demand for job training. The study consisted of 30 detailed industry case studies, an industry analysis, and a literature review. Each case study examined current training practices, training decision making in the business, and the determinants of training for the…

This paper examines the implications of the Report of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into a national competition policy (the Hilmer Report) for the vocational education and training system in Australia. It identifies issues of importance for training markets and points of strategic intervention to facilitate the development of more open and…