This monograph is the culmination of a three-year research program undertaken by the University of South Australia's Centre for Work+Life. It considers the barriers, support and benefit of vocational education and training (VET) for workers in the low-paid occupations (that is, those earning around $17 per hour). The research considered a wide range of quantitative data as well as the experience and perspectives of employers, workers, students and vocational educators. The findings challenge any easy assumptions that more VET will automatically enhance the position of lower paid workers, that all VET can be assumed to be similar in positive effect for lower paid workers, or that lower paid workers share similar situations, including their work/life circumstances. (Contains 12 tables, 3 figures and 2 footnotes.)