This report looks at whether vocational education and training (VET) is equipped to meet the changing needs of the modern workplace. It finds that regulation and business needs drive changes in the way the training system operates.

The system has advantages and disadvantages: it has strong mechanisms for identifying industry needs but too much bureaucracy and unnecessary detail, which makes it difficult to respond quickly and easily to emerging trends. Adaptation of the system is one thing, but if it is to be effective it requires an increased emphasis on good teaching, learning and assessment practice. It also requires employers to ensure that employees acquire the new skills by encouraging a workplace culture that is conductive to training.