Over the past four years, it's estimated that the Commonwealth has lost more than $2 billion due to the blow out in growth of the private vocational education sector. Set up under the previous Labor Government, the VET FEE-HELP scheme has been described as a 'poorly targeted gravy train... ripe for rorting'. A series of...

Work-based learning and the inclusion of the world of work into tertiary students' learning lie at the heart of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. Despite the strong emphasis of work-based learning in post-secondary education, both VET providers and universities faces challenges when it comes to engaging industry and employers in these educational...

Formal mentoring is an important aspect of apprenticeships; however, it is also informal mentoring — practices that are difficult to formally nurture — that plays a significant and effective role in supporting the overall wellbeing of an apprentice. This good practice guide is designed to help employers think about and provide work-based social support structures...

With growing recognition of the extent to which work, mental health and wellbeing intersect, it is important to understand the critical role effective apprenticeship support arrangements play in helping Australia's youth make the transition from school to work. This study considers how pastoral care, mentoring and other forms of social support contribute to apprenticeships. In...

The aim of this paper is to summarise and provide analyses of the considerable body of research that investigates the costs and benefits of vocational education and training (VET). It does so from three different perspectives; the government, business and the individual. This paper considers a broad array of costs and benefits accruing to each...