Engaging VET Practitioners

This one-day forum, held in Melbourne on 18th November 2004, was attended by over 330 people from all around Australia. The forum highlighted:

1. Current and emerging ways of working in VET - demonstrated by good practice from the 2004 Reframing the Future projects
2. Recent research insights about new ways of working in VET
3. Future possibilities about good practice in working in VET

Dr Geoff Wood, Executive Director, Education Services and Programs, Department of Further Education Employment Science and Technology and Chair of the National Reframing the Future Reference Group opened the forum.

Dr Clive Chappell, Associate Professor and Co-Director of OVAL Research, University of Technology Sydney, set the scene with a presentation titled 'Changing work - changing workers'. Clive spoke on how the changing nature of work requires new kinds of workers and how VET systems are being asked to respond to the changing requirements of the workplace. He posed the question 'What are the changes that are occurring and what might this mean for VET?' For a copy of the publication 'Changing work - changing roles for vocational education and training teachers and trainers' on which his presentation is based click here.

Participants had a choice of four concurrent session themes based upon the four objectives of Shaping our Future - Australia's national strategy for vocational education and training 2004 - 2010. Link to Shaping our Future

For details of the concurrent session presentations click on the links below.

Objective 1
Industry will have a highly skilled workforce to support strong performance in the global economy

Presenter	Supporting organisation	State/ Territory	Project summary and Reframing the Future sub-program
Myree Russell	Enterprise Registered Training Organisations	National	Collaborating to improve quality processes within key enterprise Registered Trainng Organisations Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP143-2-1-2
Ann Michael	Kath Dickson Centre	QLD	Meeting the special learning needs of trainees Staff Development Project Action Plan SD406-4-1-1
Jill Slater	Swinburne University of Technology	VIC	Developing a strategic approach to the training needs of mature age workers in industries with an ageing workforce National Training Change Agent Project Action Plan CA76-7-1-21
Laurie Miller	Drysdale Institute (TAFE Tasmania)	TAS	Forming partnerships with the hospitality and tourism industries Strategic Management and Change Management Project Action Plan CMW235-6-1-5
Hilary Hamilton	Centennial Park Cemetery Authority	SA	Establishing a collaborative, team based approach to implementing the Funeral Services Training Package Staff Development Project Action Plan SD105-5-1-1
Barry Luttrell	BORAL Australian Construction Materials	NSW	Aligning training needs with the business needs of an enterprise Staff Development Project Action Plan SD318-2-1-1
Leanne Shephard	Optus	NSW	Developing skill standards for contractors and employees in the telecommunications industry Industry Training Network Project Action Plan ITN142-2-1-1

Objective 2
Employers and individuals will be at the centre of vocational education and training

Presenter	Supporting organisation	State/ Territory	Project summary and Reframing the Future sub-program
Wing-Yin Chan Lee	Adelaide Institute of TAFE	SA	Integrating language, literacy and numeracy into Training Package Delivery National Training Change Agent Project Action Plan CA302-5-1-9
Janene Piip	Spencer Institute of TAFE	SA	Applying research about older workers' training needs in regional locations Applying Information and Research Project Action Plan IR463-5-1-18
Anne Simpson	Department of Education WA	WA	Establishing a statewide network to examine practice and theory in teaching, learning and assessment Assessor Networks and Teaching and Learning Networks Project Action Plan AN67-8-1-1
Francis Howes	Cooloola Sunshine Institute of TAFE	QLD	Applying research on RPL to develop new models, practices and procedures Applying Information and Research Project Action Plan IR61-4-1-18
Ray Chavez	Department of Justice WA	WA	Increasing prisoner participation in the National Training System Strategic Management and Change Management Project Action Plan CMB503-8-1-2
Claire O'Conor	TAFE NSW - Sydney Institute	NSW	Supporting structural change in a large public Registered Training Organisation Strategic Management and Change Management Project Action Plan CMW162-2-1-12
Kay Ganley	Charlton Brown Australian Nanny College	QLD	Training and assessing mature-aged entrants to the carers industry Staff Development Project Action Plan SD434-4-1-1

Objective 3
Communities and regions will be strengthened economically and socially through learning and employment

Presenter	Supporting organisation	State/ Territory	Project summary and Reframing the Future sub-program
Virginia Hasker	Bremer Institute of TAFE	QLD	Engaging migrant workers in training and employment in a regional area Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP324-4-1-9
Gillian Thacker	Department of Education NSW	NSW	Promoting VET pathways for vulnerable youth in NSW regions Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP28-2-1-6
Sue Blake	Bryan Blake Consulting Pty Ltd	VIC	Focusing on the quality of assessment with a range of small Registered Training Organisations Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP197-7-1-1
Robyn Jay	Alstonville Adult Learning Association Pty Ltd	NSW	Increasing VET options for youth in a regional area Applying Information and Research Project Action Plan IR50-2-1-1
Louisa Ellum	SkillsPlus Inc	VIC	Using research to understand issues for mature aged people and develop a strategic framework Applying Information and Research Project Action Plan IR326-7-1-1
Annette Smith	Southbank Institute of TAFE	QLD	Developing flexible learning strategies for Indigenous learners Staff Development Project Action Plan SD403-4-1-11
Cathy Hope	TAFE Tasmania	TAS	Partnering rural and remote communities in Tasmania Strategic Management and Change Management Project Action Plan CMW455-6-1-36

Objective 4
Indigenous Australians will have skills for viable jobs and their learning culture will be shared

Presenter	Supporting organisation	State/ Territory	Project summary and Reframing the Future sub-program
Bruce Devenish	Abmusic Aboriginal Corporation	WA	Delivering and assessing in a simluated performing environment Staff Development Project Action Plan SD201-8-1-3
Chris McAleer	Jobs Australia Ltd	VIC	Developing VET pathways for an Indigenous community National Training Change Agent Project Action Plan CA206-7-1-1
Pauline Whitley	Central West College of TAFE	WA	Fostering an understanding of the VET system within football academies Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP195-8-1-17
Alan Scott	Pilbara TAFE	WA	Capitalising on employment opportunities in a local industry Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP177-8-1-1
Kerry Grace	NT Police Fire and Emergency Services	NT	Implementing a new workbased training and assessment system for Aboriginal Community Police Officers Staff Development Project Action Plan SD471-3-1-2
Jo Camilleri	Goolarri Media Enterprises	WA	Developing culturally appropriate and creative strategies in a remote area Strategic Management and Change Management Project Action Plan CMW363-8-1-2
Catherine Curry	CHARTTES Training Advisory Council	NT	Meeting the diverse needs of the Indigenous arts industry sector Community of Practice Project Action Plan CP460-3-1-2

Conversation cafe
The cafe was held in the exhibition area as an alternative to attending the concurrent sessions. Facilitated by Margaret Dix, a Reframing the Future 2004 National Training Change Agent from NSW, people discussed, debated and shared their experiences and knowledge.

Rapporteurs
During the forum four experienced researchers acted as 'rapporteurs'. Gathering key ideas and strategies from the presentations, professional conversations and activities throughout the day the rapporteurs reported their findings in the 'Bringing it all together' plenary session at the end of the day.

Recent Research Insights about New Ways of Working in VET

Publication	Findings
High Level Review of Training Packages: Phase 1 Report (Chappell et al, 2003, ANTA)	VET is increasingly reliant on highly skilled VET professionals who have and choose from a sophisticated pedagogical repertoire; use more learner-centred, work-centred and attibute-focused approaches, rather than traditional transmission pedagogies; can work with multiple clients, in multiple contexts and across mulitple learning sites; and understand that the integration of learning and work is a major feature of the contemporary work environment. (p.3)
Emerging Futures: Innovation in Teaching and Learning in VET (Mitchell et al, 2003, ANTA)	Another result of the industry-led national training system is that detailed and customised workplace training demands on VET are potentially as varied as there are enterprises in Australia. This is bringing about new and intensified professional, technical and educational roles for VET practitioners especially at the frontline and particularly for teachers, workplace trainers and assessors, workplace mentors and supervisors. (p.1)
The Vocational Education and Training System: Key Issues for Large Enterprises (The Allen Consulting Group, 2003, BCA)	The major pressures and demands on the VET sector revolve around the changing nature of the world of work and the transformation in skill development in enterprises. There are major changes in the dominant model of work organisation, with a greater role for generic knowledge, updating skills over time, and an increasing emphasis on skills in driving competitive advantage. (p.89)
"Moving On...": Report of the High Level Review of Training Packages (Schofield & McDonald, 2004, ANTA)	...more teaching, learning and assessment resources or professional development for individual practitioners will have a limited impact without special attention to the organisational context (management, resources, systems and physical space) in which practitioners are working. (p.28)
Enhacing the Capability of VET Professionals Project: Final Report (Dickie et al, 2004, ANTA)	...there appears to be considerable consensus about the environment in which VET professionals will work in the future - an environment characterised by increasing diversity in the client base; increasing sophistication in client expectations; change in products and expansion of options for training delivery; changes in employment, work roles, team structures and places of work; increasing competition and increasing demand; and globalisation of the training market. (p.4)
The vocational education and training workforce. New roles and ways of working. At a glance (NCVER 2004)	Reforms in VET over the past ten years have had a significant effect on the work of its staff. They now operate in more competitive markets and face increased demands for higher quality and more relevant programs from their various clients. Understanding and keeping up with the changes and working in new and more flexible ways have been a major challenge for the VET workforce. (p.1)