News and media releases

Indigenous training review frames skills agenda
14 February 2005
Indigenous Australians are turning to vocational education and training (VET) in increasing numbers but their completion and employment rates are still poor compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

This is one of the issues addressed in the mid-term review of the national VET strategy for Indigenous Australians – Partners in a Learning Culture.

The review found getting Indigenous Australians to complete higher levels of learning and into meaningful work were two of the major challenges for Australian VET agencies.

A national survey of VET students in 2003 shows Indigenous Australians recorded pass rates of 63.7% compared to national pass rates of 77.1%. This is an improvement since 1999 but still significantly lower than the pass rates reported for all students.*

In addition, Indigenous Australians have reported lower levels of employment both before (56%) and after (60%) training, when compared to employment levels of all students (68% and 74% respectively).

On a positive note, the review found good results were achieved when Indigenous people were involved in the planning and delivery of training.

Leading this review is the Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council (AITAC) – an advisory committee to the Australian National Training Authority. In October 2000, the ANTA Board established AITAC with part of its role to monitor and evaluate the implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture.

AITAC co-Chair Bill Wilson says the findings will be used to develop a revised blueprint to tackle these issues - which will be released in early 2005.

“Getting Indigenous students into the VET sector is not the issue - it’s what we need to do to get them to stay, complete higher levels of learning and then get them into meaningful jobs.”

The revised blueprint will outline six priorities to provide vital guidance for the VET sector in a time of change.

“Our priorities will be building the capacity of the VET sector, creating more pathways, improving funding frameworks, delivery of culturally appropriate product development and design, links to employment and growing VET sector partnerships. The six priorities are linked to work closely with Shaping Our Future – Australia’s National Strategy for VET (2004-2010),” Wilson says.

For a copy of the Mid-term Review or the executive summary visit: http://www.anta.gov.au/vetaitac.asp or call AITAC’s Executive Officer 07 3246 2300.

Media contact:
Jennifer Reis
Jacoby Reis Public Relations
T: 07 3315 6655
M: 0413 241 033

*Annual National Report of the Australian Vocational Education and Training System 2003, ANTA, 2004

FACT SHEET

In June 2000, Ministers agreed to Partners in a Learning Culture and its Blueprint for implementation, Australia’s first national strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in VET 2000 – 2005. In October 2000, the ANTA Board established the Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council (AITAC). Part of its role is to monitor and evaluate the implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture – the national strategy for Indigenous Australians in vocational education and training (VET). To download copies of Partners in a Learning Culture visit: www.anta.gov.au/vetaitac.asp

Mid-term review of the Blueprint for Implementation — what’s worked, what hasn’t
A mid-term review of the Blueprint for Implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture was released in late 2004. It highlighted that Indigenous Australians are turning to VET in increasing numbers but their completion and employment rates are still poor compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

On a positive note, the review found good results were achieved when Indigenous people were involved in the planning and delivery of training. Copies of the mid-term review are available for download on www.anta.gov.au/vetaitac.asp

National Indigenous VET Research Strategy — what do we need to know?
The National Indigenous VET Research Strategy — developed by NCVER in partnership with AITAC is underway. With researchers travelling to the most remote corners of the country, this groundbreaking research will provide the VET sector with an intimate understanding of:

• The benefits of increasing higher attainment levels and outcomes in VET for Indigenous learners;
• The motivations of Indigenous VET learners — why they are in VET, what is important to them in their learning journey; and
• What is required by the VET sector to achieve successful outcomes.

Blueprint Revision
A revised Partners in a Learning Culture — Blueprint for Implementation will outline the six priorities identified in the mid-term review. These priorities are:

• Building the capacity of the VET sector;
• Creating more pathways;
• Improving funding frameworks;
• Delivery of culturally appropriate product development and design;
• Links to employment; and
• Growing VET sector partnerships.

The above priorities will provide vital guidance for the future of Indigenous Australians in the VET sector during a time of change.

What is AITAC?
The Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council (AITAC) is an advisory body of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Board. It was established in October 2000 to oversee the implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture—the five-year national strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in vocational education and training (VET) — and its Blueprint for implementation.

What does AITAC do?
AITAC advises the ANTA Board on:

• strategic policy issues relating to Indigenous Australians and VET;
• issues affecting access, participation and outcomes for Indigenous people in VET; and
• progress of, and issues arising from, the implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture and its Blueprint for implementation.

• evaluates the success of strategies and component actions of the Blueprint;
• indicates areas for further research of Indigenous Australians in VET and as a result has developed the National Indigenous VET Research Strategy with the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER); and
• helps create a shared understanding across State, Territory and Federal Governments of the outcomes to be achieved as a result of implementing Partners in a Learning Culture.

Membership of AITAC?
AITAC members include representatives from Australian, state and territory governments, training providers, industry and community groups. Currently there are 20 members and two co-chairs. Co-chairs are the Indigenous ANTA Board member and an Indigenous leader in the VET Sector.

What next?
With the announcement of the dissolution of ANTA (1 July 2005), AITAC is continuing to work with the ANTA Board and the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) in the development of new models for reporting, accountability and advisory arrangements for the future of Indigenous Australians in VET.

For more information contact:
AITAC’s Executive Officer, Georgina Richters:
Email: aitac@anta.gov.au or
Visit: http://www.anta.gov.au/vetaitac.asp