Contemporary Public Policy Perspectives on Vocational Education and Training in Australia

Developing the skills and abilities of the workforce is critical to a firm's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, and to the competitiveness of the economy as a whole. It has become imperative in the context of rapid technological change, globalisation and changing forms of work organization. However, against a background of reduced government intervention and increasing competitive pressures on enterprises, the policy relating to the provision of education and training has become increasingly problematic and contentious. This paper critically examines the changes in Australian vocational education and training policy that have occurred over the past decade, and provides some recommendations for consideration.