Guest posting to voced-coord list

Item 3 of 8: New Apprenticeships

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 14:04:21 +1000
To: voced-coord@owl.qut.edu.au
From: Mike Frost
Subject: VocEd: Mike Frost (Guest) - New Apprenticeships

I am interested in gathering some information on the proposed trialling and implementation of New Apprenticeships in 1998 and beyond.

VETNETwork would like to obtain a picture of what schools and training organisations are planning on doing. In particular it would be useful to know something about:

INDUSTRY AREAS What industry areas are being targetted for both school-based traineeships and apprenticeships. Some early indications are that school-based apprenticeships will be restricted to "traditional" areas centred on Metal Fabrication, Automotive, and Building and Construction. Traineeships seem likely to be more widely spread across industry sectors but will they predominate in Retailing, Hospitality, Clerical and Office Skills and Tourism?

DELIVERY MODELS What are the range of delivery models being proposed. An obvious one is where full-time students undertake part-time traineeships and apprenticeships with the bulk of the off-the-job training occurring in years 11 and 12, the paid on-the-job beginning during these years but being fully completed post year 12. Another is where students attend school part-time basically as part of their off-the-job training, spending the bulk of their time as conventional trainees or apprentices. But what other models are being contemplated?

LEGAL AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS OBSTACLES There appear to be a host of obstacles emerging as the implications of school-based contracted training is considered. While the MCEETYA VET in Schools Taskforce has been asked to identify and recommend ways for resolving these, it is worth identifying what problems are currently being picked up by schools. The main problems seem to cluster around Duty of Care issues, eligibility for student support, State versus Federal Industrial Relations issues and resourcing issues.

IMPACT ON CURRENT WORKPLACE TRAINING ARRANGEMENTS There is some speculation that part-time traineeships and apprenticeships will make unpaid training arrangements increasingly difficult as employers opt for the former. Will this cause a shift back to VET in schools programs that have little or no workplace experience?

IMPLICATIONS OF USER CHOICE The opportunity to put together agreed training programs using a range of training providers is a key element of New Apprenticeships. How will this affect traditional providers like TAFE and schools?. How will the Training Packages affect school-based training options? Will schools have the capacity to respond flexibly to training needs? How attractive will schools remain as training providers to trainees, apprentices and industry?

OTHER ISSUES There are probably a range of other considerations that could be usefully identified. Here is your opportunity to do so.

How well informed do you consider yourself and your school and organisation to be? Where are you tending to get your information from currently? How could the flow of information be improved?

Mike Frost
Executive Officer
VETNETwork - Vocational Education and Training Network
Mailing Address: VETNETwork PO Box 424 Rosny Park TAS 7018
Ph 0362 449254
Fax 0362 449299
Mobile 0412 053738
Email mfrost@info.rosny.tased.edu.au