Understanding the opportunities offered by TAFE

This report examines important issues regarding the role of schools in tackling the new and unfamiliar task of becoming vocational education and training (VET) providers and serving as an effective conduit into further training in the VET sector. It draws extensively on data collected in a range of studies conducted by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Training (CPET) over the previous two years and on data collected as a result of extensive interviews with VET coordinators, year-level coordinators and principals in six secondary schools in metropolitan and non-metropolitan locations in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW). Researchers interviewed staff about VET practices in order to describe best practice in the provision of careers advice and support and possible hindrances to the promotion of the training system in schools. The data suggests that students are very well informed about university courses when at school but less well informed about TAFE courses and have even less information about other training opportunities such as private training colleges, the defence forces and the police service and in relation to apprenticeships and traineeships. Show less