Growing the desert: Educational pathways for remote Indigenous pathways
Growing the desert: Educational pathways for remote Indigenous pathways Report
- Author(s): Young, M, Guenther, J, Boyle, A
- Published: 2007
- Publisher: National Centre for Vocational Education Research and Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
Abstract: This study maps the participation of desert Indigenous people in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector and in non-formal adult and community education (ACE) learning programs, and analyses the contexts in which learning occurs across the desert. • There is evidence of significant fluctuation and some decline occurring in the participation of desert Indigenous people in VET. Outcomes in terms of completions and qualifications are poor. • VET participation is not providing desert Indigenous people with pathways from learning to work, or into higher-level education. Indigenous labour force participation rates have declined substantially across remote areas of Australia since 2002, despite the relatively high participation rates of desert Indigenous people in VET. • There is a significant misalignment between the content and delivery models of VET and the prior skills, educational demands and aspirations of desert Indigenous people. VET programs struggle to adapt to and address the types of learning needs that arise as a result of language and cultural differences and the different ways work is constructed and occurs across the desert. • Distinct cultural, demographic and geographic landscapes define Australia’s desert regions. These contexts require a combination of educational investments and supports, and real engagement with the types of livelihoods and economies emerging in desert regions.
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/ncver_growing-the-desert_2007.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/20200419112142/http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/resource/ncver_growing-the-desert_2007.pdf
- Publisher Location: Adelaide
- Keywords: training, Vocational Education, NCVER