Abstract:
Substantial skill shortages have manifested themselves in Australia because of poor
planning, policy development and policy implementation over the past 15 years by
Australian federal and state governments of all political persuasions. Two important factors
contributing to failure of approaches to vocational education that have been very apparent for
many years are lack of adequate theory underpinning skill development and concern for quality.
These have had important consequences in weakening the attractiveness of vocational education
when choices between university and vocational education are made. These also have had
major implications for development of superior skill levels and qualifications, transfer of learning
and problem solving. Drawing upon parallel issues in the UK, this paper considers what needs to
be done to reconceptualise a form of vocational education suited to Australia in the 21st century
that will make it more attractive to school leavers.
