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OctoberVET 2022

November 23, 2.00-5.00pm, Federation University, Ballarat Campus

OctoberVET Ballarat, mounted by the Federation University VET Research group RAVE, is back face to face, and the event will be from 2.00pm to 5.00pm in Building K at FedUni SMB Campus (Level 1), 136 Albert St, Ballarat Central (Ballarat Tech School). There is a minimal registration fee, to cover catering and other costs, of $15. Afternoon tea will be provided.

The theme of the event is ‘Inclusivity and the future of VET’ . Our keynote speaker is Adjunct Professor Robin Shreeve, an ‘elder statesman’ of VET, who has held many senior appointments in government agencies and in TAFE systems in Australia and the U.K. Robin is also, of course, a Past President of AVETRA. 

We also have presentations from five FedUni VET researchers, reporting on national, State and local research projects; from Dr Lizzie Knight from Victoria University, and from A/Prof Trace Ollis from Deakin University. The program will shortly  be available on the RAVE web site at https://federation.edu.au/institutes-and-schools/ieac/research/rave-researching-adult-and-vocational-education/vet-events . You can email vet.research@federation.edu.au with queries.

Registrations for the event are now open.   Register here



CONDUCTING APPLIED RESEARCH: AN INVITATION TO RESEARCHERS IN TAFE

Thursday 27th October

We invite you to join Holmesglen’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation for OctoberVET 2022.  The programme offers a range of presentations that focus on the conduct of applied research where presenters share their insights across the research life cycle: 

Presenters: Andrew Williamson, Dr Henry Pook. Dr Ross Digby. Professor Debra Kiegaldie. Dr Louise Shaw. Warren Guest, Yvonne Hamey

The conference will be conducted both face to face (Drummond Street Campus, Holmesglen Institute, Auditorium D1.101 and via Webex).

9:30 am: Welcome: Andrew Williamson (AVETRA)

9:40 am: What is applied research? (Dr Henry Pook/Andrew Williamson) 

10:25am: Developing a research proposal (Professor Debra Kiegaldie. Dr Louise Shaw).

11:10-11:20 am:  Morning tea

11:20am: What is the purpose of a literature review/scoping exercise: what tools and resources are available: (Dr Louise Shaw. Ms Yvonne Hamey).

12:05: Presenting at a conference and/or having my work published: what do I need to know? (Dr Sam Duncan)

12:50-1:15 pm: Lunch

1:15 pm: Working with industry and research-based organisations on research projects: what projects are underway in health and building construction? 

(Dr Ross Digby. Professor Debra Kiegaldie).

2:30pm: The research journey: experiences of an early career researcher (Warren Guest)

3:15pm: Close

Contact: Henry.Pook@holmesglen.edu.au


ENABLING A GREEN TRANSITION - WIDENING THE SCOPE OF THE VET RESPONSE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Thursday October 27 1-2pm, Online/Zoom

Contact: David.Longley@bsl.org.au 

Find the recording here



The life cycle of markets: what does the data tell us about VET?

Don Zoellner, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT

31st October, 12.30pm via Zoom

Find the recording here

As the Commonwealth, States and Territories sit down to negotiate the new National Skills Agreement one of the key questions facing them is what training to fund? For thirty years governments have pursued reforms to create a VET market where competition would drive innovation and performance. Is the market still what’s needed now? 

Don Zoellner is one of Australia’s leading VET thinkers. In his latest research he has taken the large data sets held by corporate and VET regulators to explore the life cycles of the VET markets in WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT. In an attempt to move beyond the well-worn shibboleth of markets = neoliberalism = bad, it is argued that the introduction of markets has been an example of successful policy implementation, but that these markets are now reaching the end of their natural life cycle. Perversely, the major rationale for creating markets – increasing choice – is no longer being provided in these mature markets. 

Since a market-based approach was introduced, TAFE Institutes have lost market share, not-for-profit and social enterprise providers have been forced out of most government-created markets, while a significant number of long-standing for-profit providers continue to trade successfully, albeit in the face of more difficult market conditions. Rather than relying totally upon open markets, the data indicates which portions of the very large VET field respond well to competition and those that do not. Alternative economic theories offer more efficient and effective ways to replace markets that have reached the end of their life cycle; these include system optimisation and public value creation.

Hear more about Don’s research findings and what they mean for the future of VET funding in this important AVETRA webinar.

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