Hawke Research Institute
lower paid workers over the
life cycleThe Centre for Work + Life at the University of South Australia is conducting a major research project focused on Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector. The project is funded by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) over three years from January 2008 to December 2010.
The Low-paid workers and VET project focuses on how changing conditions at work, at home and in the wider community affect the participation of lower educated and lower paid workers in Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector.
Using data from the 2009 Australian Work and Life Index, a report has recently
been prepared which examines how work-life pressures influence the capacity and
motivation of individuals, particularly low-paid workers, to engage in education
and training. This report
Work-life
issues and participation in education and training (PDF 741KB) was published by NCVER in late December 2009.
The research project has involved a literature review, quantitative analysis of ABS, HILDA and NCVER data sets and stakeholder conversations.
A discussion paper Low paid workers, changing patterns of work and life, and participation in vocational education and training: a discussion starter (PDF 321KB) was published by NCVER in March 2009 on the issues emerging on what influences people's decisions to participate in vocational education and training.
An NCVER interview with the The Director of the Centre for Work + Life, Professor Barbara Pocock, about this paper is available (includes audio link and transcript). In addition an article on this research The work-life divide was published in Campus Review on 16 March 2009.
The first outcome of this project funded by the NCVER National VET Research and Evaluation Program was the paper Investigating the low paid workforce: employment characteristics, training and work–life balance (PDF 1.45 MB) by Natalie Skinner and Peter King published in 2008, which was based on the quantitative analysis of ABS, HILDA and NCVER data sets. This presents analyses from three large surveys: NCVER Student Outcomes Survey (SOS), Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and ABS Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALLS) Survey. The analysis is designed to identify the VET and labour market characteristics of low-paid and lower educated groups, and identify the factors that are likely to support or undermine the capacity of these groups to engage in VET.
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) published two reports prepared by the centre in late June 2011:
Work, life and VET participation amongst lower-paid workers
Juggling work, home and learning in low-paid occupations: a qualitative study
Outline of the Low-Paid Workers and VET research project (PDF 115 kb)
University of SA media release
| Prof Barbara Pocock | Centre Director/Project Director |
| Dr Natalie Skinner | Research Fellow |
| Catherine McMahon | (formerly) Centre Manager |
For further information contact
Prof Barbara Pocock
Centre for Work + Life
University of South Australia
GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 08 8302 4194
