This study has produced a research-based understanding of the contexts and capabilities that underpin effective leadership in vocational education and training. It involved context reviews, consultations, research on leadership effectiveness, a national survey of VET leaders and a symposium. More...

The LH Martin Institute and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) have completed a new study, VET Leadership for the Future: Characteristics, Contexts and Capabilities, which draws together reviews, prior research and a national survey of 327 practising VET leaders to define strategies for identifying and developing future leaders, in response to the looming succession crisis. More...

Competitive National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE) funded project that is researching the growth of ‘mixed-sector’ provision in single sector universities that offer a small amount of VET provision, and private providers that offer both higher education and VET provision. Assoc. Prof. Leesa Wheelahan is leading this project. More...

The LH Martin Institute at the University of Melbourne has led a project that researches and makes recommendations on the factors that affect the quality of vocational education and training (VET) teaching. The project explored VET teacher qualifications and continuing professional development; the impact teaching has on the quality of the VET student experience and student outcomes; and how this can be evaluated. More...

The NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET) commissioned LH Martin Institute Associate Professor Leesa Wheelahan and RMIT University's Gavin Moodie to prepare a paper on skills.The result is a report which argues that vocational training has to adapt to meet the needs of a changing society and economic conditions. It advocates a shift from a narrowly defined competency basis to a capability framework in order to more effectively prepare students for broad occupations in loosely defined occupational streams, a feature which may underpin the next generation of vocational education. More...

The LH Martin Institute and the Centre for Vocational and Educational Policy at Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne are undertaking a study into what is quality teaching and to identify the capabilities vocational education and training (VET) teachers need to support effective student learning.The project is funded by the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) and brings together a team of experienced researchers, a subject matter expert panel of leading VET practitioners, and a high-level VET Industry Steering Group (VISG) comprised of project, department and industry representatives and key industry stakeholders. More...

The VET sector is going through more volatility than ever before. There are many changes happening with Federal and State Government policies and a change to the governance structures of the TAFE sector in Australia. Private providers are facing more challenges than have happened previously and all of this means challenges for the Directors of any VET organization. The LH Martin Institute, along with facilitator Warren Tapp, have recognized this and developed a program that will assist Directors to meet these challenges, whether they be in the TAFE role or that of a private VET provider. More...

By Jim Davidson.  In 2009, the Commonwealth developed a National Partnership Agreement for Vocational Education and Training (VET) that proposed the introduction of competitive funding arrangements into training. 
This agreement did not proceed because of State reluctance and ACTU pressure not to extend the recent reforms by the Brumby Government in Victorian VET into the other States. The exposure of TAFEs to competition, notably from community, private and employer-operated registered training organisations (RTOs) was strongly resisted. More...