About
Do outcomes differ for VET and higher education qualified workers in the same occupation?
Some occupations can be entered into with either a vocational education and training (VET) qualification or a higher education qualification, for example surveying, but are the outcomes the same for people who choose a VET pathway over higher education?
Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and interviews with employers in four occupations — childcare workers, surveyors, graphic designers and medical laboratory technicians — this webinar explores whether these individuals are undertaking the same tasks and receiving the same job outcomes, such as salary and career pathways, as their higher education counterparts.
Key learnings for participants include:
- an understanding of the outcomes for VET- and higher education-qualified workers in the same occupation
- insights from employers around their perceptions of VET and higher education qualifications and how well they prepare workers
- potential improvements for the VET sector and beyond
This webinar is based on the latest report VET and higher education pathways – do outcomes differ for the same occupation.
Presenters
Bridget Wibrow, Senior Research Officer, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
Bridget is an experienced VET researcher within the Research and Data Analytics branch at NCVER, where she has worked for over 14 years. Bridget is a skilled researcher drawing on a wide range of methodologies. Her previous work has focused on incorporating transferable skills, such as generic and digital skills, into VET courses; investigating the outcomes of training; and streamlining qualification development. During her career, Bridget has also worked closely with early career researchers, including VET practitioners, to help develop and hone their research skills and critical thinking.
Dr Cain Polidano is a Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute: Applied Economics and Social Research at the University of Melbourne. His research involves the use of big data and econometric techniques to understand the causal factors that uplift the life trajectories of disadvantaged Australians, especially in the spheres of vocational education, employment and retirement policy. Some of his current projects involve measuring the impacts of employer incentive payments for hiring apprentices and understanding the impacts of policies to support the Indigenous business sector. Prior to completing a PhD in Econometrics at Monash University in 2010, Cain worked as a senior research economist with the Productivity Commission.
Discussant
Michelle Blicavs is the CEO at the Association of Consulting Surveyors and has been a member of the Property IRC for the last four years. Michelle is also a Director of the Australian Construction Industry Forum and active member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry where she sits on the Employment and Skills Committee. Surveying has been struggling with a skills shortage for more than 10 years which has brought the industry together to tackle the challenge head on through working with schools to encourage students through the VET and higher education pathways. Michelle is also the Chair of the Top Blokes Foundation which works with young men towards health and wellbeing.
Chair
Melinda Lees, Team Leader, Research & Data Analytics, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
Melinda has 25 years of experience working as a data analyst and researcher across both public and private sectors. She currently leads the Data Analytics team at NCVER, managing a range of statistical projects. In her previous role at NCVER, Melinda was responsible for managing the total VET activity and VET in Schools collections and reporting.
Melinda has Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing
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