(This review, by Anne Hugo, first appeared in Youth Field Xpress, August 2007 edition.)
In this report, the Dusseldorp Skills Forum recommends investments and reforms for "[delivering] on the great opportunities Australia has ahead of it". Failing to capitalise on this opportunity will mean, says the DSF, that "Young Australians without basic educational attainments and levels of engagement will not be adequately equipped to cope with the demands being made of them either in the workplace or in the wider society". The report indicates that as of May 2007, 22 per cent of young adults and 13.8 per cent of teenagers were not engaged in either full-time work or full-time study. It highlights the fact that the completion of Year 12 does make a difference to young people's future chances of being engaged in full-time study or work. 'It's crunch time' asks Australia to "open the doors to greater youth engagement in learning", arguing that "many of the building blocks are already in place, but we need to do things differently, not just create more pathways and more programs".
Ten main reform areas are suggested:
In this report, the Dusseldorp Skills Forum recommends investments and reforms for "[delivering] on the great opportunities Australia has ahead of it". Failing to capitalise on this opportunity will mean, says the DSF, that "Young Australians without basic educational attainments and levels of engagement will not be adequately equipped to cope with the demands being made of them either in the workplace or in the wider society". The report indicates that as of May 2007, 22 per cent of young adults and 13.8 per cent of teenagers were not engaged in either full-time work or full-time study. It highlights the fact that the completion of Year 12 does make a difference to young people's future chances of being engaged in full-time study or work. 'It's crunch time' asks Australia to "open the doors to greater youth engagement in learning", arguing that "many of the building blocks are already in place, but we need to do things differently, not just create more pathways and more programs".
Ten main reform areas are suggested:
- successful transitions for all students from primary to secondary schooling;
- purposeful student learning during the "middle years";
- high quality vocational education in schools and in structured learning at workplaces;
- realistic and rigorous training and work options for students to complete their education;
- support for intermediaries and incentives for apprentices to complete their training;
- second chance options for young adults to complete year 12 or its equivalent;
- renewed purpose and scope for traineeships;
- personal support or mentoring for every potential early school leaver to make a successful transition to further learning or work;
- improved teacher support and preparation for 'hard to teach' students;
- an Indigenous presence in schools and support for Indigenous students and communities.
Specific actions are suggested for each area, such as, a stronger focus on literacy and numeracy as foundations for learning, renewed emphasis on the quality of vocational education, and better support arrangements for early school leavers. The paper also highlights the potential role that industry can play, as well as the role of "demand-side intermediaries like group training organisations".
'It's crunch time' is available from both the DSF, http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/198.html and from the Australian Industry Group, at http://www.aigroup.asn.au The DSF MySpace page also features information on the report, including video clips of young people, teachers, mentors, support workers and spokespeople from social policy organizations talking about the programs and types of support available to help young people engage in learning and/or work: http://www.myspace.com/dusseldorpskillsforum (Source: Dusseldorp Skills Forum and Australian Industry Group 2007, 'It's crunch time for 306,000 young Australians', media release, 6 August, Dusseldorp Skills Forum, viewed 9 August, downloaded from: http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/198.html )
'It's crunch time' is available from both the DSF, http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/198.html and from the Australian Industry Group, at http://www.aigroup.asn.au The DSF MySpace page also features information on the report, including video clips of young people, teachers, mentors, support workers and spokespeople from social policy organizations talking about the programs and types of support available to help young people engage in learning and/or work: http://www.myspace.com/dusseldorpskillsforum (Source: Dusseldorp Skills Forum and Australian Industry Group 2007, 'It's crunch time for 306,000 young Australians', media release, 6 August, Dusseldorp Skills Forum, viewed 9 August, downloaded from: http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/198.html )