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Modern Awards and Skill Development Through Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Damian Oliver
Damian Oliver*
Affiliation:
Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia
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Abstract

Vocational education and training (VET) and industrial relations systems are inherently linked. The Federal Government aims to increase the number of workers with VET qualifications but it is unclear how this policy is being supported through the industrial relations framework, in particular by the new system of modern awards. Research into training outcomes has shown that job-related factors are linked to completion rates among apprentices and trainees. An analysis of a cross-section of relevant modern awards reveals that award modernisation has had a small negative impact on the wage arrangements for apprenticeships. Modern awards continue to provide no recognition for some categories of workers who have undertaken VET qualifications through traineeships.

Keywords

Apprentice wagesaward-dependent occupationsinitial vocational education and trainingmodern awardsreturns on trainingskill formationtraineeshipstraining reformvocational qualifications
Type
Symposium: Innovation, Skills and Training
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , December 2010 , pp. 99 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2010

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