Suchergebnisse

The National Training Reform Strategy identifies two broad policy goals that can be aided by reform of Australia's vocational training system. Implementation of the strategy is intended to improve Australia's competitiveness both internationally and domestically and also improve the quality of life of all Australians, including disadvantaged groups, through greater access to and quality in employment. Australia has been identified as one of the most gender segregated workforces amongst all industrial nations. Women are concentrated in service industries and in a small range of occupations which have not traditionally had their skills recognised or credentialised. The reform agenda offers a number of broad strategies that are designed to improve women's equity in employment. This paper sets out to explore the promise of reform for women workers in two areas of service sector employment: hospitality and retailing industries. It questions whether the training policy is adequately addressing structural biases faced by women in the workforce.

Since the early 1980s, governments and policy makers in Australia have emphasized the importance of the national skills base to the attainment of international competitiveness. Workforce training programs and institutions have undergone considerable restructuring as a consequence. In recent years, there has also been a rapid growth in the use of contract labour supplied by agencies to perform specific functions. This paper addresses the impact of these concurrent developments in the area of clerical and administrative work. Focusing on two key areas of public sector employment, the Australian Public Service and the higher education system, it highlights the potentially damaging effects a reliance on contract employees can have on training and the skills base.