Friendships and informal networks play an important role in shaping how Vocational and Education and Training (VET) providers meet the local training needs in rural and regional communities, according to a new study at Charles Sturt University (CSU).

 

Researchers at CSU studied the Riverina region of NSW to examine the ways VET providers gather intelligence about training needs in their regional communities.

 

“An important part of the work of VET providers is finding out the training needs of their communities and matching them with appropriately skilled workers,” said Dr Peter Rushbrook from the University’s School of Education.

 

The study found that formal partnerships between VET providers and their clients are “effective” for matching course demand and supply. Perhaps more importantly, informal provider and client membership of organisations such as business associations, community service groups and sporting clubs also created powerful opportunities for communicating information about local training needs.

 

“We were particularly interested in informal relationships between VET providers and their clients, whether employers, students or their parents.”

 

The study also noted that training decisions by providers are often based on traditional course supply and considerations about existing staff and equipment, rather than on community-based research and the use of statistical databases.

 

“We found that VET providers make limited use of regional statistical data,” said Dr Rushbrook. “Making better use of this data could help providers build profiles of program demand and supply.”

 

The research, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCEVR) involved four case studies: the Riverina Institute of TAFE’s Griffith Campus; Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre at Yanco; employer and high school partnership COMPACT; and trailer manufacturer L M Byrne.

 

“We selected the Riverina as a basis for our research because of its manufacturing and rural diversity – and also because it is representative of many of the challenges facing rural society today,” said Dr Rushbrook.