CBT — Demarcation by Gender?

Abstract

The reform of the Australian vocational educational and training system promises to overhaul the traditional apprenticeship system and address the major inefficiencies and inequities that have become well entrenched over this century. An issue which is often marginalised in training reform debates, however, is that women's access to trade and technical training has been extremely limited. Women's participation in all apprenticeships, excluding hairdressing, is still around 6 per cent — a participation rate which maintains Australia's record as having one of the most gender segregated workforces of all OECD countries. The following article raises a range of issues about women's exclusion from trade and technical training and questions whether training reform will address gender equity as a key feature of inefficiency in Australian industry. The article suggests that the strategies are available. What is required is a sustained commitment by industry to implementing the necessary strategies to ensure that women are included in the new and developing training structures.