Outward Bound Australia: Reflecting on integrating vocational education into the workplace

Abstract

Abstract Since 1999, Outward Bound Australia has been delivering a nationally recognised training program developed under the umbrella of a restructured Vocational Education and Training Sector in Australia. As both a trainer and employer, Outward Bound Australia provides a well-integrated package of on and off-the-job experience that supports the achievement of graduates from a 12 month internship program. This paper reflects upon the motivations for change in the industry and the experience of integrating vocational education in the workplace. Introduction Vocational education and training in Australia has undergone a substantial restructure over the last 15 years. This period of change has paralleled the move by the outdoor recreation and education industry to establish a national system of training and qualifications. The outdoor industry was able to benefit from the impetus and the money from the national restructure to establish a comprehensive range of nationally recognised competencies and qualifications that are being delivered by both public and private providers. Outward Bound Australia (OBA) is one organisation that has been able to integrate this new training model into their existing training system to offer an internship with significant amounts of on-the-job training and experience. At the completion of the internship and all assessment requirements, OBA interns are able to earn a nationally recognised qualification. Vocational Education and Training in Australia Prior to the 1990s Australian vocational education and training depended greatly upon the traditional colleges such as TAFE (Technical and Further Education). This model worked well for vocations in areas such as manufacturing and construction (typically focusing on the needs of young men working fulltime in a narrow range of occupations, normally trades (Australian National Training Authority, 2005b)). With the continued growth of the services industry in the 1980s, the increase of the number of women returning to work, as well as the establishment of a range of private training providers, there needed to be a new co-ordinated direction for vocational and educational training (VET). In 1992, the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) was established as a co-operative venture between federal, state and territory governments. Through a process of significant review and consultation, the vocational education system was restructured to provide flexibility, cross recognition (between states and across industry sectors), articulation into degrees, career paths and the increase in the number of private training providers who were able to deliver nationally recognised training and qualifications. The vehicle chosen to implement these changes was a competency-based system. Outdoor recreation and education Outdoor recreation and education--similar or different? Outdoor education in Australia has existed since the 1930s with movements such as the Scouts, YWCA and YMCA as well as school based outdoor education/ recreation programs at outdoor centres. From the 1980s there has been a substantial increase in the number of participants and the number of providers of outdoor education programs. In each state and territory of Australia outdoor education varies, which may be due to differences in the position of outdoor education in the school curriculum. For example outdoor education and environmental studies is part of the formal Victorian senior school curriculum (Victorian Certificate of Education) while in New South Wales (NSW) outdoor education programs are generally extra-curricula activities. However, outdoor recreation is part of the NSW Personal Development Health and Physical Education program for the Higher School Certificate. These state-by-state differences reflect the different curricula offered by each state and territory Department of Education (e.g. Lugg & Martin, 2001; Pickett & Polley, 2001). …