PROJECTS :

Skills Across the World
International Volunteers
Showcases projects undertaken by young skills teams working with local communities in Zimbabwe, East Timor, Kenya and Cape York and gives a feel for the realities on the ground for organisations and individuals wishing to do something similar.

Slingshot
Youth Self-employment
Slingshot gives disadvantaged young people the resources and support to develop their own self-employment initiatives into sustainable businesses or achieve economic or social outcomes. This site showcases its work in Melbourne and provides links and contacts.

More Projects...

PAPERS :

Keynote Speech by Jack Dusseldorp to Australian TAFE Directors Conference
Keynote Speech by Jack Dusseldorp to Australian TAFE Directors Conference, Sydney, September 23, 2004

The Evaluation of Soft Skills in the Workplace
This paper discusses the workplace evaluation of soft skills using a process developed in the context of WorldSkills challenges. It provides a definition of soft skills and discusses the applicability of the process to industry, particularly with regard to skill transfer, strengths and gap training.

Declining Apprentice Training Rates: Causes, Consequences and Solutions
This essay considers the implications of the decline in apprenticeship training rates, provides an assessment of the key explanations of this trend and suggests policy recommendations to redress the decline.

Interlink - GJ Dusseldorp Tribute
Explores the contribution GJ (Dick) Dusseldorp made through the building firm, Lend Lease, which he founded - and the legacy he has left us in the form of the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF). [This magazine is only available in printed form, not in download electronic form.

Skills Across the World Newsletter
News from the Zimbabwe Skills Across the World project

Reforming Schools Through Workplace Learning
In association with the Australian Centre for Equity Through Education, the Australian Quality Council, the Australian Student Traineeship Foundation and the National Schools Network. Available through the National Schools Network.

Team Based Learning, the Quick Hut Experience
This paper sets out to test the concept of team-based learning and it relationship to Life Long Learning and non-formal learning. Assumptions made were tested through a project that required the use of knowledge as apposed to skill sets to solve a real world problem.

More papers...

RESOURCES :

Key Work Skills (from Career WorkKeys)
What are the Key Work Skills?

They are a set of 15 generic attributes that are important indicators of employability in most work settings.

Key Work Skills has a particular application with young people who are in their early years in the work force, but it is not intended to be limited to this group.

Key Work Skills is a practical tool that has been designed to allow judgements to be made about a person's performance on each of the 15 employability attributes.

Continuous Learning Improvement Program (CLIP)
The CLIP handbook contains resources for Skill Olympics competitors and their coaches and/or mentors. It was developed by WorkSkill Australia for winners of WSA Regional Finals who go on to compete at the national level. The handbook provides key learning materials and actions to undertake for both the competitor and their trainer by detailing Performance Enhancement exercises, focusing on Key Skills, and taking them through other preparation for a WSA National Final. A printed copy of this Handbook is available by contacting DSF at info@dsf.org.au

Try-A-Trade (Croc Skills) Manual
An easy way to involve the skilled workers in your community in giving a hands on introduction to a range of trade skills to middle school students. Adapted from DSF CrocSkills.

More Resources...

LINKS :

Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training (ACIRRT)
Essential for anyone interested in workplace change in Australia and links to further research.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
The principal research and evaluation organisation for the vocational education and training sector in Australia. Facilitates communication & information exchange within the community.

National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS)
Labour studies research centre based in Flinders University, South Australia. Publications and membership available from the website.

WorldSkills Australia
The Australian Worldskills Organisation. Information about national, regional and school based skill competitions.

More Links...