About Strategy and Research (Equity)
The Queensland VET Development Centre's Strategy and Research (Equity) unit, assists Queensland registered training organisations (RTOs) to build capacity to respond to the diversity and difference of their learners.
The unit provides policy information, resources and advice so that barriers that affect learners' achievement of vocational outcomes are addressed. In doing so, it seeks to reduce the fragmentation that often characterises response to particular groups of learners and to develop practices that are inclusive and equitable for all learners.
Its focus is to ensure that specific consideration is given to addressing skills development for people who are:
- under-represented in vocational education and training across the range of programs and levels
- not achieving completion rates, qualifications or progression at a similar level as the remainder of the population.
At times, explicit advice will be provided regarding action necessary to ensure that opportunities are available for learners who may experience particular disadvantage in accessing vocational training programs and services. These learners may identify as one or more of the following:
- young people at risk
- mature age people
- people with a disability, mental health concern, temporary injury or health condition
- people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
- people who are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, and people of South Sea Islander background
- people who are carers
- people who are new arrivals and / or refugees
- people who live in remote communities, or communities with concentrations of people with low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds, have low incomes and access to few services
- people in juvenile justice centres or correctional facilities
- women, particularly those in low-paid jobs with family responsibilities.
