TRAC was a pioneering program of vocational learning for school students in Years 11 and 12 centred around structured and assessed work placements. It was designed and developed by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum to bridge the almost complete disconnect, at the time, between the skills students acquired through school and the skills they would need to enter the labour market.
By every measure – and there were careful evaluations both by the Forum and by external researchers – TRAC more than achieved its aims. It demonstrated, on a national scale, that upper secondary schools can and should prepare students for work in ways that are rigorous and accredited.
This report by Jane Figgis purpose is to search TRAC’s development, implementation, and eventual devolution for lessons that might be learned – underlying principles that might exist – which could usefully be applied to other of the Forum’s ventures and ambitions.
Dusseldorp Forum has committed to tackling system reform as part of Stronger Places, Stronger People – a five-year commitment by community, federal, and state governments and philanthropy to work together.
Philanthropy has the potential to provide long-term capital that can drive innovation in government policy. In 2010, philanthropist Julius Colman entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Victorian Government.
COVID-19 has further exposed how policy and power structures hold problems in place. It has also provided a unique, timely opportunity to address the structural reform required to strengthen our communities.
April 18, 2021
Dusseldorp Forum acknowledges the First Peoples of Australia and the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we work and live. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and future.
