New study into pre-apprenticeships contradicts previous findings

A new study has shown that pre-apprenticeships improve the likelihood of apprentices completing an apprenticeship, contrary to the findings of an earlier study.

The report, A Study Into Pre-Apprenticeship Delivery Models and their Labour Market Outcomes, said, “The (pre-apprenticeship) programme is a valuable mechanism to increase apprentice completion rates as it addresses one of the chief causes of non-completion; that is, the mismatch between the expectations of a new apprentice and the reality of life in the trade.”

In a sample of public and private sector organisations that deliver pre-apprenticeships, the study found:

• The average rate of course completion was 77%
• The articulation rate into an apprenticeship averaged 70-80%
• The chances of a person completing an apprenticeship are higher if they have undertaken a pre-apprenticeship
• There is strong employment demand for students who have undertaken pre-apprenticeships

The study also found that, aside from the positive effect on completion rates, pre-apprenticeships offer other benefits. Participants have the opportunity to decide if they are suited to a trade career, ‘filtering’ out those who are not. Pre-apprenticeships also offer ‘value-adding’, lifting participants’ grasp of trade theory and practice and addressing deficiencies in literacy, numeracy and general employability.

The study was undertaken in response to a National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) study that found pre-apprenticeships had little impact on apprenticeship completions.

“Given the long association with and importance of pre-apprenticeships to group training, the NCVER findings surprised many people, not only across the group training network, but across the VET sector,” said Jim Barron, Chief Executive of Group Training Australia, the company that commissioned the study.

“We felt that it was important to test the conclusions of the report and to ensure that the NCVER work would not be the last word on pre-apprenticeships from a public policy perspective.”

This most recent study was conducted by Dr Philip Toner, Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney and Chris Lloyd of consultancy firm Wiyanga.

“Well targeted and supported pre-apprenticeship programs have long been central to achieving increased commencement, progression and completion rates in apprenticeships,” said Jim Barron, Chief Executive of GTA.

“This study provides further evidence of the key role they play in building sustainable apprenticeship and training pathways.”

Barron said that the report demonstrates that investment and policy debate should be centred on pre-apprenticeships as they are critical for both mentoring and recruitment.