In 2024, our research revealed a lack of Earn While You Learn (EWYL) models in the care and support sectors which exacerbates workforce shortages and creates barriers to attracting and retaining students due to unpaid mandatory placements.
Structural barriers to setting up EWYL models are also having an effect, especially due to the funding of aged care and disability services and the highly casual nature of the workforce,
Our project team will review and analyse various EWYL models outlined in government reports and academic research, including apprenticeships and traineeships.
We will map out systems to identify key actors and drivers across all care and support sectors and develop an EWYL taxonomy to categorise models and features, highlighting similarities and differences. These items will be socialised and refined with internal and external stakeholders.
Fact sheet
Consultation will include:
- relevant commonwealth, state and territory government departments, skills and training departments, i.e. RTOs, GTOs and TAFEs
- key industry stakeholders including unions, peak bodies, employers, apprenticeship and traineeship support and advocacy groups and regulators
- current or past VET learners in EWYL and job seekers looking to upskill
- TAFE Directors Australia and the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia representing private RTOs.
The consultation period will span the 4 stages of the project.