Extension and the VET sector : time for closer alignment?

Extension (industry training) and VET (the formal vocational education and training system), each vital to Australia's education and training for agriculture, have developed as separate domains. Recent research suggests that the potential of closer alignment should be further explored. Extension provides usually non-certified courses to primary producers. The VET sector involves accredited training in a quality- assured national framework. Despite subsidy incentives for producers to access VET, they are increasingly interested in the short courses and flexible delivery offered by extension. This paper explores implications for improving outcomes from investment in training and for rural capacity building from a project in which a sample of management level extension courses across Australia was analysed for the extent of alignment with VET. 84 percent of these extension courses are mapped to training package competencies. The potential is there for VET to capture new enrolees for its diploma and advanced diploma courses. Closer alignment between sectors would facilitate this process.