Author Description

Recent research and policy documents on indigenous Australians' development needs and aspirations were reviewed to determine their impact on current developments in vocational education and training (VET) research and policy. Special attention was paid to the work of indigenous community-controlled organizations in areas such the following: land; health; housing; employment; economic development; community development; cultural maintenance and revival; law and justice; and local, community, and regional self-government and self-determination. Among the review's main conclusions were the following: (1) current policy settings and research on the educational needs of indigenous Australians have been overly influenced by human capital theory and economic rationalist policy; (2) an alternative approach to VET research and provision for indigenous communities and development of alternative pathways to indigenous development are needed; (3) Aboriginal poverty is due not to people's deficits in "human capital" but rather to the lack of public or private sector support for alternative indigenous forms of economic and social organization; and (4) national VET policies and research should be refocused to reflect the special role that independent Aboriginal community-controlled organizations play in facilitating Aboriginal peoples' social and economic objectives. (The report contains 53 references. Appended is a brief discussion of the project participants and methodology.) (MN)