Three generations: Exploring approaches to workplace literacy and numeracy

This paper has been commissioned by the New South Wales Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET). The paper focuses upon workplace language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) issues in the light of international comparative survey data which suggests that over seven million Australians are deemed likely to experience literacy difficulties in everyday life; and nearly eight million are likely to experience difficulties with numeracy. These figures represent approximately half of Australia’s working age population (Industry Skills Councils, 2011). The authors propose a rethink of how workplace LLN skills are conceptualised and developed. They argue that the first (preparatory) and second (remedial) generation of approaches to address the needs of the modern workplace are now inadequate. They describe the evolution of a third generation approach which moves beyond the deficit model, the developmental systems model, which will complement the two earlier generations. The characteristics of this model are explored and the role of the vocational education and training (VET) sector in facilitating the necessary developments considered.