The value of education in helping alleviate disadvantage has long been acknowledged. Vocational education and training (VET) offers one pathway that Indigenous people are increasingly taking. NCVER data show that in recent years Indigenous people have participated in training at a higher rate than their representation in the Australian population, but at lower qualification levels.

See Indigenous VET statistics for further information.

Saunders, et al (2003) found that from 1997 to 2001 participation rates of Indigenous students showed: 

• a trend towards more participation in Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) courses
• they tend to engage in lower-level courses but this is shifting with an increase in numbers of students participating in higher-level qualifications
• despite the increase in participation rates the pass rates continue to be lower than for all students
• in fact, a decrease in pass rates and an increase in withdrawal rates.

Another significant variation between Indigenous student and general student population is their location. Saunders, et al (2003) found that a large proportion of Indigenous students were located in rural and remote areas.