TRAINING DOWN UNDER! A LOOK AT INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY IN AUSTRALIA

Sydney Australia, Photo By: Michael McDonough

In researching the Instructional Design and Technology trends of Australia, I found many similarities to the Instructional Technology experiences I have had in learning and in practice. The Australian Institute of Training and Development, similar to The Association for Talent Development in the United States presents an array of resources for members. Including scholarly articles outlining current trends in training and development. The Australian trends for IDT are focusing more and more on the technology side of the field. There is an increased focus on eLearning, including distance education, blended learning, HTML5 creation, gamification, mobile learning, MOOCs, learning management systems, training video production, social media, and a bring your own device approach to learning at all levels. The organization cites a growing separation between the fields within IDT and an unsure economy among the reasons for a need increase resources that are applicable across all of the sectors of Instructional Technology.

In exploring the history of Instructional Design and Technology in Australia, the article, What's in a name! That which we call a course by any other name would smell as sweet from The Australian Journal of Educational Technology written by James H. Strain and Alistair Inglis, gives an insightful look into the value Australians and the Australian government places on effective training. The Training Guarantee Act that came into effect in Australia in 1990 exemplifies the value seen in IDT.  “The Training Guarantee Act requires employers with an annual national payroll of $200,000 or more to spend the equivalent of 1% of this payroll on eligible training expenditure” (Strain, p. 3, 1990). The Training Guarantee Act was created because it was found in many industries and government agencies there was little or no training being provided to the workforce. The Australian government recognized the economic and social benefits of a well-trained workforce and therefore passed the bill in 1989. The Training Guarantee Act encouraged employers to see training as an investment instead of a coast burden.

I also found several training, certificate, graduate, and PhD programs for the field of Instructional Design and Technology available in Australia. Course outlines for these programs vary based on concentration, but I did find there is a consistent focus on not only the technology but the pedagogy as well. A sample of a graduate program from the distinguished University of Sydney can be found here: The University of Sydney: Master of Learning Sciences and Technology.

Check Out More Resources!

Education in Australia: Past, Present, Future
This fun, quick YouTube Video provides fast facts that really show the Australian government's and the population's appreciation and support of education and the growth of technology in education.

The Australian Institute of Training and Development
Great, all encompassing resource for instructional designers, trainers, and educators in Australia.

The University of Sydney: Master of Learning Sciences and Technology
Example of curriculum for an Instructional Design & Technology student in Australia. Provides a good look into the similarities and differences between a U.S. and Australian course of study.

Australasian Journal of Educational Technology
Collection of scholarly journal articles about every facet of the field of Instructional Design and Technology. 

Strain, J. H., & Inglis, A. (1990). What’s in a name! That which we call a course by any other name would smell as sweet. The Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 6(1). Retrieved from file:///Users/terriboyer/Downloads/2311-7292-1-SM.pdf