PERSONAL INTEREST LEARNING


Personal interest learning is structured learning that does not lead to a recognised qualification and is not related to employment. It is therefore largely undertaken on a self-motivated basis for a range of reasons including the pursuit of knowledge, personal development, interest and enjoyment.


PARTICIPATION IN PERSONAL INTEREST LEARNING

In the 12 months to April 2013, an estimated 1.4 million Australians (8.4%) participated in structured personal interest learning. Personal interest learning was more prevalent amongst women, with 10% participating in at least one course compared with 6.6% of men. (Table 1)

Participation was the highest amongst people aged 15-19, with 11% of people in this age group participating. Older people (aged 65-74 years) were more likely to participate in personal interest learning (8.7%) than to participate in either work-related training (5.5%) or formal learning (1.1%). (Table 1)

People living in areas of relatively high socio-economic disadvantage (Quintile 1) were less likely to participate in personal interest learning than people living in areas where disadvantage is low (Quintile 5) (4.8% compared with 12%). (Table 1 - Index of Socio-Economic Disadvantage).

Across the states and territories, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of people undertaking at least one personal interest learning course (12%). (Table 1)

Graph 3.1: Participation in personal interest learning by state or territory - April 2013 (a)



CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST RECENT COURSE

Most of those who participated in personal interest learning in the last 12 months participated in one course (71%), 17% participated in two courses, and 12% participated in three or more courses. Women were more likely than men to do two or more courses (32% compared with 26%). (Table 11 and 12)

Based on the most recent personal interest learning course undertaken in the last 12 months, the main reasons reported by respondents for participating was personal development (59%) and enjoyment or interest (37%). (Table 12)

Unlike work-related training, where most participants did not incur personal costs for the training, 71% of people who undertook personal interest learning incurred costs for their most recent course. Of those who participated, 12% incurred costs between $1 and $99, 15% between $100 and $199 and 42% incurred costs of $200 or more. An estimated 60% of people living in Tasmania incurred costs for their most recent personal interest learning course compared with 77% of people living in the Northern Territory. (Table 11)