Dr Shayne Baker OAM

Vice President – Industry Education

An underlying passion for Shayne has been the promotion and opportunities that the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector provides for people that don’t follow the traditional school, university and work model and require alternative pathways and opportunities to achieve qualifications and recognition in order to further their career prospects. The reform of the VET sector in the nineties provided Shayne with opportunities to work in the development of competency-based curriculum and to lead the development of asynchronous flexible, blended learning models for learners in the workplace or the home.

His leadership in the application of flexible learning was recognised in 2000 when he received a Flexible Learning Fellowship from the Australian National Training Authority to study the topic at an international level to support further learning and development. The interest and commitment developed in this field resulted in some innovative approaches being adopted in the TAFE institute and involved Shayne as an active member of the national selection panel for future Flexible Learning Leaders.

The concept of learners being able to undertake learning at a time, location and via medium that suits their individual needs provided a real impetus to extend the learning approach into the work place. The option of learning at work and through work seems a natural progression for vocational education and something that any vocational model should embrace as a critical pedagogical approach in the twenty-first century.

The commitment he has towards the benefits and opportunities that arise through the application of work based learning is exemplified through having obtained his doctorate in 2013 from one of the world’s leading work based learning institutions – Middlesex University.
Shayne has held a range of positions within the Vocational Education & Training sector including (TAFE Institute Director, TAFE Director of Educational Services and Executive Director of Brisbane School of Distance Education).
Shayne brings to the NREA not only his educations expertise but his association expertise as he has served as National President with the Royal Lifesavers Australia.

Qualifications:
Cert IV TAE, DipTAS, Dip Bus, Dip VET, Dip Training, Design & Development
Dip Teach, BEduc, MEduc, DProf