In the year 2000, approximately 13.2% of Australia's working age population (ages 15-64) was involved in some form of vocational education and training (VET) within the country's publicly-funded VET system, which represents an increase of nearly 2% compared with enrollment levels in 1977. Although female participation in VET has improved, males and females continue to undertake markedly different types of training. Australia's VET system has become an attractive option for entry-level training for young people and an increased focus for older individuals wishing to upgrade their skills, retrain, or undertake general interest studies. Students undertaking VET while still attending school account for approximately 8% of Australia's VET students. Rural and remote Australia is being well served by the country's VET system, with proportionally more students than their population shares. The numbers of indigenous peoples participating in recognized VET has increased from 38,000 in 1997 to nearly 52,000 in the year 2000. However, inequalities between indigenous and nonindigenous people in Australia's VET system specifically, from the standpoints of completion rates and levels of training undertaken continue to exist. The number of non-English-speaking students in VET has risen by 14.1% since 1997. The percentage of disabled individuals enrolled in VET continues to remain lower than that of the general population. (Contains 12 tables and 4 figures.) (MN)