Research messages 2010 is a collection of summaries of research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning: VET system; and VET in context. Research messages 2010 also has an overview essay that captures the themes and highlights from the research for the year. This paper presents the following summaries: (1) Developing the childcare workforce: understanding "fight" or "flight" amongst workers (Tanya Bretherton); (2) Work, skills and training in the Australian red meat processing sector (Kent Norton and Mike Rafferty); (3) The role of VET in alcohol and other drugs workforce development (Ken Pidd, Ann Roche, and Amanda Carne); (4) What would it take? Employer perspectives on employing people with a disability (Peter Waterhouse, Helen Kimberley, Pam Jonas, and John Glover); (5) Responding to changing skill demands: training packages and accredited courses (Josie Misko); (6) Where tradies work: a regional analysis of the labour market for tradespeople (Phil Lewis and Michael Corliss); (7) Does support for VET reduce employee churn? A case study in local government (Kath Curry); (8) Against the odds: influences on the post-school success of "low performers" (Sue Thomson and Kylie Hillman); (9) Returns from education: an occupational status approach (Jung-Sook Lee); (10) Breaking down the barriers: strategies to assist apprentices with a learning disability (Sandra Cotton); (11) Education and happiness in the school-to-work transition (Alfred M. Dockery); (12) The impact of wages on the probability of completing an apprenticeship or traineeship (Tom Karmel and Peter Mlotkowski); (13) Post-school education and labour force participation in Canada and Australia (Siobhan Austen and Fiona MacPhail); (14) The role of vocational education and training in the labour market outcomes of people with disabilities (Cain Polidano and Kostas Mavromaras); (15) Who works beyond the "standard" retirement age and why? (Chris Ryan and Mathias Sinning); (16) Analysis of private returns to vocational education and training (Wang-Sheng Lee and Michael Coelli); (17) Measures of student success: can we predict module-completion rates? (Jeanette Learned); (18) Using rubrics to support graded assessment in a competency-based environment (Sherridan Maxwell); (19) Blind date: an exploration for potential partnerships between literacy teachers and community service workers (Ann Leske); (20) Practitioner expectations and experiences with the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104) (Berwyn Clayton, Dave Meyers, Andrea Bateman, and Robert Bluer); (21) Training and assessment (TAA40104) in community providers in New South Wales: participant intentions and outcomes (Ruth Walker); (22) Approaches to research priorities for policy: a comparative study (Diana Wilkinson); (23) The future of VET: a medley of views (Francesca Beddie and Penelope Curtin [Editors]); (24) The effectiveness of the traineeship model (Tom Karmel, Davinia Blomberg, and Monika Vnuk); (25) How reasons for not completing apprenticeships and traineeships change with duration (Tom Karmel and Peter Mlotkowski); (26) Building capability in vocational education and training providers: the TAFE cut (Hugh Guthrie and Berwyn Clayton); (27) Expanding national vocational education and training statistical collections: private provider engagement (Andrew C. Smith, Rosemary Potter, and Peter J. Smith); (28) An investigation of TAFE efficiency (Peter Fieger, Tom Karmel, and John Stanwick); (29) A short history of initial VET teacher training (Hugh Guthrie); (30) Professional development in the vocational education and training workforce (Hugh Guthrie); (31) Vocational education and training workforce data 2008: a compendium (Hugh Guthrie [Editor]); (32) Dustman, milliner and watchcase maker: skilling Australia (Francesca Beddie); (33) Crediting vocational education and training for learner mobility (Sandra Walls and John Pardy); (34) Mixed-sector tertiary education: implications for self-accrediting and other higher education institutions (Gavin Moodie); (35) Annual transitions between labour market states for young Australians (Hielke Buddelmeyer and Gary Marks); (36) The incidence and wage effects of overskilling among employed VET graduates (Kostas Mavromaras, Seamus McGuiness, and Yin King Fok); (37) The role of VET in preventing the scarring effect of youth joblessness (Hielke Buddelmeyer and Nicolas Herault); and (38) Skilling and reskilling for our (greener) future (Tom Karmel).