Australia has tended to lag behind the nations leading the field of technology in using its scientific and technological resources. To link technology more closely with industry and economic growth, the Australian government has taken many initiatives in recent years. The new technologies are having an impact on societies and the individuals within those societies in three ways: economic impact and unemployment, impact on the quality of life, and emotional and intellectual impact. In general, Australians have ambivalent attitudes toward science and technology. Conflict between their rational and emotional responses is evident. For many, feelings of resistance to new technologies are deeply felt and mostly negative. The use of technology is affected by extremes of choice, alternative futures, and extent of trust in decisionmakers. The basis for making choices is informed debate. Recent developments in technical and vocational (T&V) education in Australia have focused on courses about the social implications of technology. No research has been done concerning the impact of technology courses on the perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and personalities of students in the T&V sector. This deficiency must be corrected if recommendations for action are to be made. The T&V education sector has a future role in promoting a use of technology which adequately takes account of individual human beings and their needs. (Appendixes include a list of 59 references and student performance objectives.) (YLB)