This document traces the development of Australia's technical and further education (TAFE) system, which offers a wide range of courses providing education and training for employment at the operative, trade, and paraprofessional levels, as well as general education and literacy programs. The following are among the topics discussed: (1) general principles of TAFE and features distinguishing TAFE institutes from other tertiary institutes; (2) TAFE's historical background (technical education between 1890 and 1970, Commonwealth Government intervention in education to 1970); (3) the Whitlam years (Australia in the early 1970s, pressures for change to technical education, the Kangan committee, the Australian Committee on Technical and Further Education recommendations); (4) Commonwealth policy directions between 1976 and 1982 (the Fraser Government's policies; the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission, major government reports); (5) changes in TAFE between 1976 and 1982; (6) the Hawke government's early years (labor market programs, review of TAFE funding, the demise of Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission funding); (7) the late 1980s (Skills for Australia, the National Board of Employment Education and Training, the restructuring of higher education, industrial award restructuring, the National Training Board); (8) the restructuring of state TAFE systems; (9) the progression from TAFE to vocational education and training; and (10) TAFE in the late 1990s and beyond. (Contains 190 references.) (MN)