The Education Industry Reference Committee (IRC) is exploring ‘stackable’ skill sets. The aim is to support entry-level trainers and assessors working under supervision prior to attaining their full qualification. In this article, I will answer the following questions:
- What knowledge and skills would benefit a new trainer starting work at an RTO?
- Why would a person do ‘stackable’ skill sets instead of the full qualification?
- Do we need ‘stackable’ skill sets developed for the TAE Training Package?
What knowledge and skills would benefit a new trainer starting work at an RTO?
The immediate knowledge and skills that would benefit a new trainer who is starting work at an RTO are:
- Knowledge about the Australian VET system
- Training skills
- Assessment skills
Knowledge about the Australian VET system
The TAEDES402 Use training packages and accredited courses to meet client needs unit of competency can be used to introduce new trainers to the Australian VET system.
Training skills
A trainer needs the knowledge and skills to plan, organise and deliver group-based learning. This is covered by the TAEDEL401 plan, organise and deliver group based learning unit of competency.
The Standards for RTOs allow an RTO to supervise a new trainer prior to them attaining their TAE qualification, TAE skill set or TAE units of competency. The new trainer can deliver training under supervision, but can not conduct assessments.
Assessment skills
The Standards for RTOs prohibit people without the four specified assessment units of competency from conducting assessments. Therefore, it is good if a new trainer can attain these units as soon as possible:
- TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes
- TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
- TAEASS402 Assess competence
- TAEASS403 Participate in assessment validation.
The ‘stackable’ TAE40116 qualification
I have developed resources for the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification. My TAE40116 training program has been given a ‘stackable structure’, starting with The VET Framework. This covers the essential knowledge to help the new trainer understand VET terminology and concepts about competency-based training. The next topic covered is Competency-based assessment. And the following diagram shows the ‘stackable sequence’ of topics.
The ‘strawberry on top of the stack’ is the elective unit. My recommendation is to select the TAEDEL301 Provide work skill instruction unit of competency and integrate it with the TAEDEL402 Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace unit of competency.
What is being proposed by the Education IRC?
The following has been published to inform us about what is being proposed by the Education IRC.
Reference: TAE Town Hall Series November 2021 (PowerPoints, Slide 10)
There are several issues with what has been proposed. It does not provide a quick pathway to skill-up new trainers to allow them to deliver training and assessment services. And the proposed Assessment Skill Set is missing one of the four specified units of competency that are required to conduct assessments.
The following diagram is an alternative approach. It would provide a quick pathway to skill-up new trainers to allow them to deliver training and assessment services for an RTO.
The above approach does not formally cover VET terminology and concepts about competency-based training. Therefore, the following diagram shows another alternative approach that would be better.
And finally, if we continue with the madness of creating TAE skill sets, the following diagram provides the ‘stackable’ skill sets to support the up-skilling of new trainer employed by an RTO.
Why would a person do ‘stackable’ skill sets instead of the full qualification?
Most RTOs prefer to employ a trainer who has previously attained their full TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification. I have only come across a small number of people who have been employed as a trainer without having the TAE40116 qualification. These people have been plumbers, TESOL/ESL trainers and one expert from the pest control industry.
The vast majority of people seeking employment as a trainer or TAFE teacher working in the Australian VET system will be required to attained the full TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification. Therefore, most people will continue to enrol into the full qualification. They will not want to enrol into a ‘stackable’ skill set because that will not provide the credential required for employment. RTOs that deliver the TAE units of competency will continue to offer the full TAE40116 qualification. It will be unlikely that ‘stackable’ skill sets will be offered because there will not be the demand.
Generally, a person will not want to do ‘stackable’ skill sets. And if they did, then they will struggle to find an RTO offering them.
Do we need ‘stackable’ skill sets developed for the TAE Training Package?
The TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification is already ‘stackable’. If it is implemented using my sequence for delivery, then the aim of supporting entry-level trainers and assessors working under supervision prior to attaining their full qualification can be achieved.
I know of one TAFE that delivered the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification for their own newly employed trainers. This program started with the TAEDEL301 Provide work skill instruction unit of competency. Followed by:
- TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes
- TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
- TAEASS402 Assess competence
- TAEASS403 Participate in assessment validation
And the other core units of competency were delivered to complete the full qualification. This provided a ‘fast-track’ approach to getting their new trainers delivering training and conducting assessments as soon as possible.
The solution is for RTOs to appropriately sequence the delivery of TAE units of competency. The solution is not about creating ‘stackable’ skill sets. There is no need for the Education IRC to introduce ‘stackable’ skill sets. This will be a waste of time and effort. And this will be a waste of tax-payers’ money.
It seems that the members of the Education IRC have lacked the knowledge and experience about the TAE Training Package, how it can be implemented, and how it is actually implemented. Stupid suggestions, such as ‘stackable’ skill sets, should be stopped. Did anyone on the Education IRC try to stop this initiative? And, what other stupid suggestions are going to be pursued during the holistic review of the TAE Training Package?
Further information and advice
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