Will changing the TAE40116 qualification stop the complaints?

Two new TAE qualifications were approved by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) on the 8th of November 2022 and endorsed by Skills Ministers on the 18th of November 2022.

The two new TAE qualifications are:

• TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (to replace the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment)
• TAE50122 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (to replace the TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development)

This article is focused on the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and its replacement.

TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

The TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment has probably been the most hated qualification in the Australian VET system of all time. However, I am one of the few people that thought it was a reasonable qualification that had been designed for people wanting to enter the VET workforce as a trainer and assessor. But it does not matter what I think because many others loudly complained about the TAE40116 qualification.

Complaints included:

• The TAE40116 qualification was not fit-for-purpose.
• Irrelevant Units of Competency were included.
• The TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools is a core unit for the qualification and it was too difficult for many TAE Students.
• Sometimes it was difficult for TAE Students to assemble at least 8 people to be an audience for their group-based training sessions.
• Some topics were not being covered.

In regards to this last complaint, many topics were covered by the Units of Competency but some RTOs delivering the TAE40116 qualification do not allocate training time to cover these topics. The problem was not with the design of the TAE40116 qualification. The problem was the way RTOs delivered their training programs.

TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

The TAE40122 qualification has done nothing to address the complaint that the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is not fit-for-purpose. The qualification continues to be for entry-level VET teachers, trainers and assessors who will work for an RTO. Nothing has changed. Therefore, this complaint about the qualification being not fit-for-purpose is likely to continue into the future.

The TAE40122 qualification has increased the number of Units of Competency, from 10 units to 12 units. This increases the amount of assessments to be completed and increases the chances of irrelevant units needing to be delivered as part of the qualification. There are a range of units that many TAE Students will continue to find difficult, and many units have additional complexity. Therefore, the complaints about irrelevant and difficult units are likely to continue into the future.

The number of people needing to be assembled for delivery group-based training sessions has been reduced, from 8 people to 4 people. I am surprised that RTOs employing new TAE Graduates have thought that delivering 30-minute training sessions to 4 people was reflective of typical workplace requirements. Anyway, this requirement makes it easier for RTOs delivering the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Therefore, the complaints from RTOs delivering the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment should reduced. However, will RTOs employing new TAE Graduates be satisfied with the capabilities of new TAE Graduates? Will the complaints by RTOs employing new TAE Graduates increase?

Many TAE Students are dissatisfied with the way their TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification is delivered.

• Overloaded with terminology and jargon
• Complicated assessment instructions
• Poor quality training materials
• Limited or no training, or the pace is too fast
• Poor quality trainer, or change of trainer because previous trainer leaves
• Slow or no feedback, or feedback that is difficult to decipher.

Will RTOs delivering the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification improve the quality of their training and assessment service? Time will tell. However, the additional complexity of some units is likely to make the TAE40122 qualification more difficult for the TAE Students. The duration of the TAE40122 qualification is likely to increase, and the cost may increase. Therefore, the complaints about the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment are likely to continue.

Do you need help with your TAE studies?

Are you doing the TAE40116 or TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and are you struggling with your studies? Do you want help with your TAE40116 or TAE40122 studies?

Ring Alan Maguire on 0493 065 396 to discuss.

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Training trainers since 1986