People studying for their TAE40116 or TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification will need to know about the dimensions of competency. The dimensions of competency are specified as the required knowledge for several TAE units of competency.
Many years ago I published an article about the dimensions of competency. And many people read this article each week. Today, I have published this new article that may help people to further understand this often confusing term. I have used ChatGPT to assist me in developing content for this article.
Please remember to give feedback after you have read this article.
What are the dimensions of competency?
Initially I asked ChatGPT, what are the dimensions of competency? And the response follows.
Competency can be understood as a combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviours required to perform a particular task or job successfully. These dimensions of competency can be further elaborated as follows:
- Knowledge: It refers to the understanding and awareness of information, concepts, and principles related to a particular field or domain. This includes theoretical and practical knowledge gained through education, training, and experience.
- Skills: It refers to the practical application of knowledge to perform a task or activity effectively. It involves the ability to use tools, techniques, and methods to achieve desired results.
- Abilities: It refers to the natural or acquired capacity to perform a particular task or activity. Abilities include physical, cognitive, and social-emotional abilities that enable individuals to perform tasks effectively.
- Behaviours: It refers to the attitudes, values, and habits that individuals exhibit in performing tasks or activities. Positive behaviours such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving are essential for success in any job or task.
Overall, competency can be understood as a multidimensional construct that encompasses knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviours required for successful performance in a particular field or domain.
This was an interesting answer but not the answer I was looking for. Therefore, I asked ChatGPT, what are the 4 dimensions of competency in the Australian VET system? And the response follows.
The Australian VET system has four dimensions of competency, and they are:
- Task skills: Refers to the specific skills required to perform tasks related to a particular job or occupation
- Task management skills: Refers to the ability to plan, organise, and prioritise tasks to achieve desired outcomes efficiently
- Contingency management skills: Refers to the ability to identify and respond to unexpected situations or problems that may arise in a particular job or occupation
- Job/role environment skills: Refers to the ability to understand and adapt to the broader context in which a job or occupation is performed, including the industry, workplace, and cultural factors
These dimensions are used to develop competency standards, training packages, and assessment tools to ensure that individuals have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to perform their jobs or occupations effectively.
This was an excellent answer. The following table compares the ‘official definition’ for dimensions of competency and the response provided by ChatGPT.
[1] https://www.voced.edu.au/vet-knowledge-bank-glossary-vet accessed 16 March 2023
Examples about how to use each dimension of competence
Knowing the definition of the four dimensions of competency is one thing, but examples about how these dimensions are used would help our understanding. Therefore, I asked ChatGPT, to give examples about how to use each dimension of competency for the BSBCMM411 unit of competency. And the response follows.
Example 1
The BSBCMM411 unit of competency in the Australian VET system is ‘Make presentations’. Here are some examples of how each dimension of competency can be used for this unit of competency.
By using each dimension of competency in the BSBCMM411 unit of competency, learners can develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to make effective presentations in a range of contexts and to different audiences.
Example 2
And I asked ChatGPT to give a second example about how to use each dimension of competency for a different unit of competency. The following is the response provided.
The SITHCCC025 unit of competency in the Australian VET system is ‘Prepare and present sandwiches’. Here are some examples of how each dimension of competency can be used for this unit of competency.
By using each dimension of competency in the SITHCCC025 unit of competency, learners can develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to prepare and present a range of sandwiches to a high standard and to meet the needs of different customers in a range of sandwich-making environments.
Example 3
And I asked ChatGPT to give a third example about how to use each dimension of competency for another unit of competency. The following is the response provided.
The CHCAGE011 unit of competency in the Australian VET system is ‘Provide support to people living with dementia’. Here are some examples of how each dimension of competency can be used for this unit of competency.
By using each dimension of competency in the CHCAGE011 unit of competency, learners can develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide support to people living with dementia in a person-centred and compassionate manner, and to meet the needs of different clients in a range of dementia care settings.
In conclusion
There are four dimensions of competency. This article has provided examples to show how each dimension of competency may be applied to three units of competency from different industry sectors.
You could use ChatGPT to create examples for other units of competency that relates to your occupation or area of expertise. The following is the ChatGPT prompt that I used:
Can you give examples about how to use each dimension of competency for the [insert unit code] unit of competency?
ChatGPT does not always give the correct answer. Therefore, you must take responsibility for checking the validity or accuracy of responses provided by ChatGPT.
Please contact Alan Maguire on 0493 065 396 if you want to know more about how to use ChatGPT before and during training.
Do you need help with your TAE studies?
Are you a 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.
Training trainers since 1986
On Target Work Skills 
thoughtful as ever Alan. Your opening made me laugh which is always a good thing.
In my relatively short time at TAFE i never considered these dims of competency when I was developing training materials – and the compliance team never mentioned them.
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