Certificate IV qualification for the delivery and assessment of foundation skills – update

Throughout June Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA) conducted a consultation process to scope a proposed certificate IV qualification that would equip VET practitioners with the skills and knowledge to address the foundation skills needs of learners.

 Scoping process and findings

Targeted consultations were held in a number of locations and more than 50 written responses to the scoping discussion paper were received from individuals and organisations representing a wide range of stakeholders.

Key findings from the scoping process were:

  •  widespread acknowledgement of a gap in VET workforce capability, but little support for a new certificate IV qualification as an appropriate workforce development solution
  • many suggestions for a more narrowly focussed product, such as a skill set or qualification stream, to extend the skills and knowledge of vocational practitioners
  • questions about the fitness for purpose of the current TAE certificate IV and diploma qualifications in relation to equipping VET practitioners with the ability to address the foundation skills needs of their learners.

Recommendations for development

Findings from the scoping process were considered by IBSA’s National Project Reference Group (NPRG) at a meeting on 16 July 2012. After considering a number of options, the NPRG recommended that IBSA should:

  • develop a new skill set within the TAE10 Training Package comprising the existing units TAELLN401 and TAELLN501 and new units focused on sourcing specialist expertise and resources, working collaboratively with LLN specialists and effective instructional strategies for building foundation skills within a vocational training context. Units developed for the new skill set will be made available as electives in both the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and the TAE50111 Diploma of VET providing a developmental pathway between the two qualifications.
  • continue to monitor the fitness for purpose of the TAE40110 and the TAE50111 to ensure that they meet the needs of the VET workforce. The NPRG noted that the structure of both of these qualifications will be changed in 2014 to move current LLN elective units into the core – TAELLN401 into the core of the TAE40110, and TAELLLN501 into the core of the TAE50111.

Development work on the new skill set will be conducted between August and November 2012.

Further information about the project will be added to the IBSA website as the project progresses.

Thanks to all the members of the WA Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALaN) Network that contributed to this result. This was the most popular topic on the CGEA Network Google Group this year.

IBSA Foundation Skills projects status update

 

It is all systems go at IBSA on the foundations skills front!

Here is brief status report to help you keep up.

The Foundation Skills Training Package  was released in draft form at the end of April. Feedback is now being considered. Western Australia hosted webinars that were reviewed by the project team so hopefully we should have some impact on improving the next version.  We are expecting a draft of the companion volume in July and the Training Package itself to be complete by September.

Work is proceeding  to implement the unit TAELLN401A as core in Cert IV TAA.  This will mean that all vocational practitioners will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of a range of ways to meet the literacy, English language and numeracy needs of students seeking vocational qualifications. The skills profile needed for trainers and assessors of this unit

 Scoping of a Certificate IV for delivery/assessment of Foundation Skills has commenced. Feedback is due by 22 June 2012

The discussion paper proposes that this qualifaction is not for specialist literacy practioners but for those in the workforce who require a broader understanding of foundation skills to fulfil their VET sector role. Examples suggested are people writing currciulum and learning resources, those wishing to work better in a team teaching role with a LLN specialist and lead practioners.

Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma are also being discussed.

To get the full details and more information about what is happening in this area visit  IBSA’s current projects site