Many VET teachers have difficulty ensuring that their qualifications are relevant and current to meet the human resource requirements of the Training Packages they deliver and assess. As a result of this need VETnetwork, Australia (Queensland chapter) has endorsed a model for Professional Development that will enable teachers to obtain vocational qualifications in their specific industry.
Objectives include:
- to provide vocational teachers an opportunity to gain qualifications equal to or higher than they are delivering
- to maintain currency of skills and knowledge of industry
- to network with other vocational teachers
- to meet continual improvement indicators and professional standards performance criteria for Queensland teachers.
Four Registered Training Organisations are providing teachers with an opportunity to submit an RPL application. Once the application is received, teachers will be contacted by the RTO and an interview conducted. There is no need to forward certificates and qualifications with the RPL application. If the teacher is granted RPL, an invoice for $200 will be forwarded with the qualification following.
If the teacher does not have sufficient evidence the RTO will identify the gap training required and will organise for industry currency to be obtained or for training to be undertaken in the core units or electives that are identified. Teachers will be invoiced for this training or industry engagement. A teacher requiring an RPL assessment, industry currency and training in both core and electives would be expecting to pay no more than $800.
The model enables teachers to participate in a number of days of professional development over a period of a year. If a teacher selects the full four days the cost to the school would be $600 but individual days could be nominated for $200 per day (Costs may increase for regional deliveries).
Day 1 - RPL Day
Teachers will be provided with a list of documents relative to the particular qualification and a third party report that is to be presented on the day. Conversations with the trainers will identify any gaps that require further PD and a Statement of Results issued for any units that are acquitted through the RPL process.
Day 2 - Currency
This will be a currency day where teachers are able to find out current information about the industry - it could involve industry representatives, industry visits or industry placement.
Day 3 - Core units of Competency
This will focus on the core units of competency in the relevant qualification. This will be a training day with teachers taking part in a range of training activities, demonstrations and oral questions. A statement of results will be issued.
Day 4 - Electives
This will focus on the electives from the particular qualification. Teachers will take part in a range of training activities, demonstrations and oral questions. A statement of results will be issued.
Participation in VETnetwork's annual industry network day to validate Training and Assessment Strategies and assessment tools would complement this professional development model.
Contact details for Registered Training Organisations involved in this initiative are:
a) Hospitality - Certificate I and II: La-Vere College (www.lavere.com.au)
b) Business - Certificate I, II, III, Information Technology (IT) Certificate I and II and Financial Services - Certificate III:
1) Sandra Harrington
33 Yiada Street
Kedron 4031 QLD
sandraharr@bigpond.com
2) Sandra Kenman
PO Box 1029
New Farm 4005 QLD
kenman@edserve.com.au
Fax: 07 3358 5881
c) Automotive, Furnishing, Engineering and Construction - Certificates I and II: Australian Trade College North Brisbane (www.tradecollege.com.au)
d) Community Recreation - Certificate II: Binnacle Training College (www.asfc.com.au).
The RPL documents required for each RTO are attached but are also available in the Members Only section of the VETnetwork Australia website.
