Assessment Tasks

Task 1 - VET questions

Addressing unit:
TAEDES402A Use Training Packages and accredited courses to meet client needs

TASK 1.1 Short answer questions

Answer the following questions:

1. Explain the purpose and function of Training Packages and accredited curriculum and explain the differences between them.
A Training Package is a national standard (industry guideline) for VET training and qualifications that is used to develop, measure, assess and recognise the skills sets and knowledge that a person needs to perform in their job function/industry.

Accredited training or qualifications are developed by RTO’s/Organisations where there are currently no provisions in a Training Package or where there is a (local) skills / industry gap or an apprenticeship that is not covered by a Training Package. Accredited courses must be developed inline with the current national standards (ATQF) and not conflict with any existing Training Package/guidelines.

A proposed accredited course must be submitted for rigorous assessment to the relevant state regulator. Once a course has been accredited by a state regulator, the accreditation last for a period of up to 3yrs in the state that it was accredited. If an RTO/Organisation wishes to deliver this course/training nationally, it must then be submitted to each state and territory training authority where it will be delivered for accreditation.

In summary a Training Package is a nationally recognised qualification based on and developed by 1 of the 11 industry skills councils of Australia. It is based on unique industry requirements and government regulation/legislation. This to ensure training and qualification are of the highest standard. Accredited courses or training are developed to meet training needs for a particular skill set or local training need that has not addressed by existing Training Packages and standard.

2. Explain how Employability Skills work with Units of competency within Training Packages.
There are 8 employability skills; these 8 skills are embedded in every unit of competency within a training package or qualification. These employability skills ensure leaners gain the best opportunity for future employment. Employability skills are the 8 skills clusters that employers expect from their staff.

3. Explain how copyright law impacts on training and assessment in Australia.
All educational institutions in Australia are obligated to adhere to all Commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations relating to copyright.
In the VET sector, an RTO is required by law to firstly identify how it will comply with all regululations, as well as keep their employees & clients informed of their obligations under all relevant legislation and regulations. This is stipulation under SNR 9.1 & 9.2 in the Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2012.
It is also worth mentioning SNR 20.1 & 20.2 & Copyright Act of 1968:
• An RTO must remain compliant at all times with relevant legislation and regulations that relate to their scope of registration & operations.
• The RTO must ensure that both it’s staff & clients are kept informed of all relevant changes to legislation & regulations in the VET system.
• The Copyright Act of 1968 under part VB allows for all educational institutions to use third party material in their learning/training environments. This can be done without prior consent, however this must be done within the limitations of the Statutory Education Licence, which is overseen by the Copyright Agency.

4. Explain the purpose of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and identify three differences between the two AQF levels you have chosen to work with.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) provides a comprehensive, nationally consistent yet flexible framework for all qualifications in education and training. The Framework was introduced nationally on the 1st of January 1995.
The AQF recognises that the schools sector, VET (vocational education and training sector) and the higher education sector each have different industry and institutional linkages. It connects these in a logical single Framework incorporating qualification titles and guidelines.
In the Vet sector the AQF levels range from a Certificate I to Diploma level. My 2 selected AQF levels are at a certificate II and III level.
- Certificate II – Learners at this level have some skills & knowledge to get by, they will need supervision & direction to help them in the learning process. A learner at this level is someone with minimal work experience such as a recent high school graduate.
- Certificate III – Learners at this level are more independent and need less supervision. The learner is self-directed and generally has skills & knowledge / work experience.
5. Explain the difference between the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and NVR (National Vocational Regulator) regulated Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
ASQA, which is the current National VET Regulator, was established on the 1st July 2011 with an aim of achieving greater consistence in the way RTO’s are registered & monitored.
The standards an RTO must meet and maintain to achieve registration are known as SNR (Standards for Continuous Registration) specifically SNR 15 – 25. These form part of the overall VET Quality Framework and apply to all RTO’s except for RTO’s in VIC & WA who do not intend on delivering Vet training outside of their home state.
Prior to the establishment of ASQA, all SNR (Standards for Continuous Registration) that applied to an RTO were found within the AQTF. The AQTF standards however still apply to RTO’s registered in both VIC & WA. Their relevant state regulator and not ASQA oversee RTO’s in both of these states (VIC & WA).

6. Identify and describe the AQTF standards that apply to trainers and assessors in RTO’s.
The NSSC is responsible for setting the standards that apply to trainers and assesses in RTO’s nationally. This is inline with Standard 1.4a of the AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial and Continuing Registration.

AQTF Standard 1: The RTO provides quality training and assessment across all of its operations.
• Element 1.4: Training and assessment are delivered by trainers and assessors who:
A. Have the necessary training and assessment competencies determined by the National Quality Council or its successors; and
B. Have the relevant vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered or assessed, and
C. Can demonstrate current industry skills directly relevant to the training / assessment being undertaken, and
D. Continue to develop their Vocational Education and Training (VET) knowledge and skills as well as their industry currency and trainer/ assessor competence.
7. Explain and describe the following terminology used in Training Packages:
• Assessment Guidelines
– The Assessment Guidelines provide the endorsed framework for assessment of any units of competency in a Training Package. The guidelines are designed to ensure that assessment is consistent with the AQTF standards.

• Qualification Rules and Notes
- The qualification rules provides details on the required number of units of competency that a learner must complete to be awarded a VET qualification.
• Unit title and code
- Each unit of competency must contain a unique identifying title & code that conforms to the training package inline with the AVETMIS standard.
• Descriptor
– This is a brief description of the unit and how it can be applied in the workplace of the learner.
• Prerequisites
- A prerequisite refers to a unit in which a learner must be deemed to be competent prior to the confirmation of competency in the current unit being completed. Information covering all prerequisites must be included in the training package/unit of competency.
- Example: “Before commencing the PUA31102 Certificate III in Public Safety (Driving in a Threat Environment) candidates must hold a current drivers Licence.”
• Elements
- In every unit of competency there are elements, which describe the topics that must be incorporated into a training program.
• Performance Criteria
- Each element in a unit of competency has 1 or more performance criteria. In order to be deemed competent in an element, the learner must be able to demonstrate competency in each element of the performance criteria in an element.
• Required Skills & Knowledge
- This area describes the essential Skills & Knowledge required. The knowledge describes what a learner needs to know to perform the skill; the skills area describes the application of the knowledge in relation to the skill in the workplace.
• Critical Aspects of Evidence.
- Critical aspects of evidence relates to the particular knowledge and skills that are essential to demonstrate competence against the performance criteria of a unit in assessment.

8. Explain the purpose of contextualisation and identify which parts of a unit of competency can be contextualised.
The process of contextualisation is used to tailor units of competency in a training package/or qualification to suit the specific training needs of an individual or an organisation. An RTO where required can modify a unit(s) of competency to suit the learning outcomes required for an individual or organisation.

This may involve the provision of additional information to suit particular learners, specific equipment requirements or other needs such as packaging units of competency into a qualification by using the elective options available to suit a particular outcome.

An important note to remember changes to the number and content of the elements and performance criteria are not permitted.

9. Explain the role of Industry Skills Councils (ISC’s). Name the ISC that covers your industry.
The Industry Skills Councils have two main roles in the national VET system. The first of these is to provide advice to Australian state & federal government on their specific industry training needs, skills requirements and funding. Secondly an ISC has the primary responsibility for the development, implementation and maintenance of training packages.

Industries through the 11 ISC’s have a direct contribution in determining all relevant skills to ensure that the VET competency based training offered is inline with their industry requirement.

Service Skills Australia is the ISC that covers the Travel Industry in Australia. It represents a wide range of industry sectors, SSA is 1 of 11 not for profit councils funded by the Commonwealth government for their industries.

10. Explain the role of State Training Authorities (STA’s). Name the STA in your state.
The role of the STA is to provide regulation for education and VET training in their respective state. The state regulator promotes choice & quality when it comes to vocational education and training to allow the public to make informed decisions on their own education & training needs.
The state regulator for Victoria is called the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).

11. Explain the role of the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC).
The National Skills Standard Council (NSSC) was established on 1st July 2011 by COAG. The main role of the NSSC (which is a committee of the SCOTESE) is to develop and maintain national standards for regulation of VET for SCOTESE. The NSSC also provides advise to SCOTESE on the vet system, regulators, regulations and the national standards.

12. Describe any special requirements or reasonable adjustments in assessment that could be made to suit your Target Groups and units of competency.
Reasonable adjustment can mean modifying the learning environment or making changes to the way training & assessments are conducted to assist a learner with a disability or a special need.
Examples of this can be changing classrooms to be closer to amenities, installing a particular type of software on a computer or increasing the brightness in a room for a person with vision impairment.