policy & reform
This is why the Industry Skills Councils’ VET Quality Report proposes using existing policy instruments – the Standards for Training Packages and the Standards for RTOs – as vehicles to set clear delivery and assessment measures against specific qualifications and / or units of competency.
ASQA would benefit as well. Regulators would have an unambiguous understanding of what“ quality training and assessment” means within a variety of contexts.
But the best part of this system is that it can be highly targeted.
Units and qualifications that are deemed high risk or that apply to high-consequence areas can be identified as requiring additional rigour in relation to delivery and assessment methods.
As the developers of training packages, skills councils, in partnership with industry, are perfectly positioned to select and define the appropriate measures for specific units of competency and qualifications.
To give an example, one of the proposed delivery measures is specific trainer requirements.
This would involve the training package clearly stipulating the industry-determined Australian Qualifications Framework-level credentials, experience and currency that would be required of a trainer for particular qualifications, skill sets or units.
These are things industry has never been able to clearly specify. Making the change would mean that students undertaking nationally accredited training could be assured that their instructor has the requisite skills, knowledge and currency – as determined by industry – to deliver the outcomes defined nationally.
Trainer requirements are but one example of this greater specificity. The appropriate modes, volume of learning and range of training conditions are just a few of the equally critical quality delivery measures that are outlined in the VET Quality Report.
Complementing these elements are the industry-defined assessment methods and tools, reasonable adjustments and validation models that should be present in every assessment.
Confidence in the VET system amongst industry and enterprises is vital in this time of change. The proposed measures would provide further assurance of outcomes and also more closely link the delivery and assessment of training to the skills standards.
At its June 17 meeting, the National Skills Standards Council announced that
There are nearly 5000 registered training organisations, more than 1.4 million enrolments in training package qualifications annually and revenue totalling $ 8.38 billion.
it would engage in discussions with key stakeholders to inform its consideration of the quality measures identified in the VET Quality Report, with a view to developing draft amendments to the Standards for Training Packages for endorsement by ministers later this year.
I, for one, look forward to watching these developments unfold during the coming months. n
John Hart is chair of the Project Steering Committee that developed the VET Quality Report.
The VET Quality Report, which details all of the proposed measures, is available free at www. isc. org. au
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