Are you proud of your Certificate IV in TAE?
I wonder how many undertake the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and think of it as a teaching qualification?
This is in fact the qualification that enables you to train and assess (teach) within the Vocational Education and Training sector. This is the qualification that allows someone who may be a qualified Automotive Mechanic to teach Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology. In other words, someone who has been working in the industry as a qualified Automotive Mechanic can obtain the TAE40116 Certificate IV in TAE and then have the responsibility of a class of 15 or more apprentices – training them how to become a competent mechanic.
Training others is not an easy task and the level of skills and knowledge required to be able to competently do this can only be acquired over time.
I would like you to think of the possible consequences of the many Trainers and Assessors we have in Australia who are teaching others critical skills and knowledge and who may have obtained their TAE qualification in 3 weekends, or 3 weeks or even 3 months. It could have cost them as little as $390 or less.
Do we question the horror stories we hear of someone booking their car in for a wheel alignment and when they were driving it home from the garage the left front wheel came off (the apprentice had omitted to tighten the wheel nuts)? What about the trainee employed with a Certificate IV in Business who types with two fingers and is unable to compose a basic email without spelling and grammatical errors? ASQA has recently released findings of its national strategic review into course duration which found that the quality of Australia’s VET sector is at risk unless the issue of unduly short training is addressed.
Are our current and future generations of trainees and apprentices able to acquire the practical skills and knowledge required to be able to competently perform in the workplace? Do we, as Trainers and Assessors, understand that the outcome of this lies solely with us? Are we sending students out with qualifications simply because we did not want to “fail” them? Were we taught, or should I say did we learn, during our TAE Certificate IV, about competency based learning, the rules of evidence, the assessment principles, the dimensions of competency, how to assess and address the LLN skills of our learners?
Are we one of those trainers who obtained the Certificate IV in TAE through a training organisation that was really passionate about lifting the standards of trainers and assessors in the Vocational Education and Training sector or did we just want the piece of paper as cheaply and as quickly as possible so that we could get a job in the VET (Vocational Education and Training) sector?
The Hon Karen Andrews MP (Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills) has stated “Our trainers and assessors are at the coalface of our efforts to continuously improve the quality of Australia’s VET system”.
It is our responsibility as Trainers and Assessors to do everything we can to help lift the standards within the VET sector.
We would love to hear your good news story of how you are making a difference.
This is so true Larry. RTOs need to walk a fine line between providing quality training and assessment on the one hand and commercial viability on the other. Those who focus on the dollars to the exclusion of quality are damaging the reputation of the VET system and causing employers to lose faith in the qualifications issued.
To be a good trainer/assessor, you need a passion for client service and quality.
I sometimes wonder if people put enough thought into why they would like to become trainers and assessors. If you are truly passionate about helping others become better versions of themselves, whether your focus is on developing new training and assessment facilitators or being able to develop the technical skills and knowledge of those in your workplaces, it is imperative that your professional development focuses on quality. Though our Australian Qualification Framework says that all nationally recognised statements and qualifications for courses are equal, this is not the case with providers. Take the time to review the providers, you will find that good providers see the value of the relationship formed rather than the sale made.
Larry, thank you for taking time to contribute to the blog. I like your leading question – do people put enough thought into why they would like to become trainers and assessors? Is it because they genuinely want to make a difference? As we know, to be a quality Trainer and Assessor is not an easy task but it is certainly rewarding when you know that in fact you are making different. I am trying to educate others that a TAE qualification that cost $199 and was completed in 1 week intensive is not worth the paper it is written on. Let’s all try to educate as many of our friends and family and current and potential students so that the ripple effect will be a positive one.