ALA

A new survey has documented the current recognition of prior learning (RPL) systems and electronic tools in use throughout the Australian training system.

The results of the Recognition of prior learning tools and systems survey will help inform those considering the use of electronic tools, including software and web-based tools such as e-portfolios, to support RPL processes.

It will also assist assessors and trainers looking for a snap-shot of RPL activity in each state and territory.

The survey was conducted by the E-standards for Training business activity of the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).

Owen O’Neill, E-standards for Training Business Manager, said the survey was conducted based on recommendations from the E-standards for Training’s E-portfolio report from 2007.

“People who are thinking of using electronic tools to support RPL and/or want to see what’s going on in other jurisdictions will be interested in the survey results,” Mr O’Neill said.

“The survey identified that there is plenty of diversity in the way RPL is being approached, including the way software and web-based tools are being used to support RPL processes.”

The survey report provides a summary of electronic tools being used for RPL processes. One of these tools is the QTImPlayer, which was developed with funding assistance from the Framework.

The QTImPlayer is a free assessment application which is loaded onto a personal digital assistant or smart phone with a mobile network connection to the internet.

“Overall, I think that the Recognition of prior learning tools and systems survey gives a good overview of the current state of play of RPL in each state and territory,” Mr O’Neill said.

The survey was conducted by three consultants who interviewed key RPL contacts in each state and territory.

The Framework’s E-portfolios business activity will expand on the survey this year by looking at the use of e-portfolios in the RPL process.

View the survey results: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards/news.htm#a7

To read this issue online go to:

http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/news/issue_186.html

The Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development and the OECD’s Local Economic and Employment Development Programme will be hosting a conference on the topic of Partnerships for Social Inclusion in October, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. Until July 31, the conference partners warmly invite you to offer a paper or presentation for consideration.

We are seeking both practitioner presentations and academic papers.

Papers and presentations are invited in the following areas:

Current partnerships in practice

• What is happening in jurisdictions throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific?
• Are there best practice models that we should learn from?
• Partnerships address many issues including economic development, rural development, place-based disadvantage, skills, education, health, transport, the environment, and particular population groups. Do these different types of partnerships share characteristics in common?

Partnerships and the skills dimension of social inclusion

• What is the role of partnerships in designing integrated skills development strategies that help bridge social inclusion and competitiveness objectives?
• Are there good examples of partnerships that integrate the vulnerable groups (young, Aboriginals, immigrants, elderly) not only into jobs but also into workforce development, and help enhance their employment outcomes?

Future directions for partnerships

• How should government adapt its governance structure to cross-cutting imperatives?
• How can policies be made more flexible so that they can be better coordinated locally without undermining accountability?

Speaking time will be between 15 and 20 minutes with 10 minutes for discussion. All speakers will be required to register for the conference (either a day pass or full conference pass).

More information about this conference, including guidelines for submitting your proposal, can be found on the conference website:

http://www.public-policy.unimelb.edu.au/conference08/index.html

South Australian regions will receive more than $14 million over the next year under South Australia Works, the State Government’s highly successful program that skills unemployed people in areas of local industry demand. The funding was announced by Paul Caica, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced his intention to introduce new public funding arrangements that will create additional opportunities for Indigenous Australians pursuing academic research careers.

“The Australian Government is committed to enhancing support for Indigenous researchers and research to ensure that all talented Australian academics are given a fair go and that all Australians have the opportunity to benefit from their endeavours,” Senator Carr said.

“I am considering advice put to me by the Australian Research Council (ARC) in conjunction with the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) on how best to provide relevant and appropriate support to Indigenous researchers.

“While it’s early days, I am excited that the ARC and AIATSIS are working together on a range of options for Indigenous researchers that will strengthen the diversity of Australia’s research capacity and capabilities, and lead to new knowledge, discoveries and applications.”

Senator Carr said that, over the coming year, he intended to:

. include research into Indigenous health and wellbeing as a priority under the Government’s new Future Fellowships scheme, currently being developed by the ARC

. introduce new Australian Research Fellowships - Indigenous (more senior than, and in addition to, the existing postdoctoral ARC Indigenous Researcher Fellowships)

. change the status of AIATSIS under ARC Funding Rules to make it eligible for funding under nearly all ARC-administered schemes.

“I am encouraged that the ARC and AIATSIS are working together to create specific new opportunities for Indigenous Australian researchers to further their careers in the same ways as their non-Indigenous counterparts,” Senator Carr said.

The details of these initiatives will be released progressively, as they are finalised.

Australia’s Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is being reviewed and community input is sought on how best to assist migrants and humanitarian entrants learn English to find a job, undertake further training and participate fully in the Australian community. Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services Laurie Ferguson today released a discussion paper outlining a proposed direction based on previous input from key stakeholders. Comments on this discussion paper are a further opportunity for stakeholders who may not have attended focus group meetings held in May to provide input to the review of the AMEP which I announced in April, Mr Ferguson said. The discussion paper addresses issues raised by stakeholders including AMEP clients, teachers, settlement service providers, employers and state governments.

The AMEP discussion paper is available via a link on the front page of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website at

www.immi.gov.au

Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the Government will invest an extra $10 million over the next four years to continue to build the Territory’s skilled workforce. Mr Henderson said the investment will focus on training more apprentices and trainees, getting students ready for the workforce, more skills for Territory workers, and a stronger workforce in our regions.

A $2.1 million Brumby Government investment will give Victorian plumbers world-class skills in green plumbing. Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan said the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, based in Brunswick would train plumbers in sustainable, energy saving, waste reducing and water saving plumbing techniques. The Brumby Government is taking action to deliver training opportunities for the needs of our future workforce, said Ms Allan.

As drought grips the nation, a new Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) is providing water operators with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure the sustainable management of Australia’s precious water resources.

Developed by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, the Central Water Toolbox uses ‘Central Water’, a virtual water treatment plant, to teach water operators how to ensure safe and reliable water supplies for customers and manage the appropriate treatment of waste water.

The Toolbox aims to support people who have recently joined the water industry as well as experienced water industry staff requiring formal qualifications and secondary school students who are considering a career within the water industry.

Toolboxes are high quality, cost effective interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities that simulate real-life. All Toolboxes support nationally endorsed training packages and are designed for use by registered training organisations, business and industry.

Using interactive multimedia to take learners through the learning and assessment tasks, the Toolbox guides participants through a variety of scenarios associated with water management, enabling learners to experience a diverse range of industry aspects.

Topics covered by the Toolbox include:

·         hazard identification

·         environmental risks

·         personal protective equipment

·         identification of appropriate forms of equipment

·         environmental incidents and reporting procedures

·         the role of the Environmental Protection Agency

·         standard operating procedures.

The Central Water Toolbox supports six units of competency within the nationally recognised Certificate III in Water Industry Operations.

A Toolbox Champion Support Service operates in every state and territory to support the implementation of Toolboxes. To contact your local Toolbox Champion Support Service, visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/toolboxes.

To purchase any of the Framework’s Toolboxes, contact TVET Australia Product Services on (03) 9832 8188, sales@tvetaustralia.com.au or visit http://productservices.tvetaustralia.com.au.

Higher quality training at lower cost to firms are the major benefits of a cooperative approach

to skilling identified in new research from the National Centre for Vocational Education

Research.

Inter-firm cooperation in training

by Richard

Cooney and Michael Long, investigates cooperation among firms in the provision of training.

The research reports that for many firms, particularly small-to-medium sized companies,

cooperation with others is a key strategy in driving business efficiencies, especially in support

activities such as training and marketing.

The research found that more than one in six (17.6%) Australian manufacturing firms

participate in cooperative training arrangements.

And, a high proportion (13.7%) of these rated the arrangements as being a ‘very significant

part of their business’.

Although cooperative work forms only part of the overall training effort, it is rated as providing

higher quality training at lower cost through the use of shared facilities, training materials and

trainers.

Cooney and Long also found that cooperative training is often an extension of existing

business-to-business relationships and helped reinforce those relationships.

They reported that ‘cooperative’ firms tended to be strong businesses in competitive markets

and saw ‘the skills of their workforce as a source of competitive advantage’.

Currently, however, the VET sector has only a marginal involvement in cooperative training.

The research points to an opportunity for training providers to expand this role by developing

networks within the business community and arrangements capable of meeting the needs of

a cluster of firms.

Inter-firm cooperation in training,

please visit

www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2010.html