Recognition of Overseas Qualifications Training

1. TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit TAFE Equity Strategy and Programs Directorate, NSW DET 2006 Recognition of Overseas Qualifications Training

2. INTENDED OUTCOMES Participants will be able to: • Assess the general equivalence of overseas qualifications to • Meet course entry requirements • Support the provision of advanced standing in TAFE NSW courses • Use appropriate resources and support services for the recognition of overseas qualifications • Provide informed advice and referral services to TAFE NSW students seeking recognition for employment purposes and in particular those seeking recognition of trades in NSW

3. RECOGNITION CONTEXT A focus on skilled migrants • The proportion of skilled migrants has increased from 20 per cent in 1995-06 to about 70 per cent in 2005-06 • In 2005 -06 there will be 70 per cent of entrants under the Skill Stream and 30 per cent for the Family Stream • 2004-05 there were 41 108 Skill Independent visas issued (sub-class 136) • Skilled migrants are highly skilled and have high levels of education • Greater English Language proficiency

4. RECOGNITION CONTEXT Impact on TAFE NSW • Skilled migrants are likely to undertake further study to obtain an Australian qualification and to become familiar with Australian industry requirements to seek employment • Increasing demand by students to access TAFE NSW courses more easily and to complete their studies in a shorter period of time • Increasing demand for recognition of overseas qualifications • On-going need to comply with AQTF which includes the provision of advanced standing to all applicants. • An increase of the Skill Migration program is associated with a high number of enrolments by students with overseas qualifications

5. RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS • To meet course entry requirements • To support the provision of advanced standing

6. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to • Provide information on translating services if necessary • Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications obtained by the applicant • Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications • Complete the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent

7. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW 1 Provide information on translating services if necessary Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW (CRC) Telephone 131 651 500, www.crc.nsw.gov.au/interpreting/index Or National Accreditation Authority for Translators (NAATI) Directory www.naati.com.au or telephone 1300 557 470. Or Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) www.immi.gov.au/amep/client/pubs/where_amep/english.pdf

8. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW • Provide information on translating services if necessary DIMA free translations Eligibility • People settling in Australia on a permanent basis • Exceptions - visa sub-classes 309, 310, 820, 826 • Other temporary visa holders are not eligible Eligibility period • Within 2 years after the: • client’s initial arrival in Australia on a permanent visa or citizenship • the onshore grant of a permanent visa How much can be translated • An extract or summary translation of no more than 100 words in length.

9. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer (s) needs to 2 Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications obtained by the applicant • Secondary or post-secondary • Assess both the secondary school qualification and any post-secondary qualification

10. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to 3 Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications • Check that the applicant has provided the original/certified copy of: • the final award/s, translated into English where necessary • transcript/s, translated into English where necessary • Establish: - Country where the qualification was issued - Date the qualification was issued - Issuing body - Title of the qualification (final qualification) - Years of study - Qualification entry requirements - Subjects/modules

11. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW 3 Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications • Refer to The latest version of the guide Recognition of Overseas Secondary School Qualifications for Admission to TAFE NSW Courses to establish theAQF equivalent Note: The equivalents in this guide are to be used for admission to TAFE NSW courses ONLY When the equivalent of the overseas qualification is year 11, take in consideration any further study the applicant may have done to support their application for entry to courses that require the NSW Higher School Certificate

12. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to 4Complete the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent • Complete and record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s) on the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form • Issue the signed TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form • to the applicant/enrolling student • Applicant/enrolling student should then either: • attach the form and copies of original overseas documents and translations to the Application form or • submit these documents to their course enrolling officer at enrolment. The enrolling officer should attach the documents to the teaching section copy of the Enrolment Form • Retain and securely store a copy of the form and supporting attachments for six years

13. RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW Practical exercises

14. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING Institute Multicultural Education Co-ordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to • Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications related to the course the applicant is enrolled in • Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications • Complete and sign the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent

15. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING • Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications related to the course the applicant is enrolled in Consider: • Post-secondary qualifications wherever possible and qualifications entry requirements • Only those qualifications with modules relevant to the course content the student is enrolled in and is seeking advanced standing for • Partially completed qualifications

16. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING 2 Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications Determine • The course and modules in which the student is enrolled and the relevance of the student's qualifications, work experience and any other form of evidence Establish: • The original/certified copy of final award (s), related transcripts and any necessary translations of these documents are available • Country where the qualification was obtained • Date the qualification was issued • Title of the qualification (final qualification) • Years of study • Issuing body (university or college/institute) • Qualification (s) entry requirements • Subjects/modules

17. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING 2Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications Establish the AQF equivalent by referring to: • The Recognition of Overseas Vocational and Higher Education Qualifications for Admission to and for Advanced Standing in TAFE NSW Coursesguide • NOOSR country education profiles (THESE ARE USED AS SOURCE OF INFORMATION ONLY) • The TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit . The Unit can provide assistance to - Identify the qualification - Establish the equivalent - Confirm details provided in a statutory declaration and, - Provide advise on related licensing and registration requirements

18. A Guide for TAFE NSW Staff RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS VOCATIONAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO AND FOR ADVANCED STANDING IN TAFE NSW COURSES TAFE NSW MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION UNIT TAFE EQUITY STRATEGY AND PROGRAMS TAFE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION STRATEGIC SUPPORT SERVICES

19. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING 3Complete and sign theTAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Formand record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s) • Provide the completed and signed TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Formand copies of original overseas documents and translations tothe course Head Teacher/Assessor • Retain and securely store a copy of the form and supporting attachments for six years

20. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING The Head Teacher/Assessor undertakes further assessment • Consider the AQF equivalent provided in the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Formas part of the evidence required to make an assessment decision • If a challenge test or any other assessment tools are to be administered to assess against critical aspects of evidence organise for an interpreter if necessary (the applicant may not feel confident with technical terms)

21. RECOGNITION OF PARTIALLY COMPLETED QUALIFICATIONS Partially completed qualifications must be considered in the recognition of overseas qualifications in TAFE NSW • Recognition to meet courses entry requirements: The assessment of partially completed secondary school qualifications should take into account the student’s age, work experience and any other formal and informal study • Recognition to support the provision of advanced standing When the overseas qualification is partially completed advice on the AQF equivalent of the completed qualification must be provided on the TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Form. The Head Teacher/Assessor should then consider the learning associated with the modules/subjects completed at that level as well as other related evidence such as work experience.

22. RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING IN TAFE NSW Practical exercises

23. RISK MANAGEMENT • Statutory declarations • False qualifications

24. THE USE OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS IN THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to • Determine why the documents are not available • Ensure the applicant/enrolling student provides as much information as possible to support their claim • family name, surname, date of birth, year of arrival in Australia • name of the overseas qualification (s), the educational institution country of issue and the highest level of qualifications achieved • qualification entry requirements • year the qualification was awarded • years of study and subjects/modules studied • related work experience

25. THE USE OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS IN THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS IN TAFE NSW Risk Management • Confirm qualification details referring to your own resources or by contacting the TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit if necessary • Where the student has applied for advanced standing a challenge test may be administered by the course Head Teacher/nominated assessor or verifier • Organise an interpreter if necessary

26. THE USE OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS IN THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS IN TAFE NSW Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to Complete and sign theTAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Formand record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s) declared in the Statutory Declaration • Provide the completed and signed TAFE NSWOverseas Qualifications Equivalents Formand the Statutory Declaration to the course Head Teacher/Assessor • Retain and securely store a copy of the form and Statutory Declaration for six years

27. FALSE QUALIFICATIONS • Sight the final Diploma, whenever possible • If in doubt and if necessary check name of the institution, years of study and modules with the TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit • The new guide Overseas Vocational and Higher Education Qualifications for Admission to and for Advanced Standing in TAFE NSW Courses available in October 2006 will include guidelines for identifying true documents for each country

28. Recognition Referral Services Recognition for study other than in TAFE NSW Refer the person to the educational institution Recognition for employment Secondary School – The Office of the Board of Studies NSW 117 Clarence Street, SYDNEY 2001, ph: 02 9367 8229, 02 9367 8111 Trade Qualifications – Vocational Training Unit NSW Department of Education and Training, level 12, 1 Oxford Street, DARLINGHURST, 2010 Ph: 02 9266 8450 Primary and Secondary School Teachers NSW Department of Education and Training 22 Main Street, BLACKTOWN, Ph: 02 9836 9991, 1300 300 498 Catholic schools, individual private schools Professional and Technical Qualifications- Refer to Using Overseas Skills – A New South Wales Guide

29. RECOGNITION OF TRADES The applicant must lodge an application for trade recognition with the Vocational Training Tribunal (VTT) with supporting evidence which may include: • Work related references from employer (s) in English • Employment records • Formal trade training records • Formal workplace appraisals • Work experience record books The VTT may: Approve or refuse the application Invite the applicant for an interview Request that the applicant undertake a trade test If the application is successful NSW DET issues a Certificate of Proficiency (4 years employment and relevant qualification) or a Craft Certificate (4 years employment)

30. TRADE TESTS CONDUCTED BY TAFE NSW Trade Test Co-ordinator: • Liaises with TAFE trade teachers to organise trade tests • Sends the applicant's details and related information to the trade teacher conducting the test The trade teacher organises: • An orientation session and an information kit for the applicant (s) • The trade test time and location • An interpreter whenever necessary (fees for the use of interpreters in trade tests requested by the VTT are paid by the VTT through the Trade Test Co-ordinator • Prepares the test report and financial statement for each trade test Trade Test Co-ordinator: 02 9244 5363, Level 16, 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010