Use Training Packages

1. Use Training Packages TAADES401B

2. Are you delivering training for an RTO? Are you delivering an a course that will lead to a nationally recognised qualification? If you answered yes to these 2 questions, you need a training package.

3. What is a training package? • Training packages are ‘information kits’ that are designed to standardise training across RTOs. • They contain information about accredited courses and information about all of the units that make up each course

4. The introduction of Training Packages in 1998 was designed to improve the vocational education and training system.

5. How are they made? • Training Packages are developed for an industry, by the Industry Skills Council (ISC) with coverage of the particular industry or sector and endorsed by the National Training Quality Council (NTQC). The ISC also reviews and maintains the Training Package and provides associated products and services.

6. Where are they stored? • Training packages are stored on the NTIS (National Training Information System) which is a database that anyone may access. • Access to the endorsed components of a Training Package are free • New training packages are added to the all the time

7. How do you use them? • Training packages are not regulations or compulsory rule changes. • There is no obligation to use all or part of the Training Packages, unless you are an RTO who is offering a recognized qualification.

8. In other words, if you are delivering training in your workplace that is tailored to your workplace, you don’t have to use a training package. • For example, if you deliver customer service training for your company, there is no need for you to use a training package unless you would like to.

9. But… • if an enterprise wants to ensure national consistency in its skills development, Training Packages contain information and guidance material and you can use them to help you design a learning program that suits your needs

10. Sometimes, you have to use them • Endorsed components of a Training package must be used in training and assessment that leads to Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment (nationally recognised training).

11. However, you can choose how you deliver and assess using Training Packages as long as you follow the rules in the endorsed component.

12. What’s in them? • A Training Package simply describes what is required of someone in a work situation. • The competency standards component of a Package is a detailed description of the skills and knowledge required for a particular industry or function and the workplace environment and conditions.

13. It’s a little different to curricula… • Curriculum set out the process, learning outcomes and sequence of a training program. • They are a bit like a guide map and can be very useful. • Curriculum are really interpretations of a training package so that they can be delivered as a course. • You could say they are an implementation guide.

14. Training packages, on the other hand, do not direct how the learning will take place. • In fact, as long as you meet all of the endorsed component requirements, you can deliver the material any way you like.

15. What’s in them? • Along with an introduction to the Training Package that provides background information, each endorsed Training Package has three main components:

16. 1. Competency Standards This section contains the units of competency relevant to workplace performance in the industry, sector or enterprise

17. 2. Assessment guidelines This section sets out the rules for assessment and gathering evidence

18. 3. Qualifications Framework • This section provides the titles and codes of the nationally recognised qualifications contained within the Training Package and the packaging rules for qualifications.

19. In describing the competencies required by an industry, a Package makes no assumption about how someone may gain those competencies. All employees have a range of skills, knowledge and experience. Many people may not have gained some or even all of their skills through formal training.

20. That means you can deliver the training as it suits your client (contextualize the training) • It means that you can offer an assessment-only pathway to learners who have already done training • It means that you can offer a recognition pathway to learners who already have the skills

21. What about the non-endorsed components? • Training packages also have non-endorsed components that you may access when you purchase a training package • These components include:

22. 1. Learning strategies • This includes strategies that provide advice and guidance about the organization of training, including implementation guidelines and training/learning material (just like curricula!)

23. 2. Assessment details • This includes assessment methods and material (just like curricula!)

24. 3. Professional development materials • This section includes information about how the training package might be used to develop a training program

25. Do you have to have these non-endorsed components? • No, however…it can save a lot of time in developing learning material and assessment tools.

26. Parts of training packages • Training packages have qualifications, for example, Cert II in Childcare. • Some training packages have many qualifications, from Certificate I – Advanced Diploma. The business services package (administration) is an example. • Other Training Packages, such as TAA, have only a few qualifications

27. Finding a training package • All training packages are stored on the NTIS (National Training Information Service) and can be accessed on www.ntis.gov.au. The endorsed (compulsory) components of the training package are free

29. Choose the training package you want…

31. Once you have this page, you can select the qualification you want. For this example, we have chosen the Beauty Therapy package.

33. Choose a qualification, such as Certificate III. • This will list all of the units, or ‘topics’ that go into making up the qualification. You can expect the qualification page to look similar to the page below. • In the example below, we have chosen Certificate II in Nail Technology.

35. This whole course is then broken into units of competency (topics, really) • Some units will be compulsory (core) and a set number of units will be elective. • The set number of elective units must be completed, but selection of the elective units may vary.

36. This is designed to allow you and your client to contextualise your training program • Because units are competency based and may appear in a variety of training programs, Some electives can sometimes be chosen from other courses. This depends on the packaging rules

37. Interpreting units of competency. • Once you have decided which units you will choose for your learning program, you need to access and interpret each individual unit of competency. • To do this, access the NTIS website and click on the search button.

39. Type the unit code into the search bar and check the ‘unit of competency’ box

41. Your unit of competency will then be displayed, as in the example below.

43. All units of competency are developed in a similar format for clarity and ease of use. Their components are: • unit code • unit title • unit descriptor • unit application statement • elements • performance criteria • required skills and knowledge • Key Competencies addressed by the unit and their level • range statement • evidence guide

44. Unit code • The unit code is the method of identification used to place the unit within the Training Package and the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Each unit of competency has a unique code. • For example, the unit code for this unit of competency, TAEDES402BUse Training Package and Accredited Courses to meet client needs, consists of the following: • TAE signifies the Training and Assessment Training Package • DES signifies that this unit is part of the design field of the package • the number four (4) signifies that this unit is at Certificate IV level • 02 indicates that this is the second in the design series of units • A indicates that it is the first version.

45. Try this for Manage stress…

46. Unit title • The unit title is a succinct statement of the outcome of the unit of competency. For example: • Manage stress in the workplace

47. Unit descriptor • The unit descriptor broadly communicates the intent of the unit of competency and the skill area it addresses. It provides further clarification of the unit title. For example: • The unit descriptor of Manage Stress in the Workplace reads…. • “This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage personal stress in a customer contact environment. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.”

48. The evidence guide ensures that appropriate assessment methods are selected for each qualification level.

49. Elements and Performance Criteria • Each unit of competency has a number of elements and performance criteria to describe competency in the unit. • Elements • Elements describe the essential outcomes which must be met to achieve competency. Most units comprise 3 - 5 elements which together reflect the unit’s focus and scope. • Performance Criteria • Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of that element; that is, they set out the way in which people can show how they meet the outcome defined in the element. • Another way to think about this is that the element says what the learner will be able to do, and the performance criteria describes to what degree. • For example, if our unit was called POTPLA101A, the elements and performance criteria would tell us what steps the learner had to be able to follow to repot the plant succesfully (elements) and how those steps needed to be carried out (performance criteria).

50. Units can be broken into bits • Element The learner will be able to repot a plant • Without damaging the plant • In the correct size pot • Handling potting mix correctly • Elements and performance criteria can help you to organise the content of your learning program. • Following the elements and performance criteria in the order in which they are outlined in the unit guide can be a useful starting point for outlining session plans and grouping topics.