Skills/Knowledge/Qualifications

• Section 1
• Challenges
• Attitudes
• Skills
• Employability
• Employer Expectations
• Learner Expectations
• Benefits
• Section 2
• Presentation
• Presenter's Support
• Section 3
• 3 Hour Workshop
• Section 4
• 3 Hour Workshop
• Section 5
• Contacts/Links

Recognition

Many mature aged workers have acquired a wide range of skills and knowledge through work experience and application over a number of years. Yet these highly skilled workers often lack formal qualifications and are unrecognised or overlooked when promotional opportunities arise. Older workers may have never been involved in structured career or learning pathways, or participated in formal training since their school years. Fear of failure, fear of learning and fear of assessment are key considerations, with self-esteem and confidence a major issue for this age group

Mature aged workers themselves often see little value in the importance of qualifications or further training, particularly the relevance of training in their current employment, or in relation future job/career prospects and proportionate remuneration

Funded training

A large emphasis on training of youth and new employees through new apprenticeships and traineeships has meant that mature aged workers may have been overlooked because of lack of recognition for, or valuing of that particular sector of employees

Coaching and supervision/Cross-age Communication

Older workers may have been responsible for the supervision of younger workers without any formal acknowledgement for their role, or suitable professional development in coaching or assisting others to learn. As the balance in workforce participation changes, the role of the learner and coach or workplace mentor will become interchangeable.

The Learner will become the Coach - and the Coach will become the Learner, as new employees assist mature aged workers in understanding current trends and technological/workplace requirements, and mature-aged workers pass on valuable skills and knowledge to young employees

Technological Changes

Already the rapid changes in technology, combined with increased globalisation and more flexible workplace arrangements, have placed pressure on mature-aged workers to keep pace and maintain skills. These difficulties can be seen as a barrier to employment or promotion and present problems for employers