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The Training Statewide system for RPL

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Training Statewide is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) covering the regional areas of South Australia, delivering various training services including Certificate III in Civil Construction. Recognition of Prior Learning presented Training Statewide with certain challenges because of three factors:

  1. Country / Regional location
  2. Construction workers
  3. Mature aged workers

Construction workers are highly skilled individuals with immensely practical minds. Private enterprise, country based, construction workers apply hands-on-practical solutions to most problems. For example, Training Statewide has seen examples of many different ways of solving problems: from mufflers on cars fixed with fencing wire, to administration offices picked up and placed on the back of trucks and moved to new locations.

Recognition of Prior Learning can be a paper-work exercise from start to finish, and this is often perceived as irrelevant for many construction workers. Not because they are incapable of paper-work, (which is in fact a large part of some construction work processes), but because a great deal of RPL paper-work does not relate to direct practical outcomes, or needs, as they see it. That is, the language and tasks set often seem impractical or illogical. Sending the average construction worker on a paper ‘chase’ that leads to a process of evidence collection is the equivalent of a ‘wild goose chase’ in their minds. We have found that they see it as a waste of valuable time which could be put to other practical and useful outcomes. “Why spend hours chasing this information when I can plainly perform the task competently now?” is the typical response.

Training Statewide designed an RPL system in response to the poor follow-up experienced with their client group. The system is simple and effective:

  1. The enrolment form and process identifies if a Trainee wishes to apply for RPL (Forms can be completed verbally)
  2. All trainees who indicate they want RPL are interviewed as to the types of skills that they feel they are competent in, and explained what level of competency is required according to the Training Package requirement.
  3. Checklists are designed for each course which are simple and relate directly to the competencies in the Training Package
  4. The trainee decides on a specific job which they are confident in performing
  5. The assessor needs to establish how that job relates to the competency checklist so that they elements and performance criteria can be check off
  6. The trainee performs the task under observation

    Variations
  7. Depending on the requirements of the competency the assessor may use other works competed by the trainee
  8. Verification of competency may be signed by supervisors within the checklist itself
  9. Trainees are provided immediately with a log-book to record activities they undertake from day one. This includes plant operation tasks, which at a later date may be used to verify RPL

    Validation
  10. A skilled construction worker under supervision from a Certificate IV AWPT person is required to perform the assessment where one person cannot undertake both roles
  11. Photographs are taken and included the RPL file
  12. Information such as Daily Job Cards, Daily Productivity Reports and time cards showing evidence of completed work is sourced from administration staff of the employer. This is normally easily accessed and willingly provided. Permission for access to these records is sought from both the trainee and management

Discussion

Although at first it may appear a financial drain to set assessors out on practical tasks, the gains are quickly identified when consideration is given to the amount of time given to chasing up paper-work and processing partially produced evidence - most importantly, providing protracted support to trainees on the RPL paper-work requirements