Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2014 | Volume 2

STAYING CONNECTED IN Australia’s quarterly VET eZine

OCTOBER 2014

VOLUME 2 | FREE

Unique Student Identifier (USI) roll out

VET

2014 NVC Feature: Impossible is Possible Together

VET tools for training providers and students

EDUCATE | INSPIRE | EMPOWER velgtraining.com

(From L-R) Madeline Wells, Jacky Cheng, Joel Schwarz, Jessica Taggart and Henry Kemp.

AUSTRALIAN TRAINING AWARDS AND THE 2014 APEC YOUTH SKILLS CAMP The Australian Training Awards (ATAs) is the most coveted training awards programme in the nation, and recognises the steadfast dedication made by individuals, businesses and registered training organisations to skilling Australia.

In reaching the ATAs, participants join the elite members of a vocational education and training alumni and are often presented with some unique opportunities.

In July 2014 the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) contacted the ATAs to seek participants for its annual Youth Skills Camp in Beijing, China.

Selected for the opportunity were three former Australian School-based Apprentices – Victorian Joel Schwarz, New South Wales resident Jessica Taggart, Western Australian, Henry Kemp and the 2013 Tasmanian Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Student of the Year, Madeline Wells. The group was accompanied by the 2013 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, Jacky Cheng.

Now in its second year, the purpose of the APEC Youth Skills Camp is to strengthen understanding and friendship among APEC youth, facilitate exchange and cooperation in vocational training and skills development and improve the attractiveness of vocational training to youth and promoting the development of youth skills.

Apprentice heavy vehicle automotive mechanic and 2013 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Joel Schwarz said it was the trip of a lifetime.

“I never imagined that completing an Australian School-based Apprenticeship and my involvement with the Australian Training Awards would lead to representing my country in China,” Joel said.

The group participated in a mix of cultural activities (including visiting the Great Wall and a Shaolin temple), group activities and visits to vocational training schools and the China WorldSkills training facility.

“A number of camp participants from other APEC communities asked me about my vocational training and were impressed by my stories of Australia’s vocational system and standards,” Henry said.

Twenty year old qualified health care assistant and 2012 runner up for the Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award Jessica Taggart was impressed with China’s VET system.

Jacky Cheng, visual arts lecturer at Kimberley Training Institute, acted as mentor to the young delegates, and offers this advice to our own VET sector.

“It was so great to have the opportunity to experience it first-hand and see the many talents and broader skill sets that come under China’s VET sector - including martial arts such as kung fu!”

Apprentice electrician and runner up for the 2013 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award Henry Kemp said he felt Australia impressed at the camp.

“The Australian VET sector could certainly adopt the value the Chinese place on VET. We should continue to strive to improve and adopt different teaching and learning approaches by comparing and contrasting the different member economies and through fostering and strengthening our APEC relationships.”

For more Real Stories and Real Achievements in vocational education and training visit the Australian Training Awards website.

The 2014 Australian Training Awards will be held in Adelaide on Friday, 21 November.

Tickets are on sale now.

Applications for the 2015 Australian Training Awards will open on Monday, 1 December 2014. www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au

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australiantrainingawards@industry.gov.au

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Impossible is Possible Together 2014NVC Feature

EDUCATE

INSPIRE

EMPOWER

USI roll out 6

Impossible is Possible Together: 2014NVC Feature 10

VET tools you can use 18

Understanding the new Standards 7

Inspiring excellence in VET 14

How to choose the right e-learning software 8

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VET PD round up 22

The 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition 16

16

USI roll out

Celebrating OctoberVET across the country 20 VET eZine Glossary 22

WorldSkills Australia

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VET tools

© Velg Training All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without explicit written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations and other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor at the address below, with the subject “Permissions Request”.

Publication design by Amy Lynch.

CONTACT Velg Training Pty Ltd. 1/52 Jeffcott Street Wavell Heights QLD 4012 Australia | 07 3866 0888 | enquiries@velgtraining.com SUBSCRIBE To subscribe to Staying Connected in VET eZine visit velgtraining.com.

CONTRIBUTE Velg Training welcomes previously unpublished editorial contributions in the form of VET sector news, events and feature articles supplied with high quality web resolution photographs. All submissions will be published at the editorial committee’s discretion and may be used in Velg Training’s weekly eNewsletters upon confirmation with the contributor.

ADVERTISE Advertising space is limited and bookings will be confirmed upon receipt of payment on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis.

Advertising bookings do not guarantee editorial submissions will be published. For more information, view the Terms and Conditions of Contract in the 2014/15 Media Kit.

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Michelle

Weaver

W

elcome to Velg Training’s second edition of Staying Connected in VET, our online eZine for Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

We work hard to ensure our Members and Australia’s VET community remain informed of industry changes through our weekly e-newsletters and we’re thrilled to be able to provide this free publication with more in-depth coverage of current issues, insights to help your organisation and offers from our advertisers.

Since our previous edition, we have reached a milestone of training over 45,000 VET professionals through our workshops, webinars, VET Summit and National VET Conference events.

I have a small team working with me out of our office in Brisbane that are dedicated to excellence in customer service and I am proud to say we recently pulled off our biggest VET event yet! Months of planning rolled into a spectacular two-day event for over 1000 delegates in September where we made sure it was known that ‘Impossible is Possible Together’, embracing current reforms in the VET sector and changes that are underway.

We’ve provided a recap of the 2014 National VET Conference in this edition and we hope it will inspire you to join us in Adelaide in 2015 to reconnect.

Our Membership program continues to grow, as we reached over 8,000 Members this year. We continue to provide up to date complimentary resources, alerts and webinars for

our dedicated Members and I am delighted to launch our new VelgCasts (podcasts Velg Training style) available for download via the Members Lounge.

For the VET practitioner who’s short on time, these audio recordings are 15 minutes or less and are accompanied by a downloadable PowerPoint.

Looking for a particular topic? Email our Membership team to request a VelgCast to suit your needs.

It appears every time I log on to our social media channels, there’s a jump in activity. This year alone, our National RTO Network LinkedIn Group has grown to 7,000+ members and our Facebook Page has hit 900+ followers last time I checked! If you haven’t already seen us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and WordPress, explore our social media channels when you get a chance and connect with our friendly (and very sociable) team online.

We recently had the opportunity to work with the VET Taskforce team again, facilitating webinars for over 5,000 VET stakeholders across the country as part of the Draft Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2014 and Standards for VET Regulators 2014 consultation period in the lead up to the release of the new Standards. The result saw our team at the forefront of this new development in the sector, with the Minister for Industry the Hon Ian Macfarlane and Peta Furnell of the Department of Industry’s VET Taskforce each presenting at our 2014 National VET Conference in the wake of these reforms.

It’s exciting times ahead as we prepare to launch our 2015 VET Summit in a new format, roll out more diverse consulting offerings and unveil the largest VET Mentoring Program in Australia, Mentoring Mondays. This brand new initiative will consist of a

suite of eight programs to support the varying roles within an RTO including options for Managers, Trainers and Assessors and Administrators via webinars, hard copy workbooks, electronic resources and live Q&A sessions with leading VET experts.

The second initiative we have been investigating over the last few months is based on participation in moderation or validation activities. As part of Velg Training’s Vision, to Educate, Inspire and Empower Australia’s VET community and as validation is a key component of continuous improvement in the current and proposed Standards, we are launching a complimentary online Industry Validation Directory to further support our valued Members.

The proposed online directory would be hosted via the Members Lounge as an additional benefit for Members who nominate to be part of the directory – watch this space for further details!

I told you in our last edition we would use this publication to push ourselves as a Member-serving organisation and take a step back from our regular business activities to reflect on the current state of the VET sector.

We now look forward to publishing our Staying Connected in VET eZine on a quarterly basis for our readers.

I would like to thank all of our article contributors and eZine advertisers for your commitment to Australia’s VET sector.

On behalf of the team at Velg Training, I wish everyone a safe and happy lead up to the holiday season and a prosperous start to 2015.

Michelle Weaver CEO/Founder of Velg Training

Stay Connected in VET - the team at Velg Training can’t wait to hear from you!

1/52 Jeffcott Street, Wavell Heights Qld 4012 (07) 3866 0888

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news@velgtraining.com

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

S

ince our first edition in April, we’ve experienced the 2014/15 Federal Budget, cuts to red tape, consultations on Draft Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2014 and Standards for VET Regulators 2014 and a new Industry Skills Fund, different funding opportunities for apprentices and RTOs — not to mention the regular weekly VET news cycle we cover in our eNewsletters. So we’re back again and as Michelle has mentioned, preparing to publish four times a year!

We’ve updated our figures and are now distributing this VET eZine online to over 8,300 dedicated Velg Training Members and just over 18,000 subscribers.

Please do encourage your networks to join in reading this free resource — they can subscribe to our E-Alerts and free Subscriber Bulletin where we link

to each new edition or join directly via our Issuu account.

The VET eZine themes remain the same, to Educate, Inspire and Empower our readers, with this edition touching on everything from the upcoming Unique Student Identifier (USI) and new Standards to e-learning, skills competitions and pausing to celebrate the sector with OctoberVET. A special congratulations to Velg Training’s CEO, Michelle Weaver, for being announced as a finalist for the National Leadership Award at the upcoming Australian Training Awards (ATA) next month. You can view the complete list of national finalists for this major annual event taking place in Adelaide on 21 November 2014 via the ATA website. We’ll also be Tweeting using the event hashtag #ATA2014 so you can follow the awards online!

The next edition of our VET eZine will be published in early 2015 — we can’t wait to see what changes the new year brings and you can be sure we’ll keep you posted on any urgent VET news as it unfolds.

Before the festive season kicks off, take a moment to drop me a line for any future editorial requests or advertising bookings at news@velgtraining.com.

Amy Lynch Editor, Velg Training

VOLUME 3 will be released: 12 February 2015

Upcoming Workshops & Webinars Assessing Against the new ‘Streamlined’ Units of Competency John Dwyer

This workshop looks at what is meant by ‘streamlined’ training packages and ‘streamlined’ units of competency. It will explore the relationships between the unit of competency; assessment requirements and companion volumes. It will examine whether, and how, assessing against the requirements of the unit will differ from existing, ‘traditional’ processes.

SYDNEY 20 October MELBOURNE 10 November BRISBANE 17 November

BlendEd: Getting the best of Both Worlds into your VET Training Francis Kneebone

The emergence of cloud services, mobile devices and high speed broadband is creating SYDNEY 5 November scenarios where digital delivery and assessment of ‘skills’ is coming into its own. With the MELBOURNE current push to put VET training programs online, questions need to be asked about 11 November what is best left as face-to-face delivery, and what works well online. Francis will outline ONLINE some strategies to get the best of both worlds, and explain important factors that need 13, 20 & 27 November to be considered when moving online.

BRISBANE This topic is offered as both an online webinar and via face-to-face.

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Unique Student Identifier roll out

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he Unique Student Identifier (USI) will provide a national online identity system for students, linked to their national training records, and an online authenticated record of students’ training attainment and qualifications.

Using modern technology and taking advantage of increasing access to internet-enabled devices, including smartphones, the USI will make it easier for an estimated three million VET students and nearly 5,000 RTOs to

the USI scheme will contribute to the continued development of a transparent, flexible, high-quality national training system that is responsive to the needs of business and ensures that students can move more easily from training into paid jobs that boost national productivity.

With the proclamation of the Student Identifiers Act 2014 in June 2014, formal commencement of the scheme is set for 1 January 2015.

Continuing students will be able to

Continued development of a transparent,

flexible, high-quality national training system access and share training information with new training organisations and potential employers.

It will provide students with the ability to obtain a complete record of their VET enrolments and achievements from a single source through their USI account, simplifying enrolment procedures for students seeking to extend their training, and reducing unnecessary repetition of training.

As an important part of the government’s VET reform agenda, 6

apply for their USI from October 2014.

From January, RTOs will be required to collect and verify a USI for each student and include this in their AVETMISS reporting.

The USI Team in the Department of Industry is encouraging RTOs to talk to their student management system developers to ensure the USI can be included in enrolment and student management processes.

To help RTOs, their staff and students prepare for introduction of the USI, the USI Team will continue

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working with training organisations and other key stakeholders up to and beyond formal implementation of the scheme on 1 January 2015.

For more information about the USI, you can visit the USI website or email the USI Taskforce.

Jason Coutts is a member of the Skills Policy Division executive and General Manager of the Information Infrastructure Branch in the Department of Industry. This role brings together leadership of the USI Taskforce with management of other key initiatives supporting streamlined data exchange and consumer choice in the national training system, including My Skills and Training.gov.au. Jason also has oversight of the rollout of support for total VET activity reporting. usi.gov.au

TIPS from Velg Training: • visit the ‘Training Providers’ section of the USI website; • read the legislation; • watch the USI YouTube videos; and • access the USI Help Centre.

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Understanding the

new Standards T

he VET sector in Australia is no stranger to changes to standards and regulations which prescribe how we run our businesses and how training should be delivered. Policy makers have historically prescribed and changed regulations in an attempt to solve perceived problems in the sector.

It was with a great sigh of relief when the new Minister for Industry the Hon Ian Macfarlane announced that the Government’s deregulation agenda would extend to the VET sector and we would see a reduction in red-tape and a return to common sense.

The Department of Industry, under the leadership of Minister Macfarlane, has undergone an extensive and timely consultation process through the VET Reform Taskforce and have recently released a set of draft Standards which are to be finalised and scheduled for implementation from 1 January 2015.

The current Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2012 are in some parts ambiguous and vague. It leaves RTOs to interpret the Standards and does not give much guidance as to what is expected of them. This means that when the VET Regulator sends in its auditors for re-registration, scope extension or risk assessment, it leaves many of the RTOs implemented procedures open to the misinterpretation of the auditor, an experience I’m sure many RTOs can relate to.

The new draft Standards provide RTOs with much more guidance and prescription about what is expected.

There are eight Standards and each one has a list of clauses which prescribe what the RTO must do to be compliant with the Standard. Furthermore, the new draft Standards provide an explicit context which assists RTOs to understand the Standard and provide background.

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The focus of the changes to the new Standards (and certainly the intent behind the VET portfolio moving from the Minister for Education to the Minister for Industry) is industry input and relevance. This is part of the Government’s reform to elevate vocational education to the centre of Australia’s economy and ensure Australians are highly skilled and job ready.

In providing more prescription and context, the interpretation of the Standards becomes easier for RTOs. The three main parts of the new draft Standards are: i. Training and Assessment; ii. Obligations to Learners; and iii. RTO Governance and administration.

The emphasis on quality training and enhanced industry consultation and involvement means that RTOs will

independent persons. Interestingly, the new draft Standards give explicit provision for ‘industry experts’ to be involved in the validation process to ensure there is relevant industry expertise provided as part of the process.

Many of the new draft Standards replicate what is required by the SNR or the AQTF but provide more context and prescription which makes it easier for RTOs to understand and implement. RTOs should plan for the implementation of the new Standards as soon as they are published (it is expected to be some time in October) and work towards full compliance

New draft Standards provide RTOs with much more guidance and prescription about what is expected now be required to demonstrate how they have developed their training and assessment practices with relevance to the needs of industry and informed by industry engagement. RTOs will need to develop strategies for industry engagement and systematically use the outcome of that engagement to ensure relevance with their training and assessment strategies, delivery practices, training resources, assessment materials and also what current industry skills the trainers and assessors will need.

Like the current SNR, assessment will also be required to be systematically validated, however there is the requirement that the assessment validation process is undertaken by

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with the new Standards so that they meet the criteria for eligibility for delegation of regulatory responsibility — an exciting initiative to reduce the regulatory burden on high performing RTOs.

Kevin Ekendahl AMIIA is the Director of Audit Express, a boutique auditing and compliance consulting firm specialising in the VET sector, providing assistance to RTOs with implementation of the new Standards, CRICOS, VET-FEE HELP and higher education. auditexpress.com.au

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EDUCATE

How to choose the right

e-learning software Y ou want to build online training but not sure what to do next. Here are some tips to help you find the right tools as you wade through reams of the vendor’s marketing information.

Understand the type of tools The first thing to know is what types of authoring tools exist and how they work. Generally speaking there are three types of authoring tools for online learning: form-based, freeform, and video.

Form-based applications don’t require any programming. You add your content to the form and the software does the rest like design the interactivity and visual design. This is great because you don’t have to learn much to use the tools. The downside is that the form is a form and offers limited customisation.

Freeform applications generally start with a blank screen. You have to determine the layout, interactions and visual design. This requires expertise with the application. You have more freedom to author the courses, but this takes more time and effort.

Videos are the other type of authoring solution. The videos can be simple lectures, but often are software tutorials or those new “explainer” style videos.

Avoid the feature trap Many organisations make the mistake of crafting feature lists and then comparing the software based on the features. The ones with more features tend to get rated higher. This is a faulty approach because features aren’t equal and the lists are usually derived from marketing material.

It’s more important to look at production workflow because it puts the features in perspective. Each tool can probably build the course you want to build. It may just use different features to do so. However, the difference in workflow may be substantial. And that’s what you want to discover. To avoid the feature trap, I recommend that you use each application to build the same demo course. You’ll learn if the tool is easy to use and how long it takes to build what you need. The last thing you want to discover is that your feature-rich product has an inefficient workflow.

What happens after you make the purchase? During the trial phase connect with the vendors. Tell them what you want to build and ask how to go about it. You’ll learn some productivity tips and the type of support that’s available to you.

You’ll also learn how responsive the vendor is to your needs. Here are the three things I recommend you research prior to choosing your course authoring software:

From left to right: a screenshot of formbased authoring content and the output, compared to freeform authoring to create a custom look and feel.

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Support: What type of technical support exists? Does the vendor provide free resources to help you learn? What happens when you have an issue? How long does it take to get help?

Community: Many online communities provide customer support and technical assistance. You typically find answers to questions, resources, and an assortment of tutorials. What does the vendor do to support your ongoing development? Many course authors are relatively new to online learning.

Thus having an active and engaged community is important.

Connections: Community resources are great. However, being connected to other users is key. Vendors build software with features. But users develop best practices and the types of tips and tricks you’ll need to be successful. Experienced community members also share a lot of what they do which is a source of inspiration for those just getting started.

There are many good options for your online course authoring. So when you’re looking at them be sure to learn what types of tools they offer, what workflow is required and how they’ll support your development after you’ve purchased the software.

If you do those things, you’ll find the tools that provide the best solution to meet your needs.

Tom Kuhlmann has worked in the training industry over the past 20 years. He’s built hundreds of online training modules for organisations large and small. Currently, he works for Articulate where he manages an e-learning community of over 130,000 and writes the Rapid E-Learning Blog, which he publishes weekly to over 100,000 subscribers. articulate.com

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ENJOY THE

FREEDOM AND CONVENIENCE THE EDUCATIONAL STATUTORY LICENCE GIVES YOU A Copyright Agency licence allows our students to have access to a diverse range of learning materials in a timely and flexible manner. Being licensed also allows Navitas English to give something back to authors and publishers Helen Zimmerman Executive General Manager, NAVITAS ENGLISH

WHO WE ARE Copyright Agency is appointed by the Commonwealth AttorneyGeneral to administer the educational statutory licence for copyright to all educational institutions.

Copyright Agency, Level 15, 233 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 phone 1800 066 844 or 02 9394 7600 email sattar@copyright.com.au web www.copyright.com.au ABN 53 001 228 799

Impossible is Possible Together

T

he 2014 National VET Conference was Australia’s largest annual VET gathering yet, with over 1000 VET professionals coming together over two days at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11-12 September 2014.

This year’s theme was ‘Impossible is Possible Together’ and reflected a changing sector, with keynote presentations from the Minister for Industry the Hon Ian Macfarlane, the VET Reform Taskforce and ASQA all announcing a series of major VET reforms to roll out over the next year, impacting the Standards for RTOs, apprenticeships, training packages, industry and regulatory responsibility.

The morning of big announcements was followed by Day 1 Policy & Reform sessions including a USI Readiness Workshop, a panel session with the VET Reform Taskforce on how training providers can engage more effectively with businesses, information about the new $476 million Industry Skills Fund and a positive outlook from former

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AWPA Chief Executive, Robin Shreeve, about a ‘Brighter Future for VET: A personal perspective’.

For those looking for a more tailored approach, delegates could choose from RTO Management & Compliance sessions on everything from industry engagement, course accreditation and the effects of VET Reform, to gamification, e-learning, RTO partnering, systems management and the role of personality in management and training.

The Training & Assessment stream inspired participants with tips for re-engaging learners, interpreting the Standards, clustering units of competency, the LLN equation, training under supervision, using social media with learners and responsive e-learning.

Master Classes were on offer again this year to delegates wishing to register for these ‘hands on’ sessions focused on providing practical takeaways. A range of offerings included mastering assessments and

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mapping, developing a social media marketing strategy, implementing strategic management, defining the quality of your RTO and recipes for learning engagement success.

A Rio Carnival themed Welcome Function encouraged attendees to decorate their own masks to bring to the networking event for an evening of live South American-inspired entertainment, games and prizes, bringing the flavour of Brazil to Brisbane!

Day 2 kicked off with (dare we say) the best Motivational Speaker we have had the pleasure of hosting. The Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet and author of international bestseller, Mao’s Last Dancer, Li Cunxin, spoke to a crowded theatre about overcoming his challenges in communist China and his career transforming journey in Australia which brought him on stage to inspire others to believe the impossible truly is possible, resulting in a standing ovation.

It was also a year of firsts for Velg

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2014NVC FEATURE

Training, with a brand new Industry Skills Council Stream, a Social Media Hub for delegates to gain some digital marketing skills, an Australian Training Awards Panel Session and a Closing Ceremony where the conference’s Platinum Sponsor, Safe Work Resources, gave away a car to one lucky delegate, bringing the country’s largest VET event to a momentous end.

As passionate advocates of VET, Velg Training staff members worked in conjunction with Southbank TAFE to afford a number of select students undertaking qualifications in events management with the opportunity to participate in the planning, coordination and facilitation of the event.

Their assistance with delivering the conference was a valuable contribution to the overall success of the event.

Their participation was showcased in the plenary session’s theming, which extended the TAFE’s involvement to their floristry students. The students were also on hand for conference

registration and elective sessions, where they assisted both delegates and presenters with the event’s proceedings.

Due to its popularity in previous years, Velg Training hosted a Guru Bar over the duration of the conference, where delegates could meet with six highly respected VET Gurus in a ‘speeddating’ style format to ask questions on a range of topics, including; RTO management, compliance, audit, assessment, CRICOS, continuous improvement and other areas of specialisation.

Our social media channels were buzzing throughout the event and grew immensely in size over the two days, with our National RTO Network LinkedIn Group surpassing 7,000 members, our Twitter account increasing to 1,500+ followers, our Facebook Page reaching 900+ and our new Instagram account proving to be a popular means for sharing everyone’s candid snaps. For the first time in conference history our event hashtag

trended on Twitter, where #2014NVC was highlighted alongside Australia’s other most popular hashtags for 3.5 hours!

The Velgy Bunch would like to thank all delegates, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors for making this year’s event a success and for all feedback received which will of course, shape the event for 2015.

Save the date for our 2015 National VET Conference in Adelaide from 17-18 September 2015, where we will begin the steps of ‘ReCONNECTing VET’! #2014NVC recap on our social channels!

SAVE THE DATE

NATIONAL VE CONFERENC

#2015NVC / ADELAIDE ADELAID SAVE THE DATE!

Join us in 2015 as 2015 we host our National VET Co 17-18 September SAVE THE DATE!

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out on Australia’s largest VET event, while takin up-and-coming regions in Australia. Adelaide is Best in Travel 2014 - top 10 cities.

Join us in 2015 as we host our National VET Conference for the first time ever in Adelaide! Don’t out on Australia’s largest VET event, while taking the opportunity to visit one of the most up-and-coming regions in Australia. Adelaide is listed as number 9 in Lonely Planet’s

velgtraining.com Best in Travel 2014 - top 10 cities.

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Instantly analyses ACSF levels for units and qualifications.

Compares learner LLN profiles with unit and qualification profiles and highlights areas needing development.

Compares learners enrolled in the same course to highlight common weaknesses within the class.

Generates individual training recommendation reports for each learner.

SAFE WORK RESOURCES

1300 221 729 WWW.SAFEWORK.COM.AU

Are you feeling left in the dark?

Proposed Standards for RTOs 2014

RTO DOCTOR will help you shine a light rtodoctor.com.au

facebook.com/RTODoctor

twitter.com/RTODoctor

Inspiring excellence in VET Encouraging learner success with LLN skills support once in employment. Here are some of the ways VET practitioners can assist learners to build their skills in these areas.

Get a sense of your learner’s LLN skills from the start Observe them carrying out a number of LLN tasks related to their work. This will also help you identify any skills gaps and then assist the learner to develop any weaker skills.

Many learners in VET have to face LLN skills challenges that are particular to the industry they are training for. We know that without adequate skills in these areas, individuals often struggle to demonstrate their competence either during the learning program or

Use ‘scaffolding’ to build independence Start with clear directions about what you want the final product to look like, and then providing less support over time as learners gain in experience and skill.

Adjust your own practice Make the LLN skills demand in your learning and assessment plan consistent with the needs of the units of competency you are using. Do not make the LLN skills content of your learning or assessment harder than it needs to be, and make sure to use real examples of workplace documents.

Service Skills Australia supports skills and workforce development in the service industries, working with industry and training professionals to ensure that training is in step with the needs of employers and industry as a whole, and is practical to put in place. serviceskills.com.au

Building a movement and change within an organisation Many attempts to instill change in a business and develop a movement fall short due to a poor understanding of fundamental human motivation and behavioural drives.

Typically, leaders or businesses focus on what they need to change and how things must change. The problem with this approach is that it fails to captivate employees.

Any message of change must begin with why is the change needed, then

Nathan Brooks is a forensic psychologist who works in private practice and consultation. He conducts assessments on individuals at risk, consults on destructive personalities in the workplace and also carries out psychological intervention. He has also focused on the development of positive patterns of emotions and coping, including conducting work on emotional intelligence, values and behavioural change. themindcentre.com.au

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ask how can it be implemented and what must be done to refine and review the change process.

Shifting from a ‘what’ to ‘why’ approach is very important. Being focused on the ‘what’ is extrinsically driven and focused on the ‘why’ is intrinsically oriented. If you can appeal to employees’ intrinsic values then they will believe the message that you are trying to create and likely embrace it.

The other common mistake often made, is a poor allocation of resources and attempt at implementing change.

A pivotal factor to successfully bringing about change and building any movement is the stakeholders who deliver and implement new principles.

In short, carefully select those that you choose to be the leaders or communicators when instilling change.

Sometimes, followers are just as important.

Three basics principles for change: Why = Why we need change and the new key principles to be adopted?

How = How the key stakeholders are to implement the change in the business?

What = What needs to be done to refine and review the change process?

Time for change

Often businesses attempt to focus on the organisation as a whole, but change requires that only 15 to 20 per cent of the organisation adopt the new principles or philosophy and once this level is reached a ‘tipping point’ occurs where a shift will naturally take place amongst the remainder of the business.

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INSPIRE

Implementing accessible e-learning using educational media information overload is one thing, but making it accessible is now of critical importance.

Device Agnostic Educational Media If it’s about access then we need to use digital formats that work across Operating Systems (OS), devices and browsers and be careful of e-learning authoring products that claim to work on mobile and tablets, make sure you test the outputs on your own real devices.

We know about the need to cater to different learning styles in digital spaces but the need for a variety of learning modes is amplified as online learners are accessing digital media from phones, while commuting, between ‘other’ digital tasks and entertainment. Making your content engaging enough to get their attention in a world of social feeds and

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Balance in Instructional Design Templating can help you be consistent and balanced in your use of educational media. Just as reams of online text can be a turn off for learners so can 20 videos in one unit, and none in the next. In the end it’s about what media (including text) can best communicate the concepts to the learner.

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Equitable Learner Experience Under WCAG principles media needs to be ‘perceivable’ and always include a text alternative (machine readable).

Always provide text alternatives for non-text content such as captions and alternatives for audio and video content. Make content adaptable and make it available to assistive technologies. Accessible e-learning is to the benefit of everyone.

Francis Kneebone is CEO, consultant and trainer with Cognition E-learning. He is an experienced training manager and e-learning developer and is passionate about the use of technology to enhance training and learning. Author of FREE E-learning resource BlendEd.net.au.

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INSPIRE

The 2014 WorldSkills Australia

National Competition T

he 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition was held in Perth from 18-20 September at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The major event saw almost 500 of Australia’s most talented trade and skill technicians representing 49 specialised skill categories at what is known as Australia’s largest trade and skill competition.

This is the only event on the national event calendar which brings together such a diverse range of professions under the one roof including automotive, building and construction, computing and business, client services and hospitality services industries.

The 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition showcased the skills of Australia’s best young VET

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Over three days, the competitors battled it out for the presitigious title of ‘Nation’s Best’ students, apprentices and trainees.

Each of the national competitors earned their position to compete on the national stage after their medal winning performances in the 2013 round of regional competitions held across the 30 WorldSkills Australia regions.

Over three days, the competitors battled it out for the prestigious title of ‘Nation’s Best’, as well as the chance to become a 2015 Team Australia Skillaroo. The 2015 Skillaroos will be heading to Brazil to represent Australia and their industry at the 43rd WorldSkills International Competition in São Paolo, Brazil next August 2015.

The event, which takes place every two years, attracted thousands of spectators over the three days who watched on as the competitors put their skills to the ultimate test.

In addition to the competition itself, WorldSkills Australia hosted its largest ever Try’aSkill program, which

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allowed visitors to engage with trades and skills in a hands-on way. There were over 40 Try’aSkill activities and demonstrations on offer which allowed people the chance to try their hand at everything from welding a joint and restoring a car body, to mastering a braid and designing a logo.

To view video highlights, photos and the results from the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition visit the WorldSkills Australia website.

The announcement of the 2015 Team Australia Skillaroos will be made later this year, stay tuned via the website and SkillNews.

WorldSkills Australia (WSA) aims to develop and nurture the skills of young Australians.

Its purpose is to promote and build a skills culture by inspiring young people, celebrating skills excellence and providing them with an opportunity to showcase their trade and skill talent. They achieve this goal through competitions held on a regional, national and international level. worldskills.org.au

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Need support in your role?

Join our VET Mentoring Programs!

In 2015, Velg Training will launch the largest VET Mentoring Program in Australia. A suite of eight programs will be available to support the varying roles within an RTO including Managers, Trainers & Assessors and Administrators.

Ongoing professional development is vital to maintain an individual’s skill, knowledge and expertise relevant to the VET sector. These Mentoring Programs will allow knowledge to be communicated and built upon over the 2015 calendar year to enhance your organisation’s continuous improvement process whilst maintaining your individual currency requirements.

RTO Managers Mentoring Program (Beginner) 6 hours pre-recorded content + 6 hours live Q&A January, March, May, July, September & November 2015 RTO Managers Mentoring Program (Intermediate) 6 hours pre-recorded content + 6 hours live Q&A January, March, May, July, September & November 2015 RTO Administrator Mentoring Program (Beginner) 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A February, May, August & November 2015

Programs will include: • Pre-recorded webinars • Live Q&A webinars • Attendance certificates • Electronic resources • Industry experts • Hard-copy folder • PowerPoints

RTO Administrator Mentoring Program (Intermediate) 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A February, May, August & November 2015 Social Media Mentoring Program (Beginner) 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A March, June, August & November 2015 Trainer & Assessor Mentoring Program 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A February, April, July & October 2015 VET Coordinators Mentoring Program Queenland Schools Only 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A Term 1, 2, 3, & 4 2015 VET Teachers Mentoring Program Queensland Schools Only 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&A Term 1, 2, 3, & 4 2015

Don’t forget!

We look after Queensland Schools too!

VET tools you can use The VET sector is an ever changing one and you’ll often find your bookmarks and browser links have become outdated. Whether you’re searching for information to help you with your business or sharing resources with your students, these websites each provide a suite of resources to meet your needs.

Tools for TRAINING PROVIDERS ASQA’s Help Centre is a new online space where training providers can simplify their search and browse FAQs by topic, ask a specific question directly via an online contact form and speak to an ASQA representative. This section is linked from ASQA’s site, which also connects users to their growing YouTube Channel of 10-15 minute videos by topic area.

Business.gov.au is the Australian Government’s new one-stop shop for all of your business needs. Access information about the new $476 million Industry Skills Fund, search for funding using their Grant Finder, subscribe for industry updates and access information and support around skills, training and government services in your area.

NCVER is an independent body responsible for the national collection, management, analyis, evaluation and communication of VET research and statistics. Their website links to VET data, publications, upcoming events and free information sessions for providers.

Velg Training’s RTO Business Directory is an online resource for training and service providers, consultants and small businesses to list their products, services and contact information.

Search for VET businesses by name, location or category and list your company free of charge online.

Training.gov.au (TGA) has recently revamped their website to provide Apprenticeships and Traineeships, courses and training providers and the National Register of VET. The site now redirects to Australian Apprenticeships, MySkills and the original TGA site to help clarify your search (in case you were looking for more than training packages).

VET Commons is a free library provided by eWorks and consists of over 15,000+ curated learning resources, including images, videos, audio files, case studies, presentations, quizzes, assessments and eBooks. Use their site with the latest Moodle plugin (2.6), simply register as a user and you’re on your way!

The VET Development Centre is an Australian leader in developing the expertise of VET professionals.

The Centre’s reputation is driven by our consistent performance in designing, managing and delivering both customised and open access professional development that defines best practice.

Our professional learning programs and services can be customised to meet the needs of individual training providers and can be delivered nationally either in house or at a location of your choice.

vetcentre.vic.edu.au

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EMPOWER

Tools for STUDENTS Australian Apprenticeships will be undergoing a restructure to become the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network from 1 July 2015 but in the meantime, use the current website to access FAQs, employment conditions and financial information.

Additional resources include qualification information, updates about Apprenticeships reform, inspiring success stories and the National Skills Needs List.

Department of Industry’s USI website was recently launched in trial mode for providers but students can get a head start by creating their own USI online, to help keep training

records in one online account. Tune into their new YouTube Channel, read the background information and legislation surrounding this new initiative that will become a mandatory requirement from 1 January 2015. myfuture is a joint initiative between the Australian Government, state and territory governments to provide students, parents and career advisors with information to assist with discovering a career path and applying for jobs. Use the career profile tool to explore opportunities, industries and create a career plan.

MySkills is tailored to school leavers, students, apprentices and employers seeking information about career options, popular courses, training providers and financial assistance.

Search for courses by name, occupation, industry or location and use their ‘Help’ section to gain an overview of the VET sector with a glossary and statistics.

Are you considering an update or replacement to your current Student Management System?

For an obligation free consultation and quote, call us on 02 9018 5525 or email info@jobready.com.au www.jobready.com.au The Smarter and Faster way to manage your Registered Training Organisation

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Upcoming Webinar SPEAKER: Stephen Reder Professor from Portland University TOPIC:

Literacy development, learning and life experiences of low-education adults; a longitudinal study of Adult Learning

DATE: TIME:

October 15, 2014 2:00pm to 3:30pm

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G N I AT R B E L CE

T

he Australian VET Research Association (AVETRA) convenes OctoberVET events across the country each year. It provides the opportunity for new and experienced researchers to showcase their work and for educators throughout the tertiary sector to discuss some of the issues most relevant to the sector.

As well as providing opportunities to share research and discuss issues, these events are part of the work of AVETRA in building research capacity in the sector, an area often not given enough recognition in VET. A participant in the NCVER/AVETRA new researcher program recently explained the importance of VET educators participating in research activities in this way: “Research can also provide a critical reflection on the VET system, enabling it to stay current to the changing needs of society. VET throughout the knowledge value chain is perceived as the poor cousin, underlining the need to raise the status of VET.” Dymock and Billett (2009) in their paper on VET research Aligning VET Research, Policy and Practice as part of an AVETRA Dr Ray Barker Fellowship, quoted a participant to their survey as explaining that, “in VET a researcher can make a personal impact in building a community of scholars and ‘shaping thinking’ about VET, and establishing it as an equally valid field of research as higher and schools education.”

OctoberVET across the country

In this time of change in the VET sector, learning from and participating in research appears more significant than ever.

Whilst most capital cities will hold one OctoberVET event, the opportunity is there for several to be held in different centres, metropolitan and regional. This year in Sydney, one event will focus on ‘lifelong and lifewide perspective on literacy and numeracy development’ University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), and another will highlight issues around professional issues and scholarly practice in VET (Randwick TAFE).

How do you become involved?

OctoberVET events range in size and scope, depending on local needs and interests and range from informal, small-scale gatherings to larger formal events with speakers. Events can be brief, consisting of a couple of hours or can span a whole day. AVETRA offers a small seed-grant for all OctoberVET events, which can be used for catering for example, and a national coordinator is on hand to discuss your ideas, provide advice and support. AVETRA also advertises OctoberVET events nationally to help draw attention to local events.

To run a future OctoberVET event, you can set up a local group and contact one of the national coordinators using the contact details below. To attend an event, visit the AVETRA website and look out for local advertising.

What has been the focus of previous years? Last year’s themes will give you an idea of the variety of interests gathered together under the OctoberVET banner: • The Variety of VET: Research into policy and practice for schools, training providers and workplaces • Research & Evaluation in Vocational Education: The role of evidence/ Engaging & Supporting Distancebased Learners in the Workplace • What is happening in VET research • Engaging adolescents in Education: A gathering of minds and experiences • Building research capacity and culture in VET • Reflective practice in VET – why bother? How does it enhance business?

• Exploring the relationships between the ACE and VET sectors For more information, contact this year’s OctoberVET Coordinators, Steven Hodge and Linda Simon.

Dr Steven Hodge and Linda Simon are AVETRA Executive Members.

AVETRA is the peak professional association in Australian Vocational Education and Training Research. Its members are both VET educators and academics, sharing a passion for research and influencing VET policy and practice. avetra.org.au

Date of Event

OctoberVET Event Theme and Host

15 October 2014

Building Capability in a changing VET sector hosted by Randwick TAFE

17 October 2014

New Developments in Research in VET hosted by the Federation University in Ballarat

17 October 2014

What VET Researchers Learn hosted by the Central Institute of Technology in Perth

24 October 2014

Trades, Apprentices and VET hosted by LaTrobe University in Melbourne

28 October 2014

Starting the Research Conversation hosted by Central Queensland University in Rockhampton

30 October 2014

Bringing Research to Practice: Engaging Adolescents with Literacy and Numeracy hosted by TasTAFE in Hobart

31 October 2014

The State of Play 2014: VET, Apprenticeships and Context hosted by Charles Sturt University in Wagga

6 November 2014

Better Training for a Better Workforce: Research for VET Innovation hosted by Griffith University in Brisbane

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Content development special

Our resources support quality training

for Velg Training members, in addition to the TrainingVC special

Our resources:

10% off custom content projects ordered by Christmas 2014 • Learning tailored to your organisation • Interactive scenarios, images and activities • Various levels of customisation available • Responsive and accessible design • Optimised for iPads and other devices Contact eWorks to take advantage of this excellent offer.

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2014 VET PD ROUND UP OCTOBER

Plan your professional development for the remainder of the year! We’ve rounded up the major VET events taking place across Australia.

Australian Regional Development Conference 15-16 October 2014 at The Commercial Club, Albury Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia National Summit 2014 Aviation/Aerospace Australia 17 October 2014 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 2014 E-Oz Annual Conference Energy Skills Australia 20 October 2014 at the Crown Perth Convention Centre Photo > Matthew Willman

LASA National Conference Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) 20-22 October 2014 at the Adelaide Convention Centre

Photo > Matthew Willman

WE NEED YOU: TO VOLUNTEER OVERSEAS

NOVEMBER

Women in Energy and Resources Leadership Summit 2014 Liquid Learning 21-23 October 2014 at the Rydges South Bank, Brisbane 2014 Group Training National Conference Group Training Australia 12-14 November 2014 at the Grand Chancellor, Hobart

VET professionals from a diverse range of specialisations are sought to work in developing communities overseas. Just like Australian volunteer Ron Schimpf (left) who mentored rural farm workers in Babati, Tanzania.

MSA NSW ITAB Engineering RTO Conference Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) 20 November 2014 at the Rooty Hill RSL

As Australian volunteers, airfares, living allowances and accommodation are all covered.

Australian Training Awards Australian Government 21 November 2014 at the Adelaide Convention Centre

FIND OUT IF YOUR SKILLS ARE NEEDED >

Indigenous Education & Transitions Conference Criterion Conferences Pty Ltd 25-26 November 2014 at the Mercure Sydney

For current events and updated information, visit the Velg Training ‘VET Industry Events’ listing online at: velgtraining.com/vetevents

Are you looking to build your professional network? Join VETIG today!

VET eZINE GLOSSARY We use acronyms throughout this publication and on our website. Please see our VET eZine glossary below and access your complimentary copy of our extensive VET glossary online.

- Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) - Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) - Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) - National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) - National VET Regulation (NVR) - Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - Standards for NVR RTOs (SNR) - Training.gov.au (TGA) - Unique Student Identifier (USI) - Vocational Education and Training (VET) Velg Training Members have access to over 1,500+ online resources via our Members Lounge Portal.

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SECURE YOUR AD SPACE IN VOLUME 3!

Advertising bookings close on 23 January 2015

Download the STAYING CONNECTED in VET eZine

2014/15 Media Kit

Contact us via email to book your space: news@velgtraining.com

2015

NATIONAL VET CONFERENCE ADELAIDE

SAVE THE DATE! Join us in 2015 as we host our National VET Conference for the first time ever in Adelaide! Don’t miss out on Australia’s largest VET event, while taking the opportunity to visit one of the most up-and-coming regions in Australia. Adelaide is listed as number 9 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 - top 10 cities.

VENUE:

ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia DATES:

Thursday, 17 September Friday, 18 September 2015

CONTACT 07 3866 0888 conference@velgtraining.com velgtraining.com