BSB50615 Diploma of Human Resources Management

Back in February and March of this year, I started developing resources for BSB50615.

This was in response to a client request and also because so many of the units cross over with units I have already developed for BSB51915 Diploma of Leadership and Management.

I had to put this development on hold when the new TAE40116 and TAE50116 was released, so as to concentrate on developing the resources many of my clients needed in order to apply for scope for these qualifications.

In fact, it’s taking ASQA so long to approve scope that I managed to complete all the other units needed for a full qualification in TAE40116 and TAE50116. So far, none of my clients who have applied have been refused scope, so I’m taking this as “no news is good news”. We do know that ASQA has refused scope to a number of applicants. About a month ago I was told 28 applicants were refused, but this is only hearsay.

So now I am ready to continue with development of the BSB50615 resources. I have developed:
• BSBHRM501 Manage human resource services
• BSBHRM506 Manage recruitment selection and induction processes
• BSBHRM512 Develop and manage performance management processes
I have still to develop:
• BSBHRM513 Manage workforce planning
• BSBWRK510 Manage employee relations

Then I will have a full set of units for BSB50615 because of the cross-over with BSB51915.

Trouble is, I’m not that motivated. To date I have two of my existing RTO clients who will definitely purchase these resources but these two alone won’t cover the costs of my time.

So if anyone would like to email me an expression of interest, you will help kick me back into gear.

Sandy Welton
sandytrainer@dodo.com.au

No TAE40116 Approvals

The more things change – the more they stay the same.

I notice that to date not a single RTO has been approved for scope for TAE40116, the new Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, even though it was released in April this year. The same applies for TAE50116 the Diploma of VET.

My gut feeling is that ASQA is sitting on the small private RTO applications unless they are non-compliant, because I know of RTOs who applied months ago and have heard nothing. On the other hand, I understand scope has been refused to a number of RTOs.

It will be interesting if ASQA is waiting for the TAFEs to apply, and I hope that’s not the case because TAFEs are large bureaucratic organisations and it seems likely they will have trouble getting together all of the required evidence for submission.

In the meantime I have been developing resources for TAE50116 which of course will cross over to TAE50216 the Diploma of Training Design and Development. I’m a significant way through this development and have updated my list of units to reflect this. (You can download the list from this site.)

Those who are canny, and want TAE50116 will probably apply for TAE50216 and select units that cross over. That way, as soon as somebody has scope for TAE50116 they will be able to credit transfer.

I’m expecting there will be a demand for the Diploma for several reasons. Firstly, anyone who delivers TAE40116 must have the Diploma. Secondly, there is no entry requirement for the Diploma and it doesn’t seem to change nearly so frequently as the Cert IV, so there will be people who hope to bypass the Cert IV and go straight to the Diploma.

I (and some of my colleagues) have recommended to PwC that this problem should be looked into. My clients would not accept a candidate for a TAE Diploma unless they have significant experience and hold either TAE40110 or TAE40116, but this is not spelled out. The only way to ensure there is an entry level is to make the statement in the qualification.

In the meantime we are in limbo. No doubt ASQA will be so busy reviewing new applications for scope they will have little time (or perhaps inclination) to concentrate on RTOs delivering TAE40110 for knock-down prices and short time frames. Since there is an 18 month teach-out period, this means we will continue to see people who hold the qualification but are not really qualified.

Sandy Welton

TAE40116 and the Enterprise Trainer

Well, resource development for TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is moving along.

I’ve completed the resources for learning and assessment pathways and RPL tools for:
• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes
• TAEASS402 Assess competence
• TAEASS403 Participate in assessment validation
• TAEDES401 Design and develop learning programs
• TAEDES402 Use training packages and accredited courses to meet client needs

The more I look at these units, the more I become concerned about TAE40116 requirements. It’s patently clear now that this qualification is no longer “entry level” – particularly since TAEASS502 has been added to the core.

I wonder if, when the AISC approved this change, they read the Application of TAEASS502.

“It applies to experienced practitioners responsible for the development and/or delivery of training and assessment products and services.”
I am still continuing a dialogue with PwC and this is one of the points I will raise at the webinar on 20 July. So far PwC have been very responsive and positive, so I am optimistic that in the end sense will prevail.

One of my strongest suggestions will be for a brand new qualification for entry level trainers who work in enterprise and industry rather than an RTO. Employers often insist on them having TAE40110 or equivalent simply because there is no other qualification – and they don’t want the skill sets.

TAE40116 includes the two Design Sector units, which are only slightly relevant to enterprise trainers. They may have to plan a learning program but they don’t need to unpack a qualification or analyse units of competency.

The LLN unit requires analysis of the ACSF, which I think is inappropriate for an enterprise trainer. They need the DEL units and particularly I think TAEDEL402 Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace. TAEDEL404 Mentor in the workplace is appropriate too.

Enterprise trainers often need to sign off on competency, but this is a completely different process and needs a unit of competency focused on assessment in an enterprise context.
Whatever the response from PwC, I’m expecting we will have to live with TAE40116 for quite a while longer – so I will keep on with development of the resources.

Sandy Welton

TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

As I said in my previous blog, I have the following units ready to go, as learning and assessment pathway and RPL resources.

These are the units required so as to apply for scope for TAE40116:
• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes
• TAEASS402 Assess competence
• TAEASS403 Participate in assessment validation

TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development

I have now completed the development of resources for the following units, which are those ASQA requires to make application for initial scope.

TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEASS501 Provide advanced assessment practice

TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development
• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEDES501 Design and develop learning strategies

Again, they include learning and assessment pathway and RPL resources.

Where to next?

Now I propose to go back to TAE40116 and finish the rest of the units. If I start this now, they will be ready by the time they are needed – bearing in mind that ASQA is now saying the application process is 3-6 months. There are still no RTO’s with scope for TAE40116.

I am planning to complete the TAE40116 development in 2 months. Then I will go back and do the rest of the units for TAE50116 and TAE50216. Unit selection for the Diplomas will be on the basis of whether they cross over into both qualifications.

PwC has some webinars and seminars coming up where they are seeking input into how TAE40116 needs to be changed. I’ve already been talking to them about this, and will be adding my recommendations in the webinars.

The problem, in my opinion, is only partly related to the unit requirements. I am also concerned about the trainer/assessor qualifications stated in the RTO Standards. I can see people bypassing TAE40116 and going straight to the Diplomas – and if an RTO already has scope for TAE50111 and/or TAE50211, they can upgrade without stringent review by ASQA.

So it’s likely that the “tick and flick” process will simply move over to the Diplomas.

Such is life … we will just have to wait and see.

Sandy Welton

TAE40116 Now Available

TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

The new TAE Cert IV was released on 6 April 2016 and now we have 9 core units and one elective.

Every trainer/assessor is going to need to upgrade their TAE40110, although we have a bit of time to do so. Right now there are no RTOs with scope for the new qualification.

Application for scope is not simple. ASQA is using this opportunity to scrutinise RTOs currently delivering TAE40110 and applying for scope for TAE40116. This is because of the fully justified concern about the quality of training and assessment delivered by some RTOs.

It’s quite true that TAE40110 has been delivered in some cases in less than a week and for less than $300. Hopefully this scrutiny will correct the problem. However, the audit process will certainly take ASQA some time. ASQA has stated that RTOs should allow 6 months for their application but I think it will take longer. Currently there are 702 RTOs with scope for TAE40110. If they all apply for new scope for TAE40116 it’s going to take a lot longer than 6 months for ASQA to get through them all.

In the case of an application for scope for TAE40116, the following learning and assessment resources must be submitted:
• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes
• TAEASS402 Assess competence
• TAEASS403 Participate in assessment validation

For this reason, I have devoted 7 days a week since the qualification was endorsed in order to develop the four Assessment Sector units needed to apply for scope.
There’s no need to develop the balance of the Cert IV units just yet, as it will take a while before RTO’s have scope to deliver them.

TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training

TAE40116 now requires assessors of the units to hold TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or TAE50111 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or be able to demonstrate equivalence.

What this means is that demand for TAE50116 will increase. So this is my next project.

ASQA requires RTOs to submit the following resources in order to apply for scope for the following TAE Diplomas:

TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training

• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEASS501 Provide advanced assessment practice

TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development

• TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEDES501 Design and develop learning strategies

I’ve already developed TAEASS502, so the next step is to develop the two other units needed to apply for scope for the Diplomas.

BSB50615 Diploma of HR Management

Until the new TAE was endorsed, this was my current project, which I’ve had to put on hold. The qualification won’t appear on my web site until all of the units are developed.

So far I have developed:
• BSBHRM501 Manage human resource services
• BSBHRM506 Manage recruitment selection and induction processes
• BSBHRM512 Develop and manage performance management processes

Sandy Welton

Latest on Replacing TAE40110 Cert IV

This is the link to an ASQA media release on 1 April:
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news/3040/newly-endorsed-certificate-iv-in-training-and-assessment.html

And this is the link to the AISC media release on 1 April
https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/aisc_tae_communique_1_april_2016.pdf

So it looks as though the new TAE Cert IV is likely to appear on www.training.gov.au any day now.

In spite of all the consultation with VET professionals and IBSA’s recommendation to enhance the 3 current core assessment sector units, the AISC has accepted ASQA’s recommendation to add TAEASS502 Develop Assessment Tools to the core.

I’m definitely not in favour of this approach. The TAE Cert IV is stated as an entry-level qualification and, as such, should not include a Diploma level unit of such difficulty in the core. As a practising lead trainer/assessor and experienced instructional designer, I know that it takes a lot of expertise to develop a full assessment tool.

It’s also something that few trainer/assessors are required to do as part of their job.

All RTOs will need to re-apply for scope for the new TAE – so I expect they will change the code and it won’t be TAE40116. ASQA says there will be new, more stringent, requirements.

No doubt it will take months between the application for scope and approval, and at this stage I have no idea what RTOs will do in the meantime.

All we can do is wait and see what will happen next.

Sandy Welton

TAE40110 and BSB50615 Update

TAE40110 Resources

Well the AISC didn’t endorse TAE40116 in February and it’s anybody’s guess when it will be endorsed.

I’ve not bothered to update my web page for TAE resources because it’s been so much in flux there was no point. However, I have been receiving a number of requests, and have supplied the resources half price.
Why half price TAE40110 resources? Well, because it’s a bit of a risk buying them at all when we don’t know what’s happening. Also, the VET system changes so fast that as soon as you buy them they need revision!

I have revised the two DES units. I did this in December so they are reasonably up-to-date, apart from the fact that we now have SSO’s instead of ISC’s. I also reviewed and improved TAEDEL401A, TAEDEL402A and TAEDEL301A. The ASS units don’t really need revision, TAELLN411 is OK and so is TAEDEL404A. The RPL tools have not been revised but they should be OK. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t feel happy actively marketing these resources at full price.

BSB50615 Diploma of HR Management

This is my next project. I have only completed BSBHRM512 Develop and manage performance management processes so far and am now working on BSBHRM506 Manage recruitment selection and induction processes.

They won’t appear on the web site until I have developed all of the core, but it’s gratifying that so many of my existing clients say that they want to buy it when completed. Most of the electives for BSB50615 overlap with BSB51915 Diploma of leadership and management, so once I have the core completed, there will be a full set of resources that meets the packaging rules.

It’s taken me a bit out of my comfort zone and entailed a lot of research. I’m amazed to discover how “fluffy” most of the textbooks are. To my way of thinking, trainees need cut and dried clarity. Development of the assessment tasks is particularly difficult and requires a lot of simulated workplace activities. Of course, if the trainee is in the workplace and can demonstrate performance with real work, then I expect the trainer to substitute the task. That’s one of the reasons they are Word documents in the first place.

Sandy Welton

TAE40110 and VET Reform

In the space of just over 12 months, there have been three different ministers for VET. The current minister is Luke Hartsuyker, who has swapped portfolios with Simon Birmingham. I have just written to the Minister. This was the gist of the letter.

Recommendation 1
• Open and transparent communication of government decisions together with the reasons for the decisions.
• Ensure that the infrastructure is in place to implement government decisions for change by the date announced.

Service Skills Organisations replace Industry Skills Councils
This decision has never been clearly explained, although there were a lot of woolly statements about involving industry in the development of training packages and something called a “competitive” approach. The change was announced to take place by 1 January 2016 but it hasn’t happened yet and looks like it’s a long way off. The latest information is at this link: https://www.education.gov.au/skills-service-organisations

Australian Industry Skills Council replaced the National Skills Standards Council
The NSSC was dissolved by the COAG Industry and Skills Council on 3 April 2014. The reasons for this decision were not publicised. The AISC’s first meeting was in June 2015. The first communiqué announcing endorsements was on 27 July 2015 after their second meeting. So between April 2014 and June 2015 there was no official endorsement body. Another case where a decision was announced before the infrastructure was in place.

Training Package format “streamlined and simplified”
According to a SCOTESE publication in November 2012, all training packages were to have transitioned to the new format by 31 December 2015. A search at www.training.gov.au shows 50 current training packages with the old codes. Yet another instance of announcing a cut-off date and not having the infrastructure in place to support it. No doubt much of the reason is the period of limbo where there was no endorsement body.

Recommendation 2
• Give a precise direction to ASQA to search for RTOs advertising TAE40110 courses less then 4 weeks duration and/or less than $1,000.
• Instruct ASQA to conduct audits of their training and assessment strategies, assessment resources and a random sample of assessment decisions.
We all know that modifications to the qualification packaging rules or wording of the units will do nothing to improve the quality of training and assessment. This can only be achieved by weeding out those RTOs providing sub-standard training and “tick and flick” assessments for the TAE Cert IV. Since TAE40110 is the qualification underpinning training and assessment practices, this qualification should be a priority for ASQA.
I am still awaiting the Minister’s reply (cross fingers).

Update on resource development
I have completed learning and assessment resources, including RPL tools, for:
• BSB41415 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
• BSB42015 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management
• BSB51915 Diploma of Leadership and Management
I’m pleased to say that demand is high and feedback has been excellent.
In December I started updating my learning and assessment pathway resources for TAE40110. The Design and Delivery sector units are completed but I will wait to put them up on the web site until we know what happens at the next AISC meeting on 18 February. At that stage I will update the Assessment sector units– which are the units most likely to have major changes.
I have been asked to develop resources for BSB50615 Diploma of Human Resources Management and am considering this seriously. Quite a few electives overlap with units I have already developed for BSB51915 Diploma of Leadership and Management.

If you might be interested in resources for BSB50615, I would appreciate a quick email, so that I can have some idea of demand.

Sandy Welton

The TAE Turmoil

IBSA’s application to be an SSO, rejected

This is a link to an article in the Australian Financial Review entitled “PwC to win key government training contract”.

http://www.afr.com/news/politics/pwc-to-win-key-government-training-contract-20151222-gltuuw

Copying from the PwC website, this is who they say they are:
“PwC is one of Australia’s leading professional services firms, bringing the power of our global network of firms to help Australian businesses, not-for-profit organisations and governments assess their performance and improve the way they work. Having grown from a one-man Melbourne accountancy practice in 1874 to the worldwide merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand in 1998, PwC Australia now employs more than 6,000 people.”

What does this mean for those of us in the VET system?
More confusion and more change I’m afraid.
As you well know, IBSA was the ISC in charge of the TAE and BSB Training Packages – and several others. BSB was endorsed in February 2014 so hopefully that’s not going to change but we still have no idea what will happen about the TAE Training Package.

I’ve spoken to Robert Bluer at IBSA and they have developed a case for endorsement to go before the IASC in February which will include changes to TAE40110 (TAE40116 as it will be). After a great deal of consultation, they have enhanced the units TAEASS401, TAEASS402 and TAEASS403.
However, Robert tells me that ASQA will also be presenting a different option for TAE40116, which will include TAEASS502 Develop assessment tools in the core. Personally, I disagree with this proposal and so do most of my colleagues.

TAE Cert IV is an entry level qualification. It takes me 2 weeks to develop an assessment tool for one unit, and I am an experienced instructional designer. It’s completely inappropriate to ask an entry level trainer/assessor to do this.

Of course, now that IBSA is no longer in charge of the TAE Training Package, anything could happen, so I’m now in a quandary.

Do I update my TAE40110 resources or do I wait until February? I know that Chemène Sinson of Blackwater Projects is in a similar quandary.

The constant and unrelenting changes to the VET system mean that as soon as we have written a resource it is out of date.
However, I am planning to re-visit my current resources and see what I can do, since we can’t wait forever, and there are now no guarantees the new qualification will go up for endorsement in February 2016.

A very happy New Year to all my clients and readers.

Sandy Welton

What’s happening with the TAE?

I’ve been doing my best not only to keep up with the twists and turns of this saga, but also try in my own small way to influence the outcome towards a bit of common sense.
You will see details of the status quo, as I understand it, on my web page for TAE40110. [link]

At the beginning of the year I had a meeting with Ian MacFarlane who, at the time, had just lost the portfolio for VET (when I made the appointment he was still the Minister). This was a wide ranging discussion focused on doing something about the quality of VET training and assessment. My colleagues with a stake in this have also been pushing for reform. I’ve received a letter in response from Simon Birmingham that was very long but didn’t actually say anything concrete about what will be done. We’ve also made a proposal to IBSA in relation to proposed changes to the TAE Cert IV. Another of my colleagues has also written to the current Minister.

As we all know, there are two types of RTO – those who are committed to quality and the “tick and flick cowboys”. Unfortunately, this situation will continue until ASQA steps up and targets those who are offering qualifications in ridiculously short time frames for knock-down prices. The quality RTOs simply can’t compete. As I have said on a number of occasions, it’s not exactly rocket science. All that ASQA needs to do is a Google search to find them. Then target these RTOs for audit. A Senate Committee report noted the problems and recommended additional funding and powers for ASQA. I don’t see how throwing more public money at the problem will resolve it and ASQA already has power to de-register RTOs.

However, ASQA has decided the problem is the wording of the TAE qualification and units. They want it beefed up because trainer/assessors don’t properly understand or use assessment tools. Hence, IBSA has been instructed to make further changes to the draft TAE Cert IV. As a result, it’s pretty unlikely to be endorsed this year.

There’s no doubt that the standard of training and assessment of TAE40110 is a major cause of lack of quality, as it is the foundation for all training and assessment practices. The question is, will changing the qualification change the practice? Not in my opinion. The only way to deal with tick and flick practice is to police it properly.

My take? Let’s get the new qualification endorsed so as to remove the confusion and frustration. At the same time, ASQA, why don’t you target those RTOs offering TAE40110 in 3 to 5 days? Make the RTO justify how they can achieve any kind of learning outcome in such a short time frame. If ASQA starts with the TAE, it will be dealing with the problem at its source.

Sandy Welton