What we asked ASQA 19.09.2020 Email to ASQA
The Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) is the peak body for adult literacy and numeracy (foundation skills) practitioners in Australia. We have been receiving queries from RTOs across Australia about the definition that will be applied to the trainer and assessor requirements for the FSK Training package. There are queries about how ASQA will monitor and respond to this requirement: a higher level education qualification, such as (see full statement from the units below).
We are seeking guidance for our members and subscribers. Please provide guidance around how the statement should be interpreted. We have noted in our national newsletter that we are contacting you. We hope to have a response that we can share with our members as quickly as possible.
From training.gov.au: Assessors must:
- satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards, and
- have sound knowledge of the ACSF and performance features of the ACSF level being assessed, and
- have demonstrable expertise, knowledge and skills in the vocational contextualisation and assessment of the core skill, learning, and
- have completed the following or equivalent:
- TAESS00009 Address Foundation Skills in Vocational Practice Skill Set; or
- a higher level education qualification, such as:
- TAE80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice (and its equivalent TAE70111); or
- Bachelor of Education, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Education, or higher. This may include qualifications relating to TESOL, adult education or vocational education.
ASQA response 25.09.2020
From Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Stakeholder Engagement, Australian Skills Quality Authority
Thank you for your query regarding the Trainer and Assessor requirements in the FSK training package.
Skills for Australia has documented in the FSK Case for Endorsement (page 16) the reason as to why the trainers and assessors need to hold a higher certificate than required by the Standards for RTO’s.
If you need further information it is best to contact Skills for Australia direct with your query, by email info@skillsforaustralia.com or phone 1800 714 819.
Here’s the page referred to
From FSK Case for Endorsement (page 16) Case for Endorsement – Foundation Skills Training Package Release 2.0 PwC’s Skills for Australia 17
Assessor statement: There was significant discussion in consultation regarding the professional requirements of individuals assessing the FSK training products. It was noted by stakeholders that the delivery of foundation skills should require a higher level of training expertise than other vocational units. There were a range of opinions on this matter, with discussions about the appropriate education level of a trainer and assessor ranging up to AQF level 7 (Bachelors). This issue was discussed at numerous IRC meetings and PWG meetings, with additional feedback sought from stakeholders following the online training product review period.
There was significant support for increasing the training level of an assessor to the Diploma level. However, feedback from stakeholders in regional and remote areas raised concerns over this increase, noting that access to trainers and assessors with a Diploma was difficult in non-urban locations, thus, the delivery of FSK would be hindered, if not completely barred, in regional and remote areas if the requirement was implemented. It was noted that learners in these areas, particularly in Indigenous communities, are some of the learners that most need additional foundation skills, thus, preventing them from accessing the units in this manner would present a considerable equity issue.
On the basis of the above, it was decided that the TAE00009 Address Foundation Skills in Vocational Practice Skill Set was an appropriate balance between the industry desire to increase the minimum professional standards for FSK assessment, and the need to ensure learners are not blocked from the market by limiting the supply of assessors. This is reflected in the final dot point of the assessor statement. However, it is noted that this final dot point gives assessors the option to hold higher level education qualifications, instead of the Skill Set. This option was included following feedback that the majority of foundation skills trainers and assessors already hold higher level qualifications, thus, requiring RTOs to map these qualifications back to the skill set would be an undue burden. Giving this second option and providing the example qualifications reduces this issue.
The proposed assessor statement reads as follows:
Assessors must:
▢ vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards, and
▢ have sound knowledge of the ACSF and performance features of the ACSF level being assessed, and
▢ have demonstrable expertise, knowledge and skills in the vocational contextualisation and assessment of the core skill, and
▢ have completed the following or equivalent:
o TAESS00009 Address Foundation Skills in Vocational Practice Skill Set; or
o a higher level education qualification, such as:
- TAE80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice (and its equivalent TAE70111); or
- Bachelor of Education, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Education, or higher. This may include qualifications relating to TESOL, adult education or vocational education.