2020 VISION FOR VET
Wendy Cato
It’s time to recognise the importance of recognition! Become an Advanced RPL Assessor Superhero
I am really over this divisive rhetoric about the private training providers and TAFE. Let’s face it both rorted the funding in system in recent years, both have fallen foul of ASQA and both have suffered serious through government lack of vision and policy making on the run, without even a skerrick of meaningful consultation with those at the coal front.
Let me tell you the real facts – not the fake garbage politicians and the advisors would have you believe.
FACT: Both the private and public sectors are NEEDED by Australia and both have some fabulous practices as the state and national training awards attest to. Many TAFE’s and private RTOs work in partnership together and a significant number of trainers and assessors have or do work across both sectors.
So, let’s move forward with a UNITED vision for VET. This is not rocket science, it’s Communication 101!
What I would like to see for a start is the following:
1. No one can be the Minister of VET unless they have undertaken a VET course or worked in the sector (as a trainer/ assessor).
2. No one can be an adviser or consultant to a politician / minister on VET policy unless they have served 5 years in the sector preferably at the coal front (within the last 10 years).
3. That the current minister and their advisers get off their butts and hold open forums (where they are not allowed to make any speeches or talks) across the country (rural, remote and metropolitan) of both public and private persuasion and sit for one day and talk to no one except students and trainers and assessors (no managers, bureaucrats or local elected members allowed, in order to develop a REAL progressive, innovative and realistic 10 year strategy for the sector
4. That REAL industry is consulted not just industry groups and unions. There are 2.3 million small business (2017 data) most of which do not belong to employer groups or whose employees are union members. Business in a regional centre is not the same as in Melbourne or Sydney, hence why training packages do not relate to them. One size does not fit all (sadly something most politicians don’t get in many areas). I propose the similar open forums be conducted as mentioned in point 3.
It is about time the Minster, political parties and so-called VET experts got up and out of their ministerial bubbles and removed their blinkers, so they can see the real VET because it has a lot of promise.
Gentleman of leisure
5 年Well said Wendy. A '2020 Vision for VET' sounds like a great catch-cry.? I would respectfully make one suggestion, and that is neither politicians nor advisors should have any experience at VET.? I say this because if we look around at all of the movers-and-shakers in the VET sector we find that very few of them, have any experience of VET at a level that gives them greater expertise than anybody else. Especially not at a level which enables them to talk at any length about VET. They are very good at getting inside the right offices and talking the talk, especially talk which focuses on scraping more money out of the government, but I cannot think of one of note who knows the difference between criterion-referenced and competency-based assessment (much less any other form of assessment).?
CEO
5 年Totally agree with Judith Bowler. At least someone has the courage to speak the truth.
Empowering people through education | General Manager
5 年Well said Wendy, and whilst we are at it, let's get someone to look at this stigmatized notion that a certain number of hours generates comptenece at a qualification level, when some qualifications require 10 units and others 20, we shouldn't be benchmarking competence on hours of learning, instead we should be benchmarking competence based on what industry says and the individual performance of the student. And as you have said industry is not just the big guys and the unions, it's the mum and dad operators, and the SMEs that never seem to be approached for their input into policy and critical decision making.
Board Member and Educational Strategist
5 年Wendy, while we are at it can we please get someone to review training packages.? Are they really fit for purpose?? They have been developed by the same old barrow pushers that seem intent on killing off student curiosity and engagement with long, long lists of performance evidence and knowledge evidence.? Is it all really important? Is it all essential knowledge and skills?? What happened to the idea that some things are critical to know and be able to do but not everything has the same level of importance??? Pity the poor international students studying BSB qualifications with the need specified in most units 'to implement and monitor'.? How does that realistically work? Yes, I know role plays and simulations but can you really learn the 'real' by practicing via the 'unreal' i.e. role plays.? All of this is happening in the context of a highly combative regulatory environment with RTO voices of concern being loudly raised.?
Digital Literacy | AI Training | E-Learning Development, Compliance, Consulting | Generative AI in Education | EdTech Consulting | Educator Hot List | Women in Technology - Highly Commended Consumer Strength Award 2023
5 年Well said Wendy. The people doing the ground work need a voice.