My daughter could have had her certificate revoked!

Perusing an assessment task from High School brought home, I felt compelled to warn my daughter’s teacher of the danger he was putting his RTO into.

On the assessment instrument was not simply one incorrect Unit of Competence, not two, not three but four names, codes and editions of the Unit of Competence that was actually being assessed.

The teacher had obviously written or inherited an assessment instrument three training packages ago and not thought to ever edit the material but just ‘stuck on’ the next unit code and title. There were two superseded codes and one deleted code in addition to the (thankfully) current unit code and title.

The trainer was grateful for me pointing it out. My daughter passed!

So, the Ten Tips to Tighten Tools

1. I suggest to my current TAE cohorts to think of TGA Unit codes and titles as ‘Hand and Glove’… don’t just put the code (only) and not have the title of the unit clear and visible.
2. Sign up to your SSO or IRC for updates.
3. Check your specific qualification(s) semi-regularly on www.training.gov.au don’t just rely on having downloaded them some time ago.
4. Get to understand the superseded and teach-out periods.
5. Silos and Islands are over-rated… Run your assessment tools and instruments by a colleague to have some collegial input.
6. Ensure your codes are exact; capital letters, numbers (pay attention to ‘1’s and ‘I’s) and correct wording (if the unit is titled ‘SHBXWHS001 – Apply safe hygiene, health and work practices’ don’t get complacent and write SHBXWHS001 Apply hygiene, health & work practice’ = three mistakes.
7. Write the assessment tools simultaneously (Mapping documents; instruments; unit plans; Training and Assessment Strategies) to avoid mistakes and/or details being overlooked.
8. Have the correct unit code and title in the footer of every document that the learner will receive (and be updating it should the Training Package change).
9. The 2015 RTO Standards require our qualifications to be validated at least every five (5) years (Half in the first three years, final half of your units of competencies in the final two years by which time you may have a new TP so start again!)
10. Maintain accurate version control and a continuous improvement register.

Hope that helps…