Latest Articles
Just Turning Up is Not Enough
Just showing up is not enough. Students need to actually learn, build knowledge and skills in DOING and absorb quality material to up-skill.
Trainers, Developers and Experts: There is No One Ring That Binds Them All
As a trainer and assessor for some 15 years in government and private training organisations and the last 18 months actually training the TAE40116, I have some anecdotal evidence to share that dovetails nicely with Sandy Welton’s research report mentioned in her “Re-thinking the role of trainers and assessors” article.
The Drop in Traineeships and Apprenticeships. Why is It Happening?
A recent figure revealed that the federal government over the last five years has underspent close to $1 billion of its budget on TAFE, training and apprenticeships. This is on top of previous cuts. At the same time, that these budgets cuts are happening, Australia is still experiencing critical skills shortages in several industries. A number of experts have warned of serious effects on the Australian economy.
Quality is Meaningless
It is a word that is used easily and widely. It is a word that we readily understand, but I do not believe that quality is something that actually exists in VET, but I do believe it should.
Overly Prescriptive Units Of Competency
This article is an introduction and invitation to discuss the prescriptive nature of Australia’s units of competencies. It will share some thoughts about how overly prescriptive Units of Competency transpire as a barrier for a progressive national VET system.
Is It Too Radical to Require a Workplace?
Does it make sense to have an employer tied to the student's training? What are the barriers to this being possible, and why is it important?
Financial Caps in VET Compared With HECS for University
After the travesty that was the VET Fee-Help scheme and the ‘shonky providers’ publicity that went along with that (whereby all RTOs – good and bad – were lumped into one ‘shonky’ basket) – the government introduced the ill-conceived and almost unworkable VET Student Loan scheme (VSL).
Expectations Associated With Assessment
There’s probably no surprise that someone would bring up Assessment as a challenge in VET sooner or later. Audit results show it as a number one issue, anecdotal evidence shows it as a number one issue, and the number of forums, webinars and other PD offerings available and dedicated to explaining assessment-related concepts show it as a number one issue.
Entitlement And The Erosion of Standards
Erosion of quality training and assessment practices at the front line occurs due to various reasons. Certain trends are developing. These have been observed over a period of time and have also been discussed with a number of colleagues operating in enterprise RTOs.
Could Active Citizenship Be the Missing Piece in Australian VET?
The place of VET within the Australian industrial landscape seems fairly robust, but compared to the global landscape, it could be lacking in one key element: active citizenship.
Authorship and Ownership – How Assessment Disempowers Assessors
I have recently read Michelle Charlton’s excellent article Expectations associated with Assessment and I wholeheartedly agree with her conclusion that providing professional tools for use by professional tradespeople (trainers/assessors) can only do our sector the world of good.My article will explore how we can still do this but also allow for a little ownership of those tools among our Assessors.
Assessing Knowledge in VET?
Assessment faces many challenges; one, in particular, is that Assessment practices are typically designed by individuals without specialist test design skills. Another challenge is that such Assessment practices are then “Validated” by individuals who lack specific skills in test evaluation. The result is an impossibly wide variation in the relative quality of assessments across RTOs – With the consequence that there is wide variation in outcomes.
A Place for Training Products – in Defence of the Standards for RTOs
In his essay on jargon and terminology, Bryan West raises what could be an engaging topic. However, there must be better examples, than the one he raises, of jargon that causes irritation to students in VET. Specifically, Bryan raises concerns about the term: “training product”.
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The new qualification TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment was a very challenging course. I have been in the VET sector for almost 30 years and have gone through many of the qualification upgrades. This new one was no "give me". The assistance I got from the FL team was amazing. I was supported every step of the way. A fantastic learning and development experience. Thank you
Roger Crowhurst
Thanks to Jane for her support all the way. I definitely had trouble interpreting academic speak as I am from a trade background. With Jane's help I found it easier to understand and ultimately got through.
Stephen Armao
Fortress learning provided quality service, resources and training, from the enrolment process with Jonathon who had exceptional Customer service skills to the Trainer Deb Thomas who held my hand through the upgrade process. I am very happy to have selected and committed to Fortress learning and would highly recommend anyone considering to upgrade their qualifications or begin their training to go with their training organisation. Thanks again Deb for your time, knowledge and skills.
Caterina
From the very first phone call, Fortress Learning had fantastic communication and straightforward processes. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing to go through the RPL and credit transfer process. They made the whole process so simple and stress free. Emails were normally responded to on the same day, and the giant portfolio I submitted was reviewed and marked within the week. Thank you to Jon, Odeza, Emma and everyone else involved.
Alison L
I’m not a person who takes to technology and computers easily, I never gained an education through high school. Thanks to Deb and the team at Fortress, I was able to get my qualification to start my dream job, training and assessing apprentices. I would like to thank everyone at Fortress for helping and guiding me along the way, I will be forever grateful!
Adam D
I had a great experience doing my TAE through Fortress. Very clear tasks with videos to give guidance and instructions on the tasks. Trainers very responsive and willing to help! Marking done within 4 days. Thank you very much!
Susanna C
Fortress made my RPL really easy. Advised me exactly what I needed to provide as evidence to reach my desired outcome. Quick assessment of my skills and experience to finalise my upgrade. Thanks Fortress team.
Steve D
Quality TAE RPL assessment is difficult. That's why lesser RTOs avoid it. I tried to negotiate a realistic RPL pathway with two other well-known TAE providers before settling on Fortress. I'm an experienced TAE assessor myself; I was impressed by their commitment to rigorously observing the standards while being flexible enough to capture genuine evidence. I was not only impressed with the service they provided me, I am confident that any colleague or potential employee of mine that is certified through Fortress genuinely has met the standards (and not just benefitted from the "tick and flick" approach of some providers). I have no association with Fortress but I would recommend them to any TAE professional seeking to upgrade their qualifications.
Sean Kelly
I recently completed my Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Training and Assessment Education (TAE) through Fortress Learning, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the process was seamless and well-organized. The support team was incredibly responsive and helpful, guiding me through each step with patience and clarity. The assessors at Fortress Learning are highly knowledgeable and provided valuable feedback that was both constructive and encouraging. Their expertise in the TAE field is evident, and their dedication to helping students succeed is truly commendable. What stood out the most was their tailored approach to my RPL application. They recognized my prior experience and skills, ensuring that the assessment process was relevant and fair. The resources provided were comprehensive and greatly aided in my understanding of the requirements. Overall, Fortress Learning has exceeded my expectations with its professional and supportive approach. I highly recommend their RPL services to anyone seeking to advance their TAE qualifications. Thank you, Fortress Learning, for an outstanding educational experience!
Brendan
The TAE workload was boulderous and daunting, but trainer Deb Thomas assisted me throughout. Her explanations untangled jargon and simplified arduous assessment tasks. Her incredible support enabled me to complete the TAE. THANK YOU!!! Although I primarily teach in a degree course, areas covered such as "reasonable adjustment" will assist with my Higher Ed work. I recommend Fortress to anyone contemplating a TAE: the service was both excellent and comprehensive.
Robyn
This course has made me a better Trainer and Assessor in many ways. The research project was intense, but very rewarding, I intend to implement many of the strategies I have learned throughout the course. The training staff at Fortress were fantastic and very supportive all the way, they did not hesitate to help me when it was needed. Many thanks to Fortress, especially Jane MacIntosh.
Nick Congiusta
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