Published 20 December 2022
There has been a lot of recent activity in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry. On the training front there have been three recent significant developments.
UPDATES TO THE SIS SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION TRAINING PACKAGE
The updates to the sport, aquatic and recreation products within the SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation training package, which includes qualifications and skill sets such as Swimming and Water Safety Teacher, Pool Lifeguard and Aquatic Technical Operator, were published on 12 December 2022.
The updated training package will include:
- A series of new qualifications and specialisations, e.g. Certificate III, IV and Diploma in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation. The qualifications have a range of specialisations at differing levels, e.g. Customer Service, Recreation Officer, Pool Lifeguard, Swim Teacher, and Swim School Coordination.
- A new Inland Open Water Lifeguard skill set, including a new unit ‘Perform open water rescues’.
- A new unit in the Pool Lifeguard and Inland Open Water Lifeguard skill sets, ‘Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment’.
- A new unit, ‘Monitor and maintain inflatable aquatic equipment’.
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) now have a 12-month transition period in which to transition away from delivery of the superseded training products to the new products. During this period (up to 12 December 2023) it is acceptable for candidates to be issued with either the new or the superseded products (i.e. units, skill sets, qualifications) in line with the course they have enrolled in.
Note that at the time of publication of this article there is an error relating to the superseded Pool Lifeguard Skill Set (SISSS00129) as listed on training.gov.au. Due to an administrative error it is currently listed as ‘deleted’, when it should be listed as ‘superseded’. We are informed this will be rectified in the coming days. RTOs can continue to train/asses and issue the SISSS00129 Pool Lifeguard Skill Set as per the usual rules around superseded training products. More information can be found on the ASQA website.
UPDATES TO THE CERTIFICATE IV IN TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT
The updates to the Training and Education training package have also just been published and there is now a new Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122) along with a new Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (TAE50122).
This is important news for the Vocational Education and Training sector and the Registered Training Organisations that deliver training and assessment. Why? Anyone delivering training and assessment within the nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training system is required to hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment as a minimum.
The news many will find pleasing is that the new Certificate IV TAE (TAE40122) has been deemed equivalent and those holding the Certificate IV TAE (TAE40116) will not be required to upgrade to the new qualification, but it is complex and it is worth reading the FAQs that were published with the release of the products, accessible here.
REVISED TRAINING ORGANISATION STANDARDS
The draft revised Registered Training Organisation Standards (RTO Standards) have been published and are now accessible through the Australian Government - Skills Reform website. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 set out the requirements that a Registered Training Organisation must meet, and the new standards, in whatever final form they take, will mean a significant change for the Australian Vocational Education and Training sector.
