In the last Training Provider Briefing, Trainers and Assessors is listed as one of the 3 highlighted common compliance issues in RTOs audited by ASQA. (Training and Assessment and Validation were the other two)
In many cases, however, the issue is more with the documentation than with the actual qualifications of trainers. Many qualified trainers are marked non-compliant because of weak documentation.
Here’s a quick guide on how to have strong evidence of trainer and assessor requirements:
- Have a trainer profile
Although having a Trainer Profile document is not an explicit requirement of the Standards, having (a good) one is invaluable when it comes to demonstrating compliance.
Remember: it is not the auditor’s job to prove your compliance—it is yours.
Auditors will not look for the required evidence; you must provide it to them.
The best way to make this easy for them is having a good Trainer Profile document.
- Trainer profiles alone are not enough
You must keep supporting evidence for every item logged in the trainer profile
- A resume is not valid evidence
Unless you have documented evidence that you have verified the details of the resume (e.g. calling previous employers and verifying details of employment), it is just a piece of paper that anyone can fabricate!
- Know what is required
First, you need to understand these two concepts—Competency and Currency.
- Competency is ‘the ability to do something successfully or efficiently’
This can be achieved through formal training or experience. Evidence of competency may include:
- Certificates
- Competency equivalence map
- Currency is ‘a state of being updated, relevant, or being used or done in present time’
This can be achieved through:
- Professional development activities
- Practice
Evidence of currency may include:
- Certificates
- Logs
- Task outputs
Next, you need to demonstrate competency and currency in the following areas of your practice:
- VET Training and Assessment
If you are a VET trainer and assessor, you are required to hold one of the following credential requirements:
- TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment plus the following units:
either TAELLN411 or TAELLN401A, and
either TAEASS502 or TAEASS502A or TAEASS502B - A diploma or higher level qualification in adult education
If you are delivering TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or any assessor skill set from the TAE Training and Education Training Package, you are required to hold one of the following qualifications:
- TAE50111/TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
- TAE50211/TAE50216 Diploma of Training Design and Development
- A higher level qualification in adult education
- Vocational practice related to the training you are delivering
You may demonstrate vocational competency through:
- Relevant Certifications
- Detailed Trainer and Assessor Competency Matri
Here’s a quick illustration of what the Standards require for trainers and assessors in terms of Competency, Currency, Training and Assessment, and Vocational Practice:
Here’s an example of a good set of trainer evidence for someone who is delivering BSB42015 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management:
Check your current trainer profile. Does it clearly demonstrate how you address each of these requirements? If not, I think it’s time for a quick update!
ASQA also recently (24 July 2019) released a new Fact Sheet on Meeting Trainer and Assessor Requirements (click here).
I hope this blog was helpful! If you have any questions about trainer compliance, just comment below and we’ll get back to you.
