INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY ARTICLE

Workplace Based Study

Childcare Sales Australia is pleased to bring to you another article from a specialist child care provider, TLC Training Solutions. It is practical advice that will present some of you with a real alternative to your training regime.

With new regulatory requirements now established in many States requiring child care staff to be qualified, many are now battling with the decision to study externally or attend classes. Juggling everyday life with a busy child care position tends to lean us towards external study rather than try to fit classes into an already hectic schedule.

Understandable, however, external study requires strong self discipline, excellent time management and you need to learn to juggle work, family and study so all get attention and focus. Though it does work for some, especially those not yet in the workforce, but an easy task if working full time! When study is also a job/industry requirement and not entirely a personal choice, it can soon take the back seat when prioritising commitments and before you know it, you’re behind in study progression and stress sets in.

So why not consider Workplace Based?

Having worked in the child care industry for many years, I understand the busy lifestyle of child care professionals and therefore encourage those needing to study to consider workplace based learning - an innovative, flexible delivery model that has the ability to modify assessment tools to suit the individual learner.

So how does it work, and how does workplace based differ to other delivery models?

It’s as the name suggests, training and assessment is all workplace based. No on going classes to attend, no postage required, with workplace based training, trainers come to you! Starting with the enrolment process and carried right through to the final assessment, it’s all conducted on site – at your workplace. Trainers visit you at times that are mutually convenient, and won’t disturb your every day role.

Workplace delivery models are based on the belief you learn best by doing. By providing learning and assessment activities that incorporate resources you use in your everyday role, trainers observe you perform your role as part of our assessment process, and use observations made by your supervisor to assist them in validating skills. In addition, any tasks you complete from your learners guide are relevant to your job role and usually marked on site. If gaps noted trainers can discuss these with you so they can hopefully secure evidence to fill in the ‘missing pieces’ before they leave. You will then be given your next unit, the process for completion is explained and you decide together the next visit date.

Do you have years of industry experience, have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge but don’t yet have the qualification to prove it? Then a workplace RPL model may be just what you are looking for.

No collecting boxes of ‘evidence’ or writing pages and pages about yourself and your experience, a workplace RPL model adopts the belief that ‘seeing is believing’. Trainers come to your workplace, observe you in action, and through a combination of on site visits, informal discussions with you and your supervisor, and sighting of any ‘evidence’ being used (documents or tools you use daily in your job role e.g. weekly program) they validate your skills and when competent award a qualification. Should they identify any gaps in experience or skills, they will discuss with you options on how to address these.

Overall, workplace based training is the perfect study option for busy child care workers. It encompasses the true meaning of competency based training and ensures assessment and learning tools are job relevant and trainer supportive. So don’t be discouraged if you are faced with having to study – workplace based training could be your saviour!

(Please note, workplace models and delivery methods may vary from Institute to Institute)

Visit TLC Training Solutions at www.tlctrainingsolutions.com.au for more information.

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