Page 1300 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2016
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Apprenticeship training is crucial to ensuring we have the skilled workers necessary for economic growth. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research has recently released data showing that nationally the number of apprentices and trainees in training as at 30 September 2015 has decreased 13.7 per cent from 30 September 2014. This decline was also reflected in ACT apprentice and trainee data, but CIT is bucking this trend with apprentice numbers holding steady.
CIT trains 72 per cent of the ACT’s apprentices. As the major provider of Australian apprenticeships training in the ACT, CIT continually looks to ensure it is meeting student and employer expectations. This commitment is reflected in student satisfaction rates of 93 per cent and employer satisfaction rates of 87 per cent, both of which are considerably above target.
In May 2015 CIT committed to an improvement strategy through the Australian Apprenticeship Quality Improvement and Sustainability project. This project was established to research, identify and implement changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery and administration of Australian apprenticeships at CIT.
Electrotechnology is a key industry for the ACT and will be increasingly so with the ACT government’s focus on renewable energy. It has been a priority focus area for this quality improvement project which has been informed by researching good practice in five TAFEs across four states and in consultation with ACT employers and apprentices.
CIT has conducted a number of electrical trade employer forums which have resulted in improvements to the enrolment process and the reporting of student issues and student progress back to employers. Increased engagement with employers is formalised with regularly scheduled meetings to gather intelligence on changes in industry that CIT needs to incorporate into its educational delivery.
I turn now to the ASQA audit and report. ASQA initiated and conducted a compliance audit on 26 November 2015 on two competencies from the certificate III in electrotechnology electrician. CIT was advised by ASQA that the audit was only in response to media attention about the delivery and assessment of this qualification at CIT. I think it is important for members to note that ASQA were not in receipt of a direct complaint in relation to CIT. It is also important to recognise that accountability through an audit function is an important and necessary part of the vocational and training education system CIT operates within.
ASQA provided its interim audit findings to CIT on 17 December 2015, and further evidence was submitted by CIT on 22 January 2016. ASQA’s report was finalised and provided to the CEO of CIT on 16 February 2016. I note there are references to “non-compliance” in the audit and it is important to put these in context.
“Non-compliance” in these circumstances essentially means that on the evidence provided on 26 November there was a risk the organisation was non-compliant. More evidence was then provided on 22 January 2016, similar to a prima facie case to answer in a court case. In this case, once the evidence was produced and tested, CIT was found to be complaint.
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