Podcast - Episode 34 Stellar Trainer Matrix

[00:00:00] Angela Connell: In this episode, I'll be covering the stellar trainer matrix. A couple of months back, we delivered a stellar trainer matrix masterclass. And in that.  We identified where are the skill shortages with trainers and assessors and what they need to know about writing  a trainer's matrix. So I thought I'd do a podcast session on this as well. 

[00:00:24] According to the standards. The requirements are that all trainers and assessors are to have a document their trainers matrix, which is a matrix that includes  then skills and knowledge and their background within their industry sector that they're delivering training. 

[00:00:44] So there's different types of evidence that you need to include on a trainer's matrix. It includes experience within industry and all your vocational area. So this could be.  Resume position description.  Or job role.  Outline. [00:01:00] Qualifications and professional development that the trainer has undertaken and relevant to their vocation. So you should have certificates and that can include PD certificates as well. 

[00:01:11] Equivalent skills, knowledge and experience within their industry against each unit of  competency that they are delivering. And this  important part is mapping your skills and knowledge and experience to the performance criteria. As per the units of competencies that you are delivering. 

[00:01:30] Many RTOs have a range of different trainers, matrixes, or staff matrix templates that they use. We've used one for many years now that have been through many ASQA  audit and has been compliant. The training that we delivered was based on our trainer matrix template. So let's take a deep dive now into existing skills and knowledge. 

[00:01:56] So as a trainer assessor, you should have a minimum of three years [00:02:00] industry experience within the last three years. What we're finding is a lot of the training packages now are recording that what the minimum. Industry experience is so you'll see it on the training product that it says. A minimum of three years industry experience, but it could also be  more than that. And it could also be at a higher level. So you really need to have a look at the training product that you are delivering to identify. What is the minimum experience. 

[00:02:28] But as a rule of thumb, minimum of three years industry experience within the last three years. The experience should be relevant to the units that you are delivering.  What I mean by that is it should address. So you should be able to go through the unit of competency, address the performance criteria and the assessment conditions, and you should be able to map your skills and knowledge to that unit. 

[00:02:52] Your work experience should be at the same level as the course that you're delivering. So that's hands-on experience working at the [00:03:00] same level. As what your delivering . So if it's a cert three level, you should have experience at that cert three level. Now you may have also have experience at a higher level, but you should have experience at that same level. 

[00:03:12] And practical experience using the same equipment that is required within the industry. Current industry skills or knowledge trainers and assessors  industry skills and knowledge must relate directly to the training and assessment being provided. And as I said earlier, a minimum of three years of experience within the last three years. 

[00:03:33] For example, if you were to deliver a unit from the childcare training package, provide care for babies and toddlers. The trainer and assessor should have a minimum of three years experience. In caring for babies. This is being employed within a regulated childcare facility. Within the last three years with at least three years experience within a regulated care facility. 

[00:03:56] How does this apply to your matrix? [00:04:00] Your matrix must be able to demonstrate that the trainer assessor has current industry skills and knowledge against the units that they're going to deliver. The trainer's matrix must include mapping of these currency of industry skills within the last three years. 

[00:04:15] Against that unit. 

[00:04:18] So what type of evidence should a trainer assessor collect in order to complete their trainers matrix? There should be sufficient evidence for each trainer and assessor to show that they demonstrate appropriate competency, currency, and professional development. All information presented by trainers and assessors are to be verified. 

[00:04:39] So this means you need to either have a JP sign to verify that they have sighted the, a direct copy of the original, or it could also be someone within the RTO. That could sight the original as well. Evidence demonstrating that the verification has been conducted needs to also [00:05:00] be stored on the trainers file. 

[00:05:03] Next, we're going to have a look at training and assessment competence. So as a trainer assessor, you need to hold a minimum of the cert four in training and assessment. In order to be able to train and assess. If you are just going to be an assessor, then you need to hold the assessor's skillset. So if that's what you're writing your trainers matrix for you'll need to address that and have that on your trainers matrix. 

[00:05:31] So work versus training experience.  What I mean by this  is having hands-on practical experience within the workplace. So within the units and the industry sector that you will be teaching. Training experience is not so important for a new trainer. It's more important that you have currency within your industry, and you're able to demonstrate that you have the experience within that industry [00:06:00] sector to be able to deliver it. 

[00:06:02] Now as a trainer assessor, you should also hold the cert four in training and assessment. What we find is that the more experience that you have as a trainer assessor. The better, it can be within your roles, within an RTO. So you tend to get paid more with the more experience that you have. 

[00:06:22] Vocational competence and the trainers matrix. So you should hold the current qualification that you are delivering.  Training and assessment in your industry. Or as a minimum, have equivalent skills and knowledge gained against each unit of competency. It is so much easier if you actually hold the director equivalent unit that you are delivering when it comes to mapping your skills and knowledge within a trainer's matrix. 

[00:06:51] You should hold the qualifications with the same units as the trainer assessor will be delivering an equivalent skills and knowledge must be mapped to that unit of competency. 

[00:07:01] [00:07:00] Meeting vocational competency requirements. And what does that mean? So how you can demonstrate it is by holding the competency that you are delivering. Demonstrating the equivalence of that competency is also another way around that. So when you look at vocational competencies, With your vocation hold the current qualification that you are going to deliver and equivalent skills and knowledge, and that should be mapped onto your trainers matrix. 

[00:07:30] Experience and qualification mapping. This is the area where we find a lot of people  not so strong on their trainers matrix. Is mapping their skills and knowledge to the units of competencies that you're delivering. As I said earlier, if you hold the direct equivalent unit, it is much easier to map because you just map that you hold the direct equivalent. 

[00:07:54] If you do not hold the director equivalent, then you need to document. What are the skills and [00:08:00] knowledge that you hold that addresses the unit of competencies that you are delivering? So you should collect sufficient evidence of your trainer and assessor vocational competencies and verify this evidence. 

[00:08:13] That is provided. You should also record and document analysis between the evidence and the competency requirements. 

[00:08:23] Meeting current industry skills requirements. You need to be consistent with the requirements of the training package or accredited course that you are delivering. It also needs to be consistent with the required skills and knowledge of the trainer and assessor. That you, your RTO has identified through the industry engagement. 

[00:08:40] How do you demonstrate currency of knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning? So contemporary knowledge of the vocational education and training. Can be documented as your experience as a trainer assessor. You can also demonstrate this knowledge when delivering training and assessment. 

[00:09:00] [00:08:59] Training and assessment is relevant to learners needs so that when you're addressing that. You've got it so that it is addressing the learner's needs. Okay. So when we look at mapping, you really should look at the unit of competency. Then look at the performance criteria and the elements and the assessment conditions, and then map your relevant skills and knowledge. 

[00:09:22] Against that unit of competency. Now, as I said earlier, if you hold the direct equivalent unit, you just basically. Add the unit that you have a direct equivalent. If you don't, you need to then break down further into how your skills and knowledge against that unit. So if we were to use the childcare one that I used earlier, so provide care for babies and toddlers, you would need to include within your Trainer's matrix, your relevant experience. 

[00:09:51] As somewhat an educator working within a childcare center. And what experience do you have? [00:10:00] So what was your role? Were you responsible for a team? Did you have to manage other staff members? What was the age range of the students that there's children that you're working with?  And what type of tasks were you required to undertake whilst providing care for babies and toddlers? So it takes a bit of time to be able to map this across. And this is where you could see holding the direct equivalent unit will make it much easier. 

[00:10:28] Industry and VET currency. The current industry skills held by trainers and assessors need to be consistent with the requirements of any training packages or accredited course that they are delivering. It needs to be consistent with the required skills and knowledge of the trainers and assessors and has been identified through industry engagement. 

[00:10:49] The currency in skills and knowledge is you need to make sure that trainers and assessors have the knowledge, but also able to demonstrate their currency within the industry. 

[00:11:02] [00:11:00] Okay. Now let's have a look at professional development. Evidence of professional development can be a range of different things. Now. At Vivacity , our training that we deliver for professional development for trainers. Is recognized by ASQA . So it could be even this training, being the Stellar Trainersmatrix, I could also be maintaining your currency within the industry with  as a trainer and assessor by just subscribing to this podcast. 

[00:11:35] Your RTO is responsible for all trainers and assessors to ensure that they undertake professional development. And the RTO is also responsible for collecting evidence of your PD. This includes the knowledge and practice of vocational training, learning, and assessment. And competency based training and assessment as well. 

[00:11:57] Professional development includes. If you have [00:12:00] participated in activities to maintain. Upgrade and or develop how you deliver your training and assessment. These activities relate to providing training and assessment in a competency based environment. Some other examples of professional development include being a member of an association. So it could be within the vet sector, but it could also be within your industry sector. 

[00:12:25] Being a member of a vet network, such as the RTO Community or the RTO job board.  That we have on Facebook.  It could also be a membership with the Vivacity , or it could also be a membership with an association like VELG . Attending workshops and conferences that are relevant to your industry sector. 

[00:12:45] As well as the vet sector. So it could be an expo or a conference on your industry sector. That is in particular talking about what, what is happening within your sector? [00:13:00] The other one is making sure that you're updating your qualifications, that you hold that directly map over to the units that you are delivering. 

[00:13:08] And that should be an ongoing process is every time the training package changes for the training package that you deliver, that you update your qualification to the latest version, it makes it so much easier down the track. When you go to complete your trainers matrix. You should also record all of your professional development on a PD schedule. 

[00:13:32] And make sure that you're updating it at least annually and have an annual performance review. 

[00:13:39] So I've gone through a range of different things that you can do for professional development to maintain your currency with only, not only your industry, but also as a trainer/ assessor. Now let's have a look at verifying your qualifications and your experience. This is a requirement of the RTO is to verify all of the [00:14:00] skills and knowledge that have been mapped out onto the trainers matrix by the trainer assessor. 

[00:14:05] What is the RTO required to verify? That will be required to verify the qualifications and certificates that the trainer assessor has submitted. As part of their evidence. They also need to verify the vet and vocational experience. So recent performance reviews, supervisor statements, verification reports. 

[00:14:25] Et cetera. Also undertaking professional development workshops, conferences, webinars, you can provide receipts of F as evidence that you've attended. These. But also certificates that you may have received from undertaking each of these PDs. Also membership.  So receipts or invoices for memberships of associations and networks. 

[00:14:50] So as an RTO. They are responsible for verifying all of your qualifications that you have submitted, and they do this through [00:15:00] training.gov.au . You also usi.gov. au , they can also contact your referees and they should.  To verify  the experience that you've had within those different industry sectors. And also there should be verifying the certificates issued by other RTOs. 

[00:15:19] The RTO should also sight the original certificates and obtain certified copies for their records. They can also take copies of receipts and records of participation in PD. We highly recommend the RTO get a stamp that  states on it certified true and correct copy of the original document. And then anyone within the RTO can sign that verification of those certificates. 

[00:15:49] Okay. So if you're an assessor only, you'll need to make sure that you hold the  assessor skillset and then you just address what you will be assessing. You still [00:16:00] need to map. Within your trainer's matrix. Your skills and knowledge. Okay. So when you go to actually write your trainers matrix, these are the key tips for what you need to include within your trainers matrix. 

[00:16:15] The tricky bit is actually mapping your skills and knowledge. To the units of competency. So the best way to do this is to go on to training.gov.au . Today you download all of the units that you deliver and then have a look at those units. And then address the units with your skills and knowledge. And that's how you map it within the trainers matrix. 

[00:16:38] If you hold the director equivalent unit, you're basically just stating that you hold the director equivalent unit and that we can refer to your resume for experience and know where you have worked. But if you don't hold the direct equivalent unit, then what you need to do is you need to actually address. 

[00:16:55] Okay. So for example, if it was  [00:17:00] communication skills was one of the units that you're delivering. You need to actually provide evidence of communication skills and different types of communication skills that you've used in different roles. And that includes going down into detail of how you've utilized those communication skills. So it could be written communication skills. You have written a number of reports. You were responsible for writing policies and procedures. You were responsible for writing reports. So you need to put in, what was that experience that you did? 

[00:17:33] And when did you do it and for what organization that you did that for? As you may be able to hear by the time you've gone through this process of mapping all of your skills and knowledge to H unit of competency. You might as well have undertaken an RPO process because sometimes it can be as time-consuming as doing an RPO. 

[00:17:54] But this is the type of evidence that we need to ensure that you have on your trainers matrix. And the [00:18:00] reason why is we need to be able to demonstrate that you have. The skills and knowledge against each unit of competency to be able to deliver. That training and assessment. You need to be able to provide evidence of that within your trainers matrix. 

[00:18:16] So I'd like you now to go to your trainers matrix, check it out. Do you have sufficient? Evidence within your trainer's matrix to map it. Against each unit of competency. Do you need more information on how to do this? You can access our trainers matrix course by going to vivacity.com.au and we actually have it available for purchase on our website. 

[00:18:43] If you'd like to know more information on the Stellar Trainer matrix, you can also contact the Vivacity on 1300 729 455 . You're also maybe interested in undertaking the Stella trainer score card on the stellar trainer [00:19:00] scorecard. You can learn more about how do your skills and knowledge map to the requirements of a trainer matrix. So you can also access that from our website, the Stella trainer scorecard. Also I get in contact with Vivacity and we can redirect you to that. Thanks for listening and i look forward to catching up with you on our next podcast