TAFE TEACHERS - AQF 5 QUALIFICATIONS
Background
The Victorian TAFE Teaching Staff Multi-Employer Certified Agreement 2003 (“the MECA”) requires that teachers be “fully qualified” to be eligible for salary increments or promotion. “Fully qualified” is specified as:
“… a course of teacher training accredited at Australian Qualification Framework Level 5 which includes supervised teaching practice and studies in teaching methodology, or equivalent.” (Schedule 5, clause 5 of the MECA).
These requirements were further detailed in Guidelines issued by the Qualifications Working Party established under clause 33 of the MECA in April 2005 as:
- 50 hours of direct supervision of teaching practice; and
- 150 hours of other (specified) professional teaching practice; together with
- Studies in adult learning theories; and
- Studies in teaching in a Vocational Education & Training environment.
Discussions aimed at establishing a MECA compliant AQF 5 qualification are continuing. Pending agreement of such a qualification, Swinburne has adopted an Interim approach to ascertain equivalence for the purpose of determining whether staff are "fully qualified". This approach will apply at Swinburne only, and only until December 2006.
Interim Arrangements for Incremental Progression
The interim approach to deeming teaching qualifications for Swinburne teaching staff is as follows:
Existing teaching staff (i.e. teaching staff employed up to 31/12/05 ) will be locally deemed as “fully qualified” for MECA purposes if they have:
- A Teaching Diploma, Graduate Teaching Diploma or Undergraduate Teaching Degree
- Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (“AWT”)
- 720 hours teaching in TAFE
- A CV that demonstrates current experience in teaching in an adult learning environment
- A satisfactory performance appraisal no older than 12 months signed off by their manager or nominee confirming currency of competence in VET teaching
To apply for consideration of equivalence through the deeming process, teachers will need to complete the TAFE Teachers Qualifications Deeming for Incremental Progression form. This form, along with the appropriate evidence to support the application, should be forwarded to your manager for approval before being sent to Human Resources to action.
What if you are not eligible to be deemed as "fully qualified"
Staff that are not deemed through the Swinburne process as “fully qualified” but have completed the Certificate IV in AWT are eligible, subject to meeting other essential criteria, for appointment within the classification range of T1.2 to T2.2.
What if you are wanting to progress beyond T2.2
Staff with the Certificate IV in AWT who wish to progress beyond the T2.2 classification will need to gain a MECA compliant AQF 5 level teaching qualification and may opt to:
- Enrol in Dip VET Practice at Swinburne in 2006, subject to accreditation
- Enrol in the Dip TAA at Swinburne (if the Dip VET Practice is not accredited in time) where units common to both Diplomas will be offered initially
- Undertake another AQF 5 Teaching qualification that will meet (all or most) of the MECA requirements.
Click here to find out more about the Diploma in TAA and how you can enrol.
Staff enrolling in the Diploma TAA and who have completed the Certificate IV in AWT will need to complete a further 3 Units of Competence at the Certificate IV level in the new TAA qualification.
Staff who have not yet completed the Certificate IV in AWT will be required to enrol in the new Certificate IV in TAA.
The interim approach, as outlined above, for deeming of equivalence with the AQF 5 qualification, for teaching staff employed at Swinburne prior to 31 December 2005, remains in effect until 31 December 2006 .
For futher information
Contacts:
Professional Development:
Mary Hoffmann - 9210 1250 or mhoffmann@swin.edu.au
Human Resources:
My HR Consultants
|
