About Transforming Trade Training

Transforming Trade Training is a groundbreaking TAFEWA project aimed at improving the relevance, convenience and flexibility of apprenticeships.

Learning in the workplace will be formally recognised, meaning the time an apprentice takes to complete their qualification can be reduced.

Other important aspects for employers and apprentices include:

• - Being able to select how much learning occurs in the workplace and how much occurs in the     training organisation towards obtaining the trades qualification.
• - Being supported by the training organisation when learning occurs in the workplace by providing suggested learning paths, resources and sample assessments.
• - Assessing learning by gathering evidence of competence in the workplace together with attending the training organisation for assessment.

The new approach is designed to provide flexibility for the employer and apprentice. An employer can opt to keep their apprentice in the current system, with all delivery and assessment occurring in the training organisation; while another employer can opt to have all the learning occur in the workplace, with their apprentice attending the training organisation for assessments only.

In short, this new approach will have a number of benefits for the apprentice, employer and training organisation.

Apprentice

• - learns via live work
  - has existing learning and skills recognised
  - learns at own pace with support from employer/lecturer to suit current learning style. 

Employer

• - has greater involvement with the learning process
  - has greater engagement with the training organisation
  - has a more productive employee.

The project is funded by the Western Australian Department for Education and Training and is under development between March 2007 and August 2008. The development phase of this project will look at four apprenticeship qualifications:

Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology

Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery

Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)

Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade

Further Information

For more information on the project please contact:

Mike Bezaud
Project Manager
Swan TAFE, Bentley Campus
T: (08) 9442 8303
E: michael.bezaud@swantafe.wa.edu.au