The aim of the project is to incorporate language, literacy and numeracy into industry Training Packages. To date the project has included:

 

Advice to industry Training Package developers

Development of industry-specific language, literacy and numeracy resources

Production of professional development kits

The National Reporting System has been used to inform advice given to industry bodies and Training Package developers on processes for identifying and describing language, literacy and numeracy competence.

In 1997, the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) funded a project to develop a model for incorporating language, literacy and numeracy into Training Packages. This model drew on the National Reporting System for identifying language, literacy and numeracy competencies in workplace tasks.

The subsequent publication Workplace Communication in National Training Packages: A Practical Guide proposed a four step process for the incorporation of language, literacy and numeracy into industry competency standards. The proposed steps have since been piloted with Training Package developers and national industry bodies.

The piloting process has demonstrated the benefits of the integration of language, literacy and numeracy into Training Packages. Feedback from the pilot has informed a revision of the four steps. Revised advice to Training Package developers has been printed in a booklet titled Workplace Communication: Incorporation of language, literacy and numeracy into Training Packages available as a downloadable PDF from the Australian National Training Authority publications page.

Through the Workplace Communication project national industry bodies have been funded to develop language, literacy and numeracy resources for incorporation into Training Packages. The resources address language, literacy and numeracy issues specific to particular industries and demonstrate the benefits of integrating language, literacy and numeracy into industry training.

Resources developed have included:

• training videos in plain English for learners who have difficulty accessing printed learning materials
• learning materials that put the requirements of competency units in easy to understand wording and identify ways of gathering evidence for their achievement
• professional development materials that explain the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the workplace in everyday terms for workplace trainers and assessors.

Contact individual ITABS to access their workplace communications resources. For the details of National ITABS see the listing at ANTA contacts

Professional development kits have been produced by the Workplace Communication project. The kits include printed material and a video to help people with the language, literacy and numeracy issues impacting on the implementation of Training Packages. Kits have been developed for three distinct audiences:

• Built In - Not Bolted On - Provides information for language, literacy and numeracy co-ordinators on the incorporation of language, literacy and numeracy skills into Training Packages and ideas for working with enterprises to deliver training.
  
  
• A New Assessment Tool - Is designed for workplace trainers and assessors and provides strategies for identifying language, literacy and numeracy skills required for workplace training and assessment.
  
  downloadable as a PDF from the Australian National Training Authority publications page
  
  
• Ten Fold Returns - Targets human resource and training managers and discusses the importance of integrating language, literacy and numeracy into industry training.

Australian National Training Authority
GPO Box 5347BB
Melbourne Victoria 3001
Australia

Phone:  03 9630 9800
Fax:  03 9630 9888

If calling from outside of Australia:

Phone:  +61 3 9630 9800

Fax:  +61 3 9630 9888