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Qualities
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Apprentice Expectations
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Workplace Assessment
MPA Skills workplace assessment program commenced in 2009
with a pilot program consisting of 1 plumbing group and 1
painting group consisting of 15 apprentices trailing 5 units
of competence in plumbing and 4 units of competence in painting.
In 2010 the program has been expanded to all apprentices and
covers 18 units of competence in plumbing and 14 units of
competence in painting. We are currently introducing workplace
assessment to regional areas of Western Australia such as
Geraldton, Broome, Karratha and Port Hedland.
The benefits of workplace assessment are:
- Reduced time attending off-the-job (tech) training
- Reduction of practical skills duplication;
- Embedding a training culture in the workplace by engaging
employers / supervisors in the training process;
- Increasing the commitment of apprentices to manage their
own learning;
- Reducing the costs and negative influence for regional
apprentices.
- The apprentice:
who is typically more hands-on than academic, is happier
in the workplace than in a classroom.
sees a far greater connection between off-the-job training
and his / her experience and learning in the workplace
- Workplace assessment allows the employer and trainer to
better support and work with the apprentice.
Workplace assessment ensures trainers’ knowledge and
skills remain current as the trainer is regularly back in
the workplace seeing the latest techniques and where industry
equipment and materials are on display and in use. Workplace
assessment also
Skills Tracker:
In January 2010 MPA Skills introduced Skills Tracker to apprentices.
We developed Skills Tracker to specifically target the trades
of plumbing and painting. In so doing, we are the first training
provider to introduce Skills Tracker in Western Australia,
if not Australia, for both plumbing and painting.
Skills Tracker is now an integral part of workplace assessment
for all apprentices providing verifiable evidence of relevant
skills practised and demonstrated in the workplace. It has
enabled us to help apprentices and employers understand that
the new approach to assessment seeks to recognize relevant
workplace skills and performance, whether demonstrated during
training or in the workplace. Now everything an apprentice
does in the workplace is seen by all parties to be a part
of their progress towards their trade qualification.
Report Card:
The Report Card has proven to be a very effective instrument
for improving apprentice attendance at and attitude towards
training. Prior to the introduction of the Report Card, the
tendency among apprentices was to treat the off-the-job element
of their apprenticeship with less respect than they showed
towards the workplace element. It provides information covering
not just what training has occurred but also trainee achievement,
behaviour, attitude and punctuality. There has been a significant
change in attitude by the majority of apprentices who are
keen for their employers to receive good reports about them.
The Report Card also provides the benefit of further linking
the employer into the training program.
Further training initiatives:
• Assigning an assessor to an apprentice for the term
of his apprenticeship.
• Night schooling for gap training
• Skill assessment at year level.
• Flexible final assessment to complete an apprenticeship
i.e. fast track or extend
Immediate Indenture Program:
In January 2011 MPA Skills will pilot the Immediate Indenture
Program. The program will change the way training has been
conducted for both the plumbing and painting trades.
In the past, an Apprentice would commence his training contract
and spend at least 9 months with his employer doing on-the-job
training before commencing the off-the-job component of his
training. Under the Immediate Indenture Program an Apprentice
will commence his training by undertaking 3 weeks off-the
training undertaking training in Occupational Health and Safety,
units of competence which comply with Energy Safety requirements
and basic units of competence such as handle and store plumbing
materials, use plumbing hand and power tools, work safely
on roofs, working safely at heights, carry out leveling, carry
out excavation, carry out concreting to simple forms and weld
using oxy-acetylene equipment.
Following the completion of his / her 3 week block of training
the Apprentice will commence his / her on-the-job training
with his / her employer for a period of approximately 6 months.
The apprentice will then return for a second 2 week block
of off-the-job training.
The second and third year of training for an Apprentice participating
in the Immediate Indenture Program will be conducted as it
has always been as block release training. |
