New WELL Professional Development Guide for Trainers and Assessors
CPSISC have updated their professional development resource for trainers and assessors in construction and property services. It provides a simple process and basic tools to identify learners who need assistance to develop the core skills required to successfully participate in training.
New thinking about literacy has shown that it is more than just reading and writing. There are in fact five ‘core skills’ of learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy. These skills are essential for people to participate in society. Using the process within this guide, you will be able to identify people who need support, and easily integrate that support into your normal training and assessment processes. The guide also includes a number of case studies within the construction and property services industries to illustrate the steps involved.
Want to get your business 'Up to Speed'?
The Workplace English, Language and Literacy (WELL) program is an Australian government initiative run by the Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Funding is available for language, literacy and numeracy training integrated with vocational training to help workers meet their employment and training needs. Through the program enterprises can access government funding for the delivery of accredited training.
Do you think about:
- the language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills that are needed in your workplace
- the tools and support that your employees have for completing LLN tasks
- the training needs of your workforce
-
how you could change workplace practices to provide LLN suport for employees
(extracted from Up to Speed - a joint ISC booklet outlining how building LLN skills of employees can have a significant impact on business operations)
Where English language, literacy and numeracy training has been undertaken, enterprises have reported:
- Better workplace skills
- More effective communication
- Increased involvement in training and skill development programmes
- Improved occupational health and safety; and
- Increased productivity
How do you apply?
Speak to our dedicated Workplace Communication Officer, Karen Florent. She can assist enterprises and RTOs. Phone: 02 6253 0002 for more information.
New NCVER resource:
Indigenous vocational education and training Anyone with an interest in Indigenous issues can access a range of publications that have been organised into themes such as Indigenous participation in VET, identity and culture, and community involvement at the Indigenous Vocational Education and Training website (
http://www.indigenousvet.edu.au/
)
A similar resource on disability research and statistics is currently being developed by NCVER and will be available at the end of 2009.
New quarterly newsletter on WELL and LLNP programs
The first issue of Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program's new quarterly newsletter is hot off the
press. 'Doing well with WELL Resources' is circulated to promote WELL resources and innovative projects. Click here to view the latest edition.
The newly released second edition of this quarterly newsletter provides details of a resource for security industry RTOs. 'A question of literacy' is a CD-based audio-visual presentation with accompanying documents and facilitator's guide aimed at supporting trainers. Click here to view information on this resource, along with other resources completed under the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program and Adult Literacy National Project (ALNP) Innovative projects.
Australian Core Skills Framework
The Australian Government has released the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) which will help to tackle language, literacy and numeracy challenges in adults. Based on the National Reporting System (NRS), the recently developed ACSF is primarily a tool for specialist practitioners to report outcomes of adult English language, literacy and numeracy provision. There is also a summary version that has been developed to assist non-specialist to understand the essentials of performance in the core skills of learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy in different contexts.
To obtain your free copy of the ACSF tool, just call 133 873. To obtain the summary version, send an email with your name, address and the number of copies required to: adultlit@deewr.gov.au.
Employers making the most of government funding
A new booklet compiled by all ten of the Industry Skills Councils profiles a range of businesses that have used the WELL training programme to support business initiatives and improve health and safety in the workplace. Call
Where can I get help with language, literacy and numeracy?
Individuals who want to get help with their literacy and numeracy can access information about the nearest LLN provider by calling the Reading Writing Hotline: 1300 6555 06.
What is the Reading Writing Hotline?
The Reading Writing Hotline is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. The project is managed by TAFE NSW - Access and General Education Curriculum Centre and is Australia's national telephone adult literacy and numeracy referral service.
The hotline can be called at any time. You can also email: info@literacyline.edu.au
Adult literacy and numeracy wiki
NCVER has released a new wiki aimed at generating and sharing ideas within the adult language, literacy and numeracy
(LLN) community. The resource brings together key messages from the Adult Literacy Research Program (ALRP), a body of research that explores a range of literacy and numeracy topics. It is designed to get you thinking about how you can apply LLN information in your work. Each page of the wiki provides a brief summary of key messages based on a particular theme or topic (e.g., numeracy in the workplace), as well as links to other useful related reports, available through the NCVER VOCED database, or through practical web-based resources. Within each theme, questions are posed that may help you link the research findings to your own work. You can also share some of your own experiences or learnings through the provision of a 'comments' box at the end of the pages. Go to http://www.adultliteracyresource.edu.au and join in the 'discussion'.
LINKS
State and Territory WELL Co-ordinators
ACT & NSW
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
National WELL Hotline:
LiteracyNet – information about adult literacy and
links to a range of additional programme, professional development, resource and research sites
www.literacynet.dest.gov.au
The Reading Writing Hotline – national adult literacy and numeracy referral service
Phone 1300 6555 06
www.literacyline.edu.au
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs on language, literacy and numeracy are answered at www.takingthelead.com.au
