Choosing the right career can sometimes mean the difference between a four-year tertiary education course and vocational training. With the rising costs of traditional academic courses mounting every year, one’s career choice may be based solely on financial capacity. In other cases, one’s passions may fall outside the established academe. Whatever the reason, a person’s future success at times may be found through vocational training.
But what is vocational training, exactly? And why is it important?
Vocational training is a type of education that trains students in preparation for a particular trade or craft. This type of education often forgoes traditional academics – vocational training is primarily hands-on, but doesn’t entirely exclude a lecture-type education where it’s necessary or helpful. Vocational training is also geared towards developing work ethics related to running trade or craft businesses, as with the case of tourism and retail courses.
It’s also easily accessible. Not all areas have access to universities; smaller towns benefit from vocational training by providing education that can then be applied toward practising professions. Vocational training used to be dedicated only to technical fields like welding and automotive service, but it has developed to include tourism management and retail. Vocational training offers a wide selection of trades to choose from, and is limited only by the availability of trainers and educators in the field.
High schools generally provide vocational education. In some cases, vocational centres are set up to provide training for post-secondary level education, such as standalone courses, programs with certifications or diplomas, and apprenticeships.
Essentially, vocational training provides an alternative to traditional academics, is easily accessible through secondary schools and training centres, and offers in-demand employment options to its graduates and trainees.
In line with vocational training’s crucial role in the social and economic development of communities, the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector (as well as the Career and Technical Education (CET)), was formalised nationally in 1974, initially through the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) System, then eventually through the TAFE Resource Agreements with the states.
The TAE40116, the course code for the attainment of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, is a nationally recognised qualification for trainers, assessors, and educators in the adult section of the VET sector. The course aims to round out a prospective trainer’s or assessor’s competencies through the recognition of prior learning, before certifying their readiness as a trainer or assessor.
The qualification and its attendant certification ensures and assures that trainers and assessors are duly qualified and possessing the necessary skills to train, assess, and educate, in addition to their expertise in their respective fields. The TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment course is available through online delivery and face-to-face sessions.
In being formalised, the VET sector opened up many job opportunities within communities, allowing for trade and crafts experts to professionalise their expertise and pass on their proficiency through training. The formalisation also gives trainers and assessors the opportunities to form careers out of their skills, with the standard certification providing a national standard by which to measure qualifications.