Maintaining and Demonstrating Currency for Trainers and Assessors:
How to Guide
Sustaining quality teachers, trainers and assessors
All teachers in TAFE NSW must meet the minimum entry requirements set out in the Teacher and
Related Staff Enterprise Agreement and various TAFE NSW policy and procedure.
Teachers must also meet the requirements of tertiary education regulators such as the Australian
Standards Quality Authority (ASQA), and for those teachers delivering Higher Education courses
only, the Tertiary Education Standards and Quality Agency (TESQA). Importantly, as VET trainers
and assessors, TAFE teachers must meet the Standards for NVR Registered Training
Organisations 2011, particularly in relation to trainer and assessor competencies, as well as the
licencing or other professional requirements of relevant industry regulators.
While the Institute is responsible for establishing, verifying and monitoring that teaching staff meet
these requirements, it remains the responsibility of the individual to maintain their currency, and to
collect evidence to demonstrate currency requirements.
The Institute supports staff to maintain currency through a range of strategies linked to Institute,
TAFE NSW and State and Commonwealth government initiatives.
Vocational competency
Vocational competency is defined as broad industry knowledge and experience, usually combined
with a relevant industry qualification. Vocational competency must be considered on an industryby-industry basis and with reference to the guidance provided in the Assessment Guidelines of the
relevant Training Package. Vocational currency and Industry currency are an integral component
of vocational competency.
Vocational currency
A teacher who has vocational currency will have an up to date, relevant AQF level qualification and
or have the relevant vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered or assessed, and
if necessary, upgrading or obtaining new relevant formal qualifications.
Teachers delivering higher education courses require academic qualifications that are at least one
AQF level above that of the course being taught: (Higher Education Standards Framework 2011).
Additionally, teachers should be familiar with the content of the vocation and know their subject,
will have relevant current experience and an understanding of industry related skills and work
practices. They also have the pedagogical skills required to teach their students.
Industry currency
Industry currency refers to keeping up to date with industry specific skills relevant to today’s
workplaces or discipline area. It focusses on teachers being actively engaged members of their
profession. It also involves teachers continually improving their professional knowledge,
capabilities and practice. Teachers do this by maintaining, updating, and broadening the
competence required to deliver and assess training package qualifications and accredited courses.
Trainer and assessor (teaching) currency
Trainer and assessor (teaching) currency refers to having the necessary training and assessment
competencies, the minimum being the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment as
from 1 July 2013. Additionally, TAFE teachers are required to continue to develop their vocational
education and training (VET) professional knowledge and skills, particularly developments relating
to the VET operating environment and changes in training and assessment policies and practices.
Maintaining and Demonstrating Currency
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What you need
Why you need it
Teacher
TAFE NSW Policy
Vocational
qualification
Trainer and
assessor
(teaching)
qualification
Licencing
How to show your evidence
National Standards
(SNR)
Currency compliance
Currency Strategy
Currency Demonstration
(Enterprise Agreement,
RTO SNR Standards)
(Document information: Click on
the link to access documents)
(Documentation information: Click on
the link to access documents)
EA Clause 30.1.2
Appropriate technical or
professional qualification
SNR 15.4.b - have the
relevant vocational
competencies at least to
the level being delivered
or assessed;
Study Assistance Scheme
Faculty endorsed individual
and or Section Up-Skilling
program (DTSC)
Teacher Qualifications Matrix
Unit of Competence Matrix
Currency Checklist
EA Clause 30.1.2
Two to five years
vocational and or
industrial experience
SNR 15.4.c - can
demonstrate current
industry skills directly
relevant to the
training/assessment
being undertaken
EA Clause 30.
Qualifications for
Appointment, and Clause
12. Teacher Quality and
Clause 23. Professional
Development – Teachers
and Clause 35. Training
and Development.
SNR 15.4.d
continue to develop their
industry currency
Return to Industry
Right to Private Practice
(Private and Secondary
employment)
Capability development
workshops, industry
engagement, industry
workshops, conferences and
specific industry training
programs, Networks,
Scholarly activity
Industry Consultation Record
Industry Consultation Summary
Form
ILDP
Individual Learning Plan for TAFE
NSW new permanent teachers:
guidelines and pro-forma
(technical,
industry, or
professional)
Industry
experience
How you can get it
DGL 08/118
Certificate IV in Training
and Assessment
FT Teacher: within two
years of appointment
PT Teacher, and
Temporary Teacher: on
appointment
SNR 15.4.a - have the
necessary training and
assessment
competencies as
determined by the
National Quality Council
or its successors
[NSSC];
Appropriate to Teacher
Designation
SNR 15.4.c
EA Clause 30, and
Clause 12, and Clause 23
and Clause 35
Effective consultation with
industry in SNR 15.2 and
SNR 15.3 and SNR 16.4 Industry engagement
SNR 15.4.d continue to
develop their trainer
assessor competence and
continue to develop their
vocational education and
training (VET) knowledge
and skills.
EA Clause 12 and Clause
23 and Clause 35
TAFE NSW Designations
Training Package
Guidelines
SNR 15.4.d
New Teacher Education
Program
SI Upgrade to TAE40110 Cert IV TAA
Study Assistance Scheme
Faculty endorsed individual
compliance program
Personalised Portfolio:
PD Record; Resume;
Professional memberships;
Published papers etc.
Teacher Qualifications Matrix
Currency Checklist
ILDP
Individual Learning Plan for TAFE
NSW new permanent teachers:
guidelines and pro-forma
Teacher Qualifications Matrix
Note: Hyperlinks, highlighted like this: hyperlink , will take you to an external website or intranet document whereby you will be able to view additional information or download relevant
resources.
Maintaining and Demonstrating Currency
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How teachers can maintain their vocational, and industry currency
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holding the relevant AQF level qualification and or have the relevant vocational
competencies at least to the level being delivered or assessed (SNR 15.4.b) and
demonstrate current industry skills directly relevant to the training/assessment being
undertaken (SNR 15.4.c);
holding the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from the TAE10 Training
and Education Training Package (SNR 15.4.a);
fulfilling industry licensing or regulatory requirements;
participating in industry placement, Return to Industry;
concurrent employment in industry and the RTO, Right to Private Practice;
industry and professional association membership;
attending conferences, professional workshops and industry specific development
programs;
attending professional development activities run by industry skills alliances;
scholarly practice, researching best and new practice and general research;
subscribing to professional journals and publications;
sponsored corporate and NSW Government teaching awards and scholarships;
networking with industry mentors, employers and other trainers;
talking to students and employers about practices and job roles in their workplaces;
industry consultation, industry specialist visits, industry site visits and study tours;
undertaking specific training courses in new equipment or skill sets;
mentoring, work shadowing, attending in house training provided by colleagues with new
skills and currency in specific areas of expertise.
How teachers can maintain their trainer and assessor currency
All persons conducting assessments against the competency standards must demonstrate current
skills and knowledge in training and assessment practice, (SNR 15.4.d), which could be met by a
combination of evidence, including:
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holding the necessary training and assessment competencies from the TAE10 Training and
Education Training Package - TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (SNR
15.4.a) and or upgrading to the higher AQF level qualifications;
relevant work history;
attending at professional development activities focusing on best practice in assessment,
assessment moderation and validation and/or workplace training;
e-learning facilitation;
colleague/peer support and participation in trainer/assessor and/or professional networks;
participation in networks and communities of practice;
participation in assessment moderation and validation activities;
knowledge of current practices in assessment and workplace training;
recent assessment and workplace training activities;
knowledge of language, literacy and numeracy issues in the context of training and
assessment;
workplace training records.
Tools to assist teachers in demonstrating evidence of currency
Teachers could show evidence to meet VET Quality Framework requirements with a combination of
evidence (original, certified and or verified copies) collated in a personalised professional portfolio
including evidence collected in the tools located in the SI Teacher Compliance Kit, including the
Teacher Qualifications Matrix; Unit of Competence Matrix; Currency Checklist; Industry Consultation
Record and the Industry Consultation Summary.
Maintaining and Demonstrating Currency
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Documentation information
The following documents are available on SydNet and or the DEC Intranet. Use ‘control and click’ to
follow the link to open the hyperlinks listed below. The linked information includes external websites
or intranet documents whereby you will be able to view additional information or download relevant
resources that will assist you to build your capability to maintain and demonstrate currency.
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Teacher Compliance Kit: This page provides a one stop shop for templates and information for
compliance needs for teaching sections. These forms may be kept in various locations, such as the
section and/or with your Faculty, you should always keep a copy for your own professional portfolio.
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Teacher Qualifications Matrix — this form is to be used to record teacher qualifications, licensing
and currency.
Industry Consultation Record (General) — this record is to be used as a guide when consulting
with Industry.
Summary of Industry Consultation Form — this form can be used by teaching sections to
summarise their consultation processes with industry.
Currency Checklist - Use the Currency Checklist to record ongoing currency. The checklist will
then assist in completing your Teacher Qualifications Matrix.
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Developing Training and Assessment Strategies - How to Guide: This guide to the process of developing
or using Training and Assessment Strategies (TAS) has samples of many useful currency demonstration
tools.
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Qualifications Update Form - Staff can use this form to inform the Regional Human Resources-Workforce
Planning Unit about any updates or additions to their qualifications, so that the HR corporate systems
records are maintained. This form predates but compliments the more recent Teacher Qualifications
Matrix.
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Individual Learning and Development Plan (ILDP): This planner can be used to identify the training needs
of individual staff.
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Individual Learning Plan for TAFE NSW New Permanent Teachers: This tool is helpful in planning the
support that the Institute may offer in relation to training and mentoring experiences for new permanent
teachers.
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Private and Secondary Employment Policy: Private or secondary employment can contribute to an
employee acquiring additional skills and knowledge which contributes to their currency maintenance.
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Return to Industry Scheme (RTI) Procedure: This Scheme provides up to 76 hours release to assist full
time teaching staff keep current and up-to-date with the trends and developments in their Industry through
direct relevant on the job industry experience.
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Study Assistance Scheme (SAS) Procedure and Guidelines: Full time staff can apply for financial support
to up-skill or gain new AQF qualifications through study in relevant accredited TAFE NSW or other tertiary
education programs.
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Workforce Development - Customised capability development workshops and/or other regularly
scheduled professional development activities posted on the Professional Development Calendar.
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PD record - Self-initiated currency activities may also be added to your online PD record by contacting
Work Force Development Unit, or telephone, 9217 3926.
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The TAFE NSW Teacher Assessment and Advisory Policy and Guidelines (TAA1 and TAA2 Action Plan
pro-forma).These Action Plans can be used to identify the training and development needs of new
temporary and or new permanent teachers.
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The Professional Growth Options identified in the TAFE Teachers and Related Employees Annual Review
Policy, may be useful in planning developmental activities aimed at maintaining up to date professional
knowledge and skills, and or demonstration of a greater ability than previously in undertaking the duties of
the position as a result of the increased knowledge and skills.
Maintaining and Demonstrating Currency
v2 – 26/4/13
Disclaimer: Printed copies of this document are regarded as uncontrolled.
Please check http://sitwww.tafensw.edu.au to ensure this is the latest version.
page 4 of 4