Unfortunately, finding quality training is not as simple as choosing accredited over unaccredited options. Both can be excellent or disappointing and it is up to the purchaser to do due diligence when deciding which training to choose. This section describes what to look for and questions to ask to help you make the right choice. You can download the Training Selection Score Sheet to keep track of your assessment against the criteria outlined in this section.
Relevance
Course content
The first characteristic to look for is whether the training content is likely to meet learning needs and achieve the change in practical performance you are looking for. Look for a statement of course content and learning outcomes and check it against the aspects of capability you want to develop. For example, if you are thinking of using accredited training such as Certificate 3 in Individual Support or Certificate 4 in Disability, you can look at which competency standards will be delivered in the course.
Simply completing a qualification can be a good start but does not guarantee workers will have the capabilities they need unless training is aligned with your organisation’s specific requirements. Training providers can include different elective units as part of a qualification, and you may want to discuss options to include those that best suit your needs. You can find details of both qualifications and individual units of competency by visiting Training.gov.au.
The 2022 version of these qualifications generally align with the Framework capabilities so you should check that your training provider is using the most recent version. You can also ask training providers how their training maps against the Framework capabilities you want to develop.
You can use a similar approach when considering the relevance of non-accredited training. Check learning outcomes against your priorities. The Framework provides an authoritative description of required capabilities that can be used as a measure to judge the relevance of both non-accredited and accredited training. You can also use it to review in-house training.
Fit with organisational requirements
If purchasing training from a training provider, you could check whether they will customise the content based on the expectations, procedures and equipment used in your organisation. If you are a larger provider with ongoing training needs, you could look for a learning provider who will spend time getting to understand and tailor training to your needs. If you are a small or medium sized organisation, you could consider combining with others with similar training needs to negotiate more tailored training and assessment activities to meet your needs.
