National project to develop and trial a model for the recognition of prior learning of women gained through their life and work experience: final report

The aim of this project was to develop an assessment mechanism which would facilitate the entry and re-entry of women into the workforce by providing access to a process that would: recognise their current competencies in relation to specified core competencies; link these competencies to occupational categories and the Australian Standards Framework (ASF) for employment purposes; and recommend further training and advanced standing arrangements. This final report contains: the terms of reference; the project methodology; the background to the National Framework for the Recognition of Training, national developments in the recognition of prior learning (RPL), development of competency standards, competency standards in the public service and tourism industries, key competencies, and the RPL process; the rationale for, and description of, core competencies; evaluation of the pilot assessment process; overviews of the procedures manual and preparatory information and guidelines; an outline of the marketing strategy for the RPL process; discussion of issues that arose during the course of the project; and the overall conclusions and recommendations of the project. These include: RPL of women's skills gained through life and work experiences is an important service that needs to be made widely available to women; it is desirable to complement the assessment levels of performance of core competencies with the development of a personal action plan for career development; it is important that all RPL processes be seen as integral parts of a larger framework of 'skill formation and recognition opportunities'; and training authorities should closely monitor the identified needs of women for training and where possible, develop new training and skill formation options as required. Show less