GEARS : Introduction
| GETTING STARTED |
| Four Easy Steps |
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STEP 1 - Visit the Skills Store Geelong STEP 2 - Gather workplace and educational evidence STEP 3 - Meet with a GEARS assessor STEP 4 - Receive qualification or statement of attainment |
| For an application form, contact Anna at GEARS on: |
|
Phone: 5246 6129 Fax: 5225 0831 Email: Annab@gordontafe.edu.au |
| Jeff Izatt |
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Phone: 5246 6117 Email: jizatt@gordontafe.edu.au |
 |
COMPETENCE
What does this mean?
Competence relates to the skills and knowledge to competently do a job. For example, you may have been laying bricks for the past 10 years as a trades assistant and be very capable and experienced, even though you have no formal qualification.
If you can successfully build a retaining wall you should be competent in:
- Reading a site plan to set up the wall in the correct location
- Understanding the importance of building the retaining wall correctly
- Knowing the correct mix of sand and cement to hold the bricks together
- Communicating with customers, other tradespeople and workmates to get the job done
All these areas make up the Unit of Competency called Building a Retaining Wall that falls under the national qualification for bricklaying.
Competency applies to a range of work and trade areas, including automotive, carpentry, horticulture, engineering and many more.
COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT
How does it help?
Competency assessment is a great way to get your skills and experience assessed to gain a recognised national qualification.
The Gordon operates the Skills Store Geelong, offering a free skills audit, recommendations for further training and referral to an appropriate training provider. More information is available here.
You can also have your skills assessed by experienced Gordon Institute of TAFE assessors, who can:
- Provide a Statement of Attainment listing your competencies
- Provide a nationally recognised qualification (if appropriate)
- Establish your competency level, eg. Certificate III (trade qualification level)
- Identify areas where you may benefit from additional training
PROVIDING EVIDENCE
To help prove you are competent
To be assessed you must provide evidence to show you can do the job. The assessor will look at the evidence you have collected to determine if you have the skills and knowledge to competently perform to the qualification you are seeking.
The quicker you start the process and the more comprehensive your evidence, the sooner the assessor can act on your assessment.
Your assessor will look for strong evidence to convince him/her that you can do the job.
Evidence can take many forms, such as:
- Your workplace supervisor's testimonials or on-the job reports
- Demonstration of knowledge and skills
- A comprehensive portfolio of evidence
- Work samples
- Record or log books
- Salary history - group certificates/confirmation of employment/promotion advice
- Certificates (eg. forklift licence, first aid, OH&S course)
- Photo/video record of your practical achievements
- Evidence of any training, either within Australia or in other countries
At your initial assessment planning meeting, your assessor will help you to develop an evidence plan.
You will be shown examples of evidence, and given advice on how to collect and organise your own evidence to meet assessment requirements.
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
List all the jobs, work placements and work experience you have that relate to your qualification application.
Then select each in turn and list all the tasks that you would have done in these jobs. Your assessor will explain how to do this in more detail, and will provide guidelines and assistance.
If you follow this process carefully, you may be very surprised at the amount of knowledge you have gained, and the number of tasks you can perform.
For example, if you have been working as a bricklayer's trade assistant, your list might include:
Bricklayer's Trade Assistant 10 years (1996-2006)
- Read architectural plans
- Recognise suitable sand and cement for individual bricklaying jobs
- Cut bricks to suit the application
- Lay bricks level and square within specified tolerance
- Calculate the quantity of bricks required for each job
- Discuss the customer's requirements
- Clean the site on completion
- Answer phone
- Use hand and power tools
- Operate a cement mixer
You might also have worked as a concreter for domestic house foundations (1994-1995):
- Operate bobcat to obtain levels for foundations
- Box in foundations
- Use laser level
- Calculate concrete to be ordered
- Communicate with builders and material suppliers
- Trowel concrete to desired finish
- Use mechanical trowel
Remember - Comprehensive and accurate information will help your assessor to gain a better understanding of the knowledge and skills that you possess.
YOUR PORTFOLIO
This is a very important part of your presentation for assessment.
You will need to have your portfolio organised to help the assessor in relation to the information you provide.
It should be set up as follows:
- Provide a face sheet listing the contents of the portfolio
- Number the items to assist the assessor in finding the information
- Include notes/brief descriptions of each item
- Select Units of Competency that are relevant to your experience
- Use the Units of Competency sheets provided and list the evidence collected for each
I WANT TO BE ASSESSED
What now?
- Complete the GEARS application form
- Provide details of your work experience, on-the-job training, etc
- Provide evidence of qualifications or courses that may be relevant to your application
- Include your comprehensive evidence portfolio
- Complete the self-assessment guide
- Photocopy all documentation and bring this to your assessment along with original documentation
- Have photocopied documents certified as true and correct copies - your assessor will certify documentation at the assessment interview
Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne.