Classroom not required to obtain formal qualifications

Anthony Evans has turned his 15 years of business experience into two diplomas without having to set foot into a classroom.

Anthony, 50, has achieved a Diploma of Business and a Diploma of Business Management through formal recognition of his workplace skills.

"I wanted to obtain formal qualifications but didn’t want to have to step into a classroom to do so," Anthony said.

For the last 14 years, Anthony has worked at Upholstering Distributors Australia (UDA) where is now the state sales manager. Before that, he worked as an upholsterer.

He undertook a skills pre-assessment at Skilling Solutions Queensland, a State Government career information service, to identify how his work experience and skills could assist him in gaining a formal business qualification.

After his interview, Anthony was referred to the Learning Collaborative, a training organisation contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland, where he completed a formal skills assessment.

As a customer of Skilling Solutions Queensland, Anthony also received a subsidy of $1000 towards the cost of the formal recognition process.

"I was referred to the Learning Collaborative for the Diploma of Business and was surprised when they could assess me against the Diploma of Business Management also," he said.

"I was cynical about gaining the qualification at first as I didn’t want to go back into a classroom environment.

"The process was really simple. I met with the assessor and provided evidence of the work I had completed and two weeks later I was sent the two Diplomas." he said.

Julie-Ann paints the way for women in trades

With a new qualification under her painter’s cap, Julie-Ann Presley has proven that the construction industry is no longer a place just for men.

After six years in the painting industry, the 29-year-old has become a qualified painter by achieving the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating through recognition of prior learning (RPL).

And, she has also received a pay-rise as a result of achieving the formal qualification.

“I wanted to enhance my current career and I have gained a better income by getting my trade qualification,” Julie-Ann said.

The Cairns resident began her quest for recognition of her skills with a visit to Skilling Solutions Queensland, the State Government’s free training and career information service.

During her interview, Julie-Ann was given the opportunity to work with the Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant to identify how her skills and experience could be recognised towards the certificate III qualification.

“The service was very informative and very friendly,” she said.

She then contacted Australian Construction Training Services, a training provider contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland, to provide fast-track RPL services.

Within a matter of months she had completed the recognition of prior learning process and was the proud owner of the certificate III qualification.

Women in trades... a clear sign of the future

Eagleby resident, Melynda McBratney, turned her 11 years of workplace skills into a formal qualification after accessing Skilling Solutions Queensland, the Queensland Government’s free training and career information service.

Ms McBratney, one of the growing number of women working in trades, achieved her Certificate III in Off-site Construction (Sign Writer and Computer Operator) through Recognition of Prior Learning.

“I have been working as a sign writer for 11 years and had no formal qualification,” Ms Bratney said.

“When looking for work I was asked to produce my trade certificate which I didn’t have.

“I was having difficulty getting job interviews because of not having formal qualification.

“When I did get job offers the pay was well below for my skills,” she said.

Ms Bratney undertook an interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland at the Logan Hyperdome to obtain an indication of the skills she could formally recognise and put towards the certificate III qualification.

Armed with her report and referral letter she presented at Southbank Institute of Technology to undertake a formal skills assessment.

One month later she had obtained the formal qualification through Recognition of Prior Learning.

“I would not have been able to find all the necessary information by myself if not for Skilling Solutions Queensland.”

“I would like to thank Skilling Solutions Queensland for all their assistance in gaining my formal qualification,” Ms Bratney said.

Qualification constructs Australian career pathway

After months of searching for work, Simon Farrar is now the proud owner of a formal qualification a new job.

The Hervey Bay resident has achieved the Certificate III in Carpentry through recognition of prior learning and has commenced employment building decks with a local Hervey Bay builder.

Mr Farrar, 37, had over five years work experience within the construction industry in the United Kingdom when he migrated with his wife to Hervey Bay in 2008.

Not sure what his career options were, he visited Skilling Solutions Queensland in Hervey Bay.

He undertook the Smart Skilling Indicator service to identify how his skills aligned with the certificate III in carpentry.

He then completed the formal recognition of prior learning process with Australian Construction Training Services. 

Within three months, Simon had gained the qualification and had secured employment.

Skilled migrant reinvests into training sector

English migrant Clive Pickering is re-investing into the Queensland training sector after obtaining the Diploma of Hospitality Management through recognition of prior learning.

Clive 49 is now working as a Workplace Trainer after gaining the diploma through the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE.

“I found the whole process very quick and professional” Clive said.

Since migrating to Australia in 1999, Clive has worked in a variety of roles within the entertainment industry, building on his experience in the hospitality industry in the United Kingdom.

Interested in gaining a diploma qualification, he visited the Skilling Solutions Queensland centre in Southport to obtain information about his training options.

After undertaking the Smart Skilling Indicator service with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Clive completed the formal recognition of prior learning process with Gold Coast TAFE.

“The whole process has provided me with a valued qualification”