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Prize Draw & Close

Location

Hall C/D

WorldSkills

Location

Hall C/D

Automated Attendance Monitoring: Making monitoring attendance easy

Stream

Tech in VET

Location

Hall K

Difficulty

Beginner

Taking attendance manually has proven historically challenging, time-consuming, and error-prone. Making attendance monitoring as easy as possible for faculty and providing a simple way for students to check in via a quick tap or swipe of their student ID can boost retention rates and enhance the probability of academic success for students.

This presentation will be a deep dive into how capturing attendance automatically and leveraging existing campus technology integrations can:

Increase student engagement and success
Identify at-risk students and provide early intervention in preventing attrition and lost institution revenue
Greatly reduce friction from the attendance-monitoring process for faculty
Leverage data to enhance predictive analytics

Allan Christie

Director

Allan Christie is currently the Vice-President, eLearning for Blackboard and this reflects his 30+ years of experience as both an academic and industry leader in the area of eLearning. During his academic career, Allan published extensively and presented at many national and international conferences and was recognised for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of South Australia. Through his long industry association with ASCILITE he was awarded a Life Member of the Society in 2003 and currently has the role of Treasurer.

Over the past 30 years in the education space, Allan has become a leading subject matter expert on the evolution of technology-enhanced teaching and learning. With his great passion and interest in Higher Education, he serves as one of Blackboard’s senior thought leaders working with different institutions throughout Asia Pacific to develop and implement e-learning strategies.

Connecting the Quality Dots: How to ensure your RTO is humming

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Beginner

With many aspects to consider in operating a quality RTO, it can become
overwhelming and at times, cumbersome. This session aims to support RTO
compliance staff to better understand the levers behind the RTO Standards for RTOs (2015) so that they may be effective champions and influencers across their organisation.

Maria will draw together all the key requirements into a simple to follow system that may be applied immediately into any sized RTO. She will also offer real examples for implementation: from how to design the RTO's unique student experience model through to how to overlay it with quality management strategies that work!

Maria Langwell

Private individual Maria Langwell Consulting P/L

Maria Langwell has worked within the vocational education and training (VET) sector for over 30 years, commencing within TAFE NSW. Within this organisation, Maria held several positions, from Head of the Labour Market Programs Unit at Blacktown Institute of TAFE, through to her final role as General Manager, Strategic Planning and Policy for Western Sydney Institute. On her relocation to Melbourne, Maria worked within the Victorian public service, as the Manager of several priority VET and employment services and programs, such as the Youth Employment Scheme (Victoria’s flagship youth traineeship program), Community Based Employment (CBE) Program, and the Victorian industry training advisory bodies (ITaBs). Her last appointment in the public service was as the Manager, Funded Programs, where Maria was responsible for funding the VET private RTO sector through its user choice and other VET programs. Maria moved into service delivery within Victoria, where she worked at AMES, prior to heading up Spectrum Education and Training (SET), a small community based RTO based in Broadmeadows, Melbourne. Within this period and in recognition of the leadership and vision for servicing the most disadvantaged community members within this region, SET was awarded the 2010 Small Training Provider of the Year. Maria moved to the Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET), where she held the positions of VIC Executive Manager, as well as the General Manager, Business Development. In her time at ACPET, Maria supported compliance and quality across ACPET’s membership base of over 1,000 members as well as the wider VET community, through her initiation of ACPET’s professional development program and health check services. Both services were well received and utilised, with over 8,000 VET professionals attending the PD sessions in 2013-14 alone. Since early 2015, Maria joined the Vocation Group as the Head of Quality Assurance and Education and led 4 out of the RTOs to a fully compliant status. In 2015, Maria embarked on her boutique RTO consultancy service, where she supports RTOs nationally to interpret and apply the range of regulatory and funding requirements.

Maria holds an Executive Master in Public Administration and Management (University of Melbourne), a Master in Education (Administration and Management) (University of Sydney) and a Diploma in Teaching (Sydney Teachers College).

Brand Camp: Transforming the Brand of VET in Your RTO

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Intermediate

To be confirmed

Pauline Duncan

Pauline is an educator, management consultant, speaker and company director.

A primary trained teacher, Pauline became the Head of Junior School at Wesley College Melbourne, at the age of 25 making her the youngest primary Principal nationally at that time.

Pauline was Senior Manager at KPMG working in Government Advisory Services on social policy and education projects utilising her expertise in policy development, reform, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication and workshop facilitation.

Recently Pauline was the General Manger of Not for Profit organisation, YGAP, looking after risk, governance, and strategy for impact programs with social entrepreneurs and had responsibility for social enterprise restaurant, Feast of Merit.

Knowledge Box is Pauline’s own education advisory company – projects currently include Business Development for School RTOs with VETtrak; supporting innovation agenda in schools through the Plato Project; Fundraising and Philanthropic strategy development for leading NFPs; a variety of mentoring programs; strategic communications and marketing strategy for schools and she is a sought after public speaker.

Pauline is a Non-Executive Director in the education and not-for-profit sectors.

At the heart of all Pauline’s work is the simple, yet powerful driver to “Barrack for Young People”.

Simulation Shapers: Using simulation as EoC in lieu of work based evidence

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Beginner

Simulations and other gamified learning solutions are increasingly being leveraged in diverse contexts to drive employee engagement and skill development in a safe space. But is the VET industry taking maximum advantage of the opportunity simulation presents to not only enhance the training experience and outcomes for students - but also as a viable form of Evidence of Competency in lieu of suitable work based evidence? It's time to inject some energy and excitement into evidence compliance!

The presentation will:

showcase how engaging simulations can be as learning vehicles
demonstrate how simulations can be used to offer students a flexible, fair, reliable and valid assessment solution in lieu of suitable work-based evidence - and that this form of performance evidence (PE) is valid, authentic, sufficient and current
give a 'behind the curtain' look at how simulations are designed to support practitioners wishing to develop and implement them.

Kestrel Stone

Other Elemental Projects

Kestrel Stone is a highly qualified VET practitioner and project management expert with over 12 years’ experience spanning a wide range of project-based industries where she has designed and delivered dozens of training programs. Combining an undergraduate degree in psychology with a Masters in Project Management and Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Kestrel brings balanced perspective to training and assessment that recognises the importance of ‘soft’ interpersonal skills as well as ‘hard’ technical project management skills.

Kestrel is an adjunct university lecturer for ACU and Sydney University and a NSW Chapter Councillor for the Australian Institute of Project Management where she currently chairs the Professional Advancement portfolio for New South Wales. In 2012, Kestrel established Elemental Projects, a boutique project management training and consulting firm. Kestrel established Elemental Projects, a boutique project management training and consulting firm.

Enhance Learning and Retention with Lessons from the Cognitive Sciences

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Beginner

How do we learn effectively? Recent research into how we learn is revealing that much of what we believe about learning has been misunderstood. From cramming and re-reading to highlighting text and delivering content in sequential order, many of the learning and instructional techniques used in the past are being exposed as cumbersome and ineffective.

Drawing on research from the cognitive sciences, this presentation will outline key research-based learning and instructional strategies that are proven to enhance retention, recall and learning outcomes.

This interactive presentation is for practitioners who are looking to enhance the student learning experience using instructional strategies that are based on empirical research.

Instructional designers, trainers, assessors or anyone interested in improving retention and recall will discover new techniques to improve learning.

Tony Kirton

Other DES Learning

Tony Kirton is a facilitator and instructional designer with over nine years’ experience in learning and development. Principal designer at resource design firm DES Learning, which contracts to the public and private sector. Tony develops e-learning as well as traditional programs with some of his recent projects including the update of General Construction Induction (White Card) and redesign of the Health and Safety Representative Training, which are both mandated for use across NSW.

Tony also facilitates training and assessment with some of Australia’s leading VET providers including MRWED Training and Assessment and the Australian Institute of Management. He is known for his engaging and evidence-based approach to workplace learning.

'I'm an Auditor - Ask Me Anything'

Stream

Regulator

Location

Hall C/D

Panel Session

This is an open Q&A session, where you can ask a panel of ASQA staff questions on anything related to regulation of VET and ELICOS.

ASQA Representatives

Australian Skills Quality Authority

David Garner

As General Manager Regulatory Operations in the Australian Skills Quality Authority, David has responsibility for implementing ASQA’s regulatory strategy nationally, including monitoring compliance of training providers and intending providers with the VET Quality Framework as well as the standards relating to delivery of training to overseas students, including intensive English courses. Prior to the referral of powers that brought Queensland providers under ASQA’s jurisdiction, David was Director, Training Quality, in the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Prior to joining the Queensland department in 2005, David worked in and managed training providers for many years. David has been active in sports administration for over 30 years and sat for many years on the board of the Queensland Fitness, Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance.

Benn Gramola

Benn Gramola is the Manager Regulatory Operation for South Australia at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Benn as an extensive career in regulatory environments spanning over 15 years. Benn is a professional regulator and has a strong understanding of risk-based compliance and its application.

Benn has work for both State and Federal agencies, where he has been responsible for leading and managing teams involved in monitoring industries compliance with legislation. Benn has undertaken numerous investigations and enforcement activities across a variety of sectors including the VET sector.

Cheryl Edwards

Cheryl Edwards is a Principal Regulatory Officer at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) based in Adelaide. She has worked in a variety of roles within the vocational education and training (VET) sector over the last 18 years. Some of her past roles include, Project Officer at the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, State Manager of a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and VET trainer/assessor.

Cheryl has been an auditor for nine years. Before transitioning to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) in 2012, Cheryl worked as an auditor with the South Australian Regulator – the Quality and Tertiary Education Policy Directorate (QTEP).

As a Principal Regulatory Officer at ASQA, Cheryl leads complex and high-risk audits, and makes recommendations about VET providers’ compliance utilising:

The VET Quality Framework, and
The National Code for those providers registered on CRICOS.

Cheryl recently spent 18 months as the TAE Project Co-ordinator on the Training and Education (TAE) transition project, assessing applications from RTOs wanting to add the new TAE training products to scope of registration.

Monica McFadyen

Monica McFadyen is a Principal Regulatory Officer at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) based in Adelaide. Monica’s career in Vocational Education and Training (VET) commenced with TAFE SA and with the South Australian State Government. Monica is a Principal Regulatory Operations Officer and an Authorised Officer with the Australian Skills Quality Authority ASQA located in Adelaide.

Monica has 21 years’ experience working in the VET Sector and for the past 11 years in regulating registered training organisations operations all over Australia that provide services to domestic, international and ELICOS students. Monica has in-depth knowledge of VET sector, the international student sector and the National Skills Framework including the principles of competency-based training and assessment within a quality framework.

Old School - New Cool

Stream

Foundation Skills

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Beginner

Whether improving foundation skills of students and employees or providing pathways to lifelong learning, the responsibility rests with the trainer.

This presentation will provide a number of simple yet practical ideas for VET. teachers, facilitators and trainers endeavouring to enhance their learners' knowledge in a training-world seemingly ruled by the computer, video and PowerPoint.

See how easy-to-create activities can align with multiple learning styles to engage your participants. By employing a variety of content-appropriate activities, learners can't help but enjoy acquiring pertinent knowledge for the field.

John Blake

Trainer/Assessor Box Hill Institute

Having taught or presented in nearly 20 countries, John Blake is passionate about making in difference through education at all levels.

John has a background in hospitality and professional writing and in more recent years has taught in VET at TAFEs, Universities, conferences, schools, RTOs, prisons and in hotels.

HTML, CSS & Bootstrap Hacks for eLearning

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Beginner

Are you looking to improve the look and feel of your courses? Struggling with the way your LMS lays out items on your course page? Maybe there is something you can do with a little HTML, CSS or Bootstrap. In this presentation, drawing upon his experiences as a web teacher, you’ll learn the basics of how HTML, CSS and Bootstrap define webpages. You’ll also learn a few simple hacks and tricks that you can use to enhance your online eLearning materials, such as how to recover when you’ve made of mess of tables, how to use the awesome Font Awesome, and change hyperlinks into buttons. No previous web coding skills necessary.

Scott Huntley

Other TAFE NSW

(Kenneth) Scott Huntley is an Instruction Designer for the Student Management Services Program Project at TAFE NSW. He has utilised Moodle in various projects over a number of years and Scott is interested in benefits of Open Source Hardware and Software can have for the educational community. He is passionate about finding imaginative and innovative ways to use technology in the classroom and benefits that they may have for students and teachers alike.

Scott has previously been an Invited Speaker to MoodleMoot Australia and MoodleMoot New Zealand and a Keynote Speaker for Mini iMoot 2016.

Afternoon Tea & Networking

Location

Hall H

Utilising Technology and Globalisation to Enhance RTO Operations

Stream

Tech in VET

Location

Hall K

Difficulty

Intermediate

Focusing solely on compliance is not the key to running a successful RTO. Today, so many services and products are price sensitive, including training, and the ability for an RTO and its staff to work smarter, not harder, is critical, especially as we progress through the fourth industrial revolution. For VET providers to survive, stay competitive and relevant, the sector needs to look at new and fresh approaches to internal operations, as well as strategies to disrupt our respective industries.

This presentation will inspire and educate owners and managers to explore technologies, apps and global services currently available to them and their teams and demonstrate how easy it is to simplify and enhance the management of an RTO. By empowering staff to utilise freely available business applications, management and teams can greatly reduce the time it takes to complete administrative, marketing and HR functions, ultimately allowing for greater efficiency, transparency and accountability within a growing mobile and global workforce.

As the saying goes, we don’t know what we don’t know, and often, we don’t know where to start looking for solutions, or worse still, don't even know they exist. Maciek will share his experiences, thoughts and opinions and provide an educational session where delegates will be able to take away with them an increased understanding of how to utilise and implement technology and globalisation to enhance business operations and increase profits.

Maciek Fibrich

Director

For almost 20 years, Maciek Fibrich has been challenging the status-quo in the VET sector, often pushing the limits to achieve unexpected outcomes for RTOs. Some will also argue that disruption is part of Maciek’s DNA, but the reality is, Maciek is truly passionate about ensuring quality within the VET sector and working out ways to use technology to push quality, yet ensuring it never impacts on the human nature of training and assessment. Maciek commenced his VET journey in 1999 when he started his first RTO with his mother, and since then, he has seen the industry morph many times. He has enjoyed the many challenges faced due to the never-ending changes, but has never lost sight of the industries main focus, educating our students.

Do You Want to Party? Third party arrangements!

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Beginner

Even before pen goes to paper or fingers go to the keyboard to start a written agreement, what are the factors you should consider before leaping into a third-party arrangement? Although these arrangements can be an effective and efficient means of delivering services in your RTO, they also require careful establishment and ongoing monitoring.

This session is a beginner’s guide to:

the issues to consider when deciding if a third-party arrangement is suitable in your circumstances
how to set yourself up for success in planning for a third-party arrangement.

Carol Hunter

Consultant RTO Services and Consulting

Carol Hunter is the Principal of RTO Services and Consulting. Her experience in management in the VET sector in Queensland includes Director, Training Quality and Regulation; Manager, Audit Services; and Manager, Training Secretariat to Training and Employment Recognition Council and Training Employment Board (Queensland) within the Department of Education and Training.

Carol has also worked in operational roles in both public and private RTOs, in policy and curriculum development; and as a secondary school teacher.

Understanding How Gen Z Transition into Further Education and Employment

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Beginner

With almost half of Australian high school students still having no idea what they want to do after school, many young people are feeling forced to choose pathways that they are ill-prepared for and later abandon, costing the Australian economy millions. We at Year13 are firm believers that young people should be exposed to a vast array of career and study options early in their high school years, rather than during the final months when the stress of exams evoke a higher sense of urgency. The intention of this presentation is to provide a comprehensive picture of the transitional period for young Australians and, through this, empower government, education and employment industries to better engage with the youth cohort.

While VET provides necessary skills for the advancement of society, significant issues have developed in the attraction and retention of students. The VET education system is also heavily misunderstood by youth and their influencers. Many young people are unaware of the breadth of subjects and courses offered by both TAFEs and private RTOs. This presentation will be based on Year13's research paper 'After the ATAR', made up of over 7000 responses from around Australia.

William Stubley

Administrator Year 13 Pty Ltd

Co-Founder of Year13, Australia's largest digital platform for high school leavers, Will Stubley is passionate about industry's role in the transition period from high-school. Utilising his engineering background, Will is responsible for digital product development, research and strategy.

Trainer & Assessor Requirements: The glitter and the gold

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Beginner

This session will clarify trainer and assessor requirements for professional development and currency. Following the session you will be able to clearly identify currency and professional development opportunities and distinguish between the glitter and the gold.

This session will:

Explore the requirements of the Standards 2015
Explore the difference between professional development and currency
What activities should we be undertaking?
What is glitter and what is gold?

Angela McGregor

RTO/Compliance Manager RTO Consulting

Angela McGregor is the owner and principal consultant of RTO Consulting who has been offering consulting services throughout Australia. RTO Consulting was also established to provide guidance, coaching and assistance to businesses wanting to become a RTO, existing RTOs and businesses wanting to develop nationally accredited courses.

Angela has successfully set up her own RTO in January 2003, which she successfully sold in July of 2012.

As a practitioner dedicated to sharing knowledge, Angela has consulted through many forums pertaining to compliance issues and improvement strategies for training and assessment services. Angela is known for her current industry, knowledge and success in developing accredited courses and track record in setting up RTOs and assisting RTOs with compliance against the VET Quality Framework.

Angela holds a number of qualifications including; Diploma of Quality Auditing, Diploma of VET Registration and Management, Diploma of Business, Diploma of Training and Assessment and Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing.

Transformative Education: Going back to basics

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Beginner

Learn about how the cross-cultural issues of the theory and practice of transformative education help Aboriginal and culturally diverse learners create a bridge between meaningful learning and vocational education.

Isabel Osuna-Gatty

Consultant Isabel Osuna-Gatty

Isabel Osuna-Gatty is the recipient of the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Australian Training Award. Her wide-ranging career began in South America managing the English language department of a private high school, training teaching staff and lecturing at the Central University of Venezuela.

Isabel continued her career in Australia as an adult Language Literacy Numeracy/ ESL teacher at various community colleges before moving into educational management. She developed and implemented several local, state and commonwealth funded projects across Australia. She was the National Career Industry Specialist and the Workplace English Language and Literacy broker for the Community Services and Health industries.

Isabel is currently finishing a master degree in teaching English as a Second Language and a master degree in Social Work. Her interests are transformational education, neuropsychology and helping people achieve their personal and professional goals.

Isabel has presented as a keynote speaker at several national and international conferences.

ASQA's Approach to TAE and New Entrants

Stream

Regulator

Location

Hall C/D

ASQA's approach to the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and new entrants to the VET and ELICOS markets.

This session will focus on the continued scrutiny of 'Australia's most important VET qualification', the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and new entrants to the VET and ELICOS markets, particularly the approach ASQA is taking in these areas and results to date.

Cheryl Edwards

Principal Regulatory Officer

Cheryl Edwards is a Principal Regulatory Officer at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) based in Adelaide. She has worked in a variety of roles within the vocational education and training (VET) sector over the last 18 years. Some of her past roles include, Project Officer at the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, State Manager of a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and VET trainer/assessor.

Cheryl has been an auditor for nine years. Before transitioning to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) in 2012, Cheryl worked as an auditor with the South Australian Regulator – the Quality and Tertiary Education Policy Directorate (QTEP).

As a Principal Regulatory Officer at ASQA, Cheryl leads complex and high-risk audits, and makes recommendations about VET providers’ compliance utilising:

The VET Quality Framework, and
The National Code for those providers registered on CRICOS.

Cheryl recently spent 18 months as the TAE Project Co-ordinator on the Training and Education (TAE) transition project, assessing applications from RTOs wanting to add the new TAE training products to scope of registration.

Keep Calm and Carry a Pentagon

Stream

Foundation Skills

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Beginner

Many of us know that low numeracy skills in adults in Australia is a major concern. We may even see the impact of this and problems that it causes in the workplace. The VET sector receives pressure from both employers and government to help students improve numeracy skills.

Incorporating foundation skills, including numeracy skills, into every unit of competency, is seen as one strategy aimed to improve numeracy skills in vocational students. This has meant that numeracy skills have to be included in assessment tasks.

Teachers who have had minimal to no specific training in teaching numeracy skills to struggling VET students may, themselves, lack confidence in this area. Students who enrol in vocational courses to gain employment in their area of interest may have anxiety and low confidence in their maths abilities.

The Optimising Problem Solving (OPS) pentagon is a tested and proven method for teaching to students a variety of skills. The Keep Calm Pentagon is an adaptation of the OPS pentagon. It is an innovative, logical, simple tool intended to be used for teaching numeracy skills. It is easy for teachers to understand, straightforward for students to learn and takes the confusion and anxiety away from solving mathematical problems. I can show you how.

Penny Vervoorst

RTO/Compliance Manager Holmesglen Institute

Penny’s time is split between doctoral studies in the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne, researching employability skills in undergraduate mathematics, and working as an internal auditor in the VET sector. With over 10 years’ experience at an enterprise RTO, a private RTO and a TAFE, Penny looks for solutions to problems. One particular area of interest is how to help make it easier for VET students to improve their numeracy skills.

Virtual Reality and Gamification Training in the VET Sector

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Beginner

This session will look at our fully deployable, technology enhanced kit for the VET sector, that combines traditional classroom learning with VR technology, gamification and maker methodologies that provides engaging, hands on training and education. Funded by the Government’s Worker Training Innovation Fund (WTIF), our new training technology will support training in the current and new workforce to have the skills needed for emerging industries.

Based on Kinesthetic learning, ‘learning by doing’, which includes neuroscience-based education design that will increase retention of information and student engagement, our course reduces training times and increases overall course completions with up-to-date industry expertise. We are pioneering the new wave of learning, to create empowered job ready graduates providing immersive training, with real life scenarios that allow students to commence work safely and confidently from day one. Victoria, and the VET sector has a chance to lead the world.

Maggie Burke and Fay Dart

Maggie Burke
Originally trained as a teacher, Maggie’s roles have been in business and commercial advisory with 12 years at Ernst & Young. Maggie then moving into private consulting to provide specialist advice to the building and construction industry for the last 15 years. One of her roles included setting up and managing a private RTO, Exner Education, that delivers innovative and immersive education tools to the construction, rail and transport industry. Exner Education offers services in Australia, UAE, with plans to expand to Europe within the next 12 months.

Fay Dart
With a career beginning in South Africa, Fay has over 15 years’ experience in the civil construction industry. Her career in South Africa included Site Management and then Project Engineer roles before her move to Australia. Prior to joining Real Serious Games in 2014, Fay was with Thiess / John Holland for five years attaining the position of Civil Senior Project Engineer on the Airport Link Project. At Real Serious Games she performs the role of Associate Engineer, assisting in Commercial aspects of projects, Business Development and Engineering support for the delivery of projects.

Networking Lunch

Location

Hall H

Embracing Cloud Transformation: Anatomy of an RTO

Stream

Tech in VET

Location

Hall K

Difficulty

Intermediate

Digital transformation and embracing the cloud is a phrase that means many things to many people but in its essence it is an opportunity to make money or save money. In Large organisations 74% of Chief Financial Officers say cloud computing will have the most measurable impact on their business (Forrester 2017 Cloud Survey).

Yet, small to medium businesses, those that have the most to gain from embracing the cloud and digital transformation, are not realising the benefits as they could be.

In this presentation, we delve deep into the anatomy of an RTO beyond the online student learning systems to dissect how and where RTOs regardless of their size and resources can embrace cloud technology and, as a result, become more agile, scalable and adaptable to future compliance, student and economic demands.

Using real case studies of a small RTO without significant cash and human resources we analyse:

• The anatomy of an RTO and where and how cloud technology can be introduced

• Various techniques and cloud solutions and how to evaluate their suitability and total cost of ownership

• Ideation techniques and methodologies such as LEAN and AGILE that go hand in hand with Cloud to establish more robust and scalable BAU (Business As Usual) systems, increase staff engagement and improve service delivery exponentially.

• Engagment and establishment of staff buy in and support

Miranda Hamilton

CEO/RTO Owner Learning Partnerships

Miranda is an experienced and passionate leader and consultant, specialising in providing business advisory assessment and training services to individuals, businesses and government for transformation, and growth.

As Director of Learning Partnerships, Miranda is passionate about developing people, teams and organisations to thrive and be the best that they can be.

Miranda previously co-founded Securus Global, one of Australia’s most highly regarded Information Security and technical research companies and has a background in Business Analysis, Project Management and IT Security and Governance.

More Data Coming Your Way... To help you make better business decisions

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Intermediate

The new National VET Data Policy seeks to simplify regulation for RTOs and help stakeholders better understand their responsibilities for collecting, reporting, using and accessing VET data. It sets the framework for reforms by providing a more accurate and comprehensive picture of national training. This also helps students make more informed training choices, and the USI scheme provides them with a more complete official record of their training.

Key changes in the new policy can be summarised into three categories:
1. more transparent and defined rules in relation to disclosure and use of data
2. consolidation of the policy to provide guidance on all national VET data collections in one document
3. reduction of some reporting exemptions

This presentation will explain what the changes mean for RTOs. We will explain how data submitted to the National VET collection is kept safe, who has access to this national data asset, and showcase how it can be used by your RTO to inform better business decisions.

Alison Anlezark & Toni Cavallaro

Alison Anlezark is the National Standards Manager, at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In this role, she is responsible for ensuring NCVER’s products and services keep pace with the changing needs of the VET sector, having oversight of the statistical standards, NCVER’s data quality program and NCVER’s client support team.

Toni Cavallaro is the National Collections Manager, at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). She has extensive experience in the collection and analysis of VET data. Toni is responsible for overseeing NCVER’s major administrative data collections including the apprentice and trainee, students and courses, and finance/funding collections on behalf of the national VET system.

Training Venues & 9b Compliance: What you need to know

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Beginner

What is 9b Compliance and do I need it for my RTO? What is the difference between lease and license agreement? If you don't know the answers to these questions, don't worry. Chris Green and Vickie Johnson will provide you with all the information you need to know to navigate the training space arena. Chris & Vickie have over 30 years combined experience in venue consulting and compliance industry and they would like to share with you your options on venue compliance.

Vickie Johnson & Chris Green

Vickie Johnson brings a wealth of experience across the private and public sector. With her passion for geography and collaboration, she is the driving force surging Training SpaceFinder into new market realms and redefining traditional business models.

Having worked in compliance and enforcement roles for government, coupled with project management positions for large development companies, her comprehension of viability, innovation and compliance, position her as the momentum that ensures excellence in delivery and innovation in facilitating win / win solutions.

Chris Green is the Founder and CEO of c2cglobal Pty Ltd, which he started 20 years ago. In that time c2cglobal has moved from a general commercial fit out company to a highly specialist consulting firm delivering 9b and building compliance specifically to the Education Sector.

After focusing on providing fit outs to the education sector, it soon became clear that the education sector is unique in its building compliance requirements. It also became clear that unless you have an in-depth understanding of all the restrictions and timing issues imposed by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and other education regulators (ASQA, TEQSA), it is almost impossible to effectively deliver solutions to the problems facing education providers.

So c2cglobal’s philosophy was to move from a “generalist” fit out company to a “specialist” consulting firm with the ability to identify key problems for one specific industry, Education, and provide very real solutions to very real problems that add massive value to clients.

Ask a Guru

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Guru Panel Session

Joe Newbery served in the Australian Army for over 20 years. His time in Defence was influenced by his appointment in training roles including recruit training, trade training and finally in training design and compliance. Joe departed Defence and established Newbery Consulting in 2005. He has extensive experience and is recognised for his work in course design, job analysis and VET quality auditing. Over the period 2007 – 2014, Joe provided Lead Auditor services on behalf of the VET regulators including the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA), the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Today Joe leads a small team at Newbery Consulting to support his clients throughout Australia with a broad offering of VET products and services.

John Dwyer is a trainer and consultant with experience in education spanning more than 60 years. He brings extensive Registered Training Organisation (RTO) experience to Velg Training, having a comprehensive history in developing and delivering a range of workshops on assessment, compliance, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), moderation and validation processes relating to AQTF/VQF compliance.

John Price has been an educator and trainer for over 40 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development. John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.
He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations (versions 2012 and 2015); Australian Quality Training Framework standards (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with these organisations in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies.

Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and delivering Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of VET Content Development.

Carol Hunter is the Principal of RTO Services and Consulting. Her experience in management in the VET sector in Queensland includes Director, Training Quality and Regulation; Manager, Audit Services; and Manager, Training Secretariat to Training and Employment Recognition Council and Training Employment Board (Queensland) within the Department of Education and Training.
Carol has also worked in operational roles in both public and private RTOs, in policy and curriculum development; and as a secondary school teacher.

Engaging all Learners Through the Universal Design for Learning Principles

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Intermediate

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for teaching and learning based on neuroscience which guides trainers in the development of learning materials, assessments and learning environments. The key difference to this approach is the increased access to learning that UDL provides for a multiple range of students.

Jane will explore the principles that guide UDL classrooms and provide practical strategies for trainers to improve opportunities for learning with a focus on students with diverse learning needs. This presentation will challenge participants to think about their training from a different viewpoint and ready to try something different!

Jane Goodfellow

Trainer/Assessor North Metropolitan TAFE

Jane Goodfellow is the 2017 Australian VET Teacher/Trainer winner and holds a keen interest in alternative and innovative training methods. Jane has worked as a TAFE trainer for over 20 years and also works in a school as a special needs teacher. After completing a Master in Education in inclusion Jane's focus turned to increasing the participation of tertiary aged students with disability and diverse needs in VET courses.

Competency-Based Assessment and Validation

Stream

Regulator

Location

Hall C/D

Assessment continues to be the most common area of non-compliance by RTOs.

This session will outline:

the areas where assessment tends to fall short
how strong validation processes can identify shortcomings and correct them

Monica McFadyen

Principal Regulatory Officer

Monica McFadyen is a Principal Regulatory Officer at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) based in Adelaide. Monica’s career in Vocational Education and Training (VET) commenced with TAFE SA and with the South Australian State Government. Monica is a Principal Regulatory Operations Officer and an Authorised Officer with the Australian Skills Quality Authority ASQA located in Adelaide.

Monica has 21 years’ experience working in the VET Sector and for the past 11 years in regulating registered training organisations operations all over Australia that provide services to domestic, international and ELICOS students. Monica has in-depth knowledge of VET sector, the international student sector and the National Skills Framework including the principles of competency-based training and assessment within a quality framework.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy Testing: Getting it right

Stream

Foundation Skills

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) testing is an important component of quality Vocational Education and Training (VET) delivery and underpins the future growth of all trainees. LLN is a necessary skill for learners and a core requirement for VET providers in meeting their regulatory compliance requirements. Despite the importance of LLN pre-testing and in-built LLN support into course delivery, many practitioners and training providers lack a clear understanding of how to make LLN testing rigorous but not arduous.

This session will provide a practical opportunity to learn how to build simple LLN tests benchmarked to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) which provide a holistic and integrated way to assess LLN skills, both for initial testing and progress testing.

Rachel Taylor

RTO/Compliance Manager MacKillop Catholic College

Rachel Taylor has more than 15 years’ experience teaching, designing, managing and quality auditing in the VET sector in Australia and abroad. Having worked in the ELICOS and tertiary sectors in addition to the VET arena, she has a passion for using student data to inform educational reform, and assess the quality of VET service provision. With a background in second language education, Rachel has a strong focus on supporting Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills development and promoting professional development for trainers in how to cater for differing language and learning needs in the classroom.

Deep Learning, Engagement and Compliance for eLearning

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Intermediate

This presentation will explore how deep learning and engagement are closely linked to compliance and evidence gathering. If all these elements come together then assessment is useful and can demonstrate all knowledge and practical areas of competency. This session will provide practical hints and tips to design, develop and ensure online assessments meet the requirements of the Standards for RTOs 2015 and other compliance guidelines, but are also interesting, engaging and meet industry standards for the student.

Kathryn McGilvray

CEO/RTO Owner Kathryn McGilvray

Kathryn is an instructional designer as well as being a blended learning specialist and Google certified, Google Apps for Education Trainer. She is a technology coach and mentor to Central Coast teachers and the founder of Central Coast TeachMeet. Kathryn is currently working as Instructional Designer for TAFE in Building and Construction developing online blended learning including Google Apps and Virtual Reality. She loves working with teachers and students to develop blended learning that is engaging for students yet still needs the needs of industry for audit and training. Knowledge networking is crucial to develop sound andragogy practice and sometimes the most valuable things you get from your network isn’t an idea but the inspiration and courage to try something new. (George Couros)

I love to blog and share my love of learning with others. Favourite twitter chats #edchat, #edtech #aussieED. Founder #ChippychatED

17 Technology Tools to get Your RTO Cooking with Gas!

Stream

Tech in VET

Location

Hall K

Difficulty

Intermediate

This session explores how to streamline your RTO’s processes and operations using a combination of VOIP technology and cloud-based applications and aims to show participants how to make an RTO more efficient using this technology. Learn how to better manage functions such as marketing, recruitment, customer service and travel planning, using a range of commercial and free tools. Furthermore, this session will provide insight for how to more effectively support and manage a remote workforce using a variety of communications technology. Finally, the session will highlight how compliance activities can be enhanced using web-based project management tools and virtual assistants.

Marc Ratcliffe

CEO/RTO Owner MRWED Training and Assessment

Marc Ratcliffe is a multi-award-winning trainer, author and education entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of MRWED Training and Assessment, a private RTO that specialises in Trainer Training. He is a strong advocate for "edu-tainment" and believes that learner involvement and fun are integral to student success. He continues to be an in demand conference speaker and workshop facilitator, having presented at more than 50 conferences in a dozen countries in the past decade and was recently named as the winner of the “Best Training and Development Leadership” Award for 2017 at the World Training and Development Congress in Mumbai.

Dealing with Difficult People and Giving Effective Feedback

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Beginner

Whether we like it or not, we'll always run into people that we find difficult to work with or deal with. And in an industry like ours, where we interact with so many people on a daily basis, the chances are higher than usual! Difficult conversations often arise when we need to give feedback to someone. Research shows that people will avoid giving feedback in case it creates conflict, or if they perceive the conversation will be difficult.

So how do we give effective feedback that doesn't cause more issues? How do we deal with difficult people in the workplace?

This session will explore these issues and give practical tools and strategies for dealing with difficult people, giving effective feedback and empowering your teams to thrive.

Nick McEwan-Hall

RTO/Compliance Manager Latitude Coaching

Nick has been a longstanding and robust contributor to the Australian Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector for over 17 years. A qualified VET practitioner, DISC facilitator, trainer, workplace and business coach, his knowledge of the training and education system is highly acclaimed Australia wide.

Starting his career in Secondary Schools and transitioning to VET, his breadth of experience spans training & assessment, operations, strategic management, client relationship management, quality, data management and instructional design. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the Victorian Training Guarantee and has led small to multi-national RTOs and NPOs through external audits.

Nick has a unique ability to break down the ever changing complexities within the VET sector in a practical way which enables organisations to ‘simply get on with their core activities’ with confidence and efficiency.

A committed advocate for equality and vocational opportunities, Nick has worked with many RTOs in the Non For Profit sector including the Brotherhood of St Laurence. His focus and determination for helping others achieve and flourish has resulted in many NFPs not only remaining operable, but commercially sustainable in their provision of training for the unemployed and marginalised.

Volunteering for many years on the Board of Governance at the Fitzroy Learning Network, Nick was a key driver of new program initiatives and fundraising activities to alleviate major learning gaps and lack of opportunities to disadvantaged residents.

In 2012 Nick was a recipient of the ‘Whitelion Chairperson's Award for Employment’. He led his team across a joint partnership with Telstra to deliver programs to unemployed youth which resulted in an unprecedented number of permanent job offers within Telstra call centres.

Nick currently manages an independent RTO, ‘The Open Door Coaching Group’, along with steering his own consulting and coaching practices, ‘Latitude Coaching’ and ‘AVETMESS’. An active presenter at conferences around Australia, he runs training workshops & coaching sessions to a broad range of education and business groups. He speaks on a variety of subjects including change management, workplace values, team building and a wide scope of VET related topics.

When not working, you will find Nick indulging his fascination with Asian art and artefacts, exploring art exhibitions, enjoying an espresso coffee with friends over a joke or two and getting out of the city to wind down and relax.

A fun and straightforward presenter Nick has a knack for striking the elusive balance between theory, practicality, humour and meaningful activity. Participants of Nick’s sessions will leave feeling relaxed and empowered to make a real difference.

Clear Thinking: Keep your head above the rest

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Beginner

A passer-by noticed a workman struggling to fell a tree. The longer he watched, the more he realised the workman was using a blunt tool, and just sawing and sawing away, and making very little impression on the tree. He said: ’Excuse me, but you seem to be really doing it the hard way. Your blade is blunt and worn out. Why not stop and sharpen your saw?’ The workman replied: ‘Stop? I can’t stop! I haven’t got time to stop and sharpen a saw. Can’t you see the thickness of this tree?’ and he continued on sawing and sawing and sawing...’

This workshop is unashamedly about ‘Rekindling your Spirit’ with simple techniques to maintain both your passion and your vision. The impossible IS possible, as long as we take time to work with our brain’s natural cycles, and have a mindset of flexibility.

‘Keeping a clear head’ is an old saying, but neurologically accurate for our mental health. As busy professionals we need to be aware of the concepts and skills available to help us to understand, retain and act upon what we need to know, as quickly as possible. Learn from Neuroscience research on how to use the ‘Mental Muscle of the Mind’ to save energy and time.

This will be a very practical-skills workshop that will assist you in both your professional and personal life. Expect to learn ways to achieve flexibility with your thinking. Be open and be prepared to be challenged and to have fun!

Laurie Kelly

Director

Mindworks director, Laurie Kelly, speaks both nationally and internationally on current knowledge of how the mind works to maximize the Impact of Training, and to create an Openness Factor in our approach to Change and new Learning.

Laurie has been opening up the mysteries of the mind to audiences from all walks of life for over 30 years. He has a reputation for having an uncanny ability to communicate on a level that everyone can appreciate and is passionate about the importance of the information he shares.

Laurie Kelly’s experience also includes conference keynote & workshop sessions and public and in-house training programs, delivered in Australia and overseas. He has worked extensively within both the corporate sector in many organisations covering a wide scope of industries, and with many departments of the government sector, and within the areas of education, health, resources, council and corporate organizations. Laurie is one of the most sought-after presenters in his field.

What Can we Learn from the Validation of Assessment Tools and Assessment Outcomes?

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Intermediate

John Dwyer will share his ideas and understandings about what we can learn from and through validation activities.

The conversation will consider:

Validation as a process – what are we trying to achieve; what can we learn?
Validation before and after using assessment tools – what can we learn?
Validation relies on the principles of assessment and the rules of evidence – how; what can we learn?
Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) as a validation device – what can we learn?
Mapping as a validation device – what can we learn?
Marking guides as a validation device – what can we learn?
Validation of completed student assessment work – what can we learn?

John Dwyer

Consultant Velg Training Pty Ltd

John Dwyer is a trainer and consultant with experience in education spanning more than 60 years. He brings extensive Registered Training Organisation (RTO) experience to Velg Training, having a comprehensive history in developing and delivering a range of workshops on assessment, compliance, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), moderation and validation processes relating to AQTF/VQF compliance.

Are you a Transformational Trainer?

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Intermediate

Have you ever delivered training and felt that your words were not heard, or that the attendees were just going to slip back into their old ways?

How would you like to help change the way your attendees not only view your training but also the way they implement and promote change in themselves?

Transformational Training is how smart and driven trainers, facilitators and coaches are now delivering their sessions and seminars. Up your game professionally, and stand out in your industry based on the latest Neuroscience research. Conduct training that helps people retain information so they can use it on the job.

Through transformational training it is not only the attendees that are empowered BUT also the trainers!!!

Merinda Smith

Consultant RTO Mentor

Merinda Smith commenced training early in her career, moving into RTO management and business development in her corporate life. Since founding her consultancy business, RTO Mentor in 2009, Merinda has applied her valuable experience to RTOs. Initially F4 Solutions, and now RTO Mentor, the business has grown substantially since its inception. Merinda’s passion is still in training and she compliments her business with coaching clients and facilitating workshops. Merinda’s reputation has taken her from strength to strength, and is now sort after by RTOs around Australia and as a speaker, coach and mentor. Merinda is passionate about personal improvement and finding ways to empower others.

Regulator Update

Stream

Regulator

Location

Hall C/D

An update from the Regulator (ASQA)

This session is designed to provide a broad update on the activities of ASQA over the past 12 months, as well as information on current regulatory focus areas and changes to processes.

David Garner and Benn Gramola

Australian Skills Quality Authority

David Garner

As General Manager Regulatory Operations in the Australian Skills Quality Authority, David has responsibility for implementing ASQA’s regulatory strategy nationally, including monitoring compliance of training providers and intending providers with the VET Quality Framework as well as the standards relating to delivery of training to overseas students, including intensive English courses. Prior to the referral of powers that brought Queensland providers under ASQA’s jurisdiction, David was Director, Training Quality, in the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Prior to joining the Queensland department in 2005, David worked in and managed training providers for many years. David has been active in sports administration for over 30 years and sat for many years on the board of the Queensland Fitness, Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance.

Benn Gramola

Benn Gramola is the Manager Regulatory Operation for South Australia at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Benn as an extensive career in regulatory environments spanning over 15 years. Benn is a professional regulator and has a strong understanding of risk-based compliance and its application.

Benn has work for both State and Federal agencies, where he has been responsible for leading and managing teams involved in monitoring industries compliance with legislation. Benn has undertaken numerous investigations and enforcement activities across a variety of sectors including the VET sector.

Behind Foundation Skills: Your questions answered

Stream

Foundation Skills

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Intermediate

Where are you with foundation skills in VET? Just getting on board, making progress but want to know more, or almost independent? Here is an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered and listen to others. Panel members combine extensive VET experience with particular specialisations relating to foundation skills. This includes expertise in foundation skills research and teaching techniques, how to demonstrate compliant foundation skill coverage, and what employers demand in terms of foundation skills. The panel session will commence with each panel member stating why a foundation skills focus is a priority. The majority of the session is open for you to ask questions related to panel expertise. We invite you to come prepared with your questions such as:

Why do we have to address Foundation Skills/LLN? Why has it been mandated? My learners are all able to read, write and do arithmetic. some have completed Year 12 or even been to Uni!
How do I determine the foundation skills requirements of a job/qualification/unit?
Has anyone produced mapping (spiky profiles) for specific units/qualifications to ACSF levels?
Where can I access foundation skills assessment tools?
Should a foundation skills assessment tool be industry specific?
Is it OK to use self-assessment for foundation skills assessments? (eg “Rate your reading skills: poor, fair, good, excellent”)
What sort of records does the RTO need to keep to demonstrate compliance with clauses 5.1 and 1.7?
How do I find time to work on foundation skills when my total training time is shrinking?
Where do I find foundation skills specialists?
Where can I go for more information about foundation skills?

Panel Session

Ann Leske is a VET foundation skills trainer and consultant. Ann shares tips and strategies through presentations and consultations to workplaces, RTOs, and trainers. At the core of Ann’s 20-year VET experience is her passion to enable learners to successfully develop the foundation skills to complete training. Ann, with Chemène Sinson, initiated a specialised website to support LLN and VET trainers to embrace foundation skills development within vocational training called LLN and VET Meeting Place.

Chemene Sinson is a learning and development consultant who specialises in TAE qualifications and other non-accredited programs. She has extensive experience designing, delivering and assessing TAE Certificate IV and Diploma programs for private, community, government and industry-based RTOs. She has written a suite of learning and assessment materials for the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment purchased by more than 100 RTOs to date. In recent years she has focused her own professional development on language, literacy and numeracy development through VET and has teamed up with Ann Leske to form a joint LLN and VET development initiative.

Dave Tout is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading adult numeracy personnel, and has worked in schools, TAFEs, ACE, university and AMES workplaces, with over 30 years’ experience in the VET sector. He has wide experience in training, and in state, national and international research, curriculum, assessment and materials development. Dave had major responsibility for the numeracy domain of the ACSF. He was a member of the Numeracy Expert Group (NEG) responsible for the numeracy component of the international ALLS survey and for PIAAC. David is currently the Senior Research Fellow, Numeracy and Mathematics at ACER .

Ruth Walker has worked in VET for over 20 years as a trainer, compliance manager, consultant, researcher and auditor across a range of institutions including TAFE, Community Colleges, VET in Schools, NSW DEC, Swinburne University of Technology and ASQA. Her passion and focus is on improving the quality and reputation of VET.

WordPress to Moodle (and Vice Versa) with RSS

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Intermediate

If you're a teacher publishing articles, how do you make this content available to your students? This presentation will bring together two popular open source CMSs and LMSs as you see how to syndicate content from WordPress to Moodle and vice versa.

This presentation will show how to leverage WordPress' strong RSS filtering features to display your published content in Moodle. You will also be shown how to generate content from activities in Moodle and display this back on your WordPress site. While this provides great flexibility with reflective blogging with your learners, the door is open to more powerful and experimental uses when you consider the Moodle activities that can generate an RSS feed.

Syndicate your WordPress publications to Moodle, or use Moodle to generate your content on WordPress - the possibilities are exciting.

Scott Huntley

Other TAFE NSW

(Kenneth) Scott Huntley is an Instruction Designer for the Student Management Services Program Project at TAFE NSW. He has utilised Moodle in various projects over a number of years and Scott is interested in benefits of Open Source Hardware and Software can have for the educational community. He is passionate about finding imaginative and innovative ways to use technology in the classroom and benefits that they may have for students and teachers alike.

Scott has previously been an Invited Speaker to MoodleMoot Australia and MoodleMoot New Zealand and a Keynote Speaker for Mini iMoot 2016.

Morning Tea & Networking

Location

Hall C/D

Motivational Speaker

Location

Hall C/D

Mastering the art of MOMENTUM - The secret to achieving effortless and enduring growth.

We all love being on a roll, in sync and firing on all cylinders – that flow-state sensation where everything just seems to work. But what happens when the groove becomes a rut, inspiration evaporates or your mojo disappears? Enduring success and growth for any business today is dependent on building and maintaining unstoppable momentum!

Michael McQueen

Multi-award winner, trend forecaster and six-time bestselling author

Michael McQueen is a multi-award winning speaker, trend forecaster and six-time bestselling author . With clients including KPMG, Pepsi and Cisco, he has helped some of the world’s most successful brands navigate disruption and maintain momentum. In addition to featuring regularly as a commentator on TV and radio, Michael is a familiar face on the international conference circuit having shared the stage with the likes of Bill Gates, Dr. John Maxwell and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Michael has spoken to over 300,000 people across 5 continents since 2004, and is known for his engaging, entertaining and practical conference presentations. Having been recently named Australia’s Keynote Speaker of the Year, Michael was inducted into the Professional Speakers Halls of Fame.

Coming from a background in marketing and research, in 2004 Michael founded a consultancy specializing in demographic shifts and social trends called The Nexgen Group.

Michael’s first book The ‘New’ Rules of Engagement was the culmination of a 3-year study of the key drivers of youth culture around the world. With an emphasis on the values and attitudes of Millennials, this 2007 release focussed on helping business leaders, educators and parents better engage a younger generation.

In 2009 and 2010, Michael went on to release a range of gift books called Memento and Wisdom which were designed to bridge the generation gap in families by helping parents pass on their stories and life lessons to the next generation. Building on the international success of this gift book range, Michael created an online memoir-writing app for parents called Histography.com.

Michael’s third bestselling book Winning the Battle for Relevance was a landmark title that explored why even the greatest businesses and institutions become obsolete and how others could avoid their fate. Drawing on research tracking 500 of the world’s most iconic brands over 5 years, Michael outlined a range of strategies for organizations and businesses who are committed to staying ahead of the curve by re-inventing themselves before they are forced to do so.

In 2016 Michael's research emphasis shifted to focus on the key habits and mindsets that enable organizations and individuals to stay at the cutting edge over time. He released his fourth bestseller Momentum: How to Build it, Keep it, or Get it Back in October that year. Receiving wide acclaim worldwide, Momentum outlined a simple but powerful formula for staying on a growth trajectory and ensuring that a success groove doesn't become a rut.

Michael's newest book How to Prepare Now for What's Next is a revealing glimpse at the key trends that will shape the coming years including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology. Michael's explores the technological shifts and social changes that no organization or individual can afford to ignore and offers a practical game plan for thriving in an age of disruption.

Day 2 Welcome - Kerri Buttery, Director of Content & Strategy, Velg Training

Location

Hall C/D

Kerri Buttery

Consultant Velg Training Pty Ltd

Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and delivering Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of Content & Strategy.

Catch up over coffee

Location

Registration

Welcome Function

Location

Registration

VET Student Loans

Stream

Department of Education & Training

Location

Hall K

This session will reflect on the implementation of the VET Student Loans program to date and consider early results. We will also look at the operation of the program to date and consider what is working well, and what can be improved, within the frameworks of the Government’s VET Student Loans policy.

Anne Flynn

Anne is the Branch Manager of the VET Student Loans Branch at the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. Anne has held various positions within the department including roles in in Schools, Higher Education and Skills.

Moving your Leadership Dial: Why we all need to step up - and where to start

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Advanced

Skilling Australia's VET Future requires leadership. If we are to succeed we need to step up the quality of leadership. It starts with us. In this high energy session, change and leadership expert Mark Hodgson challenges us to understand why leadership has never been more important and what we need to do to lead first ourselves and then others to succeed. This session will cover.

Why leadership has never been more important in achieving personal and business success
The new leadership skills we need to lead VET into the 2020s - Collaboration, Creativity, Agility and Resilience
That everything starts with Self-Leadership
How to bring out our inner-strength as leaders
Why our humanity is our point of difference
How we can build our influence to lead with confidence

Mark Hodgson

Consultant Mark Hodgson

Mark Hodgson comes from a successful corporate background and has held senior leadership roles in Australasia, UK, Central Europe and Russia. Mark draws on a powerful track record backed by a depth of learning across multiple disciplines. He has inspired large teams across a range of commercial and not-for-profit businesses. He is a leader of the About My Brain Institute, which puts neuroscience at the heart of effective personal leadership development. Mark is also a faculty member for the Thought Leaders Business School, helping experts positioning themselves as leading influencers. He is an expert in leading change and holds an MBA level qualification from the AGSM. Mark is the creator of the Blog or Die! Content creation program and authors the acclaimed business blog, Pinch of Thought. His book, ‘Time to Shine: Adapting who you are and what you know to succeed in the ideas economy’ expands on this thinking.

Pitch Perfection

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Intermediate

In business, regardless of the industry you are in - you are selling three things:

Your company
Your products or services
Yourself

A pitch is the same - you are selling your idea, your team, the opportunity and most importantly, yourself. This presentation will give you the tools to be persuasive, increase your influence and get your proposal signed off!

Sharon Ferrier

Private individual Persuasive Presentations

Sharon has a knack for making the complex simple. She believes that ‘passionate people persuade’ and that to make your message stick, you need to balance information with delivery style.

Sharon’s background is in sales and marketing and along the way has studied business administration, marketing, management, journalism as well as more eclectic skills including comedy, improvisation and the art of persuasion.

As an award winning speaker and salesperson Sharon uses her skills to help people become persuasive and influential speakers. She works with individuals and organisations from a diverse range of industries across Australia and overseas.

Back to Basics

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Beginner

We've all heard of the saying that we can't see the forest for the trees. In today’s heightened environment of new auditing methods by the regulator, and the seemingly ever-changing world of Vocational Education and Training regulatory approaches and plenty of advice on how to provide effective training, there are so many trees we may be losing sight of the forest - or why we are here.

This session will get back to the roots of VET and Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A), review the journey of the past 20 years and how by applying the core values of CBT&A see that this approach will naturally meet all the requirements of Training packages, Regulators, Standards and most importantly - The Workplace.

Geoff Oliver

Consultant Compass Support

Geoff has over 40 years’ experience in the Film & TV Industry and over 16 years in training and the VET sector.

Since 1987 Geoff has operated his own production companies both in Australia and in Singapore, filming throughout Australia, Southeast Asia and other parts of the globe. This experience brings a fresh approach to training, assessing and compliance.

Geoff is also currently a member of the board for Montessori World Educational Institute (Australia), an independent higher education provider, training Montessori Teachers.

Geoff was instrumental in the development of the Certificate III through to Advanced Diploma course in Film and Television in Perth and has assisted in the development of other accredited courses. Geoff is a qualified lead auditor and provides audit and consultancy services to RTOs. Geoff combines his experience in film and TV with his auditing skills to provide a practical approach to all facets of RTO operations.

The Future of Competency Based Assessment

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Intermediate

This quick-fire session will take a look at how assessment practices in the Australian VET landscape have evolved from the early days of VET into the contemporary practices that we see today. The focus of the session will be to take a look into the near future and consider some possibilities for the continued evolution of competency based assessment in our digital age. The session will look at some predicted developments resulting from the evolution of wearable technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and augmented/virtual reality.

It is a session not to be missed for the skilling of Australia’s VET future

Joe Newbery

CEO Newbery Consulting

Joe Newbery served in the Australian Army for over 20 years. His time in Defence was influenced by his appointment in training roles including recruit training, trade training and finally in training design and compliance. Joe departed Defence and established Newbery Consulting in 2005. He has extensive experience and is recognised for his work in course design, job analysis and VET quality auditing. Over the period 2007 – 2014, Joe provided Lead Auditor services on behalf of the VET regulators including the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA), the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Today Joe leads a small team at Newbery Consulting to support his clients throughout Australia with a broad offering of VET products and services.

Multi Industry Pre-apprenticeships

Stream

VET Shaper

Location

Hall C/D

Difficulty

Intermediate

Australian apprenticeship participation has been declining over the past 4-5 years, with completion rates hovering around 50% in most industry sectors. Our experience has shown that young people “sign-up” to a 4 year apprenticeship without having a strong understanding of the trade, their long term career goals or the employers expectations.

Group Training Organisations (GTO) were established in Australia in the 1980’s to support individuals and employers, and this sector have recently been piloting a new multi-industry program which assists with overcoming many of the traditional reasons for non-completion.

Gary Workman

CEO/RTO Owner Apprenticeship Employment Network

Gary Workman is the Executive Director of the Apprenticeship Employment Network, which represents not for profit group training organisations. Within Victoria group training organisations employ over 7500 apprentices and trainees across all sectors of industry through a large network of host employers.

Within Australia, Group Training Organisations employ over 24,000 apprentices, and are a large employer in regional towns which support small employers, skill shortage trades and indigenous participation.

Gary commenced the role in December 2009 and leads the association and its members on public policy and research activities, including overseeing relationships with a wide range of industry and government stakeholders.

In May 2017, Gary was appointed to the Victorian Governments Apprenticeship Taskforce.

He has over 20 years’ experience in the Vocational Education and Training sector, and has worked on numerous government and industry projects and committees including the areas of workforce development, OH&S and the environment. Gary is also an ambassador for the Bullyzero foundation since 2013 which supports the awareness of workplace bullying and mental health issues.

Legs Eleven Lucky or Unlucky: National Code 2018

Stream

International VET

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Intermediate

This session will highlight the key changes between the old and new code. Audit tips and current hot spots will be highlighted as well as best practice advice and other things you need to know that won't be found in the Standards! If you have not yet updated your policies, procedures, agreements, forms and processes to meet the 2018 Code requirements you are non-compliant until you do. Come along to this session and get straight to the point advice on what you need to do!

Debbie Phipps

Consultant Rainbow Connextions Pty Ltd

Debbie Phipps is a highly experienced CRICOS specialist consultant, who has been operating a successful consultancy business since 2011.

Debbie's experience includes working for private and government RTOs and schools as well as 9 years’ experience as auditor and Manager of the Queensland Regulator specialising in CRICOS across all sectors including: Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers, Schools, Higher Education Providers and Universities.

Debbie knows from her extensive and ongoing experience participating in audits the latest risk areas, common compliance issues and imminent changes that are likely.

Debbie is respected by the Regulators which can make your audit experience a lot less stressful.

Debbie's work as a 'CRICOS Specialist consultant' enables her to remain constantly up to date with Regulator requirements across the various sectors Australia wide.

Engaging Online Learning Tools for Training

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Beginner

Face-to-face, blended delivery, flipped classroom, online learning – all of these delivery methods have one thing in common: the need to engage the learner. The use of online tools to engage learners is booming. Many learners want to connect online as part of their learning journey, others just enjoy using technology. As trainers, where do we begin? How do we incorporate the use of technology in our training across a range of delivery methods?

This session will cover:

Brief overview of learning theories and the relationship to the use of online tools
Examples of online tools that can be used in a range of situations
Guide to evaluating online tools for use with your learners.

Kerri Buttery

Consultant Velg Training Pty Ltd

Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and delivering Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of Content & Strategy.

Afternoon Tea & Networking

Location

Hall H

USI Update & Privacy Protection: It's a business imperative

Stream

Department of Education & Training

Location

Hall K

Session 1: 2.00pm - 2.30pm | Unique Student Identifier (USI) Update: Putting the student at the centre
Presenter: Jason Coutts

In three short years, over 8.6 million USIs have been created. The USI is firmly entrenched in the training sector and is already promoting a more student-centric approach to VET information.

The launch of the USI Transcript Service in 2017 saw a key benefit for students come to fruition. Since then, there have been over half a million transcript views and downloads. USI transcripts make it easier for students to assemble evidence of their previous training outcomes for employment and further training purposes. It also puts a spotlight on the criticality of accurate reporting by RTOs.

So where to now? Come along as we share:

the success of RTOs in building the USI into their student management processes
the latest enhancements to the USI systems for RTOs and students
progress towards providing online access for employers
the latest information on expanding the USI to other education sectors.

Session 2: 2.30pm - 3.00pm | Privacy Protection: It's a business imperative
Presenter: Amie Grierson

Did you know about three in five Australians have avoided a business because of privacy concerns? Did you know 69 per cent of Australians report they are more concerned about their online privacy than they were five years ago?

Today’s data-driven world demands businesses be trusted custodians of personal information. It is not just a legal requirement, it is a business imperative: success hinges on knowing and understanding consumers’ privacy expectations. Failure to meet these expectations can jeopardise a business’ trustworthiness and draw unwanted public scrutiny, both of which hurt the bottom line.

This presentation will help you meet your privacy obligations by explaining the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Student Identifiers Act 2014. It will focus on the Australian Privacy Principles and good privacy practices as well as tips for properly handling Unique Student Identifiers. It will also point to the practical resources and tools from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to assist you in meeting those requirements. Furthermore, it will examine headline examples of poor privacy practices so you can avoid these and other mistakes and errors.

Jason Coutts & Amie Grierson

Mr Jason Coutts, Student Identifiers Registrar, USI Office

Jason Coutts is the Student Identifiers Registrar and has overseen the passage of the Student Identifiers Act 2014, the development and deployment of the USI Registry System, and establishment of the USI Office.

He has extensive experience developing, delivering and managing programmes and projects in the public sector context and more particularly, in relation to the education sector. He has held senior executive positions in VET, International Education and Higher Education at the Department of Education and Training and describes himself as an education policy tragic.

Ms Amie Grierson, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Dispute Resolution for Privacy matters, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

In her role as Acting Assistant Commissioner, Privacy, Amie Grierson oversees the privacy dispute resolution and enquiries functions of the OAIC. These functions include leading regulatory action in the areas of Commissioner initiated investigations, responding to data breach notifications, complaint handling, responding to community, business and government enquiries, and undertaking other regulatory activity.

Ms Grierson has been at the OAIC, and the former OPC, for 8 years. Prior to this Amie has worked in legal, policy, and advocacy roles within government and the non-profit sector, including as a lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor, where she provided specialist advice on privacy and information law.

Ms Grierson holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Newcastle, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University.

Life (and Business) After ASQA Sanctions

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Advanced

For many RTOs the idea of receiving a sanction is tantamount to closure and much of the process shrouded in mystery. In this session Alex breaks down the sanction process and outlines practical steps that can be taken to maintain your business while addressing sanction. Additionally, this session will cover the most common non-compliances which lead to sanctions so that RTOs can review key risk areas. The session will cover:

Overview of the Sanction/ AAT process
First steps after receiving sanction notification
Preparing for Tribunal
Business continuity during the fight
Recovering post-Tribunal

Alex Schroder

Consultant VetPrep Australia

Alex Schroder is a VET Forensic Compliance Auditor, founder and CEO of VetPrep Australia and the architect of the Certificate IV of RTO Compliance and the Diploma of RTO Compliance Management.

Alex has worked in Learning and Development, Quality Assurance, Compliance and Auditing since the early 2000's and has focused solely on VET Compliance since the late 2000's. She leads the team of Compliance Rectification Specialists at VetPrep, is recognised as a Subject Matter Expert by the AAT and holds qualifications in Law, Commerce, International Economics, Quality Management, Organisational and Leadership Change and Development, and Business.

Keeping it Simple: What should my quality system look like?

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Intermediate

John Price

Consultant John Price & Associates

John Price has been an educator and trainer for over 40 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development.

John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.

He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations (versions 2012 and 2015); Australian Quality Training Framework standards (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with these organisations in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies.

The Answer to Assessment is NOT in the TAE

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Beginner

Mitch Cleary

CEO/RTO Owner Precision Consultancy

Mitch Cleary is a director of Precision Consultancy, and she and the company have been involved in training package development for over 20 years. Mitch has been involved in consulting with industry and technical expert groups in relation to a wide range of training packages including Health and Community Services recently as well as working on development of the latest TAE Training Package. Mitch has an extensive knowledge of the national VET industry, the policy context and the history of TAE. Additionally, she has worked on a number of research and policy projects including Skill Sets, and an investigation on industry views on assessment. Mitch is a highly experienced presenter and has delivered many professional development workshops on the TAE package, the Standards for Training Packages and on RTO industry partnerships.

Build Learning Success Through Collaboration

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Intermediate

Throughout time learners have thrived in social learning environments. Our ancestors would deliver important skills and knowledge to their communities and everyone would learn together. In our classrooms in the current age, it is important that we continue to support collaborative learning and use the combined wisdom of the group to enrich the learning experience for all.

Join Jason in this session to explore the history and science that supports collaborative learning approaches, participate in 6 examples of collaboration building activities and create an action plan to incorporate activities that enhance your groups’ ability to collaborate into your own sessions.

Jason Ash

RTO/Compliance Manager MRWED Training and Assessment

Jason Ash has more than 12 years of training and assessment experience, gained predominantly in corporate environments. He has specialised in delivering training in sales, coaching, business communication and management and has received international acclaim for his work in Learning and Development. Jason was the winner of the Platinum Award for Best Young Learning Leader at the 2011 LearnX Asia-Pacific Awards and was named a young trainer to watch by US Training Magazine in 2012.

Paving the Way for Industry 4.0 Training

Stream

VET Shaper

Location

Hall C/D

Difficulty

Beginner

The Australian Industry Group, in partnership with Siemens Pty Ltd and Swinburne University of Technology, is developing and delivering an innovative Higher Apprenticeships program in the newly emerging Industry 4.0 area. This program blends vocational education and training with higher education and enables the achievement of both a Diploma and Associate Degree in Applied Technologies delivered in apprenticeship mode. The program, developed in close concert with advanced technology companies, pioneers 'new apprentices' required in the digital economy.

This presentation will include details about the rationale and content of the program, the achievements and outcomes to date and the remaining challenges ahead. In particular, the presentation will focus on details of how Registered Training Organisations can become involved in the implementation of this ground-breaking program after the pilot program has been completed. Upon completion of the pilot program this innovative initiative will be available system-wide for implementation by jurisdictions.

Megan Lilly

Other Australian Industry Group

Megan Lilly is the Head of Workforce Development for The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Director of the Australian Industry Group Training Services (AiGTS) and the AiGroup Graduate Employment Services. In this role Megan is responsible for the development of all education and training policy as well as member service delivery across the breadth of workforce development. Prior to this she was the Chief Executive Officer of Business Services Training Australia, the national industry advisory board for the business services and related industry sectors. Before joining the national board, she held several senior management positions in various Victorian TAFE institutes.

Ms Lilly is a member of the Australian Industry Skills Committee (alternating Director), Chair of Manufacturing Skills Australia, a member of the Australia India Education Council as well as Co-Chair Skills Working Group, WorldSkills Australia, and the Australian College of Educators. She has been a member of the Australian Qualifications Framework Council, and Queensland Ministerial Commission, Victorian Skills Commission and Australia Pacific Technical College. Previously Megan was a member of the National Skills Standards Council, and the National Quality Council. Megan also chaired the Joint COAG-NQC Working Group – VET Products for the 21 Century and has presented at international conferences. She has a Masters in Educational Policy and Administration.

Internationalisation in Vocational Education and Training

Stream

International VET

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Intermediate

This presentation intends to address a range of aspects of internationalisation of Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET). The focus will be the Australian government's International Skills Training (IST) program and the experience of those RTOs who are licensed to deliver it.

The views of VET practitioners, researchers, educators, students and international education policymakers will be canvassed to gain practical insights into the implementation of the IST program: its advantages and barriers to delivery. From this, insights will be drawn from which we may learn how to ensure the sustainability and acceptance of not just the IST program, but other Australian VET programs, when delivered internationally.

Bryan West

Fortress Learning

Bryan West is the managing director of Fortress Learning. Fortress Learning was launched in 2009 as a quality, flexible and accessible online learning environment. We support about 1500 Certificate or Diploma students every year, with the number carefully controlled to ensure each enrolling student gets our full attention. Fortress Learning’s success lies in our unwavering commitment to quality, honesty and fair play. It is summarised in our 4 pillars: Confidence. Credibility. Conviction. Courtesy. We specialise in creating training professionals. Bryan uses more than 25 years’ teaching experience to help untangle the ever-changing regulatory framework.

Creating Compliant Online Assessments

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Beginner

Quality assessment practices by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) ensures that Australia's Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector maintains its reputation as a world-class training system. It also ensures that RTOs are reliably assessing whether students are 'competent'.
ASQA has recently found a number of RTOs' online assessment practices non-compliant. To address this non-compliance, ASQA has deemed that the RTO must reassess or gap reassess their current learners and/or offer past learners to be re-assessed. This has caused great embarrassment, loss of business and extra work for these RTOs, as well as a lot of inconvenience for the learners.
Join this session to learn how to create compliant online assessments which:

Meet all of the requirements of a unit(s)
Use the most appropriate online assessment and evidence collection methods
Ensure authentication of online evidence
Meet the principles of assessment and rules of evidence

This session is based on real-life experiences of the presenter and that of other RTOs.

Allison Miller

Trainer

Allison Miller has been involved in education and training for more than 20 years as an educator, professional development, and e-learning leader. She is the director and principal consultant of Vanguard Visions, an organisation which specialises in cutting edge elearning, eportfolio and ebusiness professional development, consultancy, presentation and writing services. Allison also leads ePortfolios Australia, a professional network which s upport the use of e-portfolios in Australia and beyond. She is also the convenor of the annual Eportfolio Forum and Workshops.

Networking Lunch

Location

Hall H

Australian Government Skills and Training Initiatives

Stream

Department of Education & Training

Location

Hall K

The Australian Government will present a summary of recently announced initiatives to enhance vocational education and training opportunities.

Program Managers from Department of Education & Training

The biography for this presenter/s is currently unavailable. However, we can confirm that Department of Education and Training representative/s will be facilitating this session.

What's in your RTO Suitcase?

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall B

Difficulty

Advanced

Whether we like it or not, we all bring baggage to work every single day. But unless this is addressed and managed, the baggage of you and your team can negatively impact on the profitability, productivity and performance of the RTO’s business operations. In this straight talking and interactive presentation, you will discover:

8 frustrating items in every RTO suitcase
Why this baggage keeps coming to work every day
Strategies to manage each item
8 items you need to have instead in your RTO suitcase to build a simple, profitable and compliant RTO business.

Tamara Simon

Speaker, Author, Coach

Tamara Simon is the Simple Systems Specialist who’s all about solving problems with simple systems. A very popular Speaker, Author and Troubleshooter who calls it like it is; Tamara specialises in helping RTOs get CLEAR on their Business, People and Systems so the business is simple, profitable and one everyone actually loves. With over 20 years’ experience in VET and business management including FITAB CEO, Tamara’s mantra to RTOs is “if you don’t like compliance and don’t like change, then don’t work for an RTO or be one”.

Tamara has written the first business book specifically for RTOs: The Five Little RTO Pigs and also launched Australia’s first 12 Week RTO Business Accelerator Program. Tamara’s leadership and management expertise was recognised as a Finalist in the Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Awards and AIM’s Excellence Awards; and receiving QITC’s ‘Leadership in VET’ Award.

Passion, Purpose and Perseverance in VET

Stream

RTO Management & Compliance

Location

Hall J

Difficulty

Intermediate

How well do you communicate your why? How well do your know your businesses’ why? What’s the unique value proposition? How do you ensure staff know? How do you support staff from suffering from change fatigue? This session aims to help participants understand:

How to link staff, management and business purpose to maximise loyalty and productivity;
How to be authentic to your why; ensuring learning cultures from induction, performance management and professional development;
Why managers are communicated through, not communicated to; developing grit and resilience in staff;
Communicating that with support comes accountability and responsibility.

This session will also include a range of activities, take-aways and opportunities for questions!

Lauren Hollows

Private Individual Understand TAE

Lauren Hollows is the Founder and Managing Director of Understand TAE, a RTO support service which offers systematic solutions for managing and supporting Trainer PD through the VET Practitioner Assessment and UTAE Trainer Development System TM. With ten years’ experience running RTOs as a CEO, Quality Manager and various other positions, Lauren is a passionate advocator of the VET sector and specialises in staff development, systems and RTO management.

Common Sense Approaches for Quality Materials

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall A

Difficulty

Advanced

How do you know if a training product is a quality representation of what it is supposed to be? Often, when it comes to training and assessment materials, an RTO has two choices: purchase off-the-shelf or develop in-house. Neither option gives a sure-fire guarantee to quality, let alone compliance - for a number of reasons. And yet, Quality Materials are one of the cornerstones to skilling future workers, and shaping the future of VET.

This workshop will help RTOs operating under either scenario develop a system to ascertain the capacity of available training products to meet business requirements, including learner needs.

Issues such as instructional design elements and compliance requirements will be explored and balanced against underpinning learning theory for end-users. This session presents an opportunity to consider how common-sense approaches can be implemented and/or fine-tuned in your RTO, so that Quality Materials are available and used every day, for every student. It will also explain how to determine whether a training product is a 'quality' one.

The session will involve an instructional presentation as well as participant activities.

Michelle Charlton

Consultant Write On Resources

Michelle is an experienced VET practitioner who first entered workplace training in 1993. Since then, she has worked in and out of the VET sector for a variety of organisations, in a number of capacities. Michelle’s work experience and vocational qualifications include those in business operations, leadership and management, project management, retail skills, and training and education. Additionally, Michelle has experience owning and operating award-winning businesses, so she understands the complexities of employing others, growing a business, and driving a culture of continuous improvement and quality customer service. Michelle currently works as a resource developer and industry consultant.

Mastering Edutainment

Stream

Training & Assessing

Location

Hall F

Difficulty

Intermediate

Edutainment is an act of learning through a medium that both educates and entertains. This session highlights how to creatively fuse education and entertainment together to create more engaging and impactful presentations. It aims to share training techniques and approaches that are supported by evidence-based research and is delivered in a dynamic and engaging way to model the methods that work.

All in all, this session will share and model more than a dozen tips, techniques, games and activities to support any trainer in building engagement, promoting retention and enhancing the transfer of knowledge back to the job.

Marc Ratcliffe

CEO/RTO Owner MRWED Training and Assessment

Marc Ratcliffe is a multi-award-winning trainer, author and education entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of MRWED Training and Assessment, a private RTO that specialises in Trainer Training. He is a strong advocate for "edu-tainment" and believes that learner involvement and fun are integral to student success. He continues to be an in demand conference speaker and workshop facilitator, having presented at more than 50 conferences in a dozen countries in the past decade and was recently named as the winner of the “Best Training and Development Leadership” Award for 2017 at the World Training and Development Congress in Mumbai.

VET Sector Utopia: What would it look like?

Stream

VET Shaper

Location

Hall C/D

Difficulty

Intermediate

With over 20 years’ experience in the VET sector, Angela has seen a great deal of change and hears many suggestions and ideas for future change from RTOs. During this session Angela will present some of the key ideas on the future of training, a possible training utopia, and invite relevant stakeholders in a panel session to discuss the feasibility of the ideas presented.

The session is designed to gain audience feedback and questions on the ideas presented. The ideas presented may not be supported by everyone, however there is bound to be some interesting discussion.

This session will explore the following:

Funding model of the future
Templates, guides and guidance
Quality control and endorsement for training and assessment materials
CDP points to provide a stronger framework for trainer professional development and currency
Realtime USI data

Angela McGregor

RTO/Compliance Manager RTO Consulting

Angela McGregor is the owner and principal consultant of RTO Consulting who has been offering consulting services throughout Australia. RTO Consulting was also established to provide guidance, coaching and assistance to businesses wanting to become a RTO, existing RTOs and businesses wanting to develop nationally accredited courses.

Angela has successfully set up her own RTO in January 2003, which she successfully sold in July of 2012.

As a practitioner dedicated to sharing knowledge, Angela has consulted through many forums pertaining to compliance issues and improvement strategies for training and assessment services. Angela is known for her current industry, knowledge and success in developing accredited courses and track record in setting up RTOs and assisting RTOs with compliance against the VET Quality Framework.

Angela holds a number of qualifications including; Diploma of Quality Auditing, Diploma of VET Registration and Management, Diploma of Business, Diploma of Training and Assessment and Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing.

International Education in Australia: Understanding the opportunities and managing the risks

Stream

International VET

Location

Hall E

Difficulty

Beginner

International education in Australia is booming and the short-medium term forecasts are for continued growth. Unsurprisingly though, along with the opportunities for growth come a number of risks. This presentation offers insights into the international education sector aimed at both established CRICOS providers and those still weighing up a move into international education. It will help ensure your organisation can identify the opportunities worth pursuing, while avoiding the emerging risks.

Claire Field

RTO/Compliance Manager Claire Field and Associates

Claire Field is the Principal of Claire Field and Associates, a consultancy and advisory practice offering strategic advice on international education, VET and private higher education to providers, government and other tertiary education stakeholders. Previously Claire served as the CEO of ACPET from 2010 – 2014. Prior to ACPET Claire worked in a number of State and Commonwealth government roles, including establishing the Commonwealth’s first national VET regulator, NARA. She has also worked in both TAFE NSW and a leading, national, not-for-profit VET provider. Claire holds a Masters in Educational Assessment, and an Executive Masters in Public Administration.

eLearning FUNdamentals for Excelling in eLearning Engagement

Stream

eLearning

Location

Hall G

Difficulty

Intermediate

eLearning involves more than just taking classroom resources and making them available online. Engagement is the key to successful knowledge transfer and creating spectacular learning. This hands-on session will help you develop your eLearning courses so that you present rich, multi-sensory learning experiences that both educate and entertain.

The session will showcase the philosophies, tools and techniques enabling you to develop “wow” eLearning at reduced cost and faster development timeframes.

Damian Noud

Head of Faculty/Department Manager MRWED Training and Assessment

As a former Principal and Director of Studies at QLD and NSW RTOs, Damian Noud joined MRWED Training and Assessment in 2003. Damian has held a wide range of MRWED positions and has won the hotly contested MRWED Trainer of the Year Award twice. His current position as Team Leader of the Learner Success Team has Damian focused upon the development of MRWED's training and assessment resources and support services to students. Damian has also managed the development of MRWED’s online and webinar programs.

Damian’s passion is helping people build their skills and confidence in online presenting. As host of the Webinar Skills Podcast, available on iTunes and Stitcher Radio, Damian interviews the world’s leading webinar experts and presents best practice approaches for delivering engaging webinars. When he isn’t training people Damian applies the adult learning principles to training dogs.

Morning Tea & Networking

Location

Hall H

Housekeeping

Location

Hall C/D

Raising the Status of VET: Real skills for real careers in action

Location

Hall C/D

How your organisation can participate in Real skills for real careers, featuring inspiring stories from Australian VET Alumni members.

Wendy Walker, Director of VET Stakeholder and Channel Management, Department of Education & Training

Department of Education & Training

Ms Wendy Walker is the Director of the VET Stakeholder and Channel Management Section for the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. This section is responsible for the national promotion of VET, including the Australian Training Awards, the UNESCO recognised Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors Program, the Australian VET Alumni and the VET Information Strategy - real skills for real careers.

ASQA Update

Location

Hall C/D

Mr Mark Paterson AO, Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer - Australian Skills Quality Authority

ASQA

Mr Mark Paterson AO has extensive experience across government and industry, including experience leading government departments at both the state and federal levels. Mr Paterson is a former Secretary of the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services; the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research; and the Australian Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.

Mr Paterson commenced as a Commissioner of ASQA on 30 May 2016, and commenced as Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer from 1 January 2017.

The Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills (Invited)

Location

Hall C/D

The VET Landscape - Kerri Buttery, Director of Content & Strategy, Velg Training

Location

Hall C/D

Kerri Buttery

Director of Content & Strategy

Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and delivering Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of Content & Strategy.

Welcome to Country

Location

Hall C/D

Registration

Location

Registration

Focus on Foundation Skills: Essential for the future VET workforce

Stream

Master Class

Location

Gilbert Suite

Foundation skills are relevant to everyone in VET - they underpin the ability to perform all jobs and successfully undertake training. 21st century workplaces are driven by technological advancement and continuous change. Today’s workers need broader, more complex, and more versatile skills than ever before. Foundation skills are a critical starting point for effective vocational education and skill development.

In this practical workshop, attendees will learn how to build on and enhance learners’ foundation skills to prepare workers for the modern workforce. We will identify where giving priority to foundation skills is essential from the start to the finish of training. Strategies for foundation skills that are the most important to work performance, yet the least understood, will be addressed. Your experience will be essential as you reflect on activities and identify implications for your own training. We’ll give you time to help identify some key ‘takeaway’ concepts and strategies you can use to help your adult learners meet 21st century competency outcomes.

Ann Leske, Chemene Sinson & Dave Tout

Ann Leske is a VET foundation skills trainer and consultant. Ann shares tips and strategies through presentations and consultations to workplaces, RTOs, and trainers. At the core of Ann’s 20-year VET experience is her passion to enable learners to successfully develop the foundation skills to complete training. Ann, with Chemène Sinson, initiated a specialised website to support LLN and VET trainers to embrace foundation skills development within vocational training called LLN and VET Meeting Place.

Chemene Sinson is a learning and development consultant who specialises in TAE qualifications and other non-accredited programs. She has extensive experience designing, delivering and assessing TAE Certificate IV and Diploma programs for private, community, government and industry-based RTOs. She has written a suite of learning and assessment materials for the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment purchased by more than 100 RTOs to date. In recent years she has focused her own professional development on language, literacy and numeracy development through VET and has teamed up with Ann Leske to form a joint LLN and VET development initiative.

David Tout is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading adult numeracy personnel, and has worked in schools, TAFEs, ACE, university and AMES workplaces, with over 30 years’ experience in the VET sector. He has wide experience in training, and in state, national and international research, curriculum, assessment and materials development. Dave had major responsibility for the numeracy domain of the ACSF. He was a member of the Numeracy Expert Group (NEG) responsible for the numeracy component of the international ALLS survey and for PIAAC. David is currently the Senior Research Fellow, Numeracy and Mathematics at ACER .

The Black Art of Compliant Assessment

Stream

Master Class

Location

Hall E

This master class session will explore the complexity that is competency based assessment. What is it about achieving compliance with clause 1.8 (assessment) that is so elusive? A whopping 74% of RTOs are found non-compliant with clause 1.8 at a regulatory audit. What is the secret sauce or the black art to ensure your RTO is part of the 26%? That question is the focus of this session.

The workshop will take a deep dive into the requirements of the standards and training package requirements and how these should influence assessment design and practices. The session will be packed with practical tips and strategies for delegates to take back to their RTO and apply.

Joe Newbery

CEO Newbery Consulting

Joe Newbery served in the Australian Army for over 20 years. His time in Defence was influenced by his appointment in training roles including recruit training, trade training and finally in training design and compliance. Joe departed Defence and established Newbery Consulting in 2005. He has extensive experience and is recognised for his work in course design, job analysis and VET quality auditing. Over the period 2007 – 2014, Joe provided Lead Auditor services on behalf of the VET regulators including the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA), the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Today Joe leads a small team at Newbery Consulting to support his clients throughout Australia with a broad offering of VET products and services.

Registration

Location

Registration

Troubleshooting the TAS

Stream

Master Class

Location

Gilbert Suite

The Training and Assessment Strategy is required by Clauses 1.1-1.4 of the Standards for RTOs 2015. This document must sufficiently describe a framework to guide trainers and assessors in implementing the training product in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the training package or VET accredited course. It must also enable the learner to meet the requirements of their enrolment and be responsive to learner and industry needs.

This Master Class will “Troubleshoot the TAS” by exploring the common non-compliances, along with providing suggestions for evidence and corrections. Participants should bring one of their RTO’s training and assessment strategies to work with.

Kerri Buttery & Melanie Alexandra

Velg Training

Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and delivering Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of Content & Strategy.

Melanie Alexandra has held a variety of roles within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for over 20 years in Australia and in the UK.As a teacher, trainer and assessor, Faculty Area Head and Program Manager she has developed academic curriculum and vocational qualifications from Certificate I to Degree level, delivered programs to learners in schools, colleges and universities and provided professional development to staff of schools, higher education institutions and registered training organisations. As Head of Quality Assurance, RTO Manager and Senior Lead Auditor for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), Melanie has worked extensively with regulatory bodies to ensure high standards of quality and compliance and is currently employed by Velg Training as Resource Developer and Consultant.

The Balancing Act: Meeting compliance and people needs

Stream

Master Class

Location

Hall E

Developing a compliant training system requires a strong focus on completing tasks. Develop the TAS, plan delivery, review resources, create benchmarks, map assessments, and so on. But who carries out these tasks? – you and I do. So how do we develop a business that balances the focus on task management and people management and produces a compliant and quality outcome? That’s the question that this workshop addresses.

This workshop uncovers the tasks associated with compliance and the opportunities to use people effectively to create a quality learning environment whilst focussing on completing these tasks.

The session progresses on to explore the issues that emerge when an out-of-balance situation occurs. The skills to work in task and people domains are explored and the simplicity involved in shifting the balance to create high productivity and high morale is explained in practical terms.

John Price

Consultant John Price & Associates

John Price has been an educator and trainer for over 40 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development.

John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.

He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations (versions 2012 and 2015); Australian Quality Training Framework standards (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with these organisations in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies.

Registration

Location

Registration

8:30am - 9:00am	Registration
	Master Class
9:00am - 12:00pm	Troubleshooting the TAS Kerri Buttery & Melanie Alexandra	The Balancing Act: Meeting compliance and people needs John Price
12:30pm - 1:00pm	Registration
	Master Class
1:00pm - 4:00pm	Focus on Foundation Skills: Essential for the future VET workforce Ann Leske, Chemene Sinson & Dave Tout	The Black Art of Compliant Assessment Joe Newbery

5 2 DAYS TO GO

Program

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Thursday, 13 September 2018

Friday, 14 September 2018

Contact us

2018 National VET Conference

Velg2Go

2018 Qld Schools VET Conference

Validation Directory

VET Directory

5 2 DAYS TO GO

Program

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Thursday, 13 September 2018

Friday, 14 September 2018

Contact us

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