Skills recognition and training

In some occupations, formal qualifications are essential and you may need to undertake additional training. Before you do, it is important to have your current skills assessed and recognised. Part of this process includes identify your transferrable skills, meaning the skills that you can take with you from one job to another.

The good news is that you do have transferable skills – you’ve developed such skills and abilities throughout your life, at school or university, at home and in your social life, as well as through any experience in the workplace. Not only will identifying your transferable skills help you to get these formally recognised, but if you can identify and give examples of these transferable skills to a prospective employer - this will go a long way to persuading them that you are right for the job.

Many of these transferable skills might be eligible for formal recognition. This process is called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and it is used by training institutions, colleges, universities etc. to evaluate the skills and knowledge you already have before you undertake a course. By recognising the skills you have learnt through work and life experience or training, you may find that you are already part way or even fully eligible for a qualification without having to do any further training.

The following pages will assist you to identify the skills that you hold or perhaps find some appropriate training to help you take that next step.

Language, literacy and numeracy support

There is a variety of assistance available if you need help with your language, literacy and numeracy skills.

Adult Community Education providers in your area can help you improve your reading, writing and numeracy skills. You can learn with other adults in small groups, or even get one-on-one coaching. Adult Community Education programmes are usually free or low cost. They also offer programmes to help you improve your computer and other workplace skills.

Adult Learning Australia can link you to training providers in your area.

If you need help with spelling, reading or other language skills, the Reading Writing Hotline is Australia’s national telephone adult literacy and numeracy referral service and can provide you with support.

Many vocational education and training providers also provide bridging courses to support students with their language and literacy skills. Visit the myskills website for more information.