The Confederation of Australian Sport has recently developed a Training Package for the Sport industry with the purpose of aligning qualifications and training that occur within the sport industry with the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.

The VET system is a national system of education, aimed at ensuring quality training and assessment that is standardised and recognised throughout Australia.

...training must lead to jobs...

Commissioned by Sport and Recreation Training Australia (SRTA), the six month project to develop the Training Package was based on the requirement that the training align itself with vocational outcomes (i.e.. the training must lead to jobs in the sport industry).  Thus, the sports and/or agencies involved in the project were those that offer employment opportunities and a structured career path within the sport industry.

National Competency Standards

Amongst the training package's developments are a set of national competency standards providing benchmarks for the sport industry.  The approach to the development of national competency standards has been to produce broad based, generic competency standards that can be customised at an enterprise level.  The benefits of national standards for the sport industry include facilitating the recognition of skills and qualifications that may be held but not recognised, assist with recruitment (qualifications are national, therefore portable), and movement across state boundaries.  The training package will also ensure there is a consistent framework for training and assessment.

National Qualifications

Draft titles of qualifications within the training package will ensure a national consistency when it comes to providing recognition of competency.  These qualifications have been based on combinations of units of competency, which provide meaningful outcomes at an industry or enterprise level.

The Sport Industry Training Package and the Future

Currently there are many training courses available to people who wish to make their career in the sport industry.  These range from community based training programs to industry programs, 'in-house' programs and accredited training programs.  Another important and popular avenue for obtaining skills is 'on-the-job' learning and training.

While many of these forms of training may be recognised by the industry, some are not, and yet the people doing them may be highly skilled.  Competency-based training allows the skills people possess to be assessed against national standards and have qualifications issued to them.  These qualifications are then industry and nationally recognised and portable for the individual.

For further information on the development of the Sport Industry Training Package contact Joanne Marsh, Confederation of Australian Sport, Tel: (02) 6285 1887/ Fax:(02) 6282 3440, email:jmarsh@sportforall.com.au

                                                                      Winter 1999

EA has offices in every state.  National freecall number 1800 SPORT 1 
           (1800  77678  1)
Email:info@ieasport.com.au

Disclaimer The information provided in this Email and on the IEA web-site is to be used as a reference only. IEA accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information or your reliance upon it. The views of contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of IEA

    (Click Here For Details)