C Y O'CONNOR TAFE
Focus on training in the rural industry.
The C Y O'Connor College of TAFE has a mission. A mission to contribute to the strategic, economic and community development of the WA Wheatbelt region by providing learner centered, industry relevant and culturally appropriate training programs.
It is indeed a unique challenge.
While the Wheatbelt's economic viability currently rests heavily on primary industry products such as wheat, sheep, beef, gold and mineral sands, other niche agricultural products such as lupins and canola are fast emerging along with aquaculture (fish, yabbies, marron and other crustaceans), mariculture (marine fish and crustaceans), production horticulture and viticulture, and adding to the region's diversity.
Take into consideration the sparsity of population in the area - just 72,000 people spread over 154,000 square kilometres and 44 different shires ö and you'll soon realise that being able to identify, understand and respond to the training needs of such a culturally diverse, dynamic and rapidly changing region is no easy task
Yet that is exactly what the C Y O'Connor College of TAFE has done.
Through their five college campuses in Kellerberrin, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin and Northam, and four TAFE centres in Kondinin, Pingelly, Quairading and Wagin, the college has initiated exciting new methods of training delivery combined with business partnerships called 'multi-mode learning'. These projects not only allow the student in regional or remote communities to choose the style, time and location of training best suited to their needs. They also reduce or entirely remove the barriers traditionally experienced by them when trying to access vocational training and education.
Nationally recognised as a premier training provider and winner of highly coveted Access and Equity category at the 1999 Western Australian Training Excellence Awards, the C Y O'Connor College of TAFE has had particular success with the following projects:
1. Work based delivery and assessment traineeships and apprenticeships to new and existing employees.
Rural Skills Australia has identified the C Y O'Connor College of TAFE as being at the forefront in the delivery and assessment of Agricultural and Horticultural New Apprenticeships. Due to the flexibility of the training delivery and assessments along with a strong support network, an impressive 96% of students successfully complete their contracts of training. Of those, 97% gain qualifications at AQF Level III.
The model adopted by the College utilises the employer's industry skills and the work place environment to maximise assessments against industry standards, it is a complete move away from traditional institutional delivery.
College lecturers visit the workplace, initially, to develop the training program and enrol the trainee and then to do assessments and facilitate the next phases of the training. On average this requires 6 visits per trainee over a (notional) 12 months program.
The "on the job" training and assessment is supplemented by learning guide exercises and "block releases". On average there are 2 "off the job" blocks each year of 2 weeks each. The blocks are timed to avoid significant industry seasonal workloads. Key Industry people assist in the block training which concentrates on the key operational skills relating to livestock, grain and machinery operations.
Each CY O'Connor agriculture and horticulture lecturer has industry currency and a target of 20 to 25 trainees. The lecturers and their supporting infrastructure such as mobile phones, vehicles and lap top computers represent some of the college's commitment to and investment in the industry.
2. Holistic skills recognition ö pilot program in agriculture.
(Recognising existing skills for rural workers in WA)
Recognising a candidate's existing skills and knowledge enables them to either gain an entire qualification, or gain one at a higher level, in less time.
The C Y O'Connor College of TAFE has undertaken a pilot Skills Recognition program for the Department of Training and Employment in specialist streams of sheep and wool, grains production, beef production, and pig production. And over the past two years, Rural Skills Australia has actively supported the college in increasing its services in this area.
The qualifications issued in recognition of existing skills have, during a period of rural decline, increased the chances of many a candidate getting employment (sometimes locally) in a changing workplace. The program is also positively addressing the number of rural youth and skilled workers moving from regional and remote communities to the metropolitan area.
3. Vocational career counselling and student job readiness skills.
To assist C Y O'Connor's students in the job market, C Y Career Focus has developed the "Job Seeker Program". The program offers a wide variety of employment services to assist the job seeker become "job ready".
A career counselling session, in which 20 occupations are rated and researched, identifies the student's interests and workplace preferences, and provides a clear sense of realistic future options, fresh ideas for each job suggestion and plenty of relevant information.
4. Customised services to suit Indigenous enterprise.
(C Y O'Connor College of TAFE travels to the clients to meet their needs)
Recently, the Billinu Aboriginal Centre in the Moora Shire required training to operate their seed picking business successfully. So, in conjunction with key members of the centre, C Y O'Connor College of TAFE developed a customised training program which, when completed in a culturally appropriate manner, will give participants nationally accredited qualifications.
Each week, a C Y O'Connor lecturer travels to the site of the seed picking business with a bank of laptop computers. Not only do the students get to study (with access to the latest equipment) in a comfortable and familiar environment, the business in question is right at hand. Ultimately, the goal of the project is for the Billinu Aboriginal Centre to become a self-sustaining business entity that will contribute to the economic development of the community.