1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. business plans

NALLNAC 2015 Programme
DAY 2: Morning - 15 May 2015
9.15 - 10.00
Keynote - Investing in the future: Equipping workers through foundation skills
Anthony Kittel: CEO and Managing Director of REDARC Electronics and one of the National Foundation Skills Strategy Project Workplace
Champions.
10.00 - 10.30
Morning Tea
10.30 -12.15
Breakouts
Stream 1
90min workshop
45min presentation
45min presentation
Assessment practices
What is FSAT?
10.30 -12.15
The development and
implementation of the
Foundation Skills
Assessment Tool(FSAT)
Martin Burdis & Dave Tout
Stream 2
10.30 -11.15
Embedding LLN in VET
Training
Panel discussion with:
Jen Zhao, Linda Are, and
friends.
The new online Foundation Skills Assessment Tool, commissioned by the Australian Government and designed to assess an
individual’s foundation skill levels? The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) won the contract to develop the
comprehensive Foundation Skills Assessment Tool to identify and assess an individual’s foundation skill levels. The FSAT will be
based around the theoretical underpinnings of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) and the Core Skills for Work
Developmental Framework (CSWF). Why was FSAT developed and what will it support us to do? Will FSAT be useful or will it
be yet another imposition? Hear a bit about the FSAT story, and what it could mean for you and your work. Nearing
completion, this presentation will offer insights and information about not only what is included in FSAT, but how such
assessment tools are developed so they are valid and reliable and how some skills can be assessed online using computer
adaptive features to target the assessment appropriately.
Working with VET Trainers
The main purpose of the proposed session is to share the knowledge and experiences gained by lecturers who have worked in
the TAFESA Applied Learning Model delivery in partnership with VET trainers in TAFESA. The panel of four will include LLN
lecturers and VET trainer(s) to inform the audience of the delivery methodology and outcomes from the different perspectives.
This model has been operating since 2012 and the presenters will share their stories.
The session will be a facilitated conversation where delegates can understand the effect on VET teachers of moves to embed
LLN in VET teaching. We will explore the implications for learners and for policy implementation.
11.30 - 12.15
SIHHCLS201A + TAELLN411
+ FSKNUM08 = A simple
sum for a VET teacher?
Dr Carolyn Johnstone







Stream 3
10.30 -12.15
Lessons for disengaged
youth: a fresh start
Carla Harvey, Boystown
Introduction (6 minutes) - Recent LLN initiatives in VET; the VET teachers; developing teachers’ skills
Video Clips 1 (7.5 minutes) – A chance to hear from VET teachers
Explanation of activity (2 minutes) – Handouts to be distributed and whole group ‘shout out’
Video Clips (7.5 minutes) – Repeat of the VET teachers
Group activity (10 minutes) – Structured discussion of what delegates heard and understood from the VET teachers
Q&A (7 minutes) - Opportunity to raise questions about the role of the VET teacher, the support they need and the
manager’s role in implementing LLN policy.
Conclusion (5 minutes) – Presenter review of the session, with implications for future management of changes to LLN
policy implementation
Youth programs
This workshop will explore reasons why learners disengaged from classrooms, as well as practical ways to motivate and engage
learners.
1. Understanding why students disengage
2. Developing learner resilience
3. Building positive classroom relationships
4. Practical student engagement activities
BoysTown is a registered charity which specialises in helping disadvantaged young people who are at risk of social exclusion.
BoysTown provides a range of youth counselling, family support and employment support services across Australia. Our
services are located in some of the most disadvantaged Australian communities. Many of the young people receiving
BoysTown services have low levels of literacy and numeracy skills. This inhibits their life and work opportunities. BoysTown
employs trained educators to develop customised support to young people to assist them to improve their functional literacy
and numeracy skills. This work is supported by volunteer mentors in some of our sites that provide further support to young
people in improving their LLN skills. These programs are integrated with our employment and school reengagement programs
such our Youth Engagement Program and Flipside.
Stream 4
10.30 -11.15
Appreciating the value of
language, literacy and
numeracy training.
Michelle Ingley-Smith &
Jenni Oldfield
11.30 -12.15
Foundation Skills
Assessment within ACE
Delivery
Paul Mulroney & Allison
Harker
Stream 5
10.30 -11.15
Quality assessments:
practice and perspectives
Dr. Josie Misko, NCVER
Adult programs
In 2012 ForestWorks received WELL Strategic Funding to build awareness of the LLN skills gaps that exist in the forest and
forest products industry and their ongoing effect on business productivity and development. Further, the goal is to build
strategies to address these skills as an integral part to what is called ‘innovation skills’ or ‘skills for greater businesses’. These
skills also include leadership skills, teamwork skills, creative and critical thinking, problem solving, personal skills and skills to
implement organisational policies, workplace health and safety policies, environmentally sustainable work practices.
As part of the project, ForestWorks have developed an online hub, packed with examples of typical LLN skill gaps that exist in
workplaces, how those skill issues affected the workplace, and the solutions that workplaces put in place to build the LLN skills
required for effective work. The hub includes sample activities and resources that can be used in various settings. Come along
and take a look at how it works and what’s included!
The presentation will detail the significance and purpose of targeting Foundation Skills in ACE delivery. It will address the
requirement for ACE practitioners to interpret learners' demonstration of Foundation Skills within ACE Foundation Skills are
not as standardised as they are within specific, vocational qualifications which align to industry standards and workplace
requirements. ACE is broad in its range of delivery and vocational content is secondary to Foundation Skills development. As a
result there is a need for ACE practitioners to be able to interpret learners' comprehension and demonstration of Foundation
Skills to enable effective practice, mastery and assessment of the Foundation Skills embedded within their delivery.
The presentation will address the above content, specifically:




what are Foundation Skills
continuous assessment of Foundation Skills within ACE deliver - practice, mastery and assessment
documentation of assessment of Foundation Skills
practitioner skills associated with assessment of Foundation Skills within ACE delivery
Research
The issue of quality in assessments has implications for the credibility of qualifications and the competence of graduates who
hold them. This study investigates quality in assessments (including recognition of prior learning) by speaking with practitioners
and students about assessment practices used in public and private RTOs delivering Certificates III and above qualifications in
electro-technology, aged care, and business administration. It finds that although practitioners understand the need for
validity, fairness, and consistency in making judgements they are challenged by a range of theoretical and practical issues. The
terms validation and moderation provide some confusion and close employer involvement in external assessment and
validation is difficult to achieve. Other challenges include: customising and pitching assessment items to the right level;
achieving consistency among assessors; keeping abreast of regulatory requirements and addressing issues of student
motivation, preparation and level of language, literacy and numeracy skills . Nevertheless students in the study as well as those
responding to the national Student Outcomes Survey say they are satisfied with their assessment experiences, and believe
their assessment is a fair test of skills, and a good test of what has been taught. The research suggests a stronger emphasis on
professional development for trainers and assessors.
The main purpose of this NCVER funded research is to provide insights into the capacity of the VET workforce in relation to
addressing workplace numeracy skills needs with a focus on the process manufacturing industries. It is a small study, the first of
its kind in Australia, and it raises questions and highlights areas of limited understanding and needing further research.
11.30 -12.15
Seeking the N in LLN
Tina Berghella
This report is important because numeracy skills are a key driver of economic growth and yet nearly eight million Australian
adults lack the numeracy skills to cope with everyday life and work. The VET sector is one part of the solution, but it is
acknowledged that the VET workforce may be limited by its own skills gaps and skills shortages.
Based on the findings, it appears that there is a mismatch between the understandings, qualifications, skills and experience of
VET practitioners and what is needed to address workplace numeracy skills needs.
Stream 6
Policy and programs
Taking the lead from Tasmania
10.30 -11.15
The Tasmanian Adult
Literacy Action Plan 2010 2015
Jennifer Dunbabin &
Philippa McLean
Tasmania is the first state to put in place an action plan to improve adult language, literacy and numeracy levels. In response to
2006 Adult Language and Life Skills survey results, the Tasmanian Government developed and implemented the Tasmanian
Adult Literacy Action Plan 2010 - 2015. It is now in its fifth year of operation. In this session you will be given an outline of the
Action Plan, insight into how the various actions that form the plan have progressed, what has been learnt, and some possible
next steps.
This workshop will look at some of the recent adult LLN work in Tasmania which includes:


12.15 - 1.00
Lunch and exhibition
Research into finer gradations of progress using the ACSF. Under one of their grants, Skills Tasmania commissioned
Escalier McLean to investigate the feasibility of using the ACSF in a finer grained way to capture progress occurring
within ACSF levels rather than across ACSF levels. This workshop will outline this research, share the outcomes of the
project and will allow time for discussion about the feasibility of using the ACSF in this way, and for those who see the
possibilities, to canvass how they envisage it could work.
Year Of Numeracy 2015 – why is Numeracy such a need and what activities are occurring in Tasmania to meet this
need?
DAY 2: Afternoon - 15 May 2015
Panel - Employer views on pre-training assessment
1.00- 2.00
Chair: Michael Taylor, AiG.
Speakers: Kim Moore, Unitywater & Ro Coroneos, Community and Social Stratgey, Barangaroo South
Breakouts Stream 1
LLN Lessons for Assessment
in VET
2.00 - 3.45
Dave Tout & Juliette
Mendolovits
Stream 2
2.00 - 3.45
90min workshop
45min presentation
45min presentation
Assessment practices
This presentation will address a range of questions and issues related to the role of assessment in VET with a focus on adult
language, literacy and numeracy (LLN). The presenters will draw both on knowledge of teaching and learning and on
knowledge about assessment processes and quality requirements. Questions to be addressed include:
 Why do we need to assess in VET and why do we need to assess LLN skills?
 What are some of the LLN challenges in assessing validly, reliably and fairly in VET?
 What processes are involved in developing quality LLN assessments?
The session will include the opportunity to go through a (brief) process of how to develop and write a literacy or numeracy
assessment.
Working with VET Trainers
This workshop aims to help VET and LLN practitioners Explore Moments to Bring Explicit LLN Development seamlessly into
vocational teaching and learning. The session will focus on how to recognise and act on small moments of opportunity within
vocational training to develop learners’ core skills, whether in workplace, classroom or technology-assisted learning
Within VET training, where environments. The interactive workshop will embrace strategies suitable for class-based face to face, as well technology
are the opportunities to
assisted approaches. Participants will be encouraged to share ideas and strategies as we consider variables such as; does the
EMBED (Explore Moments support strategy support Adult learning or an LLN skill development, and which learners to support.
to Bring Explicit LLN
The session will interest VET and LLN practitioners alike, both experienced and new to their field. This includes RTO
Development)?
managers who provide guidance to their teaching team, as well as LLN and VET teachers interested in practical suggestions
Ann Leske & Chemène
to incorporate LLN skill and knowledge development within vocational instruction. This workshop is also useful to people
Sinson
enrolled in TAE LLN units of competence.
Stream 3
2.00 - 3.45
Stories from Red Dirt
Country – Novice
practitioners 4 novice
learners
Ros Bauer, Bec and Dave
Stream 4
2.00 - 3.45
Sharing Understandings
on Foundation Skills: A
NSW Community of
Practice
Kath Hinton & Anita
Roberts
Stream 5 & 6
2.00 - 3.45
Assessing Core Skills for
Work
Sue Goodwin & Kate
Perkins
Youth programs
Ros Bauer will facilitate a session with two practitioners new to the field, who are both working in a remote NT community.
This will be an interview style, ‘on the couch’ presentation with Dave Bauer (youth worker) and Rebecca Toll (transition
pathways) talking about they engage learners in the respective roles. This session will also provide an opportunity to discuss
their work in supporting the Foundation Skills and Warlpiri literacy of learners; as well as an opportunity for workshop
participants to suggest some strategies they feel would support Dave and Rebecca in their work.
Adult programs
The Foundation Skills Community of Practice is an initiative of the National Foundation Skills Strategy Project to support the
priorities of the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults. The Community of Practice brings together a diverse group of
individuals from across the country to share and build knowledge about foundation skills. Community of Practice members
and their colleagues will present information on the individual and collaborative actions they are taking to raise awareness of
the national Strategy and build workforce capacity to address foundation skills. The workshop session will include an
opportunity for practitioners to explore ideas for extending the reach of the Community of Practice and building sustainable
networks for knowledge sharing.
Research, Policy & Programs
The Core Skills for Work Developmental Framework (CSfW) focuses on ten essential skills that employers have identified as
being critical for effective work performance. The framework draws on relevant research to provide specific descriptors of
what an individual knows, understands and can do at each of five stages of development, from novice to expert. It is
designed for use in diverse contexts with individuals who may be at any of these stages, and is applicable for people with or
without experience of paid or volunteer work. In this practical workshop, you will have the opportunity to meet the
framework’s authors and explore ways in which the CSfW can be used for benchmarking, monitoring and assessing learners’
skills development. Topics will include:
• pinpointing critical core skills for work in a unit of competency
• discussing ways of identifying an individual’s initial stage of development in these skills,
• designing training and work based experiences that will actively support a learner’s skills development
• monitoring and reporting on progress.
Panel and summing up
End Conference
3.45 - 4.30