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The evolution of Recognition of Prior Learning into the digital age

Mia Mackay

Natacha Hes

Keran Richards

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Tocal College

Tocal College has been operating since 1965
Tocal College provides vocational education for nationally accredited qualifications
Graduates from Tocal College have gone on to be leaders across various sectors of agriculture industry
Tocal College is based regionally across NSW
Recognised as Australia's leading provider of specialised training and assessment to rural industries

Tocal College has been operating since 1965

helping to build the capacity of a skilled agricultural workforce across Australia
in it 57 year of operating the demand for industry skilled workers has has never been so high

Tocal College provides vocational education for nationally accredited qualifications

Across a range on industry’s sectors including, agriculture, beekeeping Conservation and ecosystem management, Agribusiness management, biosecurity and corporate governance.

Graduates from Tocal college have gone on to be leaders across various sectors of agriculture industry such as:

Corporate farm management, advisors, leading hands, managers and positions on advisory boards.

Tocal college is based regionally across NSW the helps to enhance accessibility to training services.

Paterson , Yanco, Tamworth, Trangie, and Sydney.
We also provide training assessment service national including RPL

Recognised as Australia's leading provider of specialised training and assessment to rural industries due to our dedication to industry relevance and passion to support a sustainable rural future.

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Agicultural Industry & formal learning

Agriculture contributes over $75 billion annually to the economy

Accounts for 55% of land use

Industry demand for workers with established qualifications and key skills is at an all-time high

Skills acquisition through informal learning processes

Historically, qualifications have not been a barrier to enter the workforce

Access to training minimal due to remote nature of industry

(ABARES Insights, 2022)

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Tocal's approach to Recognition of Prior learning

"Adults are not empty Vessels" (Freire 1996)

Skills and knowledge gathered over time

Holistic approach considers all aspects of skill acquisition

Agriculture requires a broad range of skills

RPL is a service we do for the candidate

Image: Direct investing

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RPL development - timeline

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Beginnings of RPL 1990s - 2009

Establishment of a paper-based system
Developed standardized RPL tools
Time heavy to collect and compile evidence
Face to face interview
Much of the information was handwritten
Some digital processes introduced such as digital camera

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Refinement of RPL systems 2009-2020

Moved to a more digital approach
Face to face interview still required
Introduced and utilized various digital platforms over these years
Initial platforms were not accessible for students, only assessors
Later platforms accessible for students, but unfamiliar format so not intuitive
Limited file type and size
Multiple file layout not user friendly for students or assessors

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Currently…………….

Microsoft 365 OneDrive format
File structure familiar to students
Relatively easy to use, students upload evidence
Range of media files can be uploaded
Student interview can be online; Teams/Zoom
Assessor can access and give instant feedback

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Natacha

1 in 4 people digitally excluded

Low level of income

Low level of education

Low level of employment

Regional areas

Over 65

Disability

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86% of Australians owned a Smartphone

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Natacha

1. Access

2. Digital skills

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Natacha

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Questions?