09-82

=**The RiPpLe Effect**= toc

**RTO**
North Coast TAFE

**Contact**
Debbie Kennington - debbie.kennington@tafensw.edu.au Ann Edmonds - ann.edmonds@tafensw.edu.au

**Category**
Empowering learners/RTO-Business Partnership

**Business Partner**
Country Energy

Executive summary
Country Energy is the most geographically dispersed energy provider in NSW, with over 4,200 employees covering 95% of the state. Country Energy employees are given the opportunity to receive recognition of prior learning (RPL) for competencies. Recognition is a process to be offered to all under the AQTF requirements of an RTO. This project will expand on the availability of flexible tools in a number of formats to be used on existing systems within Country Energy. To date it can be a costly process with the candidates not having suitable documentation etc to apply for recognition. This project will be a partnership between Country Energy (CE) and North Coast TAFE (NCTAFE). The primary focus of the project is to ensure that RPL is an easy, cost effective and structured process for existing workers. A list of acceptable documentation will be provided behind each unit so the candidate/applicant receives guidance in requirements to apply for recognition. The project will develop different formats that employees studying flexibly or progressing through a workforce development process may adopt to make the recognition process more customer-focussed. Different tools will be developed so that the location of an employee will be insignificant when applying for RPL. The tools will be developed so that they can be adapted with minimal expense to other qualifications in future use. Two of the three qualifications to be covered are: BSB 51107Diploma Management and BSB30107 Certificate III in Business. In both qualifications documentation for all the core units will be developed and selected elective units as required by Country Energy with only the Core units for the qualification BSB40807 Certificate IV Frontline Management being developed as part of this project. The documentation for each unit will be produced in a generic format to enable employees who are completing training through flexible delivery or proceeding through a workforce development process to be able to complete a recognition process using flexible tools. The Certificate III in Business units portfolio requirements will be customised to meet the organisational needs within the area of Business Services. Country Energy will be piloting this project with employees in this area and then adapting for further use in other streams.