ACSF - Building Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

ACSF – What is it? The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) provides a detailed picture of real life performance in the five adult core skills of: 1.Learning 2.Reading 3.Writing 4.Oral Communication 5.Numeracy ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

Adult Core Skill Sets The five adult core skills are essential for learners to integrate successfully and safely within the workplace The ACSF tool can be used to identify an individual learner’s performance in any of the five core skills ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

Learning The ACSF core skill of learning describes it as being an active process of gaining and understanding skills to achieve objectives that are valued by the learner ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

Reading The ACSF core skill of reading describes it as being the way a learner makes meaning and understanding from different text types

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Writing The ACSF core skill of writing describes it as the ability to shape written language according to purpose, audience and context.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Oral Communication The ACSF core skill - oral communication is based on the view that language is a social everyday event, which is shaped by purpose and context. Oral Communication has been divided into two main areas; Speaking Listening

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Numeracy The ACSF core skill of numeracy gives meaning to mathematics and the application of mathematics for personal and social purpose, workplace and employment, and education and training.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Other areas of Literacy include: digital literacy numerical literacy financial literacy legal literacy health literacy visual literacy information literacy critical literacy media literacy maternal literacy

LLN Statistics The 2006 international Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALLS) found that approximately 40 per cent of employed and 60 per cent of unemployed Australians, had poor or very poor (Level 1 or 2) English language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills. Level 3 is regarded as the “minimum required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy” This equates to nearly 7 million working Australians that do not have sufficiently high literacy skills sets necessary to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work. ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

Alarming LLN Statistics There has been very little improvement in Australian LLN levels between 1996 and 2006 (2006 ALLS study) ► approximately 46% of population have literacy scores below the minimum level needed to function in part of everyday life and work situations ► 53% of population have numeracy scores below the required minimum ► More than 4 in 10 adults have literacy & numeracy skills below level 3 ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

LLN Statistics ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy

Workers with low literacy and numeracy skills.. ‘are potentially at risk because they are unable to read and understand machinery operating instructions, safety precautions, equipment and repair manuals, first-aid instructions, or organisational policies on workplace health and safety. They may be unable to leave a warning note for the next shift worker regarding a damaged machine or part. And they may be reluctant to inform a supervisor that they cannot understand written work area or end-of-shift clean up procedures.’

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy A Government Response In 2010 The Australian Government made an initial investment of $263 million in training and education Which included $143 million over four years to expand the Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Program to assist an additional 30,000 job seekers gain the foundation skills necessary to participate in training and employment

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy A Government Response The Budget will build on the $500 million the Australian Government has already invested to improve the LLN skills of Australian adults in the last four years, including the Foundation Skills Package announced in the Budget - bringing the total investment over the next four years to more than $760 million.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How will this affect our company and its trainers? As of the 1 st July 2014 all trainers and assessor’s who currently hold a Certificate IV in TAE will be required to complete the unit of competency; TAELLN401A Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills TAELLN401A will also become a core unit of competency as part of the next training package; TAE Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How will this affect all RTO’s and trainers? Registered Training Organisations are required to identify individual trainee’s LLN skill sets by conducting initial pre-testing for LLN needs This will ensure that learners are capable of fulfilling the requirements for undertaking each unit of competency that makes up the qualification RTO’s will need to show how LLN needs were addressed when being audited.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How will this affect the Print Industry? The Print Industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Australia, employing more than 115,000 people across all areas of print. The Print Industry also has one of the oldest working population averages across the manufacturing sectors in Australia. However, the Print Industry is one of the most technically advanced manufacturing sectors and is one of the largest employers of information technology personnel.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How the Print Industry is directly affected? Up-skilling an older workforce in areas of digital literacy can be difficult but is necessary to keep up with changing technology and new business models and processes. The Print Industry has been deemed as a manufacturing sector with a significant skills shortage. Additional State Government funding has been allocated to training and re-skilling mature aged employees.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How the Print Industry is directly affected? The availability of skilled labour – continues to be an issue for many print companies. The overall level of investment in training remains poor, resulting in many skilled labour positions being filled by overseas workers sponsored on temporary visas seeking permanent residence in Australia. With many highly skilled migrants entering the Print Industry sector it is necessary for Employers and RTO’s to ensure that adequate training and re-skilling is provided for any trainee with a non-English speaking background.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy The completion rate for ICP apprenticeships has been steadily declining over the last few years

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy How the Print Industry is directly affected? Recently we have seen the closure of the country’s largest Print Training Organisation – RMIT TAFE in Victoria. In part, due to the decline of apprenticeships over the last few years and also to the recent technological advancements in Digital Printing. Providers are now delivering traineeships on-site – this means that smaller RTO’s like Print Training Australia will have to take the initiative to ensure that all LLN requirements are met.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy By determining the learners LLN levels Registered Training Organisations can; Highlight an individuals learning problem to employers Provide support for trainees Source an alternate way to educate our learners Change the way we assess individual learners Give trainees an opportunity to request assistance Seek LLN specialists to assist with the learning Seek additional funding for LLN (WELL) programs Ensure that the learner has the necessary skill sets that match the underpinning skills needed to undertake the unit of competency and qualification

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy The ACSF Tool The ACSF tool has been developed to provide a consistent national approach to identify and develop the needs of individual learners in each of the five adult core skills. The tool can be used by LLN Trainers to measure and unpack a unit of competency to ensure that the required levels of LLN are addressed

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Using the ACSF Tool Written into each unit of competency and every qualification within the ICP10 Printing and Graphic Arts Industry are the five core skill sets and their performance levels. LLN Practitioners and Trainers will need to identify the key word ‘indicators’ that are written into each unit of competency to map and describe performance levels, design training and monitor a learner’s progress.

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Using the ACSF Tool There are five levels of performance in each of the five core skills. For each of the performance levels, there are usually two ‘Indicators’ to help you decide whether a student ‘sits’ at that particular level for that core skill (numeracy has three Indicators) Monitors Evaluates Reports Determines Records Analysing Contributes Understands Examples of Indicators

ACSF Learning, Literacy and Numeracy