recognition of overseas qualifications training

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Recognition of Overseas Qualifications

Training

TAFE NSW Multicultural Education UnitTAFE Equity Strategy and Programs Directorate, NSW DET

2006

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INTENDED OUTCOMES

Participants will be able to:

• Assess the general equivalence of overseas qualifications to

– Meet course entry requirements

– Support the provision of advanced standing in TAFE NSW courses

• Use appropriate resources and support services for the recognition of overseas qualifications

• Provide informed advice and referral services to TAFE NSW students seeking recognition for employment purposes and in particular those seeking recognition of trades in NSW

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RECOGNITION CONTEXT

A focus on skilled migrants

• The proportion of skilled migrants has increased from 20 per cent in 1995-06 to about 70 per cent in 2005-06

• In 2005 -06 there will be 70 per cent of entrants under the Skill Stream and 30 per cent for the Family Stream

• 2004-05 there were 41 108 Skill Independent visas issued (sub-class 136)

• Skilled migrants are highly skilled and have high levels of education

• Greater English Language proficiency

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RECOGNITION CONTEXT

Impact on TAFE NSW

• Skilled migrants are likely to undertake further study to obtain an Australian qualification and to become familiar with Australian industry requirements to seek employment

• Increasing demand by students to access TAFE NSW courses more easily and to complete their studies in a shorter period of time

• Increasing demand for recognition of overseas qualifications

• On-going need to comply with AQTF which includes the provision of advanced standing to all applicants.

• An increase of the Skill Migration program is associated with a high number of enrolments by students with overseas qualifications

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RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS

• To meet course entry requirements

• To support the provision of advanced standing

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RECOGNITION TO MEET COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS IN TAFE NSW

Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to

1. Provide information on translating services if necessary

2. Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications obtained by the applicant

3. Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications

4. Complete the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent

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1 Provide information on translating services if necessary

Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW (CRC)

Telephone 131 651 500, www.crc.nsw.gov.au/interpreting/index

Or

National Accreditation Authority for Translators (NAATI) Directory www.naati.com.au or telephone 1300 557 470.

Or

Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) www.immi.gov.au/amep/client/pubs/where_amep/english.pdf

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1. Provide information on translating services if necessary

DIMA free translationsEligibility• People settling in Australia on a permanent basis• Exceptions - visa sub-classes 309, 310, 820, 826 • Other temporary visa holders are not eligible

Eligibility period• Within 2 years after the:

– client’s initial arrival in Australia on a permanent visa or citizenship– the onshore grant of a permanent visa

How much can be translated• An extract or summary translation of no more than 100 words in length.

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Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute designated officer (s) needs to

2 Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications obtained by the applicant

• Secondary or post-secondary

• Assess both the secondary school qualification and any post-secondary qualification

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3 Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications

• Check that the applicant has provided the original/certified copy of:– the final award/s, translated into English where necessary– transcript/s, translated into English where necessary

• Establish: - Country where the qualification was issued- Date the qualification was issued- Issuing body - Title of the qualification (final qualification)- Years of study- Qualification entry requirements - Subjects/modules

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3 Establish the AQF equivalent qualification of the applicant’s overseas qualifications

• Refer to

The latest version of the guide Recognition of Overseas Secondary School Qualifications for Admission to TAFE NSW Courses to establish the AQF equivalent

Note: The equivalents in this guide are to be used for admission to TAFE NSW courses ONLY

When the equivalent of the overseas qualification is year 11, take in consideration any further study the applicant may have done to support their application for entry to courses that require the NSW Higher School Certificate

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4 Complete the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent

• Complete and record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s) on the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form

• Issue the signed TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form• to the applicant/enrolling student

• Applicant/enrolling student should then either:– attach the form and copies of original overseas documents and translations to

the Application form or – submit these documents to their course enrolling officer at enrolment. The

enrolling officer should attach the documents to the teaching section copy of the Enrolment Form

• Retain and securely store a copy of the form and supporting attachments for six years

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Practical exercises

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RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING

Institute Multicultural Education Co-ordinator or other Institute designated officer needs to

1. Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications related to the course the applicant is enrolled in

2. Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications

3. Complete and sign the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form, recording the AQF equivalent

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1 Establish the highest level of overseas qualifications related to the course the applicant is enrolled in

Consider:

• Post-secondary qualifications wherever possible and qualifications entry requirements

• Only those qualifications with modules relevant to the course content the student is enrolled in and is seeking advanced standing for

• Partially completed qualifications

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2 Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications

Determine• The course and modules in which the student is enrolled and the relevance

of the student's qualifications, work experience and any other form of evidence

Establish:• The original/certified copy of final award (s), related transcripts and any

necessary translations of these documents are available• Country where the qualification was obtained• Date the qualification was issued• Title of the qualification (final qualification)• Years of study• Issuing body (university or college/institute)• Qualification (s) entry requirements• Subjects/modules

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2 Establish the equivalent AQF qualification to the applicant’s overseas qualifications

Establish the AQF equivalent by referring to:• The Recognition of Overseas Vocational and Higher Education

Qualifications for Admission to and for Advanced Standing in TAFE NSW Courses guide

• NOOSR country education profiles (THESE ARE USED AS SOURCE OF INFORMATION ONLY)

• The TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit .

The Unit can provide assistance to- Identify the qualification- Establish the equivalent- Confirm details provided in a statutory declaration and, - Provide advise on related licensing and registration requirements

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A Guide for TAFE NSW Staff

RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS VOCATIONAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

FOR ADMISSION TO AND FOR ADVANCED STANDING IN TAFE NSW COURSES

TAFE NSW MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION UNIT

TAFE EQUITY STRATEGY AND PROGRAMS

TAFE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION STRATEGIC SUPPORT SERVICES

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3 Complete and sign the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form and record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s)

• Provide the completed and signed TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form and copies of original overseas documents and

translations to the course Head Teacher/Assessor

• Retain and securely store a copy of the form and supporting attachments for six years

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The Head Teacher/Assessor undertakes further assessment

• Consider the AQF equivalent provided in the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form as part of the evidence required to make an assessment decision

• If a challenge test or any other assessment tools are to be administered to assess against critical aspects of evidence organise for an interpreter if necessary (the applicant may not feel confident with technical terms)

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RECOGNITION OF PARTIALLY COMPLETED QUALIFICATIONS

Partially completed qualifications must be considered in the recognition of overseas qualifications in TAFE NSW

• Recognition to meet courses entry requirements:

The assessment of partially completed secondary school qualifications should take into account the student’s age, work experience and any other formal and informal study

• Recognition to support the provision of advanced standing

When the overseas qualification is partially completed advice on the AQF equivalent of the completed qualification must be provided on the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form. The Head Teacher/Assessor should then consider the learning associated with the modules/subjects completed at that level as well as other related evidence such as work experience.

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RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED STANDING IN TAFE NSW

Practical exercises

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RISK MANAGEMENT

• Statutory declarations

• False qualifications

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THE USE OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS IN THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS IN TAFE NSW

Institute Multicultural Education Coordinator or other Institute

designated officer needs to

• Determine why the documents are not available

• Ensure the applicant/enrolling student provides as much information as possible to support their claim

– family name, surname, date of birth, year of arrival in Australia– name of the overseas qualification (s), the educational institution

country of issue and the highest level of qualifications achieved – qualification entry requirements– year the qualification was awarded– years of study and subjects/modules studied– related work experience

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Risk Management

• Confirm qualification details referring to your own resources or by contacting the TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit if necessary

• Where the student has applied for advanced standing a challenge test may be administered by the course Head Teacher/nominated assessor or verifier

• Organise an interpreter if necessary

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Complete and sign the TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form and record the AQF equivalent of the overseas qualification (s) declared in the Statutory Declaration

•Provide the completed and signed TAFE NSW Overseas Qualifications Equivalents Form and the Statutory Declaration to the course Head Teacher/Assessor

•Retain and securely store a copy of the form and Statutory Declaration for six years

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FALSE QUALIFICATIONS

• Sight the final Diploma, whenever possible

• If in doubt and if necessary check name of the institution, years of study and modules with the TAFE NSW Multicultural Education Unit

• The new guide Overseas Vocational and Higher Education Qualifications for Admission to and for Advanced Standing in TAFE NSW Courses available in October 2006 will include guidelines for identifying true documents for each country

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Recognition Referral Services

Recognition for study other than in TAFE NSWRefer the person to the educational institution

Recognition for employment

Secondary School – The Office of the Board of Studies NSW117 Clarence Street, SYDNEY 2001, ph: 02 9367 8229, 02 9367 8111

Trade Qualifications – Vocational Training UnitNSW Department of Education and Training, level 12, 1 Oxford Street, DARLINGHURST, 2010Ph: 02 9266 8450

Primary and Secondary School Teachers

NSW Department of Education and Training22 Main Street, BLACKTOWN, Ph: 02 9836 9991, 1300 300 498

Catholic schools, individual private schools

Professional and Technical Qualifications-

Refer to Using Overseas Skills – A New South Wales Guide

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RECOGNITION OF TRADES

The applicant must lodge an application for trade recognition with the Vocational Training Tribunal (VTT) with supporting evidence which may include:

• Work related references from employer (s) in English

• Employment records

• Formal trade training records

• Formal workplace appraisals

• Work experience record books

The VTT may:

Approve or refuse the application

Invite the applicant for an interview

Request that the applicant undertake a trade test

If the application is successful NSW DET issues a Certificate of Proficiency (4 years employment and relevant qualification) or a Craft Certificate (4 years employment)

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TRADE TESTS CONDUCTED BY TAFE NSW

Trade Test Co-ordinator:

• Liaises with TAFE trade teachers to organise trade tests

• Sends the applicant's details and related information to the trade teacher conducting the test

The trade teacher organises:

• An orientation session and an information kit for the applicant (s)

• The trade test time and location

• An interpreter whenever necessary (fees for the use of interpreters in trade tests requested by the VTT are paid by the VTT through the Trade Test Co-ordinator

• Prepares the test report and financial statement for each trade test

Trade Test Co-ordinator:02 9244 5363, Level 16, 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

recognition of overseas qualifications training

Documents