Recognition of Prior Learning with Pauline Catt
Pauline Catt (RPL Coordinator, AACC) describes the recognition of prior learning process and accreditation through the Australian Agricultural College Corporation.
3 comments:
Joe Linton said...
As a older farmer how can a diploma help me? How much information is required to satisfy the trainer that we have prior learning experence? Can this Diploma make us more money? Can it provide a way of calming down the continual harassment from Green groups? Lastly, how much time will it take to find out?
Palmina Bonaventura said...
Hi Joe,
I have done a RPL diploma in rural business management at the Burdekin Ag college with Trever Berryman in 2006/07, and it was excellent.
After seeing your query, I contacted a colleague at CANEGROWERS Mackay who has answered your valid questions below:
By gaining a Diploma a well established grower who has continually updated their skills and knowledge by attending industry training and field days can be recognised for Best Practice in a form which can be measured and is easily understood by governments.
The Diploma of Agriculture currently being offered is also mapped to the B level of the ABCD Framework set by the Sugar Industry which identifies current best management practice. The Diploma therefore is recognised as part of a nationally recognised standard as well as an industry standard which would give farmers some documentation to “calm down” governments and green groups.
It provides individuals with a more prestigious platform from which to make application for future funding opportunities and increased the credibility of industry training and individual growers .
The RPL processes being undertaken to date have also been instrumental in identifying skill gaps which have been addressed by targeted training so in this case ‘Yes it could make you more money” by providing you with a skill or some knowledge you previously did not have and that may have been affecting your farming practice.
One of the most prominent short comings being identified at the moment is the farmers lack of recording of all farming activities. This may become an issue in the future depending on when/if regulations are imposed.
The process itself does not require a lot of time from the individual. An application is made and the participant is asked to provide some evidence to support that application. The assessor then organises a time to visit the farm and will ask a number of questions and may ask to see further evidence.
For people who have good records of their farming activities, the process is not all that time consuming.
Joe Linton said...
Thank You Palmina for your research and to provide a reason for trying to RPL the process. I have tried in the past with a poor result because I was trying at the start of this type of accreditation which I understand was not formulated properly. As identified record keeping is not a strenght of the industry and I fall directly into that area. How do I provide evidence for this process to happen? Also a previous down fall was finding a education group that was accreditated to perform this RPL system. How do I find a group that can do the job?
