Language, literacy and numeracy in national training packages: case studies in aged care and hospitality

This report is part of a broader national project whereby the six ALNARC (Adult Literacy and Numeracy Australian Research Consortium) centres have designed an integrated research process to highlight the current and possible difficulties, and to propose solutions to ensure that language, literacy and numeracy (LL&N) skills development and assessment are attended to as Training Packages are implemented and delivered within Australian workplaces. This Western Australian report looks at how the incorporation of LL&N competencies into the competency standards of training packages is impacting on the LL&N training and assessment in the VET sector. The project investigated the ways in which the incorporation of LL&N impacted on learning and work outcomes. The research was conducted in the early stages of this ‘take up’ by registered training organisations (RTOs) in WA, and is based on three case studies of training delivery in aged care and hospitality settings. The project describes the ways in which work cultures were changed by the RTO’s delivery of training packages but also the LL&N competencies within them. The research found that LL&N competencies lacked profile within the training packages and the ways that trainers and workers responded to them was highly dependent on the workplace culture. The report concludes that it is imperative than a culture of training is developed within enterprises, keeping staff informed and led by proactive, committed management.