Employability Skills Training (EST) Policy

Employability Skills Training (EST) is a complementary program administered by the Department that enhances the work readiness of EST Participants. EST provides intensive pre-employment training through 2 different blocks of targeted training. Participants can undertake one or both blocks in any order.

Eligibility

An Eligible EST Participant must be aged 15 years and over, and meet one of the following conditions:

• Be participating in Workforce Australia Online, Workforce Australia Services or Yarrabah Employment Services, and either in receipt of:

  • Income support payments that are subject to Mutual Obligation Requirements, or

  • Disability Support Pension and has compulsory participation requirements.

• Be participating in Transition to Work (TtW) Services

• Be participating in Disability Employment Services (DES) in the employment assistance phase.

There is no limit to the number of times a Participant can undertake EST if the Provider considers that the Participant would benefit.

Requirements

Block 1 Requirements

Training Block 1 Courses help EST Participants develop job search and workplace skills. After participating in a Training Block 1 Course, EST Participants should be able to demonstrate the following Learning Outcomes:

• Use a variety of techniques and strategies to seek and apply for work

• Identify opportunities in the local labour market

• Understand Employer expectations

• Prepare a résumé

• Prepare a job application, including preparing a cover letter, addressing selection criteria, and preparing video applications, as relevant, to entry-level opportunities in the local labour market

• Complete an online psychometric and aptitude screening test

• Prepare for an in-person and virtual job interview

• Manage their digital footprint

• Apply conventions of online etiquette

• Apply the 10 skill areas described in the Core Skills for Work Developmental Framework to the workplace.

Training Block 1 Courses may offer Industry Awareness Experiences and accredited training to support the Learning Outcomes. Training Block 1 courses must be delivered as either Youth Courses or 25 Plus Courses unless the Department provides written approval for the delivery of an All Ages Course. All Ages Courses will be considered in limited circumstances, for example, in a location with insufficient demand to make offering separate Youth Courses and 25 Plus Courses feasible. Providers wishing to create an All Ages Course must submit a written request to the Department in accordance with the Key Contacts Protocol.

Block 2 Requirements

Training Block 2 Courses help EST Participants understand industries that are in demand or have emerging opportunities in their local labour market. After participating in a Training Block 2 Course, EST Participants should be able to demonstrate the following Learning Outcomes:

• Use the most suitable techniques and strategies to seek and apply for work in the industries covered

• Understand the duties, requirements, career prospects and Employer expectations of the industries covered

• Tailor a résumé to the industries covered

• Tailor a job application to the industries covered, including preparing a cover letter, addressing selection criteria, and preparing video applications, as relevant, to the industries covered

• Complete an online psychometric and/or aptitude screening test, as relevant, to the industries covered

• Prepare for an in-person and virtual job interview for the industries covered

• Use technology relevant to entry-level employment opportunities in the industries covered.

There are 2 types of Training Block 2 Courses:

• Generalist Courses: Give EST Participants a taste of a few different industries to help them decide whether an industry is right for them. The industries must have entry-level Employment opportunities in the local labour market and may include accredited training. Additional Learning Outcome:

  • Understand their interest in and aptitude for the industries covered.

• Specialist Courses: Focus on a single industry to help EST Participants build industry-specific skills and provide a pathway for EST Participants to entry-level employment opportunities in the industry or a formal training program. Specialist Courses should offer accredited training to support the Learning Outcomes. Additional Learning Outcome:

  • Be equipped for entry-level employment opportunities in the industry covered.

Providers contracted to deliver Training Block 2 Courses must offer both types of Courses.

Accredited Training Block 2 - Generalist Course

Industry Awareness Experiences

Block 2 Courses must offer Industry Awareness Experiences relating to the industries covered to support the Learning Outcomes. Industry Awareness Experiences aim to:

• Provide EST Participants with insight into the tasks and duties of an industry

• Highlight the expectations of working in an industry

• Expose EST Participants to a work-like environment in a practical way

• Connect EST Participants with Employers in industries that are in demand or have emerging opportunities in the local labour market.

Examples of Industry Awareness Experiences include guided tours of workplaces arranged with an Employer and Inbound Employer Visits.

Employability Skills Training (EST) Procedure

Develop Service Delivery Plan and Course Outline (M)

Before delivering a course, a Service Delivery Plan must be developed and submitted to the department for approval. See the requirements above for information on what must be included in the Plan. Save the Department’s approval in the EST folder.

Course Outline

Develop a course outline that describes the:

• Learning outcomes of the course

• Teaching strategies that will be used to achieve each Learning Outcome.

Course Outlines are created and stored on the Course Release Schedules Google sheet.

Online/Hybrid Course and Rolling Intakes ONLY

You must seek approval from the Department before creating an online/hybrid/rolling intake course. Refer to the policy above for further details.

Specialist Courses ONLY

If it is a specialist course, we must first obtain endorsement from an industry association and submit the information to the Department, prior to delivery. Submit:

• The consultation process in the design and development of a Specialist Course outline

• Evidence of endorsement:

  • Course outline that was endorsed

  • Name of the industry association that provided the endorsement

  • Name and position of the industry association member that confirmed the endorsement

  • Date of the endorsement.

Create a Course on the Department’s System & in Axcelerate (CC)

Create each Course in the Department’s IT Systems to facilitate Referrals of Eligible EST Participants and Payments no later than 2 weeks before the Course Start Date.

Duplicate the EST course template in aXcelerate and update with new course details.

Enrol Student (CC)

• Download the Referral List from ESS Web

• Add students to Trainer Spreadsheet. Record:

  • Course ID and name

  • Participant’s job seeker ID and name

  • Name of the person creating the record.

• Email student’s the invite to enrol with Strategix in the course. This is sent out the Friday before the course starts using the Referral list

• Complete the student’s enrolment as per Enrolment Policy and Procedure and confirm the student is eligible and suitable for the course (Pre-commencement activities requirement)

  • If the student enrolling is an online student in a non-approved online course, you must record the reason the participant cannot participate in person in aXcelerate in the Notes.

Induction and Initial Assessment (Day 1 & 2) (T)

Day 1 is a busy day where your time as a trainer will be split between working with those that have enrolled and started their tasks and making contact with those that haven’t yet enrolled or may be having technical difficulties. You will need to be flexible in the way that you approach Day 1 as the more students you can get sorted out today, the easier the rest of Week 1 will be. However, these activities will generally also extend to Day 2. Some suggested tasks for Day 1 & 2 include:

• Send the template from aXcelerate titled "EST - Block 1 Welcome/Induction" to all the students in the intake

• Check enrolments and compare them to the Referrals List. Make contact with those that haven’t enrolled yet

• Set up Zoom sessions for the day - you may need to organise multiple Zoom sessions throughout the day to help the students use Cloud Assess or enrol in the course

• Send reminder text messages to students about completing their induction and tasks in their Welcome email. You may need to remind them to check their junk email etc. if they haven’t received it

• If you have any students in the incorrect class (region-based), refer to Course Coordinators to transfer to the correct class

• Check Supervisor App is working (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.employment.supervisor&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1) and that students are appearing in the class.

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Ideally, students should complete on Day 1:

• EST Assessment - Initial - Google Form

• LLN Quiz. Note, there can be issues with accessing this on smartphones, you can direct them to the local library or to use a friend’s computer etc.

• Induction on Cloud Assess (student should watch the video and then complete the checklist).

For students who are ready to start the training on Day 2, they can be sent the Day 2 template which has a small activity for them to complete.

Interview Students (T)

During the first week, you must meet with each student individually to review their answers to the questionnaires and their LLN results, and record how the course will be tailored to meet their needs:

• Open the EST Initial Assessment (Responses) spreadsheet:

  • Go to the Mapping tab:

  • Search for the student’s name

  • Review responses to questions and LLN results:

    • If no results are appearing, this means the student has either not done the LLN quiz yet or there is a technological difficulty. You can look up their results on the LLN Robot and enter in manually or ask the student to complete it if they haven’t yet.

  • Select appropriate actions from the How the Course will be Tailored to Suit Student Needs that meet the student’s needs. Select ALL that apply by selecting each option one by one, they will automatically be added to the cell

  • Insert Course ID in Column S - Look up on the Referrals Spreadsheet.

Deliver Course (T)

Trainer delivers course as per Course Release Schedule and reviews student progress regularly:

• EST Block 1 Course Release Schedule - no accredited units

• EST Block 2 Course Release Schedule - Generalist with accredited units.

Trainer to perform a daily risk assessment of the training classroom and any equipment or areas used by the students during the course.

Resources found here and on Cloud Assess - https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ZAKLXh8SKoCBHYE-pZ2-2JHpUlemwPxp.

See below for a general outline of the training:

Week 1:

This week sets the tone for the remainder of the training, so you will spend a lot of time getting the students set up and working confidently with the technology:

• Send template in aXcelerate to students the day before or the morning of training. Students need to attempt activities and attend Zoom sessions to get attendance codes for morning and afternoon sessions

• Students are to notify the trainer once they have completed their morning activities. The trainer can confirm and can then send the students the attendance code for them to register their attendance for the morning session

• For Week 1 only, set up a morning and afternoon Zoom class for each day to help any stragglers- see Course Release Schedule for activities and assessment. Send emails with links to Zoom sessions to students prior to starting Zoom:

  • Morning Zoom: Do some brief training on content, discuss answers to activities asked to complete in the daily email and then complete the remaining activities. Use icebreakers and activities to engage students where you can. Give attendance code during Zoom session for the morning

  • Afternoon Zoom: Focus on the assessment for the day, talk through each question, provide coaching and mentoring where needed, and ensure every student submits their assessment for the day. Give attendance code during the Zoom session for the afternoon attendance.

• Before and after Zoom sessions, follow up on non-enrolled students and students who haven’t completed the initial assessment, induction or LLN quiz

• Mark attendance in Supervisor App and in aXcelerate

• Check Supervisor App to see if students have added their codes and if attendance is recorded (Funding is dependent on this). Follow up on any who have not done so. For students in genuine difficulty, you can mark this for them. If students are not on Supervisor App, call Course Coordinator to follow up

• Conduct interviews with students and fill out the EST Initial Assessment (Responses) spreadsheet.

Week 2 & 3:

• Send template in aXcelerate to students the day before or the morning of training. Students need to attempt activities and attend Zoom sessions to get attendance codes for morning and afternoon sessions

• Set up an afternoon Zoom class for each day - see Course Release Schedule for assessment to cover. Send emails with links to Zoom sessions to students prior to starting Zoom:

  • Afternoon Zoom: Focus on the assessment for the day, talk through each question, provide coaching and mentoring where needed, and ensure every student submits their assessment for the day. Give attendance code during Zoom session.

• Students are to notify the trainer once they have completed their morning activities. The trainer can confirm the attempt and can then send the students the attendance code for them to register their attendance for the morning session

• Before and after Zoom sessions, follow up on assessments not submitted, mark assessments and provide feedback to students. Continue to check on students who haven’t completed the initial assessment, induction or LLN quiz

• Mark attendance in Supervisor App and in aXcelerate

• Check Supervisor App to see if students have added their codes and if attendance is recorded (Funding is dependent on this). Follow up on any who have not done so. For students in genuine difficulty, you can mark this for them.

Record Attendance Daily

• Provide the daily QR code(s) (2 codes for sessions longer than 4 hours/day) to students in attendance to self-report attendance. If the student participates in any way in the sessions, by attending the Zoom or attempting activities or assessments, they are marked as in attendance

• The trainer must record attendance by 1 pm each day in aXcelerate and in the Supervisor App. aXcelerate will send attendance records to any applicable referring providers

• Students have the first 3 days to enrol and attend. If they don’t, they cannot start

• Students are encouraged to contact the Department or referring provider if they are unable to attend class

• If a student does not attend within 7 Business Days of the Start Date of the course the Trainer must notify the Course Coordinator who will end the student’s referral to the course and notify the student and referring provider (if relevant).

Provide Industry Awareness Experience - EST Block 2 ONLY

The trainer organises an industry awareness experience with the local industries covered in the course. Examples of Industry Awareness Experiences include guided tours of workplaces arranged with an Employer and Inbound Employer Visits. Prior to implementing an experience, the trainer must first complete a risk assessment of the experience.

Complete Course (T)

• The trainer confirms that the student has completed their assessment on Cloud Assess and attended at least 80% of the hours of the course (10 out of 12 days)

• Complete the Final Assessment by recording the student’s progress using the EST - Block 1 Final Assessment Report template on aXcelerate. Attach the student’s resume to the template

• Send a copy of the final assessment (including their updated resume) to the student and referring provider, within 5 business days of the end of the course (or exit from the course).

Issue Certificates and Completions (CC)

• Course Coordinator completes student’s enrolment and issues statement of attainment as per (only for Block 2)

• Course Coordinator updates the Department’s system with completions.

Monitor and Review Course and Course Requirements (M)

• Invite participants and relevant industry liaisons to complete the Trainer Evaluation SURVEY

• Manager is to regularly review survey results and action continuous improvement initiatives

• Manager is to maintain a training matrix for annual fraud training

• RFFR team to monitor compliance with Right Fit for Risk (RFFR) requirements.

Withdrawals

Where a student voluntarily withdraws, finds employment or Strategix determines that they are not suitable for the course, the student must be referred to Digital Services to inform them of their withdrawal. Strategix cannot remove them from the course.

EST Deed Requirements

Change in Control

Strategix must not, without the Department's prior written consent, cause or allow to occur a Change in Control.

Insurance

Strategix must, within 10 Business Days of 1 July each year, or at any other time that the Department requests, provide to the Department an insurance declaration form, in the form required by the Department. The following insurances are required:

• Public Liability Insurance

• Workcover for each state we deliver training in for our staff

• Motor Vehicle Insurance

• Professional indemnity

• Personal accident insurance

• Cyber risk insurance.

Declarations are to be completed each financial year and sent to Strategix’s EST contact:

Working with Children Safety:

• Must comply with all applicable Working with Children Laws in the delivery state:

• Implement, and ensure that all Child-Related Personnel implement, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

• Put into place and update, at least annually, an appropriate risk management strategy to manage risks identified through the risk assessment

• Complete and update, at least annually, a risk assessment to identify the level of responsibility the Provider and Child-Related Personnel have for Children and the level of risk of harm or abuse to Children

• Provide training and establish a compliance regime to ensure that all Child-Related Personnel are aware of, and comply with:

  • The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

  • The Provider's risk management strategy

  • Applicable Working with Children Laws, including in relation to Working With Children Checks

  • Relevant legislation relating to mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.

• Provider must not allow any of its Personnel, any Subcontractor or any potential Supervisor to participate in the Services if a relevant check shows that they have been convicted of a crime and a reasonable individual would consider that the conviction means that the individual would pose a risk to other individuals involved in the Services

Indigenous Procurement Policy

The Provider must use reasonable endeavours to increase its:

• Purchasing from Indigenous Enterprises; and

• Employment of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons,

in the delivery of the Services.

The Provider must:

• Within three months after the Deed Commencement Date, develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy which is designed to:

  • Attract, develop, and retain Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons as employees within the Provider’s Own Organisation; and

  • Encourage the procurement of goods and services, as relevant, from Indigenous Enterprises; and

• Implement and maintain that strategy for the Term of the Deed.