Does anyone know the RPL process?

[Indadhanu]

Ok so I'm working in child care and studying my Cert III. TAFE have been mucking around so much (have held on to assignments for 6 weeks now - saying there is a backlog in marking, but they're not allowing me to enrol in more because these ones aren't signed off even though it is THEM that I am waiting on... very frustrating!). My boss said that he believes I would be eligible for RPL. So he's contacted the TAFE and printed off all the info for me and arranged for a phone interview tomorrow morning with the RPL coordinator.
I've worked in child care full-time for a year now (almost, shy of a few weeks), which is usually the time they say you have learnt enough to RPL a lot of things in the Cert III. I also have 18 months of an Early Childhood Education uni degree up my belt. Even though none of that eqautes over the the Cert III, do you think it might be a little bit relevant?

But I'm so worried that the RPL coordinator will say "Um... you are dumb why are you wasting my time!".

I'm so worried that the few modules I have (6) left are things I won't be able to verbalise in an interview. And I don't have the formal training to back anything up, just experience. Which isn't much.

Can anyone tell me of their RPL process? Not necessarily with child care/Children's Services, just any RPL stuff you've been through.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I done half my cert 111 years ago,(had bub in the middle!) and have enrolled to do it next year... but I'm an idoit.. what is RPL???

[Indadhanu]

Recognition of Prior Learning

[Pretty Butterfly]

hehehe, I knew that!!!

From what I understand, no other type of learning/experince will count when it comes to this course. I told the lady when I had done mine before, she looked it up, and knew I had, but it just didn't cut it.

I worked in day care for 3 years, then FDC for 6, and it meant nothing to the course, or getting credit for any of it... I was told I MUST do each module, or show documentation to show that I had previously done and passed it. She said they may let me off with fewer than 100hrs (which ob you dont need to do now!) but thats as far as I could get.

But it could be different up there.. you cant even do FDC here now without having done/or doing the cert.....

[wysiwyg]

I did an RPL for my visa application, but that was all written documents no interview (and IT not childcare). From what I remember the key seemed to be knowing the criteria they are looking for and writing your experience around it, it wasn't too difficult but completely different to a phone interview I imagine. Also I thought the whole point of RPL was to be able to show what you have learnt from non formal qualifications so I am sure they are very used to answers based on experience alone and you will have learnt far more from your experience than you realize. I suppose the only advice I can offer is try think through some examples of things that you might be asked but also just go with the flow a little am sure you know your stuff so relax and pretend you are explaining it to us on BB!

[Indadhanu]

LOL well I've done >2000 hours so I think that's what my boss is getting at. Apparently working in the industry is meant to give you the knowledge? I don't know. The fact that she's ringing me to arrange a time to come to see me I guess is good!


Thanks wysiwyg
I've looked up the competencies and elements on NTIS, and do you think it'd be ok to write down how I think I have met these elements while working, give examples, and get my group leader, other group leaders I've worked with, as well as my Director, to sign it?

[LimeSlice]

Speak with your RPL coordinator (whomever it is that handles you) and discuss it with them.
With a Chef's Apprenticeship for RPL you need to have documented evidence of all prior learning and also previous working experience (length and duties) are taken into account.
There is a form you fill in and submit all evidentiary backing, they then take it all under advisement and provided it is accepted, they inform you of how many months your experience and prior education deducts from your apprenticeship.

[Pretty Butterfly]

LOL well I've done >2000 hours so I think that's what my boss is getting at. Apparently working in the industry is meant to give you the knowledge? I don't know. The fact that she's ringing me to arrange a time to come to see me I guess is good!


?

Exactly!! All my experince, and 6 kids, meant diddly squat here...

When it should!!! I'm sure I've experienced more things with child care than most others in the class, and I am dreading going over all the basics again!!!

Good luck, surely she wouldnt bother with a meeting if she couldnt help??!!

[Indadhanu]

That does suck Jodie. I guess they look at the legislation more than anything, working within all the regs and guidelines, and accreditation stuff.

Hmm, maybe I know more than I think hahaha!

Guess I'll have to wait and see what she says. It's so nervewracking, I'm so worried about embarrassing myself or wasting her time!

[wysiwyg]

I think that sounds like a good idea, because the act of writing it will clarify it in your mind as well - to help with any questions.

[Pretty Butterfly]

YOu'll be fine babe!!!!

I did all the accreditation with FDC already.... The reg and guidlines are almost identical.. actually a lot of it just had side bits for FDC, and is based on centre care anyway... and apparently it means nothing to NSW Tafe.... very annoying!!!
I actaully have the MASSIVE folder of most of it still here!!

I hope they help you out and recognise all you know!!! xoxoxo

[Indadhanu]

You should contact Skilling Solutions (or whatever it's called in NSW) and see if they can mark off what you know so all you have to do is gap training?

[Pretty Butterfly]

OOOhhh, will do!! The Tafe just didnt care, said just had to do everything in the course or no cert... and with the new law, no cert, no FDC!!!

[luna moth]

Leasha:
If you're going through Skilling Solutions, it will be SO easy. Last year I had two staff members use them, and they got so much stuff ticked off. Validly, too, because they actually knew what they were doing. They will go through your competencies one by one, and they pretty much tell you what you already know. It will be sweet.

Jodie:
NSW tafe is soooooo hard to get RPL through. I stupidly did my Cert III through them, and just had to slog it out. Sounds like you might be doing the same course I did (by distance?) so just hit me up if you need help to get through the hard slog. Regs are actually a bit tighter up here wrt holding the cert III.

Hope that helps you both!

[Mother Goose]

Leasha - the RPL process can differ from one organisation to the next and from one course to the next. So the best thing to do is to discuss it with the RPL coordinator. I know for a course I want to do, I have to provide certified copies of my marks as well as the course outline for each module I want RPL for (along with $200 per class!).

Good luck with it!

MG