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The Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is one of the largest education providers in Australia, with nearly 2 million students attending a VET program every year. With a significant surge in trade-based industries across the country, qualified vocational teachers are in high demand. But what is a vocational teacher exactly and how do you become one?
Learn what this role entails and how to obtain the appropriate qualifications to kickstart your vocational training career with expert advice from Forsythes Training.
What is vocational education training?
Vocational education training refers to hands-on courses that teach the necessary skills for a specific profession or trade. It equips students with the expertise and qualifications to secure employment, upskill in their current job, change careers or re-enter their industry as an older worker.
Vocational education training is a popular pathway to employment in a wide range of industries, from hairdressing and carpentry to cooking and welding.
What is a vocational trainer and assessor?
Vocational trainers and assessor support their students to develop the right skills and knowledge to perform a particular profession safely and effectively. Often based at TAFE institutions or other vocational schools, vocational teachers carry out key training and assessment duties, such as:
- Developing a course curriculum with hands-on experiences.
- Sharing both beginner and expert knowledge about the chosen topic.
- Training students with a range of teaching methods.
- Evaluating student capabilities, needs and progress.
- Supporting learning either online, face-to-face or as a combination of both.
- Reviewing and grading performance with various forms of continued assessment.
Therefore, it helps for vocational trainers to be able to:
- Monitor individual and group performance
- Recognise and understand potential issues that students may face
- Adapt teaching methods to different learning styles
- Communicate concepts and instructions clearly
Becoming a vocational trainer and assessor
If you are interested in becoming a vocational trainer, it’s important to understand the steps required to gain employment in this field. As well as a passion for teaching and motivation to learn, you will need to obtain certain set of qualifications:
1. Gain necessary qualifications in your chosen field
Before becoming a vocational teacher, you will need the right qualification and/or experience in whichever trade, profession or craft you intend to teach.
The VET sector offers courses in a plethora of industries – construction, cosmetics, information technology, retail, hospitality and more. Furthermore, there is a variety of specialist roles to choose from within each industry to suit your interests and skills.
Once equipped with this fundamental expertise, your next step is to obtain a training and assessment qualification so that you’re ready to teach effectively.
2. Complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110
Under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, anyone intending to teach a VET course must first gain a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40116 or an ASQA-recognised equivalent.
Throughout your TAE40116 program, you will gain the teaching skills required to train and assess students successfully in the workplace or community. It also offers a pathway into the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training should you wish to develop your VET career further.
3. Decide on the type of organisation you wish to work for
TAE40116-qualified vocational trainers can avail of many job opportunities, with heaps of options in terms of where and how they teach their students.
While TAFE colleges are the traditional choice, there are also plenty of private and public training organisations across Australia who are seeking experienced trainers to join their teams.
What’s more, many corporations and businesses require in-house training staff to help onboard new employees or ensure existing employees maintain the right qualifications for the job.
What is the typical vocational teacher salary in Australia?
According to the ABS Labour Force Survey, full-time VET teachers in Australia earn a median salary of $1,790 per week. When part-time positions are considered, the median weekly wage is $1,100.
With high demand for this role and competitive salaries across industries, you can fulfill your passion to teach while getting paid well for it.
Start your journey to becoming a vocational teacher
Ready to become a vocational trainer? Gain a nationally-recognised qualification to kickstart your career in the VET sector with Forsythes Training.
Based in Newcastle NSW, our expert trainers have been helping clients to maximise their potential for more than 20 years. Favoured throughout Australia for our superior training solutions, we provide the flexibility to complete Training and Assessment programs onsite or through virtual classrooms online. To learn more, contact us today!
