Modern Awards and Vocational Training

You can be forgiven for not knowing a single thingVocational Training system is more attractive than
about the new Modern Awards that will be introducedever, especially for people who are passionate about
for Australian workers on January 1, 2010. You will nomaintaining the high standards of training in their own
doubt be relieved to hear that you are not alone. Ofindustry. By gaining a Certificate IV in Training and
the 30 friends and associates I asked, some businessAssessment you can teach and assess nationally
owners, some employees, a few Governmentrecognized qualifications in your own area of expertise.
workers and at least two lawyers, not one of themBenefits of working under the new award include:
knew what I was talking about.*
Hidden behind a smokescreen of political wranglingGuaranteed preparation and assessment time outside
over the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Liberalof the classroom: Half an hour prep per one hour
Leadership battles and Tiger Woods’ unfortunateface-to-face delivery.
bingle at the weekend, the new Modern Awards have*
barely rated a mention in the media.Formal recognition of your qualifications
In July 2010 the Government’s Fair Work Act*
became law. A major part of that act is theA structured career path through the RTO
introduction of a new set of awards for workers. IfAdult education and training is a major growth industry,
you are an employee and you are not earning moreas would be expected with rising unemployment.
than $108,000 a year you will almost certainly beGovernment funded training programs, such as the
covered by modern awards come January 1, 2010.Productivity Places Program, are making qualification
If, like me and the team at RediTeach, you areaccessible to a wider variety of candidates. And, with
employed in a private RTO delivering courses throughparticular emphasis being placed on areas of skills
the VET system you will most likely be covered byshortage there is a clear employment pathway for
the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education)students. All of which contributes to the job satisfaction
Award 2010.of all those employed in the VET system.
The good news is that working as a teacher in the