Targeted training is the most effective method of addressing the needs of your business and industry. It's essential to choose courses that address the needs of your employees and meet the objectives of your organisation.

When choosing a course it is useful to understand how it is constructed and the units of competency it includes. You should also research the training practices of the registered training organisation (RTO) delivering it.

What is a course?

A training 'course' is a structured sequence of vocational education and training (VET) that leads to the acquisition of identified competencies. If accredited by a state or territory training authority, the course leads to a qualification.

Qualifications certify that a person has successfully completed a course and achieved certain competencies.

Units and modules

Courses are composed of elements called units or modules. Units/ modules are often referred to as building blocks because they combine to construct qualifications.

For example, to meet the requirements of a Certificate III, you have to complete a specified course of units/modules. Substituting or increasing these units/modules will result in a different qualification.

If your business requires additional competencies in the workplace, you can build extra units/modules into the course. To do this you must meet the minimum requirements of the qualification.

Training Packages define the competencies and units/modules a person must achieve to gain a certain qualification.

For example, the Extractive Industries Training Package outlines the units/modules necessary to attain:

• Certificates II, III and IV
• a Diploma
• an Advanced Diploma.

A Training Package is not the same as a course. Training Packages provide RTOs with a framework for designing courses. A Training Package describes the outcomes required of training but RTOs decide how the training will be structured and delivered.

Researching a course

Before enrolling, get as much advice as you can by contacting:

• your preferred RTO
• your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre
• the relevant Industry Skills Council

Talk to your employees to identtify the skills that could be improved. If possible, contact other enterprises and ask why they chose a particular course and what outcomes were achieved.

Just as important as the contents of the course, is how the course will be delivered. The VET system is flexible and most training providers will give you the option of taking the course:

• on-the-job at your workplace
• off-the-job at the training provider's premises or elsewhere
• on-the-job or off-the-job.

You also can decide how and when training takes place, such as, after work, on the Internet or in a group training session. By negotiating with the training provider, you can tailor a course to suit your needs. Make sure that the course provider can demonstrate its ability to supply everything you require.