Department of Education and Training
Higher Education and Skills
Adult, Communication and Further Education (ACFE) Division Memo
To:
- Registered Learn Local providers
- Statewide providers
- ACFE Board
From: Jeanette Nagorcka, Executive Director, Adult, Community and Further Education Division
Date: 29 June 2022
Subject: Requests for Delivery Plan variations and broadening criteria for LEAP
Actions / Critical Dates:
Requests for variations to Delivery Plans for 2022 ACFE pre-accredited training delivery and return of hours must be submitted by COB Tuesday 5 July. See below for details.
The criteria for LEAP courses has been broadened for 2022, to include short courses that are not primarily engagement courses but are geared towards vocational skill sets.
Contact your regional office if you have any questions.
Requests for Delivery Plan variations
The delivery of contracted SCHs in 2022 is a priority of the ACFE Board, across pre-accredited program streams. Learn Local providers are encouraged to deliver their SCHs to target. Where providers have identified that it will not be possible to deliver contracted SCHs, there is an opportunity to return hours for redistribution. Providers can also request variations to their Delivery Plan for 2022 ACFE training. All requests must be submitted by COB Tuesday, 5 July 2022.
The following requests will be considered:
- Variations from General Pre-accredited to Digital Skills program streams and/or variations to Local Government Areas of delivery. Please note, variations from Digital Skills to General Pre-accredited programs streams will not be considered, as the delivery of digital skills is a priority for the ACFE Board in 2022. Requests to deliver in new LGAs will only be accepted where a clear rationale is provided and proposed delivery fills gaps in pre-accredited training provision in the requested LGA.
- Return of Student Contact Hours (SCH). Variations will be set at a minimum of 50 SCH. Requests for return of SCHs in excess of what a provider has already been paid in 2022 will not be considered.
Please submit your request to training.participation@education.vic.gov.au COB Tuesday, 5 July 2022. Please outline your requested changes, clearly stating proposed return of SCHs or variation of LGA and/or program streams as applicable.
We request that you do not submit an updated Delivery Plan with your email request. If your requested changes are approved, you will be required to submit an updated Delivery Plan.
LEAP broadening of criteria
To assist providers to deliver their target SCHs, the ACFE Board has approved a one-off broadening of the criteria for Learner Engagement A-frame Program (LEAP) in 2022, to include short courses that are not primarily engagement courses but are geared towards vocational skill sets.
Broadening the criteria for LEAP seeks to enable greater alignment with skills set and micro credential developments in the accredited training sector and enable closer alignment to current industry needs.
Providers are reminded that LEAP courses are a minimum of 5 SCH and no more than 19 SCH. LEAP courses are designed to improve learner engagement with pre-accredited training, and provide flexible pathways to further education, training and employment. Broadening the criteria for LEAP to also include a focus on vocations skill sets will strengthen pathways to further education, training and employment.
The broadening of LEAP criteria does not include an expansion of available delivery hours in 2022. Providers wishing to broaden their provision of LEAP courses to include a focus on vocational skills sets must do so within their existing SCH allocation for LEAP in 2022. Please notify your Regional Manager of any proposed changes to your LEAP delivery, including an A-frame Course Plan Overview for any proposed new courses.
Contact details
For further information, please contact your regional office:
North Western Victoria, Simon Flood – (03) 7022 0580
North Eastern Victoria, Catherine Clarke – (03) 9084 8573
South Eastern Victoria, Jeremy Brewer – (03) 8904 2503
South Western Victoria, Georgina Ryder – (03) 5215 5204
Updated