Back:  Training > Yachting Australia Training > Changes to training

Yachting Australia Instructor Recognition of Prior Learning Application

If you have received through the post a letter and form from Yachting Australia and are currently wondering what to do with it, please read carefully through the following information.   If the following information does not give you the assistance that you need, feel free to call either your Member Yachting Association or Yachting Australia directly.  Contact details are at the bottom of this page.

What is changing?

Yachting Australia are currently reviewing all of their training courses. The reason for this is twofold.  Firstly, many of the courses have not be reviewed since the mid 1990s and although most Teaching Establishments are running excellent courses, to very high standards, there are also areas where Yachting Australia can improve communication with Teaching Establishments through better course descriptions, more tools to allow courses to be standardised across the country, and a common assessment tool, so that outcomes can be guarenteed for all courses.  The second reason for the review is to enable pathways into competency based training.  Competency based training is a method of assessing what a participant can do, and not what they can watch someone else do.  Sailing by it's very nature has been taught competency based for many years, this move is to allow students pathways through to nationally recognised competency based qualifications under the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).

So, why did I receive a Recognition of Current Competence application?

At the same time as reviewing participant course content, it is a great opportunity to update all instructors at the same time.  Yachting Australia has forged pathways to competency based training, but has not fallen under the control of the National Training Framework, instead all Yachting Australia courses are to the Industry Standard, and that is the standard set by Yachting Australia.  You may have heard rumours that you are required to hold a qualification called Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, this is not true.  The qualification is a standard, competency based learning delivery and assessment qualification and therefore when delivering this type of training, it should not be completely disregarded.  The requirement by Yachting Australia is that all instructors hold two units of this qualification.  The units are BSZ 402A and BSZ 404A - Train Small Groups & Assess Small Groups.

It is worth noting that, if you instruct in any capacity, volunteer, paid, full or part time, if you get the opportunity to complete the Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, it is a valuable qualification and will stand you in good stead through all your professional and recreational activities.  The units that you will gain through being a Yachting Australia instructor will count towards the full certificate if you wish to persue that pathway.

The Recognition of Prior Learning application form that you have received through the post is to allow you to gain these two units by proof that you are a current instructor.  Yachting Australia Training has examined the requirements of these two competencies and is confident that a current, active instructor will meet the requirements for Recognition of Prior Learning.

What if I didn't receive a RPL Application?

This probably means that you are not current with Yachting Australia or that you may have moved house and we do not have your current contact details.  Please inform Yachting Australia or your Member Yachting Association if you do not receive a RPL document in the next few weeks.

What consitutes a "Training or Instructing Log"?

On the application, you are asked to provide a copy of your last twelve months Coaching or Instructing Log.  This is your record of training that you have delivered.  It can be in your Yachting Australia (AYF) logbook - but it doesn''t have to be. Any notebook showing the hours that you have taught, the type of course, the frequency and the level will be sufficient.  It is highly preferable that this log is verified by the RTE principal, or another Coach/Instructor.

If you have not kept records of your Instructor or Coaching activities, you will need to detail that experience as best you can, with approximate hours and information as detailed above, and have it signed off by the principal or person in charge of training at the club/teaching establishment.

Who can sign my form?

The front page of the form (with your name and address at the top) must be completed by yourself, you must sign the bottom portion for it to be complete.
Also, the section which says "Only to be completed by MYA" can only be completed by a member of staff at one of the State or Territory Member Yachting Associations. If you cannot get into your MYA, please forward your completed application to Yachting Australia.  Check below for contact details. 

On the second page of the application - the section which asks you to list your employment/voluntary experience, should be signed by the Recognised Teaching Establishment Principal, Club Training Officer, or other Club Office Bearer.  This person must sign and print their name and the date.  Yachting Australia withholds the right to check any of the details nominated on the form, and should any details be found to be misrepresented, the application will be rejected.

What if I hold Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment or parts of it?

If you already hold a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, or you have previously completed some units of it (it doesn't matter if they are 402 & 404 or not) please mark this on the form and attach a copy of your certificate(s).  It is very important that you attach a copy of any qualification that you list on the form, otherwise your application will be delayed while we contact you for a copy of the qualification.  It is important that you also complete all of the rest of the form, as Certificiate IV modules are not the only requirement of the Yachting Australia Instructor Endorsement.  You must provide evidence of experience instructing as well.

What if I hold a teaching qualification other than Certificate IV in WT&A?

These qualifications will have to be assessed on a case by case basis.  It is not disputed that teachers can deliver the information, but often the assessement component is missing.  Evidence that an Instructor has learned skills in order to assess may be necessary.  See What happens if I do not meet the requirements? for more information.

How much does this process cost?

For a period of seven months from the date of the postmark on your letter, this process will be free of charge.  After that time there will be an administration fee - this will be advised closer to the time.

What does completing this process enable me to do?

Once you have completed this process, you will be listed on the Yachting Australia national database as holding the Yachting Australia Instructor Endorsement.  This will enable you to continue to instruct the schemes as they are updated. 

What happens if I do not meet the requirements?

If the evidence that you provide on the form is insufficient to prove satisfactory experience, you will recieve a letter from Yachting Australia Training explaining what else you will need to provide.  On satisfactory presentation of further evidence, you will be awarded the appropriate endorsement.

Do I have to undertake this process for each of my instructing qualifications?

NO, each instructor completes the RPL process once.  All of your qualifications will be dealt with at the same time.  The coloured document (the application) that you recieve through the mail should have your AYF/Yachting Australia Instructor qualifications listed on it.  If any are missing, please provide copies of them with your application.

What to do with the completed form

Once you have all the information on your form, you have two options.  If you are close to your State or Territory Yachting Association office, please take in your logbooks and completed application to them, they will sign the form to assure us that they have sighted the appropriate information in your logbook and they will collect the form on behalf of Yachting Australia. 

You can find out where your State or Territory Yachting Association are located here.

If you cannot get to your State or Territory Yachting Association office, please post your completed application with copies of relevant documents and log experience to:

Training Administrator
Yachting Australia
Locked Bag 806
Milsons Point  NSW  2061

Please do not send original documents through the post to MYA (State or Territory Yachting Association) or Yachting Australia offices, we will be handling a large quantity of applications and therefore are unable to guarentee the safe return of original certificates or logbooks.  Also, in order to assist with paperwork handling, please note your Instructor Database ID number on all attached documents.  This number can be found on the bottom right of the covering letter and again on the top and bottom of the application form.  This is the unique number by which we identify you at Yachting Australia. 

Other Links
	ANTA Website
	Sport and Recreation Training Australia
	National Training Information Service