Skill sets

Skill sets are a way of publicly identifying logical groupings of units of competency which meet an identified need or industry outcome. Skill sets are not qualifications.

The Training Package Development Handbook defines skill sets as 'single units of competency, or combinations of units of competency from an endorsed training package, which link to a licence or regulatory requirement, or defined industry need'.

Skill sets are identified and developed within training packages, and are formally recognised on a statement of attainment.

Background to skill sets

Before 2007, when individuals completed a particular combination of units to meet a required industry or job need received, the skills attained were not easily recognisable to employers. In most cases the statement of attainment made reference to 'partial completion of a qualification' rather than acknowledging that the completed units constituted a skill set.

The Council of Australian Governments has directed that, where appropriate, skill sets be incorporated into all national training packages by 31 December 2008. The National Quality Council has the task of leading skill sets policy development.

How skill sets are developed

Skill sets are identified during the development, redevelopment or continuous improvement of nationally endorsed training packages by industry skills councils in consultation with industry and regulatory and/or licensing authorities.

The units of competency that form a skill set can be drawn from one or more training packages. Skill sets need to be identified within the training packages and must have industry support. Where registered training organisations provide a statement of attainment for a group of competencies that make up a skill set, they are able to specifically note that the skill set has been provided for a specific purpose.

The Training Package Development Handbook includes a section on skill sets. It outlines advice on how to identify and develop skill sets.

There are three possibilities in relation to the identification of skill sets in training packages. The developer determines on the basis of industry consultation that:

  • there are no national skill sets identified
  • one or more skill sets can be identified within a training package
  • there is the potential for skill sets to be formed by combining units from two or more training packages.

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