Skills Adviser, Mt Hagen Technical College (PNG)

About TAFE Queensland

TAFE Queensland is proud to be the largest and most experienced Vocational Education and Training provider in the State. For more than 140 years, TAFE Queensland has delivered practical and industry-relevant training to provide students with the skills and experience they need to build lifelong careers. We have recently been named the State Winner of the 2022 Large Training Provider of the Year at the prestigious Queensland Training Awards. Our training is delivered to students and apprentices on-site, online, in the workplace, or on-campus to give people the skills they need to enrich their communities, support their industries, and strengthen their local economies. 

By working at TAFE Queensland, you can be part of a highly experienced workforce closely connected with their industries and dedicated to delivering best practices and innovative training.

Your Opportunity

APTC is embarking on a significant expansion in scope, scale and geographic spread of activities within PNG with the establishment of the PNG Skills for Sub-National Growth Investment (SNGI) within an already large and successful program of TVET delivery and support.  

The Skills Adviser is responsible for implementing initiatives that develop national TVET capability to deliver competency-based skills programs that meet the demands of labour markets and nationally accredited PNG qualifications. 

The Skills Adviser reports to the Senior Skills Manager to develop and implement activities that include coaching and mentoring of partner institution staff, support improvements in curriculum, learning materials and resources to ensure training and delivery meets the requirements the relevant National TVET Regulations for PNG qualifications and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) for Australian qualifications.  Additionally, the Senior Skills Manager will support APTC’s gender equity, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) initiatives to ensure GEDSI is integrated into operations at the campus level.

The Skills Advisers’ need to be self-directed and able to work in remote and complex locations with the position located at Mount Hagen Technical College or Highlands Agriculture College in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province or Bougainville Technical College in Tinputz, Bougainville.

This is a Temporary Full Time opportunity to 31 March 2025 unless otherwise determined. 

The position will be based primarily at Mt Hagen Technical College, however you may be required to perform work at other TAFE Queensland and APTC campuses.  

Key Responsibilities

TVET Strengthening

• Under the direction and guidance of the Senior Skills Manager build capacity of partner institution staff in the development and delivery of training that complies with the standards for nationally registered TVET providers in PNG.
• Undertake TVET strengthening activity demonstrating an awareness of and sensitivity to cross-cultural settings and the capacity of the partner institution.
• Implement training, assessment and quality improvement plans that support the continuous improvement of curriculum, learning materials, training resources, teacher training, teacher skills development, business systems, administration requirements and management processes.
• Participate in team-teaching and mentoring activities with TVET partner training delivery and learning support staff or APTC staff as required. 
• Provide advice and support to strengthen partnerships with local industry and community and other local stakeholders as and when required.
• Develop and participate in activities such as industry liaison and working with TVET training counterparts to promote TVET reform and capability development.
• Work in a culturally diverse context to coach and mentor trainers and staff while demonstrating an awareness of and sensitivity to cross-cultural settings.
• Ensure GEDSI objectives and activities are implemented, managed and evaluated across all aspects of program delivery.

  APTC Operations

• Provide information as required to support APTC’s reporting, strategic communications, and planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) requirements.
• Actively participate in staff meetings, vocational networks, professional practice meetings and other activities relevant to the role.
• Report any non-compliance or incidents relating to Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), Equal Opportunity (EO), Fraud and Corruption or any other statutory regulations to the Senior Skills Manager as soon as practical.
• Participate in briefings covering personal security and responsibilities, medical/health situation, cultural environment, details on APTC objectives, relevant contract obligations and interaction with stakeholders.
• Undertake other administrative duties directly related to training delivery.

How you will be assessed

The ideal applicant will be someone who has the following key capabilities:

1. Minimum 5 years combined training, assessment and industry experience directly relevant to the training and assessment being delivered. 
2. Experience of a wide range of flexible and effective learning methodologies and ability to implement these in a cultural and gender sensitive manner to adult learners and experience in vocational training, learning and assessment.
3. Demonstrated skills in mentoring and/or coaching others, preferably in a culturally diverse context.
4. Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, report writing and file management skills including the ability to relate effectively, collaboratively and ethically to staff, students and other stakeholders (including the ability to liaise with industry and partner institutions).
5. Demonstrated strong computer skills in Microsoft Office applications including Word and PowerPoint and the ability to work both independently and as part of a small and dedicated team across multiple sites.
6. Willingness and ability to facilitate rather than direct, to provide support and systems to build staff and partners’ confidence and skills to work in an adaptive manner and to work beyond self-interest.
7. Strong commitment to TVET reform and Pacific skills development.
8. Highly developed interpersonal communication skills with proven experience in building and sustaining productive internal and external stakeholder relationships and developing relationships of trust with partners and counterparts.
9. Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity and proven ability to work with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and diversity of age, gender and ability.
10. Ability to work through uncertainty, collaboratively and with creativity to support the achievement of shared objectives.

Highly Desirable Requirements

• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment including LLN unit.
• International Skills Training and/or Australian vocational qualification. 
• Experience working on an aid funded project, preferably Australian Government, would be an advantage.
• Experience living, working or travelling in PNG or in a remote location would be an advantage.

How to apply

If you’re interested in this role, click the ‘Apply’ button to submit your application via the TAFE Queensland Recruitment Portal.  When submitting your application, please ensure you provide the following:

• A detailed resume; 
• A cover letter that outlines your known skills, abilities, knowledge and experience in response to the “How you will be assessed” criteria above (maximum of 2 pages in total; and
• The contact details for two referees (one of whom is your current supervisor)

Closing date: 5:00pm Thursday 31 August 2023,

Job Reference Number: TQ2023-1155

For further information, please contact:

Laura Thomas, A/ Director Academic and Training

Email: ************@aptc.edu.au