Latest Articles
What Teachers Might Learn From Sales People
Since surveys in most of the Western world consistently rank used car salespeople as among the least trusted of all professions, it is little wonder some people extend that reputation to all salespeople. Trainers, on the other hand, are held in high esteem. So what could a trainer possibly learn from a profession so low in the public trust?
What Is Considered A Critical Incident In The New Dip VET?
As a trainer, a critical incident is an event that has significance for you. Critical incidents can change an outcome. The name suggests something dramatic. You are not alone if you jumped to the conclusion of a critical incident = something really really really really bad happened and then the office caught on fire and then Karen from Finance filed a complaint about it.
What I Learned About Quitting The TAE By Training For The New York Marathon
It's easy to make reasonable excuses not to train (or study) but the battle that happens is in one's own mind. Find out how you can overcome your mindset barriers to achieving your goals.
What Document Was That?
Have you ever noticed how much of your work as a trainer is tied up in paperwork? It seems like that old saying about “the job isn’t finished till the paperwork is done” was made up for trainers. Everything we do must be documented before, during the training and after the fact.
What Did You Do During COVID? It's A Question You Can Expect To Be Asked
Covid has only highlighted the importance of using downtime to grow professionally or engage in something that helps grow skills. Employers are looking for people who can stand out from the crowd and this is how you do it.
We Revisit Painful Truth #8 As ASQA Cancels Qualifications
In the not-so-distant past, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) announced that it will cancel 432 Security and First Aid Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued to 276 individuals. This rings true to Painful Truth #8. Just because you get it, doesn’t always mean you get to keep it.
The TAE Design Units: Questions We Ask To Assess The Required Knowledge
The Fortress Learning TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment uses the following questions to assess the Required Knowledge and some aspects of the Underpinning Skills of the two units of competency that form the Design Field.During the course, many of the actual questions are presented in tables which means that they might not make complete sense in this list. However, you will gain an appreciation for what is involved.
The Loophole That Will Undermine The Quality Of The TAE Certificate IV
The TAE Certificate IV cannot be trusted. It is common knowledge that holding one does not actually mean you have the skills and knowledge that it is meant to reflect. That’s why the powers that be have gone to a lot of effort to ensure that Trainers and Assessors are suitably skilled to make a professional contribution to the VET sector, with much of this aimed squarely at the poor quality of Certificate IV TAE courses.
The 10 Leadership Attributes Of A Trainer And Assessor
The role of a Trainer and Assessor requires efficiency, an eye for detail and, most importantly, the ability to lead students to success. Here are 10 leadership attributes of a Trainer and Assessor, with quotes from those who know the profession well.
TAE Certificate IV Face-To-Face Or Online Or Distance?
When it comes to choosing how you will do your own TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, the answer can get a bit complex, but it really just comes down to one thing.
Seeking Funding For Small Business Growth
Probably the greatest obstacle to small business growth is funding. Most small business owners start their businesses because they are true experts in their field. They decide to take the risk and open their business rather than continue working for others.
Quiz: Whats Your Service Personality Type?
The article presents a quiz to determine an individual's service personality type. It explores various personality types and how they can excel in different service-oriented roles.
Overly Prescriptive Units Of Competency
This article is an introduction and invitation to discuss the prescriptive nature of Australia’s units of competencies. It will share some thoughts about how overly prescriptive Units of Competency transpire as a barrier for a progressive national VET system.
Keep The Communication Lines Open
To a large part, training is all about communicating. You, as a trainer, have knowledge that your learners need. Somehow, you’ve got to communicate that knowledge to them, in such a way as they can understand it, grasp it and use it. Your communications task doesn’t end there however, you also have to communicate with all the stakeholders in that learning process.
Is There a Place For Training "Products" in a Service Sector?
A common complaint among TAE Certificate IV students is that it has far too much jargon and terminology. Many of those students find the qualification somewhat impenetrable because of that language, and this reduced the qualification’s effectiveness.
Improve Your Communication Skills With The Ladder Of Inference
When it comes to a classroom or workplace, that number is significantly less, but it only takes as little as two people for miscommunication to occur. Two people can share the same experience, but due to their own individual Ladder of Inference, they could draw two very different conclusions. This can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings and conflict.
How Long Your Cert IV TAE Takes Depends On Marking Times
Asking how long it takes to complete the Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (TAE40116) is very much like asking how long is a piece of string. But, there is one thing more than others that has an incredible impact on how long it is going to take you to graduate.And it is something that is entirely out of your control and which may cause you to pull your hair out if you are not aware of it.
How And When to Upgrade Your TAE Diplomas - Dip VET And Dip TDD
The TAE Training Package that came out in April 2016 had a few changes. Understanding those changes is key to understanding how best to upgrade your TAE Diplomas, and when to do it. This article will introduce what has not changed, what has changed and what it all means. It will finish with some reasons why other people are upgrading, and some questions you may wish to ask yourself.
Here Be Dragons Advice From Cert IV TAE Students
In the olden days, “Here be Dragons” was used on maps to point out dangerous or unexplored territories. When it comes to the Cert IV TAE (and our other courses), there are a few dragons as well. So, just like the mariners of old relied on maps to find their way past obstacles, we too can learn from the people who have gone before us.
Effective Adult Class Size
The number of students in an adult classroom has been the centre of attention for researchers for a few years. There have been various manifolds in the perspectives of research regarding this subject. Some of the researchers suggest smaller class sizes are better whereas others deny the productivity of small classroom sizes and recommend larger classrooms are beneficial with multiple supporting rationales and shreds of evidence.
Design And Develop Training Programs – TAEDES401
Australia’s VET program is unique in that it provides a lot of resources to the trainer, specifically in defining what is needed in a training program, so that the learners can receive a certification for their knowledge in skills.
Courses Of Concern Create More Concerns
The move to have Courses of Concern is in itself concerning and makes the playing field anything but level. The TAE40116 is a course for concern but we feel there are solutions available for future TAE courses.
Characteristics Of A Good Teacher - What Students See
What are the important characteristics students look for in a good teacher? In most academic and industrial educational settings, the question is interesting but not particularly relevant since students rarely have the opportunity to select their own instructors.
Building a Question-Friendly Environment As A Trainer
Trial lawyers are often told never to ask a question to which they don't already know the answer. That might be true in the courtroom, but in the classroom, that mentality is one of many things teachers and trainers do to discourage a question-friendly environment. Intellectually, we all know the ability to ask questions is a critical learning component. Practically, creating an atmosphere that encourages refraining from questioning and answering does not take much.
Being Competent is the First Step in Gaining RPL for Your TAE Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
The aim of this article is to introduce 5 questions that you can ask yourself to determine if you could think about attaining your Certificate IV in Training & Assessment entirely by RPL.
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Hi. I really enjoyed the learning experience offered by fortress learning. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a supportive and well organised online learning experience. A great team.
Andrew Trosic
So far the best RTO that I have been with. Great support from the admin team, stable online blackboard platform, experienced trainers like Richard Gietman & Deb Thomas, along with efficient student processing services. Thank you Fortress, and 5 stars for the team!
Suresh Suppiah
I had an excellent experience completing the Diploma of Vocational Education and Training through Fortress Learning. The whole team was incredibly supportive throughout the process—special thanks to Karen, Bheng, Jane, Maniya, and Emma for their professionalism and encouragement at every step. I would particularly like to thank my trainer, Emma, for her outstanding guidance, clear feedback, and responsiveness, which made the RPL journey smooth and achievable. I highly recommend Fortress Learning to any VET professional seeking a structured, supportive, and well-managed qualification pathway.
Yun Qian
I have completed a few Cert IV and Diploma units with Fortress over the years and have had nothing but positive experiences (even with RPL). The team at Fortress are always helpful and supportive.
Christiana Mergan
The Fortress Team were extremely professional to deal with all throughout my course. Always helpful, understanding and a pleasure to deal with. I would happily recommend them to anyone.
Lee Guest
I really enjoy my study journey in fortress learning. The teachers and staff really helpful.
Physio Dian Nawir
Highly recommend. Reasonably priced, easy to use interface, quick marking times and responsive trainers.
Bel Callea
The TAE cert iv certainly isn’t an easy course to complete. I had to learn a whole new language and although I was expecting to be taught how to teach, it’s nothing like that - more like learning how best to support our students and to present the information to them in a way they can understand. The support provided by Fortress was really good - I chose the middle package as a safety net just in case I needed it. Initially my trainer was Brian, an awesome mentor, huge experience and very helpful. He left last year, and my new mentor was Richard - again fabulous support, almost always available relatively quickly and able to point me in the right direction. Marking turnaround was typically 1-2 days - shorter than the advertised time too which also helped. I have no hesitation in recommending Fortress Learning to anyone looking to further their VET journey. Many thanks Fortress and the team
Andy Graham
Fortress learning was fantastic in all areas. From the customer support team to the trainers. The support team was always professional at all times and the communication was fantastic. The trainers were knowledgeable, empathetic and supportive during the whole course. I would highly recommend fortress learning. A special mention to Deb who is definitely an asset to the team and any future students.
Clint Parkes
I have recently completed the TAESS00021 Facilitation Skillset, and the training material and content was not only top quality but also interesting. The admin staff and trainers were extremely punctual and helpful. Big thankyou to trainer Deb. I highly recommend training with Fortress Learning.
Sienna hardie
I am so glad that I chose Fortress Learning for my course. The team was available and helpful along my entire journey. It was not easy, but my advisor exceled in encouraging me and enabling me to keep going! I highly recommend Fortress Learning to anyone! They are amazing at what they do.
Tim Hildebrand
Fortress Learning is an outstanding RTO that delivers exceptional training and support. I recently completed my TAE upgrade, and the process was seamless, efficient, and well-structured. A huge thank you to Mel, Jan, and my incredible assessor, Deb, for their guidance and professionalism. Their expertise and dedication truly make them champions of TAE!
Daniela Accary
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