Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751 
angela. kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

The allocation of credit towards the WACE for VET accredited courses is based on the classification of course outcomes. The classification scheme determines whether the accredited course outcomes have an industry, foundation skills, or vocational focus. The allocation of credit towards the WACE for VET accredited courses is applied according to a sliding scale.

More information about the recognition arrangements can be found here http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/vet/wace-recognition-of-vet-accredited-courses

The Certificate II and III in Applied Languages currently attract full credit towards the WACE. Unlike other accredited courses, the 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language and the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Language have remained ‘unclassified’ whilst a decision was being made about the appropriate level of recognition.

The 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language is no longer current and has been replaced with the 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages.

The course outcomes of both the 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages and the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages have been assessed as having a vocational focus and deemed to be primarily aimed at preparing students for work rather than directly articulating into a job role.

The courses are recognised in the WACE for the value they offer students in preparing them for work through the allocation of unit equivalence. The Authority has made the same assessment of the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages.

From 2018 the following accredited courses:

• 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language (not current)
• 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages (current)
• 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages (current).

will be classified as having a vocational focus and awarded the following recognition towards the WACE:

These arrangements apply to:

• new enrolments for Year 10 and 11 students from 2018
• new and continuing enrolments for Year 10-12 students from 2019.

Note: Qualifications that are a part of a nationally endorsed training package attract full credit towards the WACE and are not subject to the classification scheme for VET accredited courses.

Contacts
Jenny Offer (08) 9273 6313
jenny.offer@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded that Wednesday, 5 April 2017 is the last date to process changes to enrolments in:

• ATAR, General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific courses for Year 12 students
• ATAR (Units 3 and 4) courses for Year 11 students.

After Wednesday, 5 April, SIRS will be locked and no further changes (except withdrawals) will be accepted. Please note that the Authority will not be permitting any changes after this date.

Year 12 students will still be able to withdraw from the following:

• ATAR courses with practical examination components up until Friday, 28 July 2017
• ATAR courses which do not have practical examination components up until Friday, 25 August 2017
• General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific courses up until Friday, 25 August 2017.

Year 11 students will still be able to withdraw from the following:

• ATAR (Units 3 and 4) courses with practical examination components up until Friday, 28 July
• ATAR (Units 3 and 4) courses which do not have practical examination components up until Friday, 25 August.

The last date for receipt of enrolments as non-school candidates in ATAR course examinations by the Authority is also Wednesday, 5 April 2017. No further applications will be accepted after this date.

Contact
Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
kerry.tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au

Permission must be obtained from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority for a student who is in Year 10 to study a pair of Year 12 ATAR units (Units 3 and 4) and sit the 2017 ATAR course examinations for that course.

A student who sits an examination for a particular Year 12 ATAR course in Year 10 must be exiting the course and will not be permitted to enrol in the Year 12 ATAR course (Units 3 and 4) and sit the ATAR course examination in Year 12.

An application form for permission to sit an examination for students in Year 10 is available on the Authority website at: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/75618/Application-to-study-ATAR-units-3-and-4-and-sit-the-2017-ATAR-examinations-for-students-in-Year-10.pdf.

Applications close Wednesday, 5 April 2017. No changes will be made to student enrolments to study a pair of Year 12 ATAR units (Units 3 and 4) and sit the 2017 ATAR course examinations after this date.

Schools should note that applications for students in Year 11 to study ATAR units (Units 3 and 4) and sit the 2017 ATAR course examination are no longer required.

Contact
Buddhini Daluwatta (08) 9273 6761
buddhini.daluwatta@scsa.wa.edu.au

Kerry Cribb (08) 9273 6787
kerry.cribb@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is seeking applications from qualified people who wish to be considered for appointment as writers and checkers of the 2018 Externally set task (EST).

Please see the link below to apply online and to read the terms of reference.
http://scsa.wa.edu.au/about-us/employment/application-for-writing-ests

Applications must be received at the Authority no later than 5pm on Friday, 24 March 2017.

Successful applicants will be notified after Friday, 7 April 2017.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751 
angela. kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

The allocation of credit towards the WACE for VET accredited courses is based on the classification of course outcomes. The classification scheme determines whether the accredited course outcomes have an industry, foundation skills, or vocational focus. The allocation of credit towards the WACE for VET accredited courses is applied according to a sliding scale.

More information about the recognition arrangements can be found here http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/vet/wace-recognition-of-vet-accredited-courses

The Certificate II and III in Applied Languages currently attract full credit towards the WACE. Unlike other accredited courses, the 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language and the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Language have remained ‘unclassified’ whilst a decision was being made about the appropriate level of recognition.

The 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language is no longer current and has been replaced with the 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages.

The course outcomes of both the 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages and the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages have been assessed as having a vocational focus and deemed to be primarily aimed at preparing students for work rather than directly articulating into a job role.

The courses are recognised in the WACE for the value they offer students in preparing them for work through the allocation of unit equivalence. The Authority has made the same assessment of the 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages.

From 2018 the following accredited courses:

• 22149VIC Certificate II in Applied Language (not current)
• 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Languages (current)
• 22150VIC Certificate III in Applied Languages (current).

will be classified as having a vocational focus and awarded the following recognition towards the WACE:

These arrangements apply to:

• new enrolments for Year 10 and 11 students from 2018
• new and continuing enrolments for Year 10-12 students from 2019.

Note: Qualifications that are a part of a nationally endorsed training package attract full credit towards the WACE and are not subject to the classification scheme for VET accredited courses.

Contact
Lynn Galbraith (08) 9273 6702
lynn.galbraith@scsa.wa.edu.au

Thank you to all schools for their efforts in ensuring their Student Registration and Demographic Information was uploaded to the Student Information Records System (SIRS) in Term 1 2017 through the SRGDG file.

It is now important that this information is kept up-to-date on SIRS. Schools are requested to regularly upload the SRGDG to SIRS, so that new student details can be added, students who transfer to a different school are included and students who leave your school, or move overseas or interstate are also noted as per your enrolment details.

Uploading this file regularly also allows for correction of data.  Data that cannot be altered by uploading the SRGDG file includes the student’s

• Western Australian Student Number (WASN)
• Surname
• First Name
• Date of Birth
• Academic Year
• Gender.

To change any of these details you need to first contact dataservices@scsa.wa.edu.au and advise of the correct information prior to uploading your file.

If you upload a file and you receive error messages relating to the name, date of birth or academic year, you also need to contact dataservices@scsa.wa.edu.au.

For schools using the Brightpath Assessment Tool, please also remember to upload your Teacher Registration (THREG) File when you have new teachers or class information.

Contact
John Newman (08) 9273 6757
john.newman@scsa.wa.edu.au

Heads of Learning Area for the Arts and Science are advised that Principal Consultant for the following subjects have changed:

• Music
• Media Production and Analysis
• Integrated Science
• Human Biology.

Music (First term only)
Leonie Squires (08) 273-6756
Leonie.squires@scsa.wa.edu.au

Media Production and Analysis
Naidina Avery (08) 9273-6334
Naidina.avery@scsa.wa.edu.au

Integrated Science and Human Biology (Monday – Wednesday)
Stephanie Griffiths (08) 9273-6381
Stephanie.Griffiths@scsa.wa.edu.au

Contact
Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
lisa.honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers of Design ATAR and Design General Year 11 and 12 courses are advised that a Design Glossary of terms for all ATAR and General course syllabuses is now available on the Design course page. This glossary is provided to enable a common understanding of the key terms in the Design course syllabuses. It is located under support materials for both ATAR and General courses.

Contact
Gabby Raggio (08) 9273 6306
gabby.raggio@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers attending the Accounting and Finance Examination Forum requested clarification regarding the disclosure requirements in the notes for revalued assets and dividends.

For revalued assets, AASB116 Property, Plant and Equipment, Paragraph 73, states that:
‘The financial statements shall disclose, for each class of property, plant and equipment:
(e)(iv) increases or decreases resulting from revaluations under paragraphs 31, 39, Aus39.1, 40 Aus40.1 and Aus40.2 and from impairment losses recognised or reversed in other comprehensive income in accordance with AASB136’.

Therefore the notes that accompany the financial statements must disclose the cost of the asset and also the revaluation amount, e.g.

For dividends, AASB101 Presentation of Financial Standards, Paragraph 107, states that:
‘An entity shall present, either in the statement of changes in equity or in the notes the amount of dividends recognised as distribution to owners during the period, and the related amount of dividends per share’.  Further Paragraph 137 states: ‘An entity shall disclose in the notes:
(a) the amount of dividends proposed or declared before the financial statements were authorised for issue but not recognised as a distribution to owners during the period, and the related amount per share’

Given that it is not expected in the course that the amount of dividend per share paid during the financial period is disclosed in the statement of changes in equity, this amount must be disclosed in the notes.

Therefore the expectation is that the dividend note will include:

• dividends paid during the year, also referred to as recognised dividends (including final dividend for the previous financial year and interim dividends for the current financial year), and
• dividends recommend but not yet paid, also referred to as unrecognised dividends
• the amount of the each dividend per share and also the total amount of each dividend

As the standard does not provided a prescribed format for the notes, suggested layouts may include, but not limited to:

or alternatively

Contact
Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
Lisa.honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers are advised that the options provided to a candidate for playing their music recording for Performance 1 of the Dance Practical (performance) examination in 2017 have been extended.

Candidates using the CD player provided by the Authority to play their music recording for Performance 1 can now use a CD or a USB. If they are not using the CD player provided by the Authority, they can bring in and operate their own sound equipment including a CD player, mobile phone (must be in ‘flight mode’), MP3 player or laptop as well as speakers. Should they choose to, candidates may bring in a technical assistant to operate their sound equipment.

For specific details regarding these options please refer to 2017 Dance ATAR course Practical (performance) examination requirements at 
http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/arts/dance under the Examination Materials menu.

Contact
Mandy Hudson (08) 9273 6755
mandy.hudson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Participation in this moderation process is compulsory for all schools delivering a course involved in the particular year. The courses involved for 2017 are listed in the table below.

Schools will receive a letter from the Authority in the week beginning 13 March outlining details of the registration process for consensus moderation in 2017. Schools will be required to nominate a teacher for each course in consensus moderation that is delivered by the school. The nominated teacher will be required to register online for a meeting using the information provided in the letter to the Principal. Registration opens on 20 March and closes on Friday 7 April. Registrations will be managed electronically and schools will receive notification at the point of registration as to the meeting date, time and venue. The process will be conducted for Year 12 courses from 6 June 2017 – 23 June 2017 (Weeks 7 to 9 Term 2) and for Year 11 courses from 24 July 2017 – 11 August 2017 (Weeks 2 to 4 Term 3)

There are two parts to the consensus moderation process in 2017:

Part 1: marking a common task to be completed prior to attending the meeting
The initial part of each meeting will involve a discussion of the marking of a common task, and the use of the marking key, as provided by The Authority. Prior to attending the meeting, the teacher registered to represent the school will be required to download two Authority-selected student scripts and mark the scripts using the marking key provided by the Authority in preparation for discussion about marking and grading standards for the course. Teachers will be required to upload their two marks prior to attending the meeting. The process should take 30 minutes in total.

Part 2: grading student assessment files during the meeting
During the second part of the meeting, teachers will be reviewing assessment files from other schools. All assessment files are reviewed independently, twice, by other teachers attending the meeting.

All teachers participating are required to provide three (3) student assessment files. For each assessment file, feedback is provided from each reviewing teacher in the form of a grade and a supporting comment for that judgement.

The following details are provided to assist teachers when preparing student assessment files for the meeting. For the course, each assessment file must contain:

• all the marked assessment tasks for that student up to the time of providing the file
• the task (or task brief or task description) if not included with the student's work
• the marking key for each task
• the assessment outline

The assessment files provided should be those of a mid-A student, a mid-B student, and a mid-C student.

Note: should the anticipated grade distribution at the school not include one or more of these grades, a total of three files is still required (e.g. in a class of 5 students all of whom are working at a C grade standard, provide the files of the 3 students furthest from the grade cut-offs for B and D).

When preparing the files:

• teachers may choose to provide photocopies rather than the originals of student’s work if there is a concern about the risk of the student work being lost at the meeting
• teachers may choose to remove or conceal indications of the school and student name from the students’ work and from the task if it is considered appropriate for the course
• teachers may choose to remove or conceal the final mark for the task if it is considered appropriate for the course.

Alternative arrangements will be made for those schools more than 100km from the nearest meeting.

Please email consensus.moderation@scsa.wa.edu.au for any enquiries about the consensus moderation process.

Contact 
Mandy Hudson (08) 9273 6755
mandy.hudson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded that they should have received a letter from the Authority in the week beginning 20 March outlining details of the registration process for consensus moderation in 2017. Schools are required to nominate a teacher for each course in consensus moderation that is delivered by the school. The nominated teacher is required to register online for a meeting using the information provided in the letter to the Principal. Registration opened on 20 March and will close on Friday 7 April. Registrations are being managed electronically and schools will receive notification at the point of registration as to the meeting date, time and venue. The process will be conducted for Year 12 courses from 6 June 2017 – 23 June 2017 (Weeks 7 to 9 Term 2) and for Year 11 courses from 24 July 2017 – 11 August 2017 (Weeks 2 to 4 Term 3).

Teachers are reminded of the two parts to the consensus moderation process in 2017:

Part 1: marking a common task to be completed prior to attending the meeting

The initial part of each meeting will involve a discussion of the marking of a common task, and the use of the marking key, as provided by The Authority. Prior to attending the meeting, the teacher registered to represent the school will be required to download two Authority-selected student scripts and mark the scripts using the marking key provided by the Authority in preparation for discussion about marking and grading standards for the course. Teachers will be required to upload their two marks prior to attending the meeting. The process should take 30 minutes in total.

Part 2: grading student assessment files during the meeting

During the second part of the meeting, teachers will be reviewing assessment files from other schools. All assessment files are reviewed independently, twice, by other teachers attending the meeting.

All teachers participating are required to provide three (3) student assessment files. For each assessment file, feedback is provided from each reviewing teacher in the form of a grade and a supporting comment for that judgement.

The following details are provided to assist teachers when preparing student assessment files for the meeting. For the course, each assessment file must contain:

• all the marked assessment tasks for that student up to the time of providing the file
• the task (or task brief or task description) if not included with the student's work
• the marking key for each task
• the assessment outline

The assessment files provided should be those of a mid-A student, a mid-B student, and a mid-C student.

Note: should the anticipated grade distribution at the school not include one or more of these grades, a total of three files is still required (e.g. in a class of 5 students all of whom are working at a C grade standard, provide the files of the 3 students furthest from the grade cut-offs for B and D).

When preparing the files:

• teachers may choose to provide photocopies rather than the originals of student’s work if there is a concern about the risk of the student work being lost at the meeting
• teachers may choose to remove or conceal indications of the school and student name from the students’ work and from the task if it is considered appropriate for the course
• teachers may choose to remove or conceal the final mark for the task if it is considered appropriate for the course.

Alternative arrangements will be made for those schools more than 100km from the nearest meeting.

Please email consensus.moderation@scsa.wa.edu.au for any enquiries about the consensus moderation process.

Contact
Cristina Caruso on 9273 6317 cristina.caruso@scsa.wa.edu.au
Melanie Jasper on 92736732 melanie.jasper@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is seeking applications from qualified people interested in reviewing the 2017 Externally Set Tasks (EST). ESTs are completed by all students enrolled in Year 12 General or Foundation courses.

The ESTs are assessment tasks which are set by the Authority and distributed to schools for administering to students. The ESTs are marked by teachers in each school using a marking key provided by the Authority. Each year, the Authority will review by independently marking a sample of EST scripts from each school delivering the course.

Reviewing will be completed in the July school holidays. Reviewers must be available for the two week period. Successful applicants will be notified of marking requirements and days.

Marking provides excellent professional development, offering an ideal opportunity to work with colleagues and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the General and Foundation course standards.

Qualified people who are interested in reviewing must complete the application form on the Authority’s website using the link http://scsa.wa.edu.au/about-us/employment.

Applicants will receive a receipt of their submission via email once the application has been processed. The markers are selected based on:

• the number of reviewers required
• previous marking experience

You are not eligible to be a reviewer if you have taken a voluntary redundancy from a State Government organisation in the past 12 months.

For more information about ESTs, please go to the Authority website http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/130137/Externally-Set-Tasks-Handbook-2017.pdf.

Please note that applications must be received no later than Wednesday, 26 April 2017.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications by Friday, 9 June 2017.

Contact
Jenny Morup (08) 9273 6309
melanie.jasper@scsa.wa.edu.au

Melanie Jasper (08) 9273 6732
melanie.jasper@scsa.wa.edu.au

In 2017, online marking of examinations will continue for the following ATAR courses:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Drama
• English as an Additional Language/Dialect
• Human Biology
• Literature
• Mathematics Applications
• Mathematics Methods
• Mathematics Specialist
• Physical Education Studies
• Physics
• Religion and Life.

In 2017, online marking may be introduced for the following ATAR courses:

• Economics
• Modern History.

For examination scripts to be scanned for online marking, the format of the paper includes the following features:

• a barcode at the bottom of the front page
• a solid 5mm square in each corner of the front page
• a unique identifying number printed on every page within the paper.

The margins of each page will be excluded from the area available for writing and will be marked with the wording ‘DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA AS IT WILL BE CUT OFF’.

It is highly recommended that you advise your students not to use pencil, except in diagrams.

The front covers of each examination will be sent to schools in August.

Contact
Naidina Avery (08) 9273 6334
Naidina.Avery@scsa.wa.edu.au

Gayathri Haththotuwa Gamage
(08) 9273 6712
Gayathri.Haththotuwa-Gamage@scsa.wa.edu.au

There is a change in the requirements for schools for the submission of the Data Collection Form and Collaborative Form for the practical (production) in Media Production and Analysis.

In 2017, the Student Information and Records System (SIRS), will indicate by default audio-visual and individual for all students enrolled in the Media Production and Analysis ATAR course examination. From 4 August 2017, teachers are advised to download, from SIRS, a report to check their Media Production and Analysis enrolments, media type for each student and the type of submission (individual or collaborative).

Data Collection Form

The Data Collection Form must be completed only if the media type, for any candidate, is either:

• Print Production
• Photography
• Radio Production or
• Digital Production.

Audio-visual submissions do not require students to complete the Data Collection Form. The form requires the teacher to list each candidate’s name, SCSA student number and media type for the practical (production) examination submission.

Collaborative Form

The Collaborative Form must be completed only if the submission is collaborative. Individual submissions do not need to complete this form.

Submission details

From 4 August 2017, the 2017 practical examination – Data Collection Form and 2017 practical examination - Collaborative Form can be downloaded from the Authority’s website, http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/arts/media-production-and-analysis under Examination Materials.

The signed and completed Data Collection Form and Collaborative Forms must be received by the Authority no later than 4.00 pm 18 August 2017.

The requested changes in the Data Collection From and Collaborative Form will be reflected in SIRS after 25 August 2017. Teachers are advised to check SIRS to verify the information is correct.

Contact

Naidina Avery (08) 9273 6334
naidina.avery@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers of Media Production and Analysis are invited to attend a workshop designed to promote a better understanding of the application of the 2017 Media Production and Analysis practical production marking key. It is requested that only one teacher from each school register for this event.

Teachers intending to participate in the workshop are asked to register online at http://scsa.wa.edu.au/events/media-production-and-analysis-atar-course-practical-production-workshop.

Contact
Leanne Meldrum (08) 9273 6746
leanne.meldrum@scsa.wa.edu.au

2017 Endorsed programs list 
The revised list of endorsed programs available to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2017 is available now on the Authority website. The web link for endorsed programs is:
http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/endorsed-programs

Authority-developed endorsed programs
The program outlines for each of the Authority-developed endorsed programs may be downloaded from http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/endorsed-programs. They are:

• Administration and Management (ADAM)
• Community Arts Performance (ADCAP)
• Community Service (ADCS)
• Elite Sports Performance (ADESP)
• Music Performance Ensemble (ADMPE)
• Off-campus Enrichment Program (ADOEP)
• Recreational Pursuits (ADRP)
• School Production (ADSP)
• Workplace Learning (ADWPL).

A reminder that a student who graduated in 2016 or beyond will be able to count a maximum of 4 unit equivalents from endorsed programs for WACE purposes, two in Year 11 and two in Year 12.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

The VET Qualification Estimates (ESQUAL) is a mandatory WACE reporting activity required by 24 April 2017. Schools who do not meet the deadline will be contacted to provide the information.

Schools are required to report the qualifications being undertaken by students (including students who access training offsite at external providers) and the student details for each qualification.

Details of the units of competence within each qualification are not required to be reported. Schools are only required to update the ESQUAL file after the 24 April deadline if there is a significant change in VET offerings.

Schools will also need to indicate the delivery arrangement (e.g. auspice, profile, fee for service) for each VET qualification.

For more information about the reporting process, the full list of delivery arrangement definitions and the ESQUAL file format, refer to the 2017 Data Procedures Manual, Section 3.3 VET qualification estimates (ESQUAL). The manual can be downloaded from the Authority website at: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/Data_Procedures_Manual.

Important information

Uploading an ESQUAL file to Student Information and Record System (SIRS) causes the previous file to be completely erased. To correctly update the information in your ESQUAL upload file, all students should be included in each upload. This ensures that information on your school record in SIRS is maintained correctly.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

Nicole Gazey (08) 9442 9401
nicole.gazey@scsa.wa.edu.au

There are two WACE requirements relating to students completing 220 nominal hours of Vocational Education and Training (VET).  One relates to the recognition of Certificate II qualifications and the other relates to the partial completion of a Certificate III or higher.

Completed Certificate II qualifications

The full allocation of unit equivalence is only awarded for completed Certificate II qualifications where the total achievement in units of competency is equal to or greater than 220 nominal hours (the equivalent of four course units). The 220 nominal hours can be achieved and reported over Years 10, 11 and 12.

Certificate II qualifications with units of competency that are less than 220 nominal hours in total will meet the minimum Certificate II qualification requirement, however, the qualification will only contribute towards the WACE as two Year 11 unit equivalents.

Please note: a combination of results which include 20 (competent), 60 (credit transfer) or 51 (RPL granted) can make up the minimum 220 nominal hours for a completed Certificate II.

Partially completed Certificate III or higher

To be awarded unit equivalence for a partially completed Certificate III or higher students must complete in Year 12 at least 220 nominal hours of new VET enrolments.

Please note: A result of 20 (competent) in Year 12 can only be used towards meeting the minimum 220 nominal hours for a partially completed Certificate III or higher.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

Nicole Gazey (08) 9442 9401
nicole.gazey@scsa.wa.edu.au

A reminder to schools about the nominal hour requirement for completed VET qualifications for students to be awarded the full allocation of unit equivalence in the WACE.

Please note: If a student completes a Certificate I or II qualification in either Year 10, 11 or 12 and is relying on the full allocation of unit equivalence for meeting WACE requirements that there is a specified minimum nominal hour requirement for the full allocation of WACE credit.

VET credit transfer and unit equivalence

*Equivalence is only awarded for completed Certificate I qualifications where the total achievement in units of competency is equal to or greater than 110 nominal hours (the equivalent of two course units).

**Equivalence is only awarded for completed Certificate II qualifications where the total achievement in units of competency is equal to or greater than 220 nominal hours (the equivalent of four course units). Certificate II qualifications with units of competency that are less than 220 nominal hours in total will meet the minimum Certificate II qualification requirement, however, the qualification will only contribute towards the WACE as two Year 11 unit equivalents.

Additional information on VET credit transfer and unit equivalence can be found in section 4.6 of the WACE Manual http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/wace-manual

Contact

Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
kerry.tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au

Jessica Wright (08) 9273 6752
jessica.wright@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded of the importance of ensuring the VET Qualification Results (RSQUAL) file is uploaded to the SIRS database at the end of each calendar year. The information in the RSQUAL file is used to allocate unit credit towards the WACE and to determine that a student has met the Certificate II or higher requirement. The VET units of competency (RSVET) file is used to determine subsidiary rules associated with VET achievement.

Failure to upload this file will result in students not achieving their WACE and therefore considered not eligible for first round offers for entry into university and TAFE courses.

If there are errors in student achievement data after the deadlines that are a result of the school providing incorrect or incomplete data, the school will be charged a fee for reprinting the student’s certification documents.

Schools are also reminded that if the RSQUAL is not uploaded at the end of that year for Year 11 students who have completed a qualification this may also prevent students from achieving their WACE in the following year.

It is also important for schools to ensure that the RSQUAL file processes successfully to SIRS and any error messages are resolved before achievement due dates. If a student does not have the correct number of units of competency linked to a qualification in SIRS the RSQUAL will not upload successfully.

The RSQUAL file should be uploaded at the conclusion of the year that the student completes the full qualification (whether that be Year 10, 11 or 12). The diagram below illustrates the process for resulting student VET achievement and when to report whether a certificate has been issued or not in the RSQUAL file.

Schools can check that the qualification has been recorded correctly by running the report CSE007 – VET qualifications achieved in full. The pathway to this report is: Reports > Other Reports > Report type: Achievements > Report: CSE007.

More detailed information about the RSQUAL file is provided in the Data Procedures Manual 2017 in Section 8: Achievements (links are provided to database-specific manuals) available on the Authority website at http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual.

Contact

Nicole Gazey (08) 9442 9401
nicole.gazey@scsa.wa.edu.au

Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

The VET Qualification Estimates (ESQUAL) is a mandatory WACE reporting activity required by 24 April 2017. Schools who do not meet the deadline will be contacted to provide the information.

Schools are required to report the qualifications being undertaken by students (including students who access training offsite at external providers) and the student details for each qualification.

Details of the units of competence within each qualification are not required to be reported. Schools are only required to update the ESQUAL file after the 24 April deadline if there is a significant change in VET offerings.

Schools will also need to indicate the delivery arrangement (e.g. auspice, profile, fee for service) for each VET qualification.

For more information about the reporting process, the full list of delivery arrangement definitions and the ESQUAL file format, refer to the 2017 Data Procedures Manual, Section 3.3 VET qualification estimates (ESQUAL). The manual can be downloaded from the Authority website at: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/Data_Procedures_Manual.

Important information

Uploading an ESQUAL file to Student Information and Record System (SIRS) causes the previous file to be completely erased. To correctly update the information in your ESQUAL upload file, all students should be included in each upload. This ensures that information on your school record in SIRS is maintained correctly.

Contact

Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

A reminder to schools who have students enrolled in a Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry specific course in 2017 that there may be a request to provide details about student workplaces to ensure the requirements of the relevant VET-industry specific course are being met.

Schools that were required to provide information in 2016 to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority will not be included in the 2017 integrity check.

The purpose of the VET industry specific integrity check is to assess whether the students who are enrolled in a VET industry specific course are in a workplace that:

• is aligned to the qualification undertaken
• provides an opportunity to reinforce the learning of the qualification undertaken
• is undertaken concurrently to the qualification.

Schools are provided with an opportunity to ensure the student can meet the workplace requirements where it is initially assessed that those requirements are not being met.

What are schools required to do?
An email with an attached spread sheet will be sent to selected schools in early Term 3, 2017. The spreadsheet will be pre-populated with course enrolment details and request the following workplace information from schools:

• (New) Student enrolment status (current, left)
• Main job role
• Employer
• (New) Supervisor name and contact
• Start Date
• Work placement arrangement (block release, daily/weekly)
• Workplace occurrence (total number of weeks released, days per week in the workplace)
• Scheduled work placement (during the semester, holidays, combination)
• Course duration (1 or 2 years)
• Delivery arrangement (auspice, SBT, SBA, profile, NoA, fee for service, combination)
• RTO name.

Schools may choose to include any or all of the details required into their recordkeeping practices.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

A reminder to schools that for students enrolled in a VET industry specific course, the Authority-developed Workplace Learning Endorsed Program (ADWPL) must be linked to the relevant qualification code when reporting enrolments and achievements in ADWPL.

For SIRS to allocate course credit for VET industry specific courses, it is a requirement that ADWPL is linked to the relevant qualification code before uploading to SIRS.

ADWPL is reported through ENEND and RSEND SIRS file formats.

To identify the link between ADWPL and the relevant VET industry specific course, there is a qualification code field in both ENEND and RSEND file formats. See SIRS file format excerpts below:

For further details see section 9.4 of the Data Procedures Manual http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual.

Please note: The qualification code is not required for ADWPL completed independent of a VET industry specific course.

Contact
Angela Kiely (08) 9273 6751
angela.kiely@scsa.wa.edu.au

A reminder for student continuing enrolments in the Automotive VET industry-specific courses in 2017, please use one of the following qualification codes found under the course code summaries for 2016-17 or 2017-18. These can be found at http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/vet-industry-specific.

Superseded qualification codes (continuing enrolments only)

• AUR10112 Certificate I in Automotive Vocational Preparation (VEVAU)
• AUR20712 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (VEVAUP, VTVAUP)
• AUR20512 Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology (VEVAUV, VTVAUV)
• AUR20912 Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology (VEVAUB, VTVAUB).

Current qualification codes

• AUR20916 Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology (VEVAUB, VTVAUB).
• AUR10116 Certificate I in Automotive Vocational Preparation (VEVAU)
• AUR20716 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (VEVAUP, VTVAUP)
• AUR20516 Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology (VEVAUV, VTVAUV).