Victorian Small Training Provider of the Year Award

Category information

The Victorian Small Training Provider of the Year Award is presented to a Registered Training Organisation that demonstrates outstanding achievements in all aspects of delivering of vocational education and training.

The winner will receive a trophy and be recognised as the best in Victoria’s world-class training system. The winner may represent Victoria at the 2011 Australian Training Awards.

Eligibility and Conditions

• Eligibility is limited to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) with less than 1500 students, whose main business is training delivery.
• RTOs must be registered by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).
  
• RTOs that are based in Victoria and are registered with the National Audit and Registration Agency are also eligible to apply for the awards, however, only Victorian based training should be included in their application.
• Applicants must also agree to the full Conditions of Entry.

Preparing your application

• Applications are to be in 12 pt font and a maximum of twenty (20) A4 pages including attachments. Any material in excess of twenty (20) pages will not be forwarded to the judging panel.
• The award criteria should be the focus of your application, however any relevant evidence may be provided so long as it does not exceed the required page limit.

Section A: Overview

Provide an overview of the training* program(s) delivered by your organisation, including objectives, a description of the environment in which the programs are delivered and any specific challenges which have been encountered in the implementation of the training program.

*denotes nationally recognised training, ie training which is based on a National Training Package or Accredited Course and results in a formal qualification or Statement of Attainment by a Registered Training Organisation.  This includes Australian Apprenticeships.

Section B: Applicants will be judged against the following criteria

• Criterion 1: Leading practice in vocational education and training  
• Criterion 2: Strategic planning processes
• Criterion 3: Client and market focus
• Criterion 4: Human resource capability
• Criterion 5: Partnerships and links

Addressing the criteria

When developing your application against the award criteria, you may wish to take into account some of the considerations outlined below, if they are relevant to your organisation. These suggestions are not additional criteria, but are provided to give clarification of what may be relevant to include.

1. Leading practice in vocational education and training

Consider:

• how you show commitment to excellence in implementation of national training arrangements
• how you demonstrate creativity, excellence and/or innovation in the design and development of processes or techniques (operational or educational), use of Information Communication Technologies, e.g. e-learning, and overall operational and educational effectiveness
• the systems and processes you have in place for managing, evaluating and enhancing products and services
• how you undertake continuous improvement within the organisation, eg through organisational learning and transformation, knowledge management, the use of new technologies, encouragement of a learning culture, support for emerging industries.

2. Strategic planning processes

Consider:

• details of the external environment in which the organisation operates and its relationship to Victorian and national policies and priorities
• systems and processes for planning and communicating purpose, vision and goals, values, core business strategies, and creating alignment across the whole organisation.

3. Client and market focus

Consider:

• your organisation’s knowledge of clients and markets and the response to these, including systems and processes for collecting and analysing data on client needs and expectations
• methods your organisation uses to create positive relationships with individuals, enterprises, industries and community groups including industry consultation, partnerships, feedback, and/or outcomes
• measures of success your organisation has in place, including client outcomes, client satisfaction surveys, employment outcomes, recognition by industry
• what your organisation does to encourage access, and the degree of success in meeting the needs of equity client groups.

4. Human resource capability

Consider:

• strategies and processes your organisation uses to build the capabilities of the organisation’s people, such as job design, personnel selection, staff training and development, performance management systems, two way feedback systems
• how you ensure constructive management/employee relations, including emphasis on teamwork, participation and communication
• how your work environment demonstrates that it recognises the well-being of staff as critical to business success.

5. Partnerships and links

Consider:

• strategies your organisation has to identify local/regional issues, such as social, economic, industrial or environmental issues and incorporate these into service delivery
• how you build effective partnerships with other organisations or groups in the local or wider community.

What assistance can I get to write my application?

A seminar to assist nominees to write effective applications will be held on Wednesday 6 April 2011 at 4.30pm at Treasury Theatre, Lower Plaza, 1 Macarthur Street.

Checklists

Nomination Checklist

When completing your application, remember to:

• Meet all of the eligibility requirements for the category;
• Use 12 point fonts only;
• Keep to twenty (20) A4 pages including attachments;
• Directly address the criteria in your written application;
• Read and agree to the conditions of entry;
• Meet the deadline of 6 May 2011 at 5pm (date all applications need to be received);
• Submit your application online

Criteria Checklist

Have you answered all of the following criteria?

• Criterion 1: Leading practice in vocational education and training  
• Criterion 2: Strategic planning processes
• Criterion 3: Client and market focus
• Criterion 4: Human resource capability
• Criterion 5: Partnerships and links

2010 Finalists

A complete list of past winners and finalists can be found on the Past Awards page.