The information below is final, however, it does not include changes to the secondary school reporting arrangements in Western Australia from 2008 onwards. This will be included once the reporting arrangements have been confirmed.

New Entrance Requirements and Selection Criteria for Admission into
Full-time TAFEWA Courses

A new system of entry requirements and selection criteria for full-time places in TAFEWA courses has been developed.

These new arrangements are designed to:

• streamline and simplify the application process for full-time places in TAFEWA courses;
• make the application process easier to understand
• enhance the provision of course advice provided for new and ongoing students seeking full-time places in TAFEWA courses
• provide better support for applicants who miss out on their first choice of course
• ensure that selection processes are equitable and consistent across the TAFEWA network and operate on a merit basis;
• ensure that selection processes are consistent with the government’s objectives of promoting participation in training, pathways and lifelong learning.
  

What are the entry requirements and selection criteria?

Entry requirements are designed to ensure all those who gain entry to a course have the competencies or skills and abilities required to effectively participate in the program.

Entry requirements may be expressed as:

• a prerequisite competency based qualification
  eg. entry to Certificate IV in Disability Work on successful completion of Certificate III in Disabilities
  
  

  OR

• generic competencies that cover communication (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and maths skills.
  These generic competencies have benchmarks which are expressed as:
  

	basic skills
	developed skills
	well developed skills
	highly developed skills

eg. to enter into a Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) you could require developed communication skills and basic maths skills.

Communication skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English)	-		-	-
Maths skills		-	-	-

Click here to view more information about the Communication skills benchmarks.

Click here to view more information about the Maths skills benchmarks.

How to meet the entry requirements for a full-time TAFEWA course

Follow these simple steps:

1. Choose a course from the 2008 TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide or on-line at www.tafe.wa.edu.au from mid-2007.
2. Read the information under the course’s ‘entry requirements’:
   - some courses require a lower-level qualification.
   - for other courses, you will need to meet the communication and maths skills benchmarks indicated
3. If you need to meet communication and maths skills benchmarks, go to the relevant table in the ‘Evidence Guide’.
   (This will be in the 2008 TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide and on the website.)

Table 1 shows the outcomes required for each benchmark. It will look like this:

Communication skills

BENCHMARK
Levels of achievement (Year 10)
English	2	3.5	5	6.5
Courses (Years 11 and 12)
English Year 11	Performance equivalent to Year 10 levels above
English Year 12	2F	3M	5F	6M
Literature Year 11	Performance equivalent to Year 10 levels above
English as an Additional Language/Dialect	Performance equivalent to Year 10 levels above
Year 11 and 12 D code and E code subjects	YEAR AND GRADE
English Literature	Y11/12D	Y11/12D	Y11/12C	Y12B
English as a Second Language (ESL)	Y11C/12D	Y11C/12D	Y11B/12C	Y12B

Maths skills

BENCHMARK
Levels of achievement (Up to Year 10)
Mathematics	3	4.5	5	5.8
Years 11 and 12 D code and E code subjects	YEAR AND GRADE
Applicable mathematics	Y12D	Y12D	Y12D	Y12D
Calculus	Y12D	Y12D	Y12D	Y12D
Discrete mathematics	Y12D	Y12D	Y12D	Y12C
Foundations of mathematics	Y11D	Y11D	Y11C	Y11B
Geometry and Trigonometry	Y11D	Y11D	Y11D	Y11D
Introductory Calculus	Y11D	Y11D	Y11D	Y11C
Mathematics in Practice	Y11C	Y11B	Y11A	-
Modelling with Mathematics	Y12C	Y12B	Y12A	-
Vocational Mathematics	Y11C	Y11B/A	-	-

To meet the benchmark for your course, you may be able to provide other types of evidence. This will be explained in the 2008 TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide and on the website from mid-2007.

Important

The entry requirements for most full-time TAFEWA courses will be at benchmarks

basic skills

or developed skills

Many courses will have no maths skills requirement.

Selection criteria include previous academic achievements and other evidence of ability, such as work experience; industry involvement; and employment status that are used to rank eligible applicants competing for entry into a course. Selection criteria are normally applied only if there are more applicants than places available in a course. Details of the model are listed below.

The essential difference between entry requirements and selection criteria is that entry requirements are used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for entry into a course. Selection criteria are used to determine which eligible applicants will be offered a place in a course.

Are there exceptions to these new arrangements?

There are some areas where these new arrangements do not apply. These are:

• qualifications that stem from local arrangements
• qualifications offered on a fee-for-service or commercial basis
• accredited courses that are not specifically vocational eg. Certificate of General Education for Adults (CGEA); New Opportunities for Women (NOW).
  

Selection criteria Maximum score = 100 points

Qualification pathway Maximum score = 29 points

Scoring is based on an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification according to the values listed below. AQF Qualification Points Complete qualification in the same field of study* Complete qualification in other field of study Incomplete qualification in the same field of study Incomplete qualification in other field of study Certificate I 20.5 16 7.5 4 Certificate II 22 17.5 9 5.5 Certificate III 24.5 19 10.5 7 Certificate IV 26 20.5 12 8.5 Diploma 27.5 22 14.5 10 Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor degree or above 29 24.5 16 11.5

Work experience/employment Maximum score = 29

Scoring is based on 0.002 points per hour worked. Work experience/employment covers: paid/unpaid work full-time/part-time work general work experience and work experience in school and VET programs and voluntary work community service obligation

Secondary education/Skill Development Maximum score = 42 points

Scoring is based on the best three 2 course** unit combinations. One of these courses must be English, English Literature or English as an additional language/dialect. OR Portfolio demonstrating evidence of skill development. IMPORTANT: scoring for certain qualifications within the arts and entertainment industry area is based ONLY on a specific portfolio of evidence.

* The same field of study refers to any qualification in the same occupational group as published in the TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide
^** Course refers to a Curriculum Council developed course of study

Comparison of the current centrally administered selection process for TAFEWA and the new process to be implemented from mid-2007

Current	New
All applications for entry to full-time courses at TAFEWA are fully administered by TAFEWA Admissions. Part-time applications are administered at college level.	No change.
Applicants identify up to four preferences for full-time places and are offered a place based on their preferences	No change.
Entry requirements are specified for all courses, either as a lower level qualification in the same study area or from high school student results.	Entry requirements will be specified for all courses, including full and part-time qualifications. These will be expressed as generic competencies (literacy and numeracy), or where relevant, competency based qualifications.
The current process does not provide guidance to applicants on how to meet entry requirements if not a school leaver.	Evidence Guides will be developed to assist applicants to identify evidence that addresses the entry requirements. Evidence may include formal certification, other forms of formal assessment, or informal evidence (reference, portfolio)
Highly competitive courses are noted in the TAFEWA Full Time Studies Guide.	Each semester courses will be identified as either requiring ‘entry requirements only to be met’ or ‘both entry requirements and selection criteria to be met’ (for courses where there are more applicants than places available). Information for semester one is included in the TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide and updated on the website for semester two.
All applicants are required to provide evidence of meeting entry requirements and selection criteria for all qualifications.	The majority of qualifications will require applicants to provide documentary evidence that they meet entrance requirements only. For some courses, applicants will be required to submit further evidence to address selection criteria.
Applicants are assessed against course specific selection criteria (16 models), that have a strong emphasis on school results, subject levels, preferred subjects and work and other experience.	There will be one model for selection criteria. Selection criteria will place less emphasis on school based learning and place a stronger focus on pathways, skill development and work experience.
Applicants who do not meet entry requirements or are not competitive when assessed against the selection criteria are sent a letter advising that they were not successful. This is sent with all offers in January.	Applicants who are deemed ‘ineligible’ (ie they do not meet the entry requirements or they miss out on a place in a e course where there are more applicants than places available) will be offered access to course/career advice prior to offers being made and may be offered negotiated access to a relevant TAFEWA course

What’s in it for applicants?

The TAFEWA Admissions system is more streamlined for all and includes many changes which will simplify the application process for TAFEWA courses.

Following are some of the changes that will affect applicants:

Qualifications in the TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide will be noted as:

• courses where the applicant needs to address only entry requirements; or
• courses where the applicant needs to address entry requirements and selection criteria

What does this mean?

Historically, TAFEWA Admissions data indicates that selection criteria are applied in addition to entry requirements in only about 30% of courses. If applicants apply for courses that fall into the other 70%, they will need to address only the entry requirements to gain entry into TAFEWA.

Recognition of complete or partially completed formal qualifications

What does this mean?

As part of the selection criteria, students will get points for complete or partially complete qualifications. The students will get more points if the course is in the area related to the qualification being applied for and than if it is in an unrelated area.

Removal of preferred subjects in selection criteria

What does this mean?

At the moment students have to choose subjects in Year 10 for the course in which they want to enrol, two or three years later. Instead of these preferred subjects, school students will only have to present their best three subjects.

Guidance and advice for applicants

What does it mean?

If a student's application has been assessed as ineligible for entry into a TAFEWA course that a student applies for, they will be given other options. Their application will be reviewed and a range of suitable courses and career guidance will be offered. Once the student has considered their options and chosen one of the offered courses they will not need to reapply or pay another fee. (Refer to figure below)

What does this mean for career advisors?

Applicants will be able to provide any school-based evidence, formal certification, evidence of work and life experience to meet the entry requirements to TAFEWA Admissions. TAFEWA Admissions will determine whether the applicants have met the entry requirements.

The TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide will include an Evidence Guide that maps the evidence to the entry requirements.

Central admissions system

There will be a centralised admissions system administered by TAFEWA Admissions. As shown in the figure below, all applications for full time places in TAFEWA courses will be submitted to TAFEWA Admissions.

Process for entry into TAFEWA courses

Application for part-time places in TAFEWA courses

Applications for part-time places in TAFEWA courses will continue to be managed at the local college level.

When will new TAFEWA Admission arrangements commence?

Currently the Department of Education and Training is:

• conducting information sessions for TAFEWA colleges, schools and other key stakeholders;
• preparing to provide print and electronic information on the new arrangements to schools, TAFEWA colleges, employers, employer and employee organisations, adult education providers and other community groups;
• revising the TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide and the Department’s website
• implementing the arrangements in 2006-07.
  

The new arrangements will be fully implemented from second semester 2007 and will be available on line. The information will also be included in the 2008 TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide.

Further information

The Department of Education and Training is committed to keeping the Western Australian community informed on developments associated with the new approach to admissions for TAFEWA courses. Information will be provided in the TAFEWA Full-time Studies Guide and through the Department’s web site, www.vetinfonet.det.wa.edu.au and the TAFEWA web site www.tafe.wa.gov.au.

Inquiries about the new arrangements should be directed to:

Career development and course advice	Career Development Centre	Free call 1800 999 167
Information on applying for TAFEWA courses	TAFEWA Admissions	(08) 9224 6560
Implementation and information sessions	Department of Education & TrainingVET Teaching & Learning Directorate	(08) 9264 4627/ 9264 4671