In the 2011-12 Budget the Australian Government announced $9.2 million for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative to improve the quality and uptake of RPL assessments for early childhood professionals.
The RPL initiative will support the implementation of the National Quality Framework by ensuring that current early childhood educators who have extensive experience in the industry but lack formal qualifications are able to have their skills recognised. Promoting the use of RPL will reduce the overall time cost to educators and services in upgrading staff qualifications to meet the minimum qualification requirements set out in the National Quality Framework.
The initiative includes:
- development of new national assessment tools for Certificate III, Diploma and Advanced Diplomas in Children’s Services
- training 600 existing RPL assessors in good practice RPL and the use of the new national RPL assessment tools (Training commenced in March 2012)
- RPL Assessment Grants of up to $1125 for rural and remote early childhood educators to contribute to out-of-pocket expenses associated with accessing RPL assessments.
How to apply for RPL assessment grants
Applications for RPL assessment grants opened in March 2012. Applications are made using an electronic form which is submitted to DEEWR via the internet. The following resources are available to assist early childhood services and educators complete the application and understand the initiative in more detail.
RPL Assessment Grant Guidelines
The Program Guidelines will help early childhood services and educators understand the grant application process. They provide details of who can apply for funding, what the funding can be used for, how to submit an application and how the payments will be made.
Improving Access to Recognition of Prior Learning Assessments for Early Childhood Educators (RPL Assessment Grants) Guidelines (
PDF 353KB | 
DOCX 484KB)
RPL Assessment Grant Application Form
Recognition of Prior Learning Grants—Application Form (PDF 1.22MB)
Finding a registered RPL Assessor
To be eligible to receive an RPL Assessment Grant, early childhood services and educators must ensure that the RPL assessments are conducted by a DEEWR Registered RPL assessor using the new national RPL assessment tools.
A list of registered assessors is available on the Recognition of Prior Learning – Registered Assessors page.
RPL Fact Sheet
A fact sheet is available which provides more detailed information about the RPL initiative.
(PDF 137KB | DOCX 470KB)
Information for Early Childhood Services and Educators
If you would like more information on the RPL initiative and the RPL Assessment Grant application process, please visit the Information for early Childhood Services and Educators page.
Information for Registered Training Organisations and RPL assessors
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) with Children’s Services on their scope of registration were invited to apply to nominate existing RPL assessors to be trained in the new national RPL assessment tools and become DEEWR Registered RPL Assessors. Each of the successful RPL assessors will receive two days of training in contemporary RPL practices and the use of the new national RPL assessment tools. This training commenced in March 2012.
All RTOs and RPL assessors can request a copy of the new national assessment tools for Certificate III, Diploma and Advanced Diplomas in Children’s Services developed as part of the RPL initiative. The tools include forms and templates to assist the processes and support RPL assessors in providing high quality, candidate focussed RPL assessments.
If you would like more information about becoming a DEEWR registered RPL Assessor visit the Information for Registered Training Organisations and RPL Assessors page.
Further information
If you have further questions, please send an email to ECECWorkforceInitiatives@deewr.gov.au