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History of the Program
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ (DEEWR) Language, Literacy and Numeracy Section manages the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP). The LLNP contributes to building Australia’s productivity and inclusiveness by providing high quality LLN training to assist job seekers address LLN barriers to obtaining sustainable employment and/or undertaking further education and training.
The LLNP has operated since January 2002 when the LLNP and the Advanced English for Migrants Program amalgamated to provide a more integrated management approach to addressing language, literacy and numeracy needs among job seekers at the national level. Among other disadvantaged groups, this program also targets job seekers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds needing language-only training.
A review of LLNP in 2005 led to three main changes in the program, including: improving of educational outcomes, streamlining of administration and more effective financial management.
In 2009 a full Request for Tender (RFT) was conducted for the 2010-13 contract period. As a result, 38 Training and Assessment (TA) providers were contracted on 1 July 2010 to offer face to face and distance training across more than 380 sites for 3 years to June 2013. One Independent Verifier was also contracted to check education claims of job seeker outcomes and offer professional development.
In May 2009, the government allocated an additional $3 million for the delivery of LLNP to assist Indigenous people needing assistance with LLN skills that are located in identified Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) communities.
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Program Objective
The Program seeks to improve clients’ language, literacy and/or numeracy with the expectation that such improvements will enable them to participate more effectively in training or in the labour force and lead to greater gains for society in the longer term.
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Target Groups/Job Seekers
The Program provides language, literacy and numeracy assistance to those job seekers who are experiencing significant disadvantage in the labour market due to low levels of language, literacy and/or numeracy.
The Program targets job seekers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds needing language-only training at three different levels, Initial, Basic and Advanced, including those seeking International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) training. The Program also targets job seekers with literacy and/or numeracy training needs at two levels (Basic and Advanced). Training is also available to those job seekers needing specific Advanced Vocationally-Oriented Course (AVOC) training.
The Program caters for disadvantaged job seeker groups including Indigenous people, young males, people with disabilities, isolated female job seekers and/or cases of aged based workforce exclusion.
All participants in LLNP must be of working age (generally 15 to 64 years) and be registered with Centrelink and not a full time student. Participants must also satisfy eligibility criteria relating to benefit and visa status.
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Key Features of the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
The Program provides high-quality, flexible training to eligible clients and caters for the increasing demand for English language training as well as the continuing need for literacy and numeracy training and vocationally-oriented training. Training is normally delivered face-to-face although a small proportion of training is delivered by distance-mode. Clients are placed in the appropriate stream of training with the appropriate training focus following a face-to-face or distance-mode pre-training assessment of language, literacy and numeracy competencies.
Language, literacy and/or numeracy training delivered under the Program may be vocationally contextualised within each stream of training. In addition, delivery of Advanced vocationally-oriented training must meet vocationally specific requirements. Where such training occurs, Providers contextualise training or use vocational competencies that meet the needs of local businesses and/or industry.
Around Australia, registered training organisations have been contracted to deliver assessment and training services under the LLNP. These include community organisations, TAFEs, private providers, and universities.
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Type of Training
The Program provides initial, basic and advanced accredited English language training, as well as basic and advanced literacy and numeracy training. Each assessed and recommended participant has an individual training plan. This outlines the tailored training a participant is to receive to meet their needs and forms the basis for recording the participant’s progression through training. Participant learning outcomes are reported against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).
Complementary Training (CT) supports the most disadvantaged participants to achieve their learning outcomes in an environment which they find conducive to learning. An example of such a course may be where a number of mature aged participants are preparing to return to the workforce and a course is developed to be relevant to their circumstances. CT allows Providers the flexibility to develop innovative training courses that are parallel to the core delivery of the Initial, Basic and Advanced streams of training.
Advanced Vocationally-Oriented Courses (AVOC) assists the more advanced participants to participate in vocational training and can include elements of workplace experience and observation. This training is delivered using vocational competencies from endorsed training packages and/or accredited curricula which meet local business and industry needs. The duration of these courses may extend up to 450 hours. Upon satisfactory completion participants may receive a recognised qualification.
Small Group Training (SGT) allows those participants who are uncomfortable or struggling in a larger class to build their confidence in a class of no more than five individuals, before returning to larger classes.
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Participating in the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
Referring Agencies (currently Centrelink, Job Services Australia (JSA) providers and Disability Employment Service (DES) providers) refer job seekers to an LLNP provider. Participants attend training on a part-time (minimum of 10 hours and maximum of 19 hours a week) or a full-time basis (20 hours per week). Training is delivered in blocks of 200 hours (or up to 450 hours for AVOC). Visit the Provider page for assistance in finding your local LLNP Provider.
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Coverage
Providers are contracted to deliver either training and assessment services (TA Providers), or verification services (IV Providers). Current face-to-face services are available from 40 training and assessment providers at over 300 sites around Australia. These include community organisations, TAFEs, private providers, and universities. LLNP services are also available by distance education, across Australia. IV Provider(s) conduct on-site and off-site verification visits and deliver professional development and moderation workshops nationally.
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Quality
The Program is structured to provide flexibility in delivery, while achieving clear, measurable outcomes and measurable improvement in participant LLN competencies. It is supported by a robust performance management and quality assurance framework, namely:
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be met by providers which relate to participation; retention; attainment and quality;• Quality Assurance undertaken by Independent Verifiers. The IV Provider’s role includes:
- Conducting on-site and off-site verification of participant portfolios and claimed outcomes;
- Providing professional development to trainers through moderation workshops and the provision of constructive feedback to trainers following participant portfolios verification; and
- Providing advice to trainers on the development of assessment tasks and other resources;
- Reporting participant learning outcomes against the ACSF. The ACSF has been developed by expert LLN practitioners and updates the well-regarded National Reporting System (NRS) which had been used to measure and report the outcomes of LLNP prevision since 1995. This framework provides a consistent approach to the identification of core skills requirements in diverse personal, community, work and training contexts and is a common reference point for describing performance in the five core skills areas, namely speaking, reading, writing, numeracy and learning strategies;
- An IT system which confirms participant LLN skills and improvements, participant individual training plans, participant status and attendance; and
- A network of DEEWR State Office staff who undertake site monitoring visits to ensure that, among other things, appropriate records management protocols are being followed and suitable accommodation and resources are available to participants.
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Why should I give it a go?
Poor language, literacy and numeracy skills have been shown to be a major barrier to getting and keeping a job. If your skills are not as good as they could be, it makes it harder for you to get a job and to do a lot of everyday things. Things such as banking, reading bus and train timetables, filling in a form without asking for help, writing notes and letters to your family and friends, or applying for a job. Improving your reading and writing skills is also a great way to boost your confidence.
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Contact DEEWR
Contact details are available on the Contact us page.
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