Challenge

No existing qualification matched the sector’s frontline leadership needs.

 

Approach

Formed an industry reference group and led the full accreditation cycle end to end.

 

Outcome

TAFEs and private RTOs across most states are now preparing to deliver it.

 

DSS + Ability First Australia · Qualification development

Developing nationally recognised qualifications for the disability sector

The Australian Government Department of Social Services engaged UNE Partnerships and Ability First Australia to identify a suitable nationally recognised qualification for emerging and frontline leaders across the NDIS.

Our team mapped more than 800 units of competency against 108 skills, knowledge items and behaviours drawn from the NDIS Frontline Leader Capability Leadership Framework, confirming that no existing training product could adequately address the sector’s complex requirements without imposing significant over-training. We established an Industry Reference Group (IRG) of more than 30 employers, associations and agencies, and the IRG ultimately recommended the design of a new qualification.

With the IRG’s assistance, UNE Partnerships led the full development cycle in less than 12 months, encompassing the course concept proposal, detailed unit mapping, the accreditation application and packaging rules, ongoing data analysis, and the development of learning and assessment resources for both existing and new enterprise units. The resulting qualification, 11076NAT Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services, has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with TAFE institutions and private RTOs in most states now preparing to deliver it.

800+

units of competency mapped

 

108

capability requirements

 

30+

reference group members

 

<12

months to accreditation

 

Jennifer Luff, Ability First

“We would have been lost without help navigating the training system, and our members can’t speak highly enough of the design team.”

Jen Luff, Chief Operating Officer – Ability First Australia