Assessor Skill Set
Overview
The TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set is designed to provide high school teachers transitioning into Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VDSS) roles with the essential skills and knowledge to conduct delivery and assessments in the VDSS area. This training product ensures that graduates are equipped to assess competence in accordance with the Standards for RTOs, thereby supporting quality vocational outcomes for secondary students. The skill set includes three nationally recognised units that contribute to the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.
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Your industry experience
You will need to have the vocational competency (broad industry knowledge and experience) for the units that you will be assessing.
Topics you'll cover
- National training products and frameworks
- Analysing training packages and qualifications
- Training and assessment strategy interpretation
- Planning competency-based assessment processes
- Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
- Collecting and evaluating assessment evidence
- Assessment validation processes and practices
- VET regulatory and compliance requirements
Skills you’ll learn
- Analyse training products for learner needs
- Plan and conduct competency assessments
- Apply RPL and reasonable adjustments
- Collect evidence and make judgements
- Validate assessment tools and outcomes
- Interpret VET compliance requirements
Your career opportunities
- VDSS Teacher and Assessor within secondary schools delivering VET programs (VDSS)
- School-based VET Coordinator with assessment responsibilities
- Assessment support roles in partnership with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
- Pathway into broader VET roles, including as an assessor and potential progression to the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and other TAE training products.
Further education
- Potential progression to the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Location options
- Online
Why Swinburne?
Learn from experienced VET trainers and assessors
Build practical skills for real training environments
Develop job-ready assessment and validation capabilities
Aligned with current industry and compliance standards
Admissions
Applicants for this course must meet the following entry criteria:
- Be 18 years at the time of admission
- Participants must have experience in delivering curriculum and assessing student learning in a school setting.
- Participants must have a secondary teaching qualification and be currently employed or eligible to be employed as a secondary school teacher.
Course prerequisites
Language, literacy and numeracy
Applicants are required to complete a language, literacy and numeracy skills assessment as part of the application process. This will assist in determining course suitability and identifying whether additional support may be required.
The approved online skills assessment tool used to determine language, literacy and numeracy skills within the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) is Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB).
The levels required for this course are:
- Language and literacy: 3 (Working level 3)
- Numeracy: 3 (Working level 3)
Applicants should have Intermediate Digital Literacy and be able to:
- Use multiple applications and platforms confidently and appropriately
- Combine and reuse digital content for common work or learning tasks
- Explain and apply effective search strategies to locate information
- Create, edit and format documents, spreadsheets and presentations
- Manage and organise digital files and data securely
- Undertake basic problem‑solving for common technical issues
- Apply safe online practices, including analysing the credibility of digital information
Other requirements
This course requires the use of some software from Microsoft 365 and Adobe. Swinburne allow students to access this software through the Swinburne system at no cost.
Mandatory documentation
Applicants are required to hold and submit the following documentation:
- Hold a Working with Children Check (Volunteer or Employee) for the duration of the program.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit transfer is a formal recognition process that allows students to receive credit for units of competency achieved through previous accredited study at another registered training organisation (RTO).
The number of credits granted will vary and is based on the:
- unit/s that have been successfully completed
- unit currency and status
- qualification requirements
- relevance to the qualification
- Swinburne policy
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of transferring the skills and knowledge that you have acquired over your lifetime (irrespective of how they were obtained) against the requirements of the unit.
RPL is an assessment process that requires you to provide evidence that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the unit/s. The amount and types of evidence you will need to provide will depend on the unit requirements.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
Course structure
The course consists of 3 core units of competencies.
Delivery
- Learn through live, timetabled online sessions with real-time interaction and guided activities
- Study part-time over six months, designed around full-time teaching commitments
- Apply learning in simulated VET training and assessment environments aligned to real practice
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Assess competence
Core unit |
TAEASS412 |
|
Participate in assessment validation
Core unit |
TAEASS413 |
|
Use nationally recognised training products to meet vocational training needs
Core unit |
TAEDES411 |
Study requirements
Timetable
- Attend live, timetabled online evening classes and participate in activities
- Complete self-directed study, including reading, research and assessment tasks
- Engage in simulated training and assessment activities
- Demonstrate competency by completing assessments for each unit
Assessment
- Complete competency-based assessments aligned to nationally recognised units
- Demonstrate skills through practical tasks, projects and evidence collection
- Participate in simulated assessment and validation activities reflecting real VET practice
- Receive feedback and opportunities to improve and resubmit where required
2026 fees
Full fee* ($AUD)
$1980
Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)
$1190
2026 fees
Fees are estimates only
Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Skills first government-subsidised place
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. To qualify for a government-subsidised place, you must meet various eligibility criteria. The course you’ve applied for must also be offering government-subsidised places. Swinburne will determine your eligibility by conducting a full assessment of your eligibility during the course application process.
Concessions rates for vocational students
If you’re enrolling in a Certificate IV-level program or below, are eligible for a government-subsidised training place and hold a valid concession card, you may be eligible for a concession of 80 per cent off the published fee of your unit(s) tuition – which means you’ll only be charged 20 per cent of the published fee.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.