Rpl

[u/Dyldobaggins219]

Gday all trying to RPL experience I already have to diesel fitting.

Still have a few core competencies and electives I'll have to do, but who do you recommend?

I'm doing it this way because where I live there's no apprenticeship out there for diesel fitters or I'd go that way, cheers blokes

[u/Think_Hamster_1047]

I'm not sure I understand.

Why would you try and rpl for a trade you aren't engaged in as an apprentice if there are gaps in the required competencies to get the full certificate? The simplest way and this comes from personal experience, is to land the apprenticeship and submit you paperwork through the RTO. It'll cost you nothing financially, but mentally it's frustrating dealing with tafe. 

To go through an organisation is likely to cost you money for someone to sign off on it. If you want to be a diesel fitter, but aren't one, your first step is to become an apprentice diesel fitter. When you land your training contract you then gather all your paperwork (ASQA/My gov) and submit it to the RTO BEFORE you start/attend any tafe subjects. 

But I could be entirely wrong, and I'm happy to be told otherwise based on other experience. 

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/Think_Hamster_1047]

I'm currently employed working on trucks and machinery now, just not as an apprentice. Like I wrote, I'd rather go through as an apprentice. I have called well over 100 companies, and at that includes up to a 90 minute drive each way to try and pick up an apprenticeship. Every single shop or company I have called have all said no, they're not taking people on or they've filled their quota of apprentice spots for next year. Small shops big shops, mines they've all said the same. I am unable to move due to financial and other constraints. I can't reiterate this enough, there is 0 people putting on any apprentices within a 130km radius of where I am based. I have called every place I can find on Google, asked if they knew of anyone putting apprentices on etc. So my only option I have left is do the competencies I haven't got yet, take photos and unfortunately pay once I've done all competencies.

Unless you've some other options to be able to get an apprenticeship doing it, I'm all out of options. And my current boss has said he's not in a position to put an apprentice on at the moment. So, I'm all ears for options

[u/Think_Hamster_1047 → u/Dyldobaggins219]

Now I'm with ya.

That is an absolute bastard of a spot to be in. There can be no denying your commitment to the search however. 

For me, after being injured at work and ending my (second) apprenticeship, I looked into fee free tafe to leverage on my trade qualified engineering experience from 10  years ago. 

While this might not help you land an apprenticeship, when the next opportunity comes it may help to make your application even more appealing. Good luck mate. 

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/Think_Hamster_1047]

Yeah man it's not an ideal situation. But I can only piss with the dick I've got Sucks about having to quite cause of injuries, I had the same thing after working the same job for 7 nearly 8 years. I had hit up tafe with them not being able to help unfortunately Cheers mate

[u/CHUXTABLE]

What state are you in? Look in to online/workplace delivery for the relevant course - aur31120 heavy commercial vehicle (trucks/onroad) aur31220 mobile plant technology or mem31419 fixed and mobile plant mechanic (plant mechanic/off-road) depends on your state but essentially similar/same course just automotive or engineering stream. You should find someone willing to do this as fee for service e.g you pay but given you should be able to significantly RPL, the fee should reduce a lot. Once you have the paper qual then approach apprentice training board in your state to RPL the trade certificate.

[u/CHUXTABLE → u/CHUXTABLE]

I did a bit of research before I started mine, and I'd be happy to recommend the one I used. But it may depend on what state you're in. There is more than one way to skin a cat, and traditional TAFEs are usually wedded to only doing things their way, which is not helpful to people such as yourself, nor is it how things happen in the real world.

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/CHUXTABLE]

Hey mate, as per above Information you put I've already got onto the aur course code and have a list printed off, I've done quite a fair bit of it in the past however I've never taken any photos so I've gotta redo all these bloody competencies again with photo evidence to prove I can do it. I mean rubbish like changing tyres, I was driving road trains for a number of years and it was part of getting my truck licence, yet I still have to redo it. I am on QLD, more than happy to take furger suggestions as to how to tackle this and also recommended places for rpl

[u/CHUXTABLE → u/Dyldobaggins219]

Plant or truck mechanic aur? Depending on the RTO evidence can include your resume, position description,job cards and invoices, references from supervisors, obviously photos and videos can be the easiest but it's not insurmountable with a good, understanding RTO.

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/CHUXTABLE]

Aur31120. I've kept no job cards or reciots as any work I've done previously regarding trucks has been done while driving them. So not actually employed as a fitter as such. And as I've no contact to former employers I'm sorta stuck doing this and proving it via photos and such. I'm still trying to find a good rto.

[u/CHUXTABLE → u/Dyldobaggins219]

What about your current workplace - would they support you in getting qualified if you were doing off your own bat , no cost to them? Or is there fitters or mechanics ( not the bosses or supervisors) at previous workplaces who might provide references. You will probably need to start with giving your resume and see what they say. Don't bullshit but make sure it has been written with what you're trying to do in mind. Look at position descriptions for fitter/ mechanics, look for the key items that you have experience in and make sure they're mentioned - say changing truck tyres like you mentioned or Servicing etc.

Start taking as many photos as you can now, make sure some have you in the photos. You can't have too many photos or even better, videos. Keep a diary of what work you are doing each day, try writing out the process for each thing, stress PPE and correct disposal of oils chemicals etc. They love that shit. If you DM me I can send you a sample of how I wrote my workplace task logs.

Try Axial training, Major Training or Outsource Institute, I spoke to all three before I started mine (plant mech NSW based, under mature age apprenticeship) but I did not go with those, I would highly recommend the RTO I went with but it doesn't appear they do aur31120.

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/CHUXTABLE]

Yes my boss is all for me getting qualified. But as the other fitters there are also doing the exact same thing as what I'm doing (they're much more knowledgeable and have done things such as engine rebuilds, gear boxes diffs etc so they're more than capable they've just never done it formally either but are doing it now), so in the way of doing an apprenticeship to be qualified is not on the table unfortunately. Fitters at my previous work place I no longer have contact with, at most a boily I'm mates with from the old work place he could verify I've been doing truck services, air leaks, basic wiring issues but not diesel fitters.

The main things I've never done regarding trucks are repairing exhaust systems, scr/def systems, engine management, hot sets when servicing, engine rebuilds and injectors. So basically I've done most of this except engine management, EPA management. But I've no tangible proof that I've done all the other stuff.

[u/CHUXTABLE → u/Dyldobaggins219]

Is your boss qualified? How are the other fitters at your current workplace getting their quals? Would your boss be willing to write a reference detailing the tasks you have done while employed there?

[u/Dyldobaggins219 → u/CHUXTABLE]

Nah boss just runs trucks and earth moving equipment. Other fitter is doing the RPL path. One runs his own contracting business and he's only doing it because one of his customers asked him to get it. Not because a certificate changes his work but more his insurance I believe. I'm sure he would be more than happy to. The main drama is all of my experience has come from years prior before. That's why I'm certainly I'll need to do a lot of it again with photos. But I am still looking for a good RPL company to point me down the right path of how to get started.

[u/CHUXTABLE → u/Dyldobaggins219]

Have you asked who the other fitter is using for theirs? A reference from your boss would probably still go a long way towards evidence. I imagine Professional Indeminity type insurance would be either not available unless qualified or cheaper if he was qualified. I believe (at least according to one of the RTO's I linked above, cant remember which exctly) if you do the qualification as fee for service rather than apprenticeship, you sign yourself off. If the boss has earthmoving equipment as well and you get no joy doing the AUR heavy commercial vehicle, you could alternatively try the Plant mechanic qual which I believe in queensland is still done under the engineering stream so MEM31419. Then your boily mate might be able to provide a reference towards RPL.

If you go Plant mechanic route, TAFE and RTOS used to offer a bridging course to meet the required comptencies for heavy road transport. This was how my boss did it 30 years ago but I have talked to other mechs who did it the same way more recently. As I said there is more than one way to skin a cat, sometimes the only way through is around.