Standard 10.6 – Foundation skills

VET accredited courses must identify foundation skills relevant to the course outcomes.

This Standard relates to Section B: 4.2 and Foundation Skills information within Section C of the National course document template.

Foundation skills are an integral part of a unit of competency and need to be assessed by the course provider. Foundation skills that are essential for performance can be explicitly included in the performance criteria of a unit of competency. Or, if not explicitly included in the performance criteria, they should be described in the ‘foundation skills’ field of the unit of competency in the course document.

Foundation skills include:

reading skills
writing skills
oral communication skills
numeracy skills
learning skills
problem solving skills
initiative and enterprise skills
teamwork skills
planning and organising skills
self-management skills
technology skills.

To help identify required foundation skills when developing performance criteria, ASQA has compiled a list of ‘trigger words’ that highlight where foundation skills are needed.

Table 9 provides some examples of how foundation skills can be described in a unit of competency. Only skills applicable to the unit outcomes need to be included in the table. Please remove those that do not apply.

Table 9: Examples of foundation skills in a unit of competency

Skill	Description
Reading skills	read workplace instructions and messages read simple information about job requirements select, synthesise and critically evaluate ideas and information from multiple texts
Writing skills	writing skills to complete forms write orders and basic notes on customer preferences record steps of calculations and result
Oral communication skills	adapt language to audience, context and purpose interact effectively with client to explain procedures
Numeracy skills	interpret and utilise mathematical information related to statistical data, trends and classification systems estimate timeframes for inspections and schedule tasks efficiently
Learning skills	identify and use reliable sources of information regarding workplace requirements continually research and source complex information on current and emerging service trends and synthesise this information
Problem-solving skills	identify innovative problem-solving strategies monitor operational efficiency of machinery and adjust accordingly during operation
Initiative and enterprise skills	promote and model changes to improved work practice and procedures negotiate with clients
Teamwork skills	direct staff on responsibilities and supervise staff share customer information with team members to ensure service in line with organisational procedures
Planning and organising skills	sequence the preparation of services and their components to efficiently serve customers skills to coordinate services and support activities
Self-management skills	deal with hostile and uncooperative customers in a professional manner and in line with organisation procedures work within confidentiality guidelines
Technology skills	use a scientific calculator use computers and software programs to cost and document findings

Providing evidence with your application

The National course document template requires you to provide a statement on the required foundation skills in Section B: 4.2 as well as in the foundation skills component of any enterprise unit of competency. Foundation skills may be explicitly stated in the performance criteria of a unit or identified in the unit’s foundation skills field.

Note: Only skills applicable to the unit outcomes should be identified. You can find further guidance on the National course document template.