There are times when an LLN specialist needs to be engaged by the RTO to help with the training. TAFE colleges and large RTOs often have their own LLN specialist on staff. Smaller RTOs are more likely to use an independent consultant.

The costs involved in providing extra LLN support are generally subsidised under a state or federal government funding program. For example, state-based traineeship and apprenticeship funding may include an additional amount for learners who need LLN support.

For learners undertaking an industry skills course, it's always preferable to integrate the LLN support as much as possible with your vocational training. This allows the learner to directly relate the LLN assistance they're receiving to the technical skills they need to know.

Be mindful of the fact that there is a limit to the level of improvement you're likely to see in the learner's 'global' LLN skills - that is, their general ability to read and write and carry out maths calculations in different contexts. Unless an adult learner is highly motivated and keen to practise their skills outside work hours, they are probably not going to significantly advance these core skills levels in a general sense.

But you can make a genuine difference to the learner's 'vocational' LLN skills if you work with a literacy specialist to target the specific areas they're having trouble with, and reinforce the principles with real workplace examples.

There are various ways of structuring the LLN support, including:

• delivering the training as a team, with the industry trainer and LLN specialist working side by side and reinforcing each other's input
  
  
• providing individual LLN support and tuition to special-needs students outside of the normal vocational training sessions
  
  
• enrolling special-needs students in a parallel program, such as a foundation skills qualification or other basic education program.

To see a range of video clips on various aspects of LLN in the workplace, go to What works for LLN.

This free on-line library of videos covers topics that include working with specialist practitioners and where to access LLN support.

Foundation skills

The Foundation Skills Training Package has been developed by IBSA to provide generic competencies and qualifications in core skills at Certificate I and II levels.

It is possible to import competencies from this Training Package into the vocational qualification being delivered. This may allow the RTO to claim extra funding for the additional LLN tuition they need to provide.

To see the units and qualifications available from the Foundation Skills (FSK) Training Package, go to the Australian Government Training website.

In addition to the development of the FSK Training Package as a source of core skills competencies, Industry Skills Councils are progressively embedding a 'Foundation Skills' section into all competencies across all Training Packages. We discussed this on-going process in Section 2, in the chapter: 'Competency based training'.

Go back to the case study about Sue and her agricultural students on the previous page. Answer the following questions.

At what stage should Sue look for extra help from an LLN specialist? That is, what sorts of pointers would indicate to her that specialist assistance might be needed?

How could Sue structure the extra LLN support so that it blends in well with the vocational training she is delivering and doesn't disrupt the workplace too much?

Using a translator

If you're training or assessing learners whose English language skills are not up to the standard required to understand the material, you may need to employ the services of a translator.

Talk to the human resources manager or other senior company personnel first about the issues, because they may already have procedures in place or existing contacts with approved translators.

Some workplaces also use their own bilingual workers to act as translators for fellow employees. This can be a convenient way of addressing the issue without having to go to the effort and expense of bringing in an external party.

However, there are potential pitfalls in having a workmate act as translator, particularly when assessment tests are being administered. It is very important to ensure that any knowledge based assessment tests are constructed in a way that minimises the chance of the translator providing their own input into the candidate's answers.

If you need to find an interpreter, a good place to start is the Translating and Interpreting Service run by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Their website is at: http://www.tisnational.gov.au/

LLN specialists are sometimes hard to find in some rural localities or for certain types of training programs. This is beginning to change as more people become involved in the specialisation and undertake the necessary training.

Where would you go to access an LLN specialist? Does your RTO have someone on staff, or do they engage a consultant when needed?

Where would you look if your RTO didn't have a specialist on hand when you needed them?

Do some research and find out where the most appropriate referral organisations or departments are. Here are some suggestions:

• the organisation responsible for the Training Package you're using
  
  
• the foundation skills section of your local TAFE college.