Quality training begins with an understanding of what the industry and workforces need from their employees.
When we start a new project to review and update a qualification, we begin by taking a structured, evidence-based approach to look at occupational roles and break them into their core functions, subfunctions and performance expectations. We analyse what work is done, how it is done, what knowledge is required and how work is performed in different settings. This provides a clear picture of what training is needed and how it can be delivered in a way that is practical, measurable and relevant.
We introduced this process of functional analysis after hearing from multiple stakeholders who were experiencing the same issue: qualified graduates who were not job ready. There was concern about the widening gap between what qualifications were delivering and employer expectations. Students were graduating with a qualification but without the necessary skills needed to lead, manage or facilitate work. 
After we map out roles, look at existing qualifications, unpack unit structures and identify duplication or outdated content, we conduct a series of interviews, workshops and surveys to gather feedback from employers, employees, registered training organisations and subject matter experts to make sure our analysis accurately reflects the roles we have looked at.
Once we have undertaken this process, we can start drafting training products and are now able to identify inconsistencies in job role coverage, gaps between assessment requirements and actual practice, and opportunities to improve clarity and reduce duplication across qualification levels. It also ensures we have a deeper understanding of a specific role and sector and allows for more meaningful conversations with stakeholders during the draft qualification consultation phase.
By partnering with experts and specialists to advance skills, training and workforce development and to foster innovation, we can help deliver better outcomes for learners and employers in the care and support industries.