Tasmanian Polytechnic
Foundation and General Education
Brady Shuttler
Do you want help to develop your skills and to build on your career options?
The Tasmanian Polytechnic has a wide range of Foundation Programs that can help.
Do any of these describe you?
- English is not your native language and you would like to learn to improve your language skills.
- Returning to study and need some assistance in upgrading your skills?
- Need to improve your English, Maths and computing skills?
- Looking to change your job and need some new skills?
- Needing help with learning difficulties?
- Aren’t really sure of the kind of job you want and need some direction?
- Want to know how to get the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to get the job you want or to do further training.
These programs can help:
Connect Programs
Are you aged between 16 to 70 and want to explore some career options, get a job or start training?
If you have found education difficult or not been able to meet the entry criteria for a course you want to do, these programs can help. We help you investigate career pathways and get the skills, knowledge and even the attitude you will need.
Most courses will give you the opportunity to find out about different jobs, what they involve and whether they are suited to you.
The free Introductory Computing Programs run by Foundations are a range of courses for people with little or no experience in computers.
Migrant Education
Do you need to develop your English language skills and better understand the Australian culture? We can assist you in gaining the knowledge you will need for work, life, further study and training. Courses include:
- English as a Second or Other Language
- Interpreting Program
For more detailed information go to:
Programs for students with a disability or additional learning needs
Are you an adult with a disability and/or additional learning needs? The Polytechnic has courses available that can help you develop a variety of skills in:
- Career planning
- Preparing for work
- Independent living
- Social and personal relationships
- Community participation
You may learn these skills in a variety of ways, including
- Work Placements
- Volunteering
- Class-based study
- Community access activities
- Undertaking other vocational and educational courses, with support if needed.
The Work Pathways Programs will help you develop the skills to choose, get and keep a job.
Literacy and Numeracy
Reading, writing and maths support may include any of the following:
- In class support – to help you in your vocational class with literacy and numeracy that relates to the vocational units that you are learning about.
- Small group support
- Bridging literacy and/or numeracy courses.
- Study support.
- Return to Study (Certificate III in Preparation for Vocational and Further Study) - This course is suitable for people who want to undertake education at Certificate IV, Diploma or university level and want to maximise their chance of success in their future study.
For more information:
Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)
At the Polytechnic you can undertake your Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and all our educational courses have a TCE points attached to them.
The TCE is issued if you meet minimum standards in literacy, numeracy, information communication technology (ICT), participation and achievement, and pathway planning.
The standards for literacy, numeracy and ICT are those required for everyday adult reading, writing, communication, mathematics, and computer use.
The standard for participation and achievement is the equivalent of success in a full-time program of Polytechnic study. You will need to have 120 credit points in education and training (TQA level 1, 2, 3), with at least 80 credit points in studies rated at complexity level 2 or higher.
Both your education and training courses will count points towards the TCE and if you are aged from 16 to 19 and studying a full-time program – including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships – you are expected to meet the requirements for the TCE.
Courses with the following design times contribute the following points
50 hours – 5 points
100 hours – 10 points
150 hours – 15 points
The standard for pathway planning is that a plan for future career, education and training has been developed and used by you.
At enrolment, your Course Counsellor will help you work out a program that meets these requirements, and your Student Support Teacher will help you stay on track to achieve success.
More detailed information is available at the TQA website (www.tqa.tas.gov.au)
Courses with a design time of 50 hours contribute 5 points, those with 100 hours design time contribute 10 points and those with design time of 150 hours contribute 15 points.
To gain the new TCE you need to accumulate 120 credit points over 2 years of full-time study. At least 80 points must come from courses with a complexity level 2 or above. The complexity level is indicated after the title and the point value in brackets.
