English Language Programme

Technology Literacy Education In Australia - WELL is the abbreviation for Workplace English Language and Literacy Programme.

The WELL Programme is also a program designed to support  transport and distribution workers and train them in language  literacy and numeracy and providing them with up to date in regards  to rapidly changing nature of the industry and workplace  requirements (C. Del Grosso, 2000).

The complex network of Australian industry in the transport and  distribution sector is characterised by; system of roads, railways,  airports and distribution centres. Del Grosso states within the sub  sectors of the transport industry, there are road transport, rail  transport, water transport, storage, air and space transport, other  transport and services to transport. The WELL Programme provides the  enterprises with Transport and Distribution Training Package. It is  a flexible delivery training program. Trainers are expected to be  creative and able to "develop new and innovative ways of providing  language, literacy and numeracy support for coaching, mentoring and  peer tutoring to take place." (Del Grosso, 2000).

They need to  develop:

1. Awareness of the functions of language, literacy and numeracy  within job function.

2. Means to identify a worker experiencing difficulties with communication.

3. Awareness of the three years program reflects the need of the  industry such as liaison, coordination, creation and maintenance,  support and responsibility in acting as an adviser role.

4. The effectiveness in implementation of the Training Package.

5. Communication skills among the workers.

Through WELL Programme, the Transport and Distribution Training  Package is to ensure flexibility and consistency in providing the  workforce, setting the standards for the provision of skill  recognition, assessment guidance and provision of national  recognised qualifications. Some modern approaches to the Training  Package are:

1. Workers should understand the use of the new technologies.

2. Understand the procedures, range of regulations ad policies such  as OH&S regulations.

3. Students did not require post secondary school training or qualifications.

4. Requirements of literacy and numeracy skills are increased as the  society is approaching rapid changing and complexity in jobs  perspective.

5. Students need to learn all areas of skills in a job.

6. A higher level of literacy and numeracy skills is expected.

7. Competencies are focused around the literacy and numeracy skills.

8. Targeted the old workers who may not exposed to this kind of training.

There are some examples of WELL funded projects in Australia, such  as FAFPESC Branching Out Project , TFITB Country Sawmillers Project,  FIAT (Forest Industries Association of Tasmania) Crown Millers  Project and TAFE (Tasmanian North East Forestry Project) (Del  Grosso, 2000).

Rosalia W.