TAFE Queensland expands skills platform to boost digital literacy
TAFE Queensland and OneAdvanced have introduced an expansion of the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) platform to support Australian Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in meeting new digital literacy standards due to come into effect from July 2025.
Under the revised regulatory requirements, all RTOs will be required to assess students' digital literacy before enrolment, with the aim of ensuring students have the foundational digital skills necessary for effective participation in education and the workplace.
BKSB, already in use across Australia to assess English and maths proficiency before course enrolment, has been enhanced with a Digital Literacy Assessment tool.
This update is designed to assist RTOs in complying with the updated standards, which place a new emphasis on preparing students for the demands of a digitally-driven learning environment.
BKSB is one of the few assessment platforms approved by the Australian government for Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) and is mapped to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).
The new digital literacy component will streamline the process for RTOs, enabling scalable and compliant assessments, and helping institutions to pinpoint skill gaps and provide targeted support where required.
Brent Kinnane, General Manager at TAFE Queensland, Brisbane, commented on the initiative, stating, "Digital literacy is no longer optional; it's essential. Our partnership with OneAdvanced allows RTOs to meet the upcoming standards confidently. Through the BKSB platform, we offer a robust solution that ensures compliance and actively enhances student readiness and success."
The incoming standards also highlight the need for educators and trainers to possess enhanced digital skills, enabling them to adequately support students in digital learning environments.
As a result, digital literacy will become an integral part of vocational training programs and align more closely with contemporary industry expectations. The intended result is to foster more inclusive and adaptable learning strategies that serve students with a wide range of capabilities.
This is more than compliance; it's about future-proofing vocational education. Digital literacy directly impacts student engagement, completion rates and employability. Our BKSB solution empowers RTOs to quickly and accurately identify digital skill levels, enabling educators to deliver targeted support from day one.
This statement from Adam Bowles, Country Director for Australia and New Zealand at OneAdvanced, underscores the broader impact that digital literacy assessments aim to achieve within vocational education and training.
The new Digital Literacy Module within BKSB offers educators automated and actionable insights, reducing administration and prioritising inclusivity.
This ensures students, regardless of their starting level of digital proficiency, are identified and offered appropriate support early in their educational journey.
Preparations for compliance with the 2025 RTO Standards include recommendations for RTOs to review and potentially amend their enrolment processes, integrate digital screening mechanisms, and equip educators with digital competency frameworks.
The use of a digital assessment tool such as BKSB is being promoted as a means to support these compliance requirements efficiently.
Adam Bowles also said, "By proactively embracing these changes, RTOs can significantly improve student outcomes, satisfaction and workplace readiness."
TAFE Queensland's and OneAdvanced's move to expand the BKSB platform is positioned to help RTOs navigate these regulatory changes while supporting students' digital skill development.
