When I came to Australia thirty-six years ago, my German and international vehicle licenses (car, motor bike and truck) were not recognised, neither was 5 years of driving experience. To requalify I was required to take lessons at a local driving school and sit for the local theoretical and practical exam, which in comparison to my international qualifications were sub-standard. In contemporary vocabulary this would have made me an ‘over, or double qualified’ driver. Even the examiner made mention of this ‘ridiculous system’.
I attended an ‘electrical appliance testing course’ where one of the students was a retired electrical engineer and former lecturer at the college. He was doing some voluntary work for a charitable organisation, but to be “qualified” to test their appliances he was required to complete this ‘basic’ course. He had in fact some years prior to retiring, engaged the services of our present lecturer. The school’s ‘new model’ recognised neither his high qualifications nor his 40 years of experience.
Recently, on a current affairs program, a member of the audience revealed after completing 3 years of an electrical apprenticeship he joined the Navy on promises of an electrical engineering degree. Five years later and disillusioned with the Navy who had failed to deliver, he went back to finish his apprenticeship, only to be told that under the ‘new model’, his previous 3 years of learning and experience weren’t recognised, and had to start again as a beginner.
In order to renew my sports coaching certification I was required to complete an ‘upgrade’ to the ‘new model’, sanctioned by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). Albeit my previous and current credentials, as well as a minimum of 50 hours coaching experience, I was required to complete a 3 module on-line course on anti-doping, discrimination and harassment, and child protection. Four months after I had submitted the required information, I was informed that I hadn’t completed the ‘child protection’ module and was given a 4 day deadline to do so, or else my application would be declined. Following investigation, I found that for some unknown reason one of my answers had failed to register this had left me 3.45% short of the required 100% passing mark. It took me a few seconds to correct the fault and finally ‘qualify’, though I wonder: 27 years of teaching/coaching martial arts continuously (approx. 5000 hours) to students aged 6 to 60, including children with physical and mental disabilities, 15 years of officiating as referee and technical judge, countless seminars and refresher courses, coaching level 2 accreditation acquired externally because our Taekwondo association never ran any courses, and raising my own children, accounted for absolutely nothing. The crucial 3.45% in the ‘child protection’ module would have disqualified me from coaching, whilst an 18 year old ‘first time coach’ with 50 hours experience, who has never raised any children, would be qualified.
Previously for Taekwondo referees to remain qualified, it was compulsory to attend a ‘refresher seminar’ every three years. Then the authorities introduced compulsory re-qualification seminars with exams equivalent to having to repeat your trade or university assessment, or your driving test every three years, with total disregard for previous experience and credentials. Many of us long serving, experienced referees resigned in protest, needless to say, the association experienced a serious shortage of qualified referees, resulting in very poor standards of refereeing. However, they would not budge.
I believe in updating and upgrading one’s skills and knowledge, but only as a supplement, not a substitute for previous credentials.
At this point I trust to have ‘made a point’ and I shall leave you to reflect on your own experiences in regards to recognition.
Recognition of experience and professional competence seems to be a dying virtue in many institutions, in favour of the ‘new model’, which I will talk about in my next blog……..