Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a process that assesses your competency – acquired through prior formal and informal learning – to determine if you meet the requirements for a unit of competency in a qualification.
If you already have extensive Auslan knowledge and skills and want to have this formally recognised under an Auslan qualification, you will need to apply for RPL.
Use the tabs below to toggle through the various categories of information.
Each Auslan qualification is made up of one (1) Auslan Language unit and two (2) or three (3) Theory units of competency.
It is sometimes possible to receive RPL for the Auslan Language unit (shown in green above) because many people have learnt Auslan from family, friends and the community. To be awarded RPL for a Language unit, you will need to complete specific tasks to formally gather specific evidence of your Auslan language skills.
For the Theory units, these are almost always new and therefore RPL cannot be received. This means that you will need to dedicate time to study these units and complete assessment tasks related to the units.
To receive the highest Auslan qualification – the Diploma of Auslan – you must complete each qualification individually starting from units that are in the Certificate II, then the Certificate III, the Certificate IV and finally the Diploma of Auslan. This is thirteen (13) units in total.
 Submit an online RPL Application Form during the set RPL Application Dates (as provided at the bottom of this page).  |
 As part of the application process, you will be asked by the team to complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Test to assess your skills. For students in SA only, this is a supervised face-to-face test that is run on specific dates (date options will be available on the RPL Application Form).
For students in all other states, this will be an online quiz that is emailed to you. |
 Complete our Self-Assessment. We use this to determine your eligibility for one of the RPL Study Pathways. The Self-Assessment involves the following activities:
Please note: these activities are completed on Moodle, our online learning platform. You will be sent Moodle login details and an Instruction email on how to access and complete the Self-Assessment.
You MUST complete the Self-Assessment by the due date specified in the Instruction email. |
 An Assessor will email you Our Recommendation for RPL eligibility and which Study Pathway is suitable for you.
If you are not eligible for RPL, you will be advised to enrol directly into a traditional class instead. More information is available on our Qualifications in Auslan page.
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 You need to advise us in writing that you want to proceed with Our Recommendation.
The information and documentation from your initial RPL Application Form (in Step 1) will be used to enrol you into the appropriate qualification as per the RPL Study Pathway suitable to you. Please note: For most students, this means you will be enrolled in the 'PSP20218 - Certificate II in Auslan' course to start with. |
 You will be given access to the appropriate units in the RPL course on Moodle.
Evidence Collection for the Language unit: you will need to collect specific evidence to demonstrate you have required Auslan skills for the qualification level you are completing through RPL.
Assessment Tasks for the Theory units: you will need to complete all the Assessment Tasks associated with the Theory units as per your Assessment Schedule.
All assessment instructions are available on Moodle. |
Most people who apply for RPL use it to enter a traditional Auslan qualification (weekly classes with a trainer and classmates) for a future enrolment opening period.
We offer three (3) RPL Study Pathways depending on your level as determined in Our Recommendation. Each pathway is made up of multiple steps, with different units of competency you will be required to complete as per a set Assessment Schedule.
Option 1: Entry to PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL
Option 2: Entry to PSP51018 – Diploma of Auslan via Certificate IV RPL
Option 3: Entry to PSP51018 – Diploma of Auslan (RPL only)
As a general guide, people suitable for RPL are those who have spent several hundreds of hours using Auslan, with a significant number of those hours being within the last few years.
If you have just completed a few community courses (e.g. Sign Online, Sign Language 1, Sign Language 2), then you have only completed about 30 hours of signing.
This is NOT a sufficient amount of learning and experience to be considered for RPL and you will not be successful in the RPL process.
You need to have access to the following:
Note: Our Learning Management System (Moodle) is not easily accessible from smart phones or tablets and is best accessed on a laptop or desktop computer. Due to the way our courses are structured, the Moodle App for either Apple or Android is NOT SUITABLE for studying Deaf Connect courses. You are at risk of not seeing all learning materials in full when attempting to access them via a mobile phone or tablet.
Email is the primary means by which we will contact you about your course, e.g. to confirm a course once minimum enrolment numbers are achieved, or cancel if we do not receive enough enrolments.
Please ensure you enter your email address correctly at the time of enrolment.
Please also monitor your Junk folder for emails from Deaf Connect. If you do not receive an email about your course by at least the day before the scheduled start date, please contact us.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Government funding is available in certain states for students who meet specific eligibility criteria.
*Note: There is only a limited number of places available for subsidised training under Skilled Capital in Semester 2, 2024. Subsidised places will be offered to students who submit their complete Application Form and submit their written advice for Formal Enrolment on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the number of subsidised places is exhausted or where a student’s enrolment is confirmed after 30 June 2024, the Fee For Service rate will apply.
**Note: The minimum age for students to enrol in the Australian Capital Territory is 17 years of age.
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Government funding is available in certain states for students who meet specific eligibility criteria.
*Note: The fees advertised above are set by Smart and Skilled as the “Second or Further Qualification” fees. A deduction will be applied in order to account for the units of competency you will be credited from previous qualifications. Your final fee will be communicated to you upon Formal Enrolment.
**Note: Depending on your previous qualifications and personal circumstances, your fee may also be different to the fee shown above.
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Government funding is available in certain states for students who meet specific eligibility criteria.
For a breakdown of the fees at a unit of competency level, see the Program Factsheet relevant to your course of choice. Deaf Connect will send you a first invoice upon enrolment for the unit(s) of competency being delivered during the course.
*Note: Under the Queensland VET Investment Program Priority Skills List, Deaf Connect has an exemption for this course that allows students who hold a certificate III or higher level qualification to still be considered for funding eligibility, as long as they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Government funding is available in certain states for students who meet specific eligibility criteria.
*Note: The minimum age for students to enrol in South Australia is 16 years of age.
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Government funding is available in certain states for students who meet specific eligibility criteria.
For more information, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website.
For a breakdown of the fees at a unit of competency level, see the Program Factsheet relevant to your course of choice. Deaf Connect will send you an invoice at the commencement of each unit of competency.
*Note: The Student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as resource fees and other fees.
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
| Regardless of the Study Pathway you are eligible for, your Formal Enrolment will commence from the Certificate II in Auslan level. From there, you will progress through the qualification levels in order.
You will be invoiced the below fees for each qualification level before being granted access to the Theory units associated with that level. For example, if your Study Pathway is to enter PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL (Option 1 above), you will be invoiced the RPL fees for PSP20218 – Certificate II in Auslan and PSP30218 – Certificate III in Auslan. |
Please read our Fees and Refunds Policy here or in the Student Handbook.
CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
For detailed information about an RPL Course, you can access the Course Guide appropriate to your Study Pathway (based on its commencement) below:
Option 1: Entry to PSP40818 – Certificate IV in Auslan via Certificate III RPL
Option 2: Entry to PSP51018 – Diploma of Auslan via Certificate IV RPL
Option 3: Entry to PSP51018 – Diploma of Auslan (RPL only)
You can access the Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy here or in the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook contains information about Deaf Connect’s obligations towards our students, information about students’ rights and obligations towards Deaf Connect, as well as links to other relevant policies.
You are required to read and understand our Student Handbook prior to formally enrolling into an RPL Course.
The Program Factsheets for the Semester 2, 2024 RPL courses can still be accessed through the Semester 2, 2024 Course Guides.
In order for Deaf Connect to assess your funding eligibility, you will need to provide some evidence along with your Enrolment Form.
Proof of ID in the form of one of the following:
Proof of residency or employment in the form of one of the following:
If relevant, proof of disability in the form of one of the following:
Note (students in ACT and NSW):
The documents you provide must be a copy of the original which has been sighted and signed by an Approved Witness within the last twelve (12) months. For a list of Approved Witnesses, please visit the Attorney-General’s Department page.
Note (students in NSW):
As part of the enrolment process, you will also need to submit a completed Consent to use and disclosure of personal information form. You can download and complete this form in advance, so you have it ready to be uploaded with your online Enrolment Form.
Note (students in SA):
As part of the enrolment process, you will also need to submit a completed Agreement Form – Collection and Use of Personal Information form. You can download and complete this form in advance, so you have it ready to be uploaded with your online Enrolment Form.
From 1 January 2015, Deaf Connect can be prevented from issuing you with a nationally recognised VET qualification or statement of attainment when you complete your course if you do not have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).
In addition, we are required to include your USI in the data we submit to NCVER. If you have not yet obtained a USI you can apply for it directly at https://www.usi.gov.au/students/create-your-usi/ on computer or mobile device.
You may already have a USI if you have done any nationally recognised training. It is important that you try to find out whether you already have a USI before attempting to create a new one. You should not have more than one USI. To check if you already have a USI, use the ‘Forgotten USI’ link on the USI website at https://www.usi.gov.au/faqs/i-have-forgotten-my-usi/.
RPL applications only open twice per year (in May and November) for a full month.
The next application opening dates: November 2024 to 1 December 2024.
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