Core Skills Profile for Adults

Contact us

Australian Council for Educational Research
19 Prospect Hill Rd, Camberwell, VIC, Australia 3124

Registration queries: 
Blanca Camacho
Senior Project Director
+61 3 9277 5498

Administration queries: 
Rebecca Simpson
Project Officer
+61 3 9277 5761

The CSPA is currently used by:

• large TAFE institutes
• private and enterprise RTO's
• ACPET members
• VET and dual pathway university providers
• job network providers
• community education centres
• VET in schools providers
• industry associations
• employers (mining, building and construction, security, the emergency services sector, sporting associations) 

What do some current users have to say about the CSPA?

I think this is a great start for me at VU as I have been out of school for seven years and needed some help getting into the swing of things.

It was really good, had a lot of info.

Very helpful.

Thank you for guiding me to getting started at VU.

Very excellent test, gained more knowledge about things I didn't know.

As a part-time, mature aged student, I have previously covered the topics included in this unit. This unit felt like a refresher on those topics to me. I did find it useful to be reminded of other resources available to students such as financial advice, counselling, careers advice etc.

It is great for those who are new to VU.

It was good doing this test. I actually learnt more from it and it has given me ideas on what I can do if I’m having difficulties with anything.

Victoria University students who have completed the Core Skills Profile for Adults Assessment as part of a Getting Started at VU Unit. February 2013

"We have found that ACER’s test is easy to administer, user friendly and that it provides instant, detailed and informative feedback for test takers.  The writing test has been added to our suite of tests and we have used it for a varied clientele. It has proved to be particularly useful in pin-pointing or confirming particular writing issues.  ACER staff has been very helpful and responsive as back up support in ironing out any technical difficulties."

Jill Lewis Centre for Adult Education (CAE)

According to feedback from Western Australia’s Industrial Training Institute, "The test is extremely effective because it’s objective, it engages apprentices and trainees, and the results are very visual and easy for them to understand. It gives them an immediate sense of where they are in relation to the norm and it’s non-threatening."

Few people know that the AFL Players' Association uses the test. "The AFL Players' Association has always had literacy and numeracy teaching staff, as well as wellbeing managers who help players develop post-competition career paths.". The assessment is used to inform the work of both. Other professional sporting bodies also use it for similar purposes."

Box Hill Institute, the very first educational institution to use the assessment tool cites its implementation as one of their best experiences in fostering organisation-wide change.  Having worked through the whole cycle, “They’ve implemented it, analysed their data, allocated resources and staff, provided support in terms of professional learning and they’ve seen improved student outcomes."