AIS Newsletter September 2022
In this month’s newsletter we focus on Queensland’s approval to establish a Heavy Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship, AUSROADS call for public feedback on a review of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework, and the high volume of submitted and approved Training Package projects. We pass on our congratulations to IRC members Noel Munkman and Greg Tyrell for their respective recognition in recent awards events.
Training Package Updates
TRAINING PACKAGES APPROVED FOR ENDORSEMENT
At its meeting on 17 August 2022 the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) approved the following Training Packages for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement:
Aviation – AVI Release 10.0
Air Traffic Control
Chief Remote Pilot
Aviation Supervision
Commercial Pilot Helicopter
Defence – DEF Release 5.0
Electronic Forensics
Paralegal Services
Range Control Officer
Test and Evaluation
Work Diving
Moral Injury
Electrotechnology – UEE Release 4.0
Hazardous Areas
Electricity Meters
Advanced Diploma of Engineering – Electrical
Assess and Report on Smoke Control
ESI transmission, Distribution and Rail – UET Release 4.0
Refresher Skills
Power and Network Systems
Public Safety – PUA Release 5.0
National Recovery Training Program (Stage 2)
Transport and Logistics – TLI Release 13.0
Driving Instruction.
Mobile Crane Operations
Rail Safety Management
Current Training Package development projects
All Training Package development projects have been completed. Cases for Endorsement and draft Training Package materials for the projects below have been submitted to the AISC for consideration at its next meeting on Wednesday 12 October.
TRAINING PACKAGE RELEASES SUBMITTED TO AISC FOR APPROVAL
Corrections – CSC Release 5.0
Correctional practice
Electrotechnology – UEE Release 5.0
Renewables
Computer Systems and Engineering
Rail Signalling
ESI Generation – UEP Release 3.0
Control room operations
ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail – UET Release 5.0
Powerline safety
Gas – UEG Release 4.0
Industry Skills
Public Safety – PUA Release 6.0
Emergency Care
Emergency Management
Fire
Police – POL Release 7.0
Police Liaison and Community Engagement
Maritime – MAR Release 10.0
Autonomous Maritime Systems
Transport and Logistics – TLI Release 14.0
Materiel and Deployment Logistics
Water – NWP Release 5.0
Water Network Maintenance
Flood Site Operations
Please visit the Projects page for information about these projects.
Extended transition for ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail qualifications
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has approved the extended transition for UET qualifications listed below to 31 July 2023:
- UET20319 Certificate II in ESI – Powerline Vegetation Control
- UET20619 Certificate II in ESI – Asset Inspection
- UET30519 Certificate III in ESI – Power Systems – Transmission Overhead
- UET30619 Certificate III in ESI – Power Systems – Distribution Overhead
- UET30719 Certificate III in ESI – Power Systems – Rail Traction
- UET30819 Certificate III in ESI – Power Systems – Distribution Cable Jointing
- UET30919 Certificate III in ESI – Remote Community Utilities Worker
- UET40419 Certificate IV in ESI – Network Systems
- UET40519 Certificate IV in ESI – Power Systems Substations
- UET50219 Diploma of ESI – Power Systems
- UET60219 Advanced Diploma of ESI – Power Systems
The decision was made on 15 September 2022 with support from Australian Industry Standards in their role as the Skills Service Organisation; Essential Energy; State Training Authorities in NSW, WA, QLD, TAS and VIC; ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector Industry Reference Committee; Queensland ITAB which includes feedback from TAFE Qld and Energy Skills Qld and feedback from RTOs delivering these qualifications.
The qualifications in the UET Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector Training package listed above will remain on RTOs scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period unless the RTO chooses to withdraw it from scope prior. ASQA will publish this decision on its website.
Queensland Gets the Go Ahead for the Establishment of a Heavy Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship
The QLD Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) has approved an industry-supported proposal to establish a Heavy Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship. The Transport & Logistics Industry Reference Committee (T&L IRC) initiated the apprenticeship proposal in 2021 based on a call from the national Transport Industry to professionalise the heavy vehicle driver occupation, thereby making it a safer, skilled and a long-term career pathway.
According to QTA CEO Gary Mahon, “This is a significant step towards sustaining the future workforce in the road freight industry with truck driving now offered as a professional trade.”
On behalf of the T&L IRC, AIS facilitated activities in each state and territory with the aim of establishing the apprenticeship under jurisdictional requirements. This involved collaborating with all STAs and industry bodies including in support of the QTA’s industry-led submission to the DESBT. The T&L IRC and AIS would like to congratulate the QTA and their role as the Industry Skills Advisor in Queensland on this fantastic achievement.
John West (MD, John West Logistics) said “After many years of lobbying both federal and state governments by industry and private operators the announcement of an apprenticeship scheme for our industry will help raise the levels of safety and skills in this vital industry segment.”
Earlier this year, Skills Tasmania was the first State Training Authority to establish an apprenticeship pathway for heavy vehicle drivers.
Read the full media release here: https://www.qta.com.au/news/media-release-heavy-vehicle-driver-apprenticeship-now-approved-qld
Information on incentives, costs and financial support for both employers and apprentices can be found here: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/apprentices/incentives
Read more information on the HVDA proposal here: https://www.australianindustrystandards.org.au/heavy-vehicle-driver-apprenticeship/
Have Your Say on Proposed Changes to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework
AUSROADS is looking for feedback on heavy vehicle licensing and is encouraging drivers, employers and trainers to have their say on proposed changes to heavy vehicle driver licensing in Australia.
At the request of transport ministers, Austroads has been undertaking an extensive program of work to review and improve the NHVDCF.
The review aims to deliver a harmonised Australian licence training and assessment framework that produces safe and competent heavy vehicle drivers and reflects the current and future needs of heavy vehicle operators and the future freight task.
“With a growing freight task and changing vehicle fleet, Australia needs a lot of well-trained and capable heavy vehicle drivers. That starts with effective driver licensing,” says Austroads chief executive Geoff Allan.
“Industry feedback, emerging research and evidence suggest we should prioritise strengthening driver competencies, skills assessment and licensing policy. National Cabinet has expressed a desire for fast-track licence progression.
The driver shortage is a broader problem than licensing alone can fix. But the proposed changes have been developed so that there are faster ways to progress through heavy vehicle licence classes. Making the pathway to licences faster may help expand the pool of drivers, and the improved competency standards should make new drivers more job-ready,” says Allan.
Four key areas of change are proposed:
- Managing individual driver risk ensuring only drivers without serious driving offences are eligible to hold a heavy vehicle licence.
- Strengthening skill and knowledge making competency requirements specific to each licence class, setting minimum course length and recognising the extra skill needed to drive the most complex vehicles.
- Embedding behind-the-wheel experience requiring minimum behind-the-wheel time pre-licence and supervised driving sessions post-licence.
- Introducing experience-based progression options enabling those drivers who can demonstrate driving and work experience to progress to higher licence classes more rapidly.
Visit austroads.info/c-ris to download the C-RIS, access fact sheets and videos summarising the proposals and provide feedback.
AAUS Wins Industry Association of the Year
Congratulations to Greg Tyrrell, Reece Clothier and the #AAUS team for winning the Australian Aviation’s Industry Association of the Year award at this year’s Australian Aviation Awards in Sydney. The inaugural event, which was held earlier this month, offers leading professionals and their businesses the opportunity to highlight their achievements, build exposure and support the expansion of their careers and companies.
The Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) is Australia’s peak representative body for the unmanned systems / drone industry across land, sea, and air domains, and emerging urban air mobility sector. We are the largest and oldest not for profit representing the remotely piloted aircraft sector in Australia. Our objective is to promote a safe and viable unmanned systems industry through advocacy, outreach, networking, and professional services.
This award not only reflects the achievement of AAUS but the growth and maturity of the entire drone and AAM industry we represent.
Congratulations to Electrotechnology IRC Member Noel Munkman
The winners of the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services (ARBS) 2022 Industry Awards were announced at a gala dinner held in August at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne. The ARBS Hall of Fame inducted several industry leaders into their Hall of Fame. AIS extends its congratulations to Noel Munkman on this achievement.
Noel Munkman started as a refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice 50 years ago. The profession has evolved rapidly since then, and his influence has been instrumental. Noel has held senior roles with TAFE NSW, WorldSkills, Energy Skills Australia, Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee and the Australian Refrigeration Council.
Noel has been involved in WorldSkills competitions at regional, national, and international levels since 1989 and is currently WorldSkills International’s RAC Skills Competition Manager. In his current role as Technical and Training Manager at the Australian Refrigeration Council, he helps technicians and businesses improve their day-to-day operations. He also participates in national technical committees and working groups to develop solutions for safety, technology, training and refrigerant issues.
The ARBS awards, which are held every two years, attracted nominees from across all sectors. A panel of industry experts evaluated the nominations based on various criteria such as leadership, sustainability, performance, and innovation to select the award winners.
What's Happening!
Safeskies 2022
Safeskies 2022, Safeskies Australia’s biennial conference – brings industry leaders, aviation operators and government agencies together in our nation’s capital.
As the world, and aviation in particular rebuilds from the devastation of COVID-19, Safeskies 2022 will explore the theme of ‘Sharing the skies safely’.
This conversation will focus on the safe integration of traditional and new forms of aviation.
The Safeskies Australia conference has been held since 1993, showcasing contemporary approaches to aviation safety. Past conferences have focused on a range of themes, including ‘Setting the right aviation safety culture’; ‘Safety in the globalised economy’; Learning the lessons of the past’; ‘Making safety management systems work’; and ‘Training and change’.
For more information, visit https://conference2022.safeskiesaustralia.org/
NatRoad Conference 2022
NatRoad is pleased to welcome all to the anticipated NatRoad Conference 2022 to be held at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove on the sunny Gold Coast from 20-22 of October 2022.
The 2022 conference theme is Reconnect for Change, using the time the past few years has given to reflect and to use this networking event to reconnect and address improvements for all in the industry.
For more information, visit https://www.natroad.com.au/events-networking/2022-national-conference/
ARA Rail Freight Conference
The ARA Rail Freight Conference is the only national conference for the rail freight sector.
Bringing together senior executives from the rail freight and intermodal sectors, the conference will be an important opportunity to hear the latest on major issues impacting the industry.
Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 October, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
For more information visit https://ara.net.au/events/ara-rail-freight-conference/
