NWP Water Industry Operations and Treatment Review
Project scope
Industry have requested qualifications that allow flexibility for operators at both large and small plants to undertake the relevant training they require to operate their plants and manage the risk to both public health and the environment. Operator certification skill and knowledge requirements, technology developments and process methodology changes in water storage, delivery and treatment are driving this development.
Water or wastewater treatment plants do not meet a one size fits all concept. There are differences in the range of technology and complexity of process steps employed at large and small treatment plants. Currently, when seeking to apply for operator certification, additional training is required to address skills gaps. These identified skills gaps need to be addressed and included in the qualifications.
The Water Industry Reference Committee (IRC) proposed the review and development of the Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations and Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment qualifications and associated Units of Competency and combining them into one qualification. The revised occupational standards will cover new technologies, operator certification changes in water operations and water treatment and contemporary industry practices.
This revision will provide appropriate water industry career pathways, enabling enterprises to create succession plans to develop appropriately skilled and compliant operators. It will also enhance the ability of water operators to transition between sectors and provide employers with flexible and appropriate education pathways to retrain workers. It will also enhance an enterprises, ability to manage the risk to both public health and the environment.
The expected submission of the Case for Endorsement will be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) by 30 September 2020.
The Water IRC will have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed for this project.
Deliverables
Revise the two water qualifications:
- NWP40515 Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations (and 19 associated Units of Competency)
- NWP40615 Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment (and 12 associated Units of Competency)
- Develop four new Units of Competency for Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment
Timeline
The Case for Endorsement is expected to be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee by 30 September 2020.
How to get involved
A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed to provide expertise for this work. If you have any questions about this project or are a subject matter expert and would like to be considered for the TAC for this project, please contact the Industry Manager.
Stakeholder feedback on draft training materials will be sought as part of the development phase of work.
Technical advisory committee
25 JULY 2019
WATER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS NEEDED
Work on this project has commenced and the Water IRC is forming a TAC.
Your industry expertise and insight is welcome to help review and develop the Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations and Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment qualifications and associated Units of Competency and combining them into one qualification. The revised occupational standards will cover new technologies, operator certification changes in water operations and water treatment and contemporary industry practices.
TAC nominations closed on Friday, 9 August 2019.
For more information about this project please contact the Industry Manager.
Consultation
4 MAY 2020
DRAFT MATERIAL
The Water Industry Operations and Treatment Review TAC has finalised draft materials for this project.
The TAC has drafted Training Package materials after reviewing the Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations and Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment qualifications and associated Units of Competency and combining them into one qualification, Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations.
Feedback on draft materials closed on Tuesday, 2 June 2020 for consideration by the TAC.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
30 JANUARY 2020
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for this project is continuing the review of the two Certificate IV qualifications and associated Units of Competency from the National Water Training Package.
Draft material is expected to be available in April/May for public consultation and feedback.
Summary of development
Draft units, skill sets and/or qualifications are developed in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and industry stakeholders.
Initial drafting of Training Package material (Units of Competency, Skill Sets and/or qualifications) is being undertaken by a Technical Advisory Committee established by the IRC. Comprising people with diverse expertise and experience in water industry operations including specialisations in catchment and dams, hydrometric monitoring, irrigation, networks, trade waste and treatment, it has ensured that the draft Units are informed by the needs of industry.
Quality Assurance
1 SEPTEMBER 2020
Final Draft Case for Endorsement
The draft Training Package materials have undergone independent edit and quality assurance.
The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC in October 2020.
Consultation
19 JUNE 2020
DRAFT MATERIAL
The TAC has finalised draft materials for this project and would like your feedback. As part of this project the following Unit is proposed for deletion:
- NWPIRR035 Coordinate and monitor the operation of drainage systems.
Feedback on draft materials closed on Monday, 6 July 2020 for consideration by the TAC.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
Summary of feedback
- Moving units to Diploma
- Suggestions for Packaging rules specialization
- Core unit selection / new inclusion
New units to cover trenchless technology
Endorsement
25 JANUARY 2021
The National Water Training Package Release 4.0 has been endorsed by Skills Ministers for implementation.
The Water Industry Reference Committee, with technical support from subject matter experts on the Technical Advisory Committee, has revised and developed occupational skills standards for water industry operations and treatment.
The Training Package now provides streamlined qualifications and flexible career pathways, enabling workforce mobility and enhancing workforce retention.
The Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations and Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment qualifications and associated Units of Competency have been amalgamated into a single streamlined qualification to incorporate all skills required by senior water industry operators.
The revised Training Package also includes three new Units of Competency and updated core units and electives, covering contemporary industry practices, new technologies, and operator certification changes in water operations and water treatment.
To read more about the drivers for this project, please click on the Project overview tab.
To support the delivery of the Training Package, a Companion Volume Implementation Guide (CVIG) has been developed to assist assessors, trainers, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises. The CVIG contains a comprehensive list of all products in the Training Package; mapping information which details the changes that have been made to the materials; regulation and licensing implications; and useful links to other information.
The approved NWP Water Training Package Release 4.0 is now available on training.gov.au.
The following materials were approved:
One (1) revised qualification:
- NWP40120 Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations
SSO upgraded qualifications:
- NWP20119 Certificate II in Water Industry Operations
- NWP30219 Certificate III in Water Industry Operations
- NWP50118 Diploma of Water Industry Operations
New Units of Competency:
- NWPTRT060 Assess and improve membrane bioreactor processes
- NWPTRT063 Assess and improve membrane filters
- NWPTRT067 Assess and optimise chemical dosing processes in wastewater
Revised Units of Competency:
- NWPCAD021 Coordinate and monitor bulkwater system operations
- NWPCAD022 Coordinate and monitor groundwater system usage
- NWPCAD023 Develop and implement catchment operational plans
- NWPCAD024 Implement dam safety plans
- NWPGEN029 Contribute to continuous improvement of quality systems
- NWPGEN030 Coordinate and monitor the application of environmental plans and procedures
- NWPGEN031 Develop an operational plan
- NWPGEN032 Ensure compliance with water industry standards, guidelines and legislation
- NWPGEN033 Sample and test trade wastewater
- NWPHYD006 Measure discharge and process discharge data using a range of methods and equipment
- NWPHYD007 Measure discharge using wading method
- NWPHYD008 Operate, maintain and decommission monitoring sites
- NWPHYD009 Undertake surveying of monitoring sites
- NWPIWS013 Coordinate and monitor pumped rural irrigation systems
- NWPIWS014 Coordinate and monitor the operation of irrigation delivery systems
- NWPNET055 Coordinate and manage maintenance and repair of network assets
- NWPNET056 Coordinate and monitor network asset construction
- NWPNET057 Establish connections of water and wastewater systems
- NWPNET058 Optimise network systems
- NWPNET059 Supervise and report on conduit inspections
- NWPTRD006 Investigate trade waste incidents and non-compliances
- NWPTRD007 Monitor trade waste approvals
- NWPTRD008 Process standard trade waste approvals
- NWPTRT049 Assess and improve activated sludge and biological nutrient removal processes
- NWPTRT050 Assess and improve anaerobic digestion processes
- NWPTRT057 Assess and improve coagulation and flocculation processes
- NWPTRT058 Assess and improve desalination processes
- NWPTRT059 Assess and improve granular media filters
- NWPTRT064 Assess and improve sedimentation processes
- NWPTRT065 Assess and improve treatment for removal of microorganisms in drinking water and recycled water
- NWPTRT066 Assess and improve wastewater processes to control microbial impacts
SSO upgraded Unit of Competency:
- NWPNET040 Maintain and repair network assets for wastewater
- NWPTRT021 Operate and control desalination processes
New Skill Set:
- NWPSS00011 Dam Operations and Maintenance Skill Set
Reviewed Skill Sets:
- NWPSS00002 Catchment Operations Skill Set
- NWPSS00012 Environmental Procedures Skill Set
- NWPSS00013 Hydrometric Monitoring Basics Skill Set
- NWPSS00014 Water Sampling Skill Set
Approval
16 DECEMBER 2020
At its meeting on 2 December 2020 the AISC approved the National Water Training Package (Release 4.0) for referral to the Skills Ministers for endorsement.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Specialist.
Submission
28 OCTOBER 2020
CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT SUBMITTED TO AISC
The draft Training Package materials have been submitted to the AISC.
Thank you to all stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and contributed to this project.
Tricia Fidock
Industry Skills Specialist - Water