National Recovery Training Program (Phase 2)
Project Scope
The National Recovery Training Program has reviewed ways to build the formal capability of support workers involved in recovery activities following natural disasters. Complex, concurrent and compounding disaster events like those over the 2019-20 summer have highlighted the need for resource-sharing across agencies involved in recovery operations. The project identified common skills requirements for key disaster recovery roles and the need to develop Training Package products to support disaster recovery capability training.
Underpinning the Project were the findings and recommendations of the 2020 Royal Commission into National Disaster Arrangements and subsequent work, which stressed the importance of a national approach to recovery competencies and training pathways to support interoperability and sharing of human and physical resources across the country.
Stakeholders from key organisations involved in recovery, including Australian, state and territory and local governments, government agencies, and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), were involved throughout the Project.
The Department of Education Skills and Employment (DESE) has approved the Project’s recommendation to develop the following training products for inclusion in the Public Safety (PUA) Training Package:
- Two new qualifications, one at Diploma and one at Advanced Diploma
- Seven new Skill Sets, including two Skill Sets addressing the fundamentals of recovery which can be used across all areas of recovery work
- Seven new Units of Competency, including a unit that supports the application of psychological first aid in a community recovery context
The project will include two phases; the initial work will include the development one Skill Set and three Units of Competency to support a recovery team member. The second will include the development of qualifications, Skill Sets and Units of Competency to address recovery leadership and management.
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee (IRC) have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders.
A Technical Advisory Committee has been formed to provide subject matter expertise in this project.
Timeline
The Case for Endorsement and draft materials are due to be submitted by 25 March 2022 for phase one and 15 July 2022 for phase two.
TAC Established
Work on this project has commenced and the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has formed a Technical Advisory Committee to provide subject matter expertise.
Consultation
30 MARCH 2022
DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, its Technical Advisory Committee has drafted a second tranche of Training Package materials for the National Recovery Training Program project (NRTP), including one new Qualification, six new Skill Sets and four new Units of Competency, and would like your feedback.
This draft material focusses on the skills and knowledge required by personnel in disaster recovery leadership and management roles.
The specific skills requirements being addressed in this phase of the project include recovery activities across recovery environments, long term recovery planning for a disaster event, applying recovery concepts and principles in addition to person-centred approaches to recovery planning and activities.
The IRC and AIS will submit the Case for Endorsement and checklist for these products by 15 July 2022, and the AISC will consider approving the products on 17 August.
To view the drafts, click below:
Please submit your feedback by close of business Tuesday, 10 May 2022.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
Quality Assurance
28 JUNE 2022
FINAL DRAFT CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT
The draft Training Package materials have undergone independent edit and quality assurance processes. These draft products have been developed to address the skills required for disaster recovery managers to operate effectively across recovery environments, complete long term recovery planning for a disaster event, applying recovery concepts and principles, and applying a person-centred approach to recovery planning and activities.
An additional six Skill Sets have been developed for personnel who coordinate and lead the implementation of recovery functions at the local (impact) level.
Public Safety IRC is now seeking your support for the Case for Endorsement, prior to submission to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC in July.
Validation
17 MAY 2022
FINAL DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee (IRC), its Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) have considered all stakeholder feedback and revised draft Training Package materials for the National Disaster Recovery Training Program project, including one new Qualification, 11 new Skill Sets and four new Units.
These draft products address the skills and knowledge for disaster recovery managers to operate effectively across recovery environments, complete long term recovery planning for a disaster event, applying recovery concepts and principles in addition to applying a person-centred approach to recovery planning and activities.
An additional six Skill Sets have been added for personnel who coordinate and lead the implementation of recovery functions at the local (impact) level including:
- PUASS00095Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Planning
- PUASS00101Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Data Management
- PUASS00102Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Logistics
- PUASS00103Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Public Information
- PUASS00104Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Finance
- PUASS00105Y Manage Recovery in a Control Centre – Community Involvement
The Public Safety IRC is seeking your feedback to validate these draft materials to ensure the proposed products meet industry needs.
Feedback closed 31 May 2022.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
Endorsement
28 OCTOBER 2022
The Public Safety Training Package (Release 5.0), incorporating materials developed through the National Recovery Training Program (Phase 2), has been endorsed by the Skills Ministers for implementation.
Please note that the endorsed Training Package materials for NRTP will be released on training.gov.au in conjunction with materials developed through the Emergency Management, Emergency Care, Fire and Fire Liaison projects. These materials will also enable skills development to help build Australia’s disaster resilience. Materials for the aforementioned projects have been approved by the AISC for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has led the development of one new Qualification, nine new Skill Sets, and four new Units of Competency to enable skills development aimed at helping build Australia’s disaster resilience.
The new materials address the skills and knowledge required by personnel in disaster recovery leadership and management roles. This includes the management of recovery activities and long-term recovery planning for a disaster event.
The National Recovery Training Program reviewed ways to build the formal capability of support workers involved in recovery activities following natural disasters. Complex, concurrent and compounding disaster events like those over the 2019-20 summer and the floods earlier this year highlighted the need for resource-sharing across agencies involved in recovery operations. The project identified common skills requirements for key disaster recovery roles and the need to develop Training Package products to support disaster recovery capability training.
Underpinning the Project were the findings and recommendations of the 2020 Royal Commission into National Disaster Arrangements and subsequent work, which stressed the importance of a national approach to recovery competencies and training pathways to support interoperability and sharing of human and physical resources across the country.
Phase one of the program involved the development of a new Skill Set and three new Units of Competency addressing the skills required to support a recovery team member to work effectively in a disaster recovery context, and how to provide relief and recovery support to disaster-affected communities. These materials are also available on the national training register.
Stakeholders from key organisations involved in recovery, including Australian, state and territory and local governments, government agencies, and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), were involved throughout the Project.
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 following materials were approved:
New Qualification
- PUA50922 Diploma of Public Safety (Recovery Management)
New Units
- PUARCV004 Apply person centred approaches to recovery planning and activities
- PUARCV005 Apply recovery concepts and principles
- PUARCV006 Coordinate recovery activities across recovery environments
- PUARCV007 Facilitate long term recovery planning for a disaster event
New Skill Sets
- PUASS00096 Coordinate functional recovery group
- PUASS00097 Lead a recovery team
- PUASS00098 Manage a recovery centre
- PUASS00099 Manage Recovery – Community Involvement
- PUASS00100 Manage Recovery – Complex Incident Planning
- PUASS00101 Manage Recovery – Data Management
- PUASS00102 Manage Recovery – Finance
- PUASS00103 Manage Recovery – Logistics
- PUASS00104 Manage Recovery – Public Information
Approval
1 SEPTEMBER 2022
At its meeting on August 19, the AISC approved National Recovery Training Program (Phase 2) materials in the Public Safety Training Package Release 5.0 for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Manager.
Submission
3 AUGUST 2022
CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT SUBMITTED TO AISC
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has submitted the Case for Endorsement and draft Training Package materials to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) for consideration at its meeting on August 17.
If approved, this Case for Endorsement will result in the following material being available:
Qualification
PUA50922 Diploma of Public Safety (Recovery Management)
Skill Sets
PUASS00097 Coordinate Functional Recovery Group
PUASS00098 Lead a Recovery Team
PUASS00099 Manage a Recovery Centre
PUASS00100 Manage Recovery – Community Involvement
PUASS00101 Manage Recovery – Complex Incident Planning
PUASS00102 Manage Recovery – Data Management
PUASS00103 Manage Recovery – Finance
PUASS00104 Manage Recovery – Logistics
PUASS00105 Manage Recovery – Public Information
Units of Competency
PUARCV004 Apply person-centred approaches to recovery planning and activities
PUARCV005 Apply recovery concepts and principles
PUARCV006 Coordinate recovery activities across recovery environments
PUARCV007 Facilitate long-term recovery planning for a disaster event
Thank you to all stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and contributed to this project.

Paschal Somers
Industry Skills Manager - Aviation, Corrections, Defence and Public Safety