PUA National Recovery Training Program (Phase 1)

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

11 JANUARY 2022

DRAFT MATERIAL

 

On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, the project Technical Advisory Committee has drafted Training Package materials for the National Recovery Training Program project and would like your feedback. The materials are aimed at building the capability of support workers involved in recovery activities following natural disasters.

 

The initial draft materials include one Skill Set and three Units of Competency addressing the skills required to support a recovery team member.

 

The training package products include standards to operate effectively in the context of recovery and communicating effectively across the recovery environment.

 

Additionally, the materials address skills required for a team member in providing relief and recovery services and information, as well as applying psychological first aid.

 

The next tranche of work will include the development of new Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications, six Skill Sets and four Units of Competency to address recovery leadership and management. These draft materials will also be made available for stakeholder feedback.

 

Feedback closed 31 January 2022.

 

Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.

Quality Assurance

FINAL DRAFT CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT

8 MARCH 2022

 

The draft Training Package materials have undergone independent edit and quality assurance and have been updated to address skills required to address the competency 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.

 

The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC in March 2022.

 

 

Validation

FINAL DRAFT MATERIAL

14 FEBRUARY 2022

 

On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee has considered all stakeholder feedback and is now seeking validation of revised draft materials including one updated Qualification, one new Skill Set, and three Units.

 

Baseline recovery training, and its delivery to recovery workers, will improve the standard of disaster recovery support delivered to communities and improve the ability to transfer staff between jurisdictions when required.

 

These draft products will address the competency 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.

 

Feedback closed Friday, 25 February.

 

Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.

Endorsement

28 JUNE 2022

 

The Public Safety Training Package Release 4.0, containing new occupational skills standards aimed at building national disaster recovery capabilities, has been endorsed by the Skills Ministers for implementation.

 

In 2021, the Australian Government began developing a National Recovery Training Program to professionalise recovery practice and capabilities. This initiative was to address recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. Foundational recovery training, and its delivery to recovery workers, will improve the standard of disaster recovery support delivered to communities and improve the ability to transfer staff between jurisdictions when required.

 

In consultation with the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA), the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment commissioned AIS to identify common competency requirements for job roles used in disaster recovery and requiring resource sharing. A key outcome of this work was a recommendation to develop new training products to support and enhance local and national recovery capability.

 

The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has led 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.

 

The updated Training Package supports a national approach to recovery competencies and training pathways to support interoperability and sharing of human and physical resources across the country.

Draft Training Package materials for Phase Two of this project, including one new Qualification, nine new Skill Sets and four new Units are currently at the validation stage.

 

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.

 

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 endorsed Public Safety Training Package Release 4.0 is now available on training.gov.au

 

The following materials were approved:

Qualifications

  • PUA31422 Certificate III in Public Safety (Community Safety)

 

Skill Set

  • PUASS00095 Participate in a Recovery Team

 

New Units

  • PUARCV001 Provide psychological first aid
  • PUARCV002 Provide relief and recovery services to disaster-affected communities
  • PUARCV003 Work in a recovery context

 

 

Approval

5 MAY 2022

 

At its meeting on 12 April 2022, the AISC approved the Public Safety Training Package (Release 4.0) for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.

 

This release includes materials developed through the National Recovery Training Program (Phase 1).

 

For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Manager.

 

 

Submission

25 MARCH 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.

 

Thank you to all stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and contributed to this project.

personal

Paschal Somers

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

 

 

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0439 975 796