Information on the New Construction Qualifications
The Prime Minister and State and Territory Premiers and Chief Administrators meet periodically as the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The Council makes determinations on wide-ranging, inter-government improvements to
Under the general theme of A More Flexible and Responsive Training System COAG, in February 2006, introduced a set of measures to ensure
As part of this the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council was asked to develop additional nationally portable qualifications for the General Construction Training Package. The primary intention was to better meet ongoing construction industry skill demands and shortages, provide skill recognition for existing workers and improve productivity and safety.
CPSISC undertook the work within a very tight timeframe and consulted key construction industry stakeholders on what new qualifications that complemented existing trade callings were needed. This provided substantial information and innovative ideas about emerging skill requirements and how work organisation was changing in the industry, particularly in residential building.
The result was a suite of six new qualifications; three at Certificate III and three at Certificate II that were put forward for endorsement by the National Quality Council in July and September 2006. All have now been endorsed by the Council and are detailed on the National Training Information Service (NTIS) and published as additions to the General Construction Training Package – code BCG03.
The qualifications are:
·
Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining (Plasterboard)
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·
Certificate III in Formwork and Falsework
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for more information
·
Certificate III in Low Rise Structural Framing
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for more information
·
Certificate II in Steel Fixing
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for more information
·
Certificate II in Concreting
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for more information
·
Certificate II in Stonemasonry
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for more information
These new qualifications compliment the existing general Certificate II in Construction and the Certificate III trade outcomes in the national Training Package by largely utilising existing units of competency. The Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining (Plasterboard) does have units not previously in the Package that were sourced from the Boral enterprise Training Package.
The intention of these new training and recognition outcomes is to reflect job roles that are in demand in the construction industry. Increasingly contractors specialise in discrete aspects of building work and utilise some but by no means all of the skills in traditional trade callings. This requires an additional pathway for training that shows where skills in the specialist roles may relate to several trades.
An example is the Certificate III in Low Rise Structural Framing which covers all the skills required to set out and erect house or small commercial building frames in timber of steel. Carpenters can of course undertake this work but also have other skills in door and window installation, etc that specialist framers do not use. In a similar way the Certificate III in Formwork/Falsework covers skills in setting out, erecting and dismantling complex formwork for concrete construction that draw on carpentry skills but are not as encompassing.
The new Certificate II qualifications complement existing Certificate III qualifications in the General Construction Package by reflecting the job roles of skilled workers who undertake valuable work in concreting, steel fixing and residential stonemasonry, usually under the supervision of a Certificate III qualified tradesperson.
Many workers in the construction industry have well honed skills built up through experience and short, unrecognised training programs. Where their skills are in the areas set out in the new qualifications they may want to seek formal recognition and issue of a national qualification through assessment and possibly gap training. New industry entrants will have the opportunity to pick up the new qualifications through structured pathways such as traineeships and apprenticeships or, in the case of the Certificate IIs, pre-employment courses.
Details of the six new qualifications can be obtained from CPSISC and training organisations should be offering training and assessment against them in the near future.
For more information contact: Mike Quade on (07) 3261 9073 or mike.quade@cpsisc.com.au
To view the Media Release - please click here.
