Blinds, awnings, security screens and grilles provide Australian homes and businesses with sun protection, security, energy saving benefits and visual appeal. Manufacturing and installing these custom-made and fitted products requires skilled workers to meet the unique measurements and style preferences of each customer.
Click across the tabs to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.
The sector’s diverse range of fabrics, fittings and fixtures has contributed to a high level of complexity within manufacturing and installation occupations. The long-term success of individual businesses and the industry require the ability to access appropriately skilled workers.
Consultation will take place throughout this project to review the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens, and Grilles and relevant units of competency so they are more flexible and relevant to current workplaces. In response to a crucial need for consistent skills in the installation of security screens, this project will also explore the option of developing a skill set to align with industry’s proposal for a specialised occupational licensing system.
Related occupations
Subscribe for updates
If you would like to receive updates about this project, please subscribe to our newsletter and select ‘Furnishing’ as one of your industries of interest.
Project Scope and Purpose
This project will update the national qualification and skills standards for the window furnishing manufacturing industry so that learners can acquire the skills needed for effective performance in current workplaces and contribute to the industry’s overall development and presence in the construction and home improvement sectors. The updated qualification and possible new skill set for security screen installers will support the national occupational licensing initiative which seeks to ensure that all professionals in this field are adequately skilled in delivering quality and reliable installations.
Initial input from stakeholders suggests the following potential updates.
Opportunities for stakeholder input
Stakeholder input is appreciated throughout the duration of this project. The qualification, units and skill set will be revised and drafted in consultation with the Technical Committee and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available in April 2025, and again to review and check final drafts in June 2025. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the qualification, skill set and units. The qualification, skill sets and units need to reflect real work experience. So, if you work in the sector, Skills Insight would appreciate your input.
A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project. Skills Insight will support FurnishingWorks as they work to contact each of these organisations during the development of this project to seek involvement and views on the draft qualification, skill set and units. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list. This list simply helps us to identify those organisations that, because of their industry role, size or specialty, are likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this project. If you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team.
For updates and consultation opportunities, please subscribe to news and updates.
Alternatively, please feel free to contact the stakeholder engagement manager, Tim Cleary on 03 9321 3526 or email [email protected]
A Consultation Strategy and Technical Committee (TC) Terms of Reference are in development and will be made available once the TC has signed off on these documents.
This project is part of the Annual Training Product Development Plan 2024-25.
This stage has not yet commenced.
During the development stage, key stakeholders, including subject matter experts, are engaged and consulted to gather further information and begin investigating potential solutions.
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the broad consultation stage, we present and discuss potential solutions, collecting feedback from a wide range of stakeholder across the country. It follows consultation with various stakeholders that has already taken place throughout the project.
This stage has not yet commenced.
As part of consensus gathering, we check our work with stakeholders to confirm that solutions are in line with expectations.
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the finalisation stage, final checks are conducted and the outcomes of the project are submitted to the Department for consideration. Following this, outcomes are published or enacted.
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of FurnishingWorks, a subsidiary of ForestWorks, as part of a collaborative partnership with Skills Insight. ForestWorks has an enduring and strong connection working with the forestry, timber, paper, fibre and furnishing industries and have been engaged by Skills Insight to deliver this project in partnership.