This webpage provides an overview of all activities outlined in both the Annual Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring Plan and Annual Training Product Development Plan. These activities respond to the skills and capability priorities described in the Workforce Plan and are supported by key stakeholders.
The Annual Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring Plan includes non-training package activities, categorised as Implementation Support Projects, Research Projects, and Pilot Projects. The Annual Training Product Development Plan outlines Training Package Projects, which involve changes to training package products.
To view all projects currently underway, visit our projects webpage.
This page last updated September 2024
Veterinary Nursing Review
This Training Product Development activity is a comprehensive review of veterinary nursing qualifications ensuring that qualifications remain industry-relevant.
The veterinary nursing sector in Australia grapples with challenges such as workforce shortages, high turnover rates, and inconsistent alignment of veterinary nurses’ skills and roles. The shortage of veterinarians in Australia and the escalating demand for higher quality and more complex veterinary services have intensified the pressure on veterinary nurses. An industry-led review of qualifications may also support businesses in recognising higher-level skills and suitable levels of responsibility, which could have a positive impact on strategies to address retention rates, wage growth and skills shortages for this workforce.
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ACM Veterinary Nursing Skills and Qualification Review
Start date
31 January 2025
Expected Completion Date
30 June 2026
The veterinary services industry supports a thorough review of the Certificate IV and Diploma of Veterinary Nursing to ensure occupational and skills alignment, including compliance with regulatory requirements. Skills such as performing dental prophylaxis, taking radiographs, and conducting nurse consultations, deemed essential for diploma-level graduates, are currently situated at Certificate-IV level, creating a misalignment between job roles and AQF level. Addressing this misalignment may support determination of the skills standards that would be stipulated under the potential mandatory registration of veterinary nurses and technicians, as advocated by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, and supported by the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia.
ACM Veterinary Nursing Skills and Qualification Review Project website page coming soon!
Scope
For review:
- 2 qualifications
- 60 units of competency
See Appendix A for list of products being reviewed.
Prioritisation
Routine— 18 months
To allow suitable time for targeted face-to-face consultation in rural and remote areas to better target stakeholders impacted by and/or interested in the outcomes of the project.
Window Furnishings and Shade Sails
This Training Package Development activity aims to ensure that vocational training and education programs in the windows furnishing sector are fit-for-purpose, accessible for students and provide industry-relevant competencies.
Continuous industry feedback has highlighted areas for improvement in the Certificate III program, particularly in terms of flexibility, relevance to modern workplaces, and alignment with potential occupational licensing requirements for security screen installers. Importantly, the industry stresses the critical need for proper installation skills for security screens, which significantly influence the functionality and security of the installed products.
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Blinds and Screens
Start date
23 September 2024
Expected Completion Date
30 October 2025
The industry proposes the establishment of a specialised occupational licensing system for security screen installers, which is focused on skill, not just probity. This could involve aligning to a designated skill set, potentially named the Skill Set for Door or Window Security Screen Installer, (which could be developed as part of this project) and containing critical units.
Blinds and Screens Project website page coming soon!
Scope
One qualification – Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles
14 units of competency
See Appendix B for list of products being reviewed.
Prioritisation
Routine— 12 months
Pathway to Tree Felling Skills
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity is designed to conduct research on appropriate pre-requisite units in manual tree felling training packages to ensure both availability of training and occupational health and safety.
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Research on Pre-requisite Challenges and Solutions for Manual Tree Felling Units of Competency
Expected timeframe
30 July 2024 – 31 July 2025
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of ForestWorks as part of their 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.
This activity aims to investigate and devise solutions to challenges related to establishing pre-requisite requirements for the FWP Forest and Wood Products Training Package units of competency in manual tree felling across various sectors and applications, including arboriculture, emergency services, vegetation and land management and forestry.
It proposes to conduct further research and consider strategies for implementing pre-requisite requirements in response to Skills Insight’s recent Tree Felling Project, which updated three units of competency to reduce barriers to training delivery. Introducing pre-requisites to the manual tree felling units received strong stakeholder support during the Tree Felling Project for safe training and skill development, however, this was a fast-tracked project to address the concerns around access to trees for assessment and therefore did not have scope for this additional work at the time.
The objective is to ensure safety and skill development in manual tree felling operations by creating a clear and effective pathway for learners to acquire the essential skills and knowledge before enrolling in a tree felling unit, whether that is through the addition of pre-requisite requirements or alternative approaches.
Activity plan
Activity 1
Engage with Training Package Assurance Body and State Training Authorities
Activity 2
Consultation with Targeted Stakeholders and Data Collection
Activity 3
Analysis and Development of Draft Recommendations and Activity Plan
Activity 4
Stakeholder Review and Feedback
Activity 5
Finalisation of Recommendations and Activity Plan Report
Duration
Routine— 12 months
To allow suitable time for targeted face-to-face consultation in rural and remote areas to better target stakeholders impacted by and/or interested in the outcomes of the project.
Tree Allocation Partnerships
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity is designed to determine appropriate tree allocation and sourcing protocols for manual tree felling training units.
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Supporting Partnerships for Tree Allocation for Training in Manual Tree Felling
Expected timeframe
30 September 2024 – 31 December 2025
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of ForestWorks as part of their 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.
Stakeholder feedback and a detailed survey conducted among RTOs as part of the Tree Felling Project revealed widespread difficulties in obtaining the required number of trees for training delivery. Despite modifications to competency requirements to reduce the number of trees needed for assessments, the issue of limited tree availability persists, highlighting the need for additional solutions.
The activity aims to:
Activity plan
Activity 1
Stakeholder Engagement
Activity 2
Protocol Development for Tree Allocation
Activity 3
Pilot Test for Tree Allocation
Activity 4
Implementation Support
Activity 5
Monitoring and Evaluation
Duration
Routine— 15 months
To allow sufficient time to engage with key stakeholders, develop a protocol, pilot test, implement support and monitor and evaluate progress.
Worker Safety Induction Pilot
This Stage 2 implementation, promotion and monitoring activity is to fund the development and testing of the IT solution for immersive learning products for meat processing and abattoir safety training.
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Meat Safety Induction (Agribusiness Safety Induction Pilot) Stage 2
Expected timeframe
03 February 2025 – 27 February 2026
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of MINTRAC as part of their collaborative partnership with Skills Insight. MINTRAC has a strong history working with the Australian meat processing industry on skills and training solutions and have been engaged by Skills Insight to deliver this project in partnership.
During the first meeting of The Agriculture Workforce Working Group (AWWG), it was proposed that investigations take place into a safety induction program to be piloted in the meat processing industry.
Research and consultation have taken place to plan the safety induction program and select an appropriate vendor to develop simulated learning modules. A process to film all the modules is now underway. Once filmed, they will undergo a review process, including collecting feedback from the project steering committee.
As part of the final stage of this project, a report will be produced to outline findings and recommendations, including advice for potential implementation across other industries.
Activity plan
Development of interactive content for WHS training
Production of a report including findings and recommendations, and advice for potential implementation across other industries.
Duration
Routine— 12 months
Career Pathways for Agricultural Trades
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity aims to address skills shortages and training gaps in the agriculture sector by comprehensively identify and collate the pathways, job titles and connections to current qualifications that currently exist within this field.
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Career mapping of the agricultural qualifications in the AHC Training Package, including a potential Agricultural Trade Pathway
Expected timeframe
30 September 2024 – 30 June 2025
The recent Ag Trade Pathway report and consultations highlighted the importance of career mapping to develop the pathway. Pathway mapping is included as an Implementation Process Stage 1 activity in the Feasibility Report, which will be covered by the proposed scope of work in this proposal. Pathway mapping will help Skills Insight understand the number of occupations that can be included within a potential trade pathway, and where other Purpose 1, 2 or 3 qualifications may still be needed.
Activity plan
Duration
Routine — 15 months
To allow sufficient time to engage with key stakeholders, develop a protocol, pilot test, implement support and monitor and evaluate progress.
Flock Safe
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity aims to utilise training education workshops to develop industry awareness of biosecurity threats.
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Poultry Farm Biosecurity Initiative
Expected timeframe
30 September 2024 – 30 June 2025
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of MINTRAC as part of their collaborative partnership with Skills Insight. MINTRAC has a strong history working with the Australian meat processing industry on skills and training solutions and have been engaged by Skills Insight to deliver this project in partnership.
In its 2022-2027 Chicken Meat Program Research Development and Extension Plan, AgriFutures identifies ‘enhancing biosecurity, health and welfare’ as one of the key priorities of the poultry industry.
In response to this and other calls from industry for improved skills in prevention of biosecurity incursions, Skills Insight and MINTRAC are undertaking this project to deliver free workshops for chicken meat and egg producers around the country and online. Workshops will focus on the role of on-farm flock safety measures in safeguarding the biosecurity of the broader industry.
Participants will come together to create or review their on-farm Biosecurity Management Plans. This gives industry in each region the opportunity to collaborate and share best practice, uplifting the biosecurity of the entire industry. Content for the workshops will draw on already existing resources.
Insights gained from this project will be used to inform further work by Skills Insight in supporting biosecurity skills across the industries we serve.
Project activities have been impacted by the recent Avian Influenza incursions across Victoria, with industry prioritising a nationwide biosecurity response. For more information see the website.
Project outputs
Duration
Short — 8 months
Shorter project in response to industry calls for action
Attraction and Retention Guidance
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity is a pilot that seeks to assist employers in attracting and retaining skilled workers through developing a comprehensive place-based strategy capable of utilisation across sectors in regional, rural and remote (RRR) Australia.
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Attraction and Retention of a Skilled Workforce
Expected timeframe
03 February 2025 – 27 February 2026
Attraction and retention of a skilled workforce is a key priority for the industries Skills Insight supports, as identified in our conversations with stakeholders, including our Stakeholder Forum. These industries are responsible for caring for our environments and animals, and produce the raw material required to feed, clothe and house the population. They also have a large proportion of their operations located in regional, rural and remote locations, presenting specific challenges in workforce attraction and retention.
While there are many examples of successful strategies and resources available, businesses can find it challenging to navigate these to find the advice needed to support their specific attraction and retention needs.
Activity plan
Duration
Routine — 12 months
Employer Best Practice Guidance for Apprenticeships in Furnishings
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity will develop an Employer Best Practice Guidance publication to provide employers of furnishing apprentices with the resources to assist their apprentices to successfully complete their training
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Employer Best Practice Guidance for Apprenticeships in Furnishings
Expected timeframe
03 February 2025 – 27 February 2026
Furnishing is a manufacturing industry which is being supported by the Federal Government’s Strategy to encourage onshore manufacturing. Much of the existing expertise will be offshore, and trainers, supervisors, mentors and other support for apprentices may need to come from migration sources. Regardless of source, they are likely to have very different learning backgrounds from the current and future generation of potential apprentices.
These issues apply broadly across all Skills Insight’s industries. Furnishing is a suitable industry for a pilot, given the previous work undertaken by the industry and the current Federal and State strategies encouraging growth of the industry.
This is a pilot project based in furnishings, but potentially applicable to all other industries with suitable amendments. The initial pilot is being undertaken using selected Certificate III qualifications for the Furnishings industry within the MSF Training package.
Activity plan
Duration
Routine — 12 months
Community Based Aquaculture Training Tools
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity is aimed at improving community participation in aquaculture, especially in remote and northern Australia, through the development of culturally appropriate training materials.
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Community Based Aquaculture Training Tools
Expected timeframe
30 September 2024 – 30 April 2026
The Australian Government has clear policy directions emphasising the need for Food security for Australians, including seafood. Closing the Gap policies include aims to assist the growth of First nations Enterprises, including in aquaculture. This training needs to be culturally appropriate, and potentially community-led in partnership with industry.
During recent stakeholder engagement, a Northern Territory community raised the need for aquaculture training to support their development of a black-lip oyster enterprise. Charles Darwin University Aquaculture Registered Training Organisation (RTO) recognises the tropical black-lip oyster Industry for Indigenous Coastal Communities is currently at a grow-out stage of development and in need of training, but indicated they were constrained from delivering the training because they had no culturally appropriate training materials to support it and did not have current capacity to develop such materials.
Skills Insight then sought further input from across Australia from both First Nations enterprises establishing aquaculture operations, and potential RTOs that might deliver training. Several Communities across Northern Australia are actively pursuing the establishment of farms, as this industry is well suited to the dynamics of community life (i.e., operational flexibility), and good economic potential. These communities are now seeking vocational training for workers.
Skills Insight website:
https://skillsinsight.com.au/project/community-based-aquaculture-training-tools/
Activity plan
Phase 1
Community consultation across Australia with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils, community groups, businesses, industry groups, unions, corporations, registered training organisations and individuals.
Phase 2
Partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, vocational education training organisations and universities in the development of culturally appropriate vocational training tools aligned to units of competencies within the seafood industry training package.
Duration
Complex — 18 months
To allow sufficient time for appropriate engagement and co-design culturally appropriate vocational training tools.
Workshop to aid the development of the Northern Australia Workforce Plan
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring activity is for funding to cover the delivery of a JSC Workforce Planning Workshop at the Developing Northern Australia Conference being held in Cairns on 23-24 July 2025, with the workshop to be held on 24 July 2025.
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Workshop to aid the development of the Northern Australia Workforce Plan
Expected timeframe
07 April 2025 – 31 August 2025
The Proposal is for delivery of a JSC Workforce Planning Workshop at the Developing Northern Australia Conference being held in Cairns on 23-24 July 2025, with the workshop to be a preconference day on 22 July.
The proposal is for the JSCs to use their expertise in Workforce Planning to assist the Office of Northern Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) to deliver part of the recommended workforce plan through a workshop conducted at the conference.
The workshop will be supported jointly by all JSCs, with Skills Insight to undertake a coordination role.
Activity plan
Deliver workshop and deliver report.
Duration
Short — 5 months
To allow sufficient time for appropriate engagement and co-design culturally appropriate vocational training tools.
MST Skills and Occupation Mapping
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring project will produce an accurate and forward-looking framework of occupational roles, skill sets, career pathways, and training alignment across the TCF sector addressing inconsistencies in occupational classifications, providing critical evidence for updating the MST Training Package, and supporting more effective targeting of workforce development policies.
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MST Skills and Occupation Mapping
Expected timeframe
30 June 2025 – 31 August 2026
TextileWorks, a part of ForestWorks, is providing support for the management of this JSC project as part of their 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.
This submission proposes the development of a national Skills and Occupations Mapping Project for the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) sector. It responds to Recommendation 1 of the 2025 TCF Workforce Insights Research Report and has been identified by industry stakeholders as a priority for workforce development. The objective is to produce an accurate and forward-looking framework of occupational roles, skill sets, career pathways, and training alignment across the TCF sector. The mapping will address the inconsistencies outlined above in occupational classifications, provide critical evidence for updating the MST Training Package, and support more effective targeting of workforce development policies, including skilled migration, occupational licensing, training funding, and RPL initiatives. International equivalents, such as Singapore’s Skills Framework will be reviewed to help inform project development and implementation.
Activity plan
Provide a framework of current and emerging job roles and associated skills.
Map career pathways in the industry.
Identify gaps in training content and delivery.
Present a national TCF industry training profile.
Identify TCF skills that are transferrable across job roles and sectors.
Duration
Routine — 13 months
Mapping of Workplace Training to PPM Qualifications
This Implementation, Promotion and Monitoring project will map existing workplace training modules to PPM training products, test the alignment through a gap analysis, and engage stakeholders to establish a clear pathway for formal skills recognition and workforce growth.
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Mapping of Workplace Training to PPM Qualifications
Expected timeframe
30 June 2025 – 30 May 2026
This Skills Insight JSC project is being managed with the support of ForestWorks as part of their 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.
The PPM industry currently does not access nationally recognised training; employers are relying on unaligned industry based in-house training programs to skill their operational workforce. This leaves workers without formal nationally recognised training credentials and hinders their career mobility.
This project aims to address these issues by mapping the widely accepted internal industry-based training modules to the national training package, piloting an RTO-led gap analysis for employees at a select PPM manufacturing site. Forecasting future PPM learner demand through industry market research and engaging with industry and government to secure funding for a sustainable, accredited, industry relevant training pathway.
The outcomes will include:
Activity plan
Mapping to align nonaccredited training modules with national training standards
Engage a registered training organisation to work with one PPM manufacturing site
Conduct market to establish the potential learners
Build a business case for industry acceptance of formal training within the national training framework and ongoing training delivery
Engage with industry and state governments to source funding to deliver training across multiple sites nationally
Deliver Skills Analysis Final job and qualification report.
Duration
Routine — 11 months
Appendix
AMP Australian Meat Training Package
This project is the continuation of the full review of the AMP Australian Meat Training Package which commenced in 2021, to be completed in stages to minimise disruption to current apprenticeships and ongoing training and workforce development. The first stage focused on some Certificate III and all Certificate IV qualifications and has been completed in December 2022.
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Essential Meat Processing Skills Project
Start date
30 November 2023
Expected Completion Date
30 June 2025
Stage 2 of the full review of the AMP Training Package will focus on Certificate II qualifications and accompanying units of competency, in particular reviewing the core units, addressing duplication issues, reviewing and adjusting units to better reflect the level of the task described and updating the qualifications to address non-compliance and structural issues.
Scope
For review:
- 3 qualifications
- 6 skill sets
- 163 units of competency.
Prioritisation
Complex— 18 months To allow sufficient time to address significant concerns identified in the training package products, which are exacerbated by the large volume of components being reviewed.
AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management Training Package
The following three projects are the final cluster of a ‘unit sector approach’ undertaken over the past three years by Skills Impact to complete a full review of the AHC Training Package and bring the AHC Training Package up to date with current work methods and skill needs. All three projects will run simultaneously to minimise overall disruption to the AHC training package and its users.
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Rural Operations Project
Start date
30 November 2023
Expected Completion Date
30 November 2024
This project will undertake an in-depth analysis of how the AHC21216 Certificate II in Rural Operations is utilised, particularly in the northern region of Australia, followed by an update to the qualification so that its outcomes meet the unique needs of learners and workplaces in rural and remote areas.
Scope
One qualification – AHC21216 Certificate II in Rural Operations
In addition to changes to the qualification there is a provision for the development of up to 5 units of competency to assist with ensuring the qualification addresses specific skills needs for those in rural areas.
Prioritisation
Routine – 12 months
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Livestock Operations Project
Start date
30 November 2023
Expected Completion Date
30 November 2024
This project covers the livestock farming and feedlot sectors of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. Consultation will address units proposed for deletion, prerequisite chains, job roles and vocational specialisations. There will be an
Scope
For review:
78 units of competency (10 of which are being considered for deletion).
One qualification
Prioritisation
Routine – 12 months
To allow suitable time for targeted face-to-face consultation in rural and remote areas to better target stakeholders impacted by and/or interested in the outcomes of the project.
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Shearing and Wool Classing Project
Start date
30 November 2023
Expected Completion Date
30 November 2024
This project covers the shearing and wool sectors of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
Initiatives of particular importance in this project are: addressing issues with duplication and the inclusion of units that are no longer required by industry; reviewing and adjusting units to better reflect the level of the task described; undertaking targeted consultation to further investigate whether there are improvements that may be made to the training products covering shearing and wool classing skills to work towards addressing labour shortages in these occupations; ensuring workplace health and safety requirements are firmly embedded in the training products.Shearing and Wool Project website page coming soon!
Scope
For review:
- 6 qualifications
- 34 units of competency.
In finding solutions to some of the identified challenges, training products may be removed, merged and/or deleted, and new units of competency may be developed to support any new technologies or processes for relevant workplaces.
Prioritisation
Routine – 12 months
To allow suitable time for targeted face-to-face consultation in rural and remote areas to better target stakeholders impacted by and/or interested in the outcomes of the project.
AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management Training Package
Over the past few years, the AHC training package has been undergoing significant revision using a ‘Unit Sector’ approach, to bring it up to date with current work methods and skills needs. As a result, several qualifications and skill sets need to be updated to incorporate units of competency that have been developed or revised in recent projects. In particular, several work health and safety and environmental care-related units have been updated which are core units in numerous qualifications.More information is available on the Skills Insight website.
Scope
Updates to training package products in the AHC Training Package include:
- 40 qualifications
- 28 skill sets
- 4 units for deletion
- 3 units with minor amendments
In addition:
- a new unit developed during the recent Responding and Assisting in Bushfires Project is recommended for inclusion in the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Arboriculture
- imported units of competency in qualifications and skill sets will be updated to reflect recent revisions.
Prioritisation
Fast-track
To ensure the components are up to date so that the latest available units can be utilised for training, and they reflect real (and current) job outcomes.
FWP Forest and Wood Products Training Package
Using a chainsaw to fell trees is a crucial skill in forestry operations, agriculture and arboriculture, as well as in emergency events like storms, cyclones and bushfires. Manual tree felling skills are essential for removing trees in locations or positions that make the use of large machinery unviable.
These skills are described in three units of competency which specifically outline the number of trees required to be felled in order to demonstrate competence at a basic, intermediate and advanced level.
Some training providers have indicated that the number of trees required at each unit level has an impact on their ability to deliver training, as practice trees can be difficult to source outside of a forestry environment. It is crucial that these units are accessible to train, so that everyone who performs tree felling work can access formal training. This must be balanced with the need for learners to demonstrate felling techniques many times, so they have the skills and confidence to perform the task safely in the field.More information is available on the Skills Insight website.
Scope
The project will review the Performance Evidence requirements of three recently updated units after issues that have been raised (post the endorsement process) that these units are not fit for purpose and create safety issues. The three units are:
- FWPCOT2274 Fell trees manually (basic)
- FWPCOT3347 Fell trees manually (intermediate)
- FWPCOT3348 Fell trees manually (advanced)
In addition, there are three qualifications that may be impacted by changes to these units and may need to be updated.
A supporting Companion Volume User Guide is also proposed for development to assist RTOs with safely implementing these units. This work will require involvement and consultation with the Public Safety and Government JSC. Representatives of industry will need to be involved in the consultation given the safety issues involved and the widespread use of the units by a number of emergency services.
Prioritisation
Fast-track
To discuss and find solutions that will make sure the units can be safely delivered and assessed before the teach-out period expires.
In devising solutions, consideration will be given to safety standards, accessibility of resources, competency development and training resources.