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.
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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.
We encourage input from industry, trainers, the union and other stakeholders with relevant experience so that updates reflect how work is currently performed in the industry.
Related occupations
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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.
Timeline
Project team
Tim Cleary
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
FurnishingWorks
[email protected]
Belinda Tierney
General Manager
ForestWorks
[email protected]
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 June 2025, and again to review and check final drafts in August 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.
A review of the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens, and Grilles, and relevant units of competency, is underway to improve their flexibility and relevance to the skill needs in today’s workplaces. 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 businesses and the broader industry requires the ability to access appropriately skilled workers.
A Technical Committee of relevant experts has been formed to provide advice throughout the project. The group met 22 May 2025 for initial discussions and to review and accept the Technical Committee Terms of Reference and Consultation Strategy. The committee is reviewing the qualification and units and providing advice for revisions; including the development of new units and the creation of a security screen installer skill set.
Drawing upon their deep understanding of the day-to-day operations and demands within the industry, the Technical Committee has initially focused on:
- accurately defining the scope of work currently performed across the sector
- identifying critical skill gaps that must be addressed.
Skill gaps have emerged due to several factors, including:
- existing units of competency becoming outdated and superseded
- necessary improvements in industry standards
- the significant impact of ongoing technological advancements within the field.
The committee also discussed the importance of the qualification and skill set taking into account existing and future licensing and regulation requirements, and a shared objective to acknowledge the industry-specific technical skills and precision required for installers and manufacturers alike.
Next steps
The draft qualifications and units of competency will be made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder consultation and feedback in July 2025.
Register for a consultation workshop
In-person and online workshops are planned for July to coincide with the release of draft documents for broad stakeholder feedback. These sessions will provide further information about the work underway and outline how you can contribute to the updated draft qualification, skill set and units of competency.
Register for a session that best suits you.
In-person sessions
Online sessions
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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.
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.
FurnishingWorks, 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.