Category: CPC Construction, Plumbing and Services

The plumbing and fire services project has completed its quality assurance phase. The final version is now undergoing a review by state and territory training authorities before submission to the AISC meeting in June.

The project has been a complex one, involving more than a dozen qualifications (now streamlined to eight) with different regulatory requirements in each state and territory. The IRC would like to thank the members of the technical advisory group and all the industry stakeholders that have participated in the project for providing their time, feedback and expertise over the last two years.

To keep up to date, please visit the project page.

Did you know that nearly 2.7 million Australians, or 13% of the population, live in a house with a swimming pool? To address the training needs of this industry, the Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Building has been reviewed and updated. The proposed qualification has an emphasis on project management, planning and safety and includes ten new units specific to the trade skills required for swimming pool and spa building. The Case for Endorsement for Swimming Pool and Spa Building is currently undergoing a final check against the training package quality principles before being circulated to the State Training Authorities for their final review. It is anticipated that the Case will be considered by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) at its meeting 29 April 2020. To view the final drafts of the units and qualification read more on the project page.

While traditional construction skills remain at the core of shopfitting, the profession increasingly requires a wider range of skills and knowledge. Shopfitters need to be confident in using rapidly evolving technologies such as computer-aided design and fabrication. They need to be familiar with new materials and modular products and need to understand the requirements of the National Construction Code and other regulations. Shopfitting requires more than just a purely utilitarian approach to the installation of counters, displays, shelves, lighting and other fixtures. Rising competition, including from online businesses, is driving retail and service industries to focus on the use of commercial spaces not just for efficient delivery of goods and services but also to enhance customer experience and engagement. An industry-led review has been undertaken to ensure that the Certificate III in Shopfitting meets the need of this changing environment. The Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC are now seeking your  feedback to validate that the updated qualification and units meet industry needs. To find out more, see our project page.

The update of the Certificate III in Concreting by the Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC is nearing completion. After several months of  consultation and review led by a working group of industry experts, the final versions of the qualification and units of competency are ready for validation. Industry advice has been implemented to ensure the qualification meets AQF level 3 criteria and encompasses the full range of highly skilled work performed by concreters in residential and commercial settings.  Units have been updated in response to changes in industry practices and to more clearly articulate technical skill and knowledge requirements. We are seeking your feedback to validate that the updated qualification:

• aligns with the job of concreter across commercial and residential workplaces
• meets industry expectations of the skills required for jobs in the industry
• provides flexibility for learners to choose occupational pathways
• is deliverable by RTOs, achievable by learners and meets industry needs.

The final drafts of training package components, summaries of feedback and key changes, and information on how to provide feedback are available on the project page.

In order to preserve and restore our built history, Australia needs a good supply of tradespeople skilled in heritage construction. The Construction IRC has addressed this need in a number of recent projects. Heritage units have been updated or added in qualifications for roof plumbers, plasterers and carpenters, and the Certificate III in Bricklaying/Blocklaying and the Certificate III in Stonemasonry each include a comprehensive stream encompassing heritage, conservation and restoration. The IRC is exploring further ways of strengthening Australia’s heritage skills labour force. One option that will be explored in the forthcoming Industry Skills Forecast is the development of qualifications for heritage specialists. If you have an opinion on this, or just want to register your interest, please let us know.

(Image ‘Queenslander House’ by NJM2010 from Wikimedia Commons shared under Creative Commons licence.)

In December, Artibus conducted webinars and face-to-face forums in capital cities and major regional centres throughout Australia in order to gather industry advice on a wide range of construction industry projects.  A issue common to all projects was the Construction IRC's recommendation that CPCCWHS1001  Prepare to work safely in the construction industry be included as a core unit in all Certificate I, II and III qualifications submitted to the AISC for endorsement. Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice: Construction Work states that no one can undertake construction work unless they have completed general construction induction training. CPCCWHS1001, also known as the white card unit, encompasses the skills and knowledge required, and the IRC unanimously agreed that its inclusion as a core unit was important for work health and safety. More than 70% of employers supported the proposal. Support from RTO representatives was slightly less—60%—with many expressing concerns about the administrative burden this may cause.  The arguments and advice put forward by stakeholders have been summarised in the Cases for Endorsement to be assessed by the AISC in their February 2020 meeting.

The industry-led review and improvement of training package components in a number of projects is nearing completion, with Cases for Endorsement for the following projects to be assessed by the AISC in their February meeting:

• Building Completions
• Bricklaying, Blocklaying & Stonemasonry
• Carpentry and Joinery
• Painting and Decorating
• Demolition
• Plumbing Services
• Construction Pathways

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this process We have sought input from stakeholders across Australia—including industry associations, large and small businesses, contractors, workers and unions—to ensure that qualifications and units fully cover the skills and knowledge required by Australian industry in the 2020s. We’ve talked extensively with regulators and registered training organisations in all states and territories to ensure that training is safe, efficient and comprehensive. We’ve received submissions and advice from many individuals and organisations. In some cases, there have been differing opinions about the best approach to take, but we have endeavoured—guided by our technical advisory groups—to hear all opinions, assess all options and achieve a fair evidence-based outcome to meet the needs of industry as a whole. For more details on how we’ve done this for each project, please see the Cases for Endorsement downloadable from each project page.