ABCB releases new education resource for the VET sector

aerial view of melbourne suburban houses

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released its new and improved educational resource ‘NCC Tutor’.

The improved NCC Tutor educational resource has been re-designed to better support educators in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector to train their students to use, understand and competently apply the National Construction Code (NCC).

The modules have been tailored to some of the Construction, Plumbing and Services (CPC, CPC08) and Property Services (CPP, CPP07) training packages that include competency requirements that relate to the NCC in the Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications. 

The resource has retained its PowerPoint presentation format, but adopted a more structured and targeted approach with less repetition of material across different modules, new in-class activities, more in-depth teaching notes and new ‘in-presentation’ quizzes. 

A key difference between the new NCC Tutor and its earlier editions, is that the 17 modules have been structured into three key learning areas:

  • Understanding – These core modules explain fundamental concepts and understandings about the NCC that are essential to understanding the remaining modules.
  • Using – These are practical modules that take trainees through the process on how to use a particular Volume to locate, interpret and apply different requirements.
  • Example – These modules contain a detailed worked example of how to locate, interpret and apply the requirements of a Volume to at least one real-world building project. 

The modules can assist educators to provide their students with additional in-class opportunities to review, discuss and apply their knowledge of the NCC. The modules have also been mapped to relevant units of competencies (UOCs) to better support educators’ need to test their students’ competencies against required knowledge and performance criteria in relevant UOCs.  

Up to 17 modules will be released in the coming months. 

Enhanced education to support the tertiary education sector Part of the ABCB’s response to the Building Confidence Report (the report) includes supporting the tertiary education sector through curriculum input and targeted resources to improve entry-level knowledge of the NCC. The CPP Skills Forecast also noted the report as a key driver for change, not only for the industry, but also for training. 

How can I access NCC Tutor?

NCC Tutor is specifically for use by educators from Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions and universities.

Interested RTO and TAFE providers and educators can request access to NCC Tutor by submitting an online enquiry to the ABCB. 

Request access to NCC Tutor.

The NCC Tutor modules have been tailored to suit some of the Construction, Plumbing and Services (CPC, CPC08) and Property Services (CPP, CPP07) training packages at Certificate IV and Diploma levels. The modules have been mapped to relevant units of competencies (UOCs) to better support educators’ need to test their students’ competencies against required knowledge and performance criteria in relevant UOCs. 

Find out more: https://www.abcb.gov.au/Initiatives/All/education/NCC-Tutor

CPC User Manual

Strata Community Management Project: Industry Validation

professionals with apartment block

Consultations March 2021

  • Validation Survey: 16 - 31 March
  • Webinar: 25 March, 12pm

As part of our Strata Community Management Project, we are seeking industry feedback on the proposed CPP40521 Certificate IV in Strata Community Management and units of competency.

The scope of the project also includes deletion of the CPP50316 Diploma of Strata Community Management however, industry consultation is indicating a desire to retain and update this qualification. The CPP30416 Certificate III in Strata Community Management will be deleted.

The working group has looked closely at the functions, skills and knowledge covered by the Certificate IV qualification to update and improve occupational outcomes for industry. This work has resulted in changes to the packaging arrangements to better align the qualification with contemporary practices and emerging skills needs in strata community management. Units of competency identified as fundamental to the occupation have been significantly updated and modified to ensure they reflect specific strata community management requirements. All documents for review are available to download on the Strata Community Management Project Page.

We are very interested in hearing your response to the proposed updated Certificate IV. We would also like to hear your opinion on the retention or deletion of the Diploma of Strata Community Management CPP50316. Please provide feedback by C.O.B. Wednesday 31 March 2021.

We will be holding a webinar on Thursday 25 March at midday (AEDT) to discuss the project and expand on how the working group designed the current proposal. Please register to attend.

Update on CPC and CPP Training Package releases

The Property Services and Construction, Plumbing and Services Industry Reference Committees have reviewed the upcoming releases to ensure, where possible, that the latest version of an imported unit is used. The CPC components will be under Release 5 and Building Design will be CPP Release 11.0.

  • CPC
    • Brick and Block / Stonemasonry
    • Building and Construction
    • Construction Pathways
    • Carpentry and Joinery
    • Completion Services
      • Construction Waterproofing
      • Roof Tiling
      • Solid Plastering
      • Wall and Ceiling Lining
      • Wall and Floor Tiling
    • Demolition
    • High Risk Work
      • Rigging
      • Scaffolding
      • Steelfixing
    • Construction Crane Operations
    • Painting and Decorating
    • Plumbing and Fire Services
    • Swimming Pool and Spa Building
    • Concreting
    • Shopfitting
  • CPP
    • Building Design

The components of these projects are undergoing a final proof-read before going live on training.gov.au, which is anticipated before the end of next week.

The following endorsed projects are awaiting Ministerial sign-off and will be also added to the register in the very near future:

  • Building Information Modelling (CPC) – to be added as general elective units to:
    • CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction and
    • CPC50320 Diploma of Building and Construction (Management)
  • Building Surveying (CPC)
  • Surveying and Spatial Information Services (CPP)

In line with Training Package Development and Endorsement Process Policy, the CPP and CPC qualifications already on the national register will have imported equivalent elective units updated but not the core or non-equivalent elective units. A full review is required to update these components.

Companion Volume Implementation Guides Draft User Manuals

We’ve been working on ways to make the Companion Volume Implementation Guides (CVIG) more useful across the various stakeholder groups, and so have been developing an online User Manual to assist. Our main focus is on improving ease of access to the information contained within the CVIGs, as well as including supporting materials provided by stakeholders. There are a range of users who rely on the CVIG, so we have tailored the User Manuals to meet these various needs by dividing the CVIGs by user group.

The 2 key aspects to the draft User Manuals are the breakdown of information by user group and the addition of supporting information.

The breakdown of the CVIG material by user group is aimed at streamlining navigation through to the most relevant material. A full version of the recent CVIG is contained in the first tab, so you have easy reference to it at all times.

The addition of supporting materials is intended to aid interpretation and delivery. At the moment, additional materials are included in the text, but we are anticipating featuring them more prominently, and attributing all extra materials to the individual or organisation who provided it.

The user manual is very much a work in progress, and we need your input – tell us what you think works, what doesn’t, and what you’d like to see added.

To do this, go to the CVIG User feedback survey here, where you’ll find links through to the draft CPC and CPP CVIG User Manuals as well as the feedback form. Your responses will be invaluable in further developing and finalising the structure and the content of the CVIG User Manuals.

Strata Community Management

The AISC has approved a review of the Strata Community Management qualifications.  This review will focus on the relevance and demand for qualifications in this sector and will consider the following:

  • updating and improving CPP40516 Certificate IV in Strata Community Management
  • regulatory changes (both to licensing for strata managers and related legislative change for the built environment)
  • growing demand for skilled strata managers to meet the needs of increasing urban density and residential property development resulting in burgeoning numbers of strata schemes requiring management
  • deletion of CPP30416 Certificate III in Strata Community Management (as directed by the AISC)
  • further industry consultation on the deletion of CPP50316 Diploma in Strata Community Management (as directed by the AISC)

Stakeholder feedback is sought, in particular around how the Certificate IV in Strata Community Management can be improved and modernised to suit current industry requirements.  Further information is available at the project page on the Artibus Innovation website.

Newly endorsed training products

These projects were endorsed at the October 2020 meeting of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) and will be available on training.gov.au in the near future.

Construction, Plumbing and Services

  • Building Information Modelling (3 units of competency, 1 skill set)
  • Building Surveying (1 updated qualification, 1 skill set)

Property Services

  • Surveying and Spatial Information Services (6 updated qualifications)

Pending update to National Register

We appreciate the patience of stakeholders who are awaiting the release of endorsed CPC and CPP training package materials onto the National Register.

We have been working with the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to synchronise training package releases to minimise the use of superseded units of competency in newly released qualifications.  Both the Property Services and Construction, Plumbing and Services Industry Reference Committees are finalising consideration of BSB and HLT units which are called upon either as Core units or non-equivalent elective units to ensure they are still fit for purpose.

Imported elective units, which remain equivalent, have been updated and will be reflected in the qualifications.

We anticipate National Register updates to the Property Services and Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Packages will take place around mid-November.

Cleaning Qualifications Review

Technical Advisory Group nominations now open

Further to a webinar which outlined the project and received preliminary feedback, the Property Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) is calling for suitably qualified industry stakeholders to nominate for a position on a Technical Advisory Group (TAG).  The TAG will provide guidance on the project; technical advice; stakeholder outreach and recommendations for IRC consideration. The following qualifications are to be reviewed.

Please nominate here by answering these questions:

  1. Outline your experience and expertise in the cleaning industry
  2. Outline why you are interested in training and the review of the cleaning qualifications
  3. Outline your capacity to represent the interests of, and liaise with, stakeholders in the cleaning industry.

Nominations close at COB Friday 9th October.

Artibus Innovation Year Book

Artibus Innovation is pleased to announce that our 2019-20 yearbook is now available to download.  This summarises the most recent Training Package (CPC & CPP) endorsements and outlines ongoing projects.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have contributed to our Training Package updates, from suggestions for minor updates to hours and hours spent reading and reviewing draft qualifications and units of competency.

Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated by the Industry Reference Committees, by us and by the Construction, Plumbing and Property industries.

The Year Book is available for download on our Resources page

Transition Projects

The Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) has directed that the qualifications below be transitioned to the Standards for Training Packages2012.

  • CPP20511        Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing
  • CPP30811        Certificate III in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing
  • CPP40811        Certificate IV in Access Consulting
  • CPP50711        Diploma of Access Consulting

Fire Protection Inspection and Testing
A long-term project to review and update the Fire Protection Inspection and Testing (FPIT) qualifications has been unable to reach industry consensus on the composition of updated qualifications, hence the AISC directive.

The FPIT qualifications and units of competency have been transitioned to the Standards for Training Packages 2012 and are available for downloading here.

Validation/feedback is sought on the transitioned components and will be included in the Case for Endorsement which will be submitted to the December meeting of the AISC.  This feedback period is open until Friday 18th September.  Please provide your feedback here.

Access Consulting
The Property and Services IRC have submitted proposals to the AISC to update these qualifications to encompass built environment auditing skills, but these proposals have been unsuccessful.

The AISC have directed that the Diploma and Certificate IV undergo a straight transition to the Standards for Training Packages 2012 and that the CPP80313 Graduate Diploma of Access Consulting be deleted.

The two Access Consulting qualifications and units of competency have been transitioned are available for downloading here.

Feedback is sought on the transitioned components and also on the proposed deletion. This feedback period is open until Thursday 1st October.  Please provide your feedback here.

Cleaning Qualifications Review

commercial cleaning

It is very timely that, under the direction of the Property Services Industry Reference Committee, Artibus Innovation is undertaking a review of these Cleaning qualifications and associated components:

The importance of cleaning and infection prevention has taken on heightened significance with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  There is an unprecendented public awareness of the vital importance of cleaning in our homes, workplaces, retail and public spaces and residential institutions.

To find out more and to have your say on updating the cleaning qualifications, join an online forum to be hosted by the Building Services Contractors Association and Artibus Innovation on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 at 1.00 pm, AEST.

Register to attend the forum here.

Building Service Contractors
Association of Australia Limited

CPC Releases 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 endorsed for implementation

On behalf of the Construction Industry Reference Committee, Artibus Innovation is pleased to announce that at the August 2020 meeting, the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) fully endorsed the above releases of the Construction, Plumbing and Service (CPC) Training Package.  It determined that the directives from the February meeting had been satisfactorily addressed and that Release 5.0 was now fully endorsed for implementation, subject to final sign-off by the Skills Ministers.

We would like to sincerely thank the hundreds of people who participated in these updates to the training package, whether through TAG membership, the provision of expert advice, attendance at forums and/or providing stakeholder feedback.  It’s great to see the commitment and passion within the vocational education sector which is a tribute to the sector as a whole.

The qualifications below will soon be available on training.gov.au.  Training providers with these qualifications currently on scope will receive notification from ASQA about the effect, if any, these updates will have on their scope.

Extensions to the Learner transition time-frames for the Plumbing, Building and Construction and Carpentry qualifications are anticipated.  We will make further announcements once these time-frames are confirmed.

CPC Release 5.0

CPC10120 Certificate I in Construction
CPC20120 Certificate II in Construction
CPC20220 Certificate II in Construction Pathways
CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
CPC30420 Certificate III in Demolition
CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
CPC30720 Certificate III in Rigging
CPC30820 Certificate III in Roof Tiling
CPC30920 Certificate III in Scaffolding
CPC31020 Certificate III in Solid Plastering
CPC31120 Certificate III in Steelfixing
CPC31220 Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
CPC31320 Certificate III Wall and Floor Tiling
CPC31420 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
CPC31920 Certificate III in Joinery
CPC32320 Certificate III in Stonemasonry
CPC32920 Certificate III in Construction Crane Operations
CPC33020 Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying and Stonemasonry
CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction
CPC40320 Certificate IV in Building Project Support
CPC41020 Certificate IV in Demolition
CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
CPC50320 Diploma of Building and Construction (Management)
CPC60220 Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management)

CPC Release 6.0

CPC20720 Certificate II in Drainage
CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing
CPC32620 Certificate III in Roof Plumbing
CPC32720 Certificate III in Gas Fitting
CPC32820 Certificate III in Fire Protection
CPC40820 Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Building
CPC40920 Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services
CPC50520 Diploma of Fire Systems Design
CPC50620 Diploma of Hydraulic Services Design
CPC Release 7.0

CPC Release 7.0

CPC30120 Certificate III in Shopfitting
CPC30320 Certificate III in Concreting

CPP Release 11.0

The endorsement of CPC Release 5.0 has enabled the implementation of the following qualifications for Building Design within the CPP Training Package:

CPP40120 Certificate IV in Residential Drafting
CPP50920 Diploma of Building Design
CPP60420 Advanced Diploma of Building Design
CPP80220 Graduate Diploma of Building Design

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