COVID-19 has raised public awareness of the need for high standards of cleaning as a measure contributing to the health and safety of people. The cleanliness of private and public places is now more important than ever. A national project is underway to review and update the qualifications and skills standards for cleaning to reflect current work functions and industry practices. To find out more about the proposed changes to strengthen the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations; to expand the Certificate IV in Cleaning to enable specialisations in Management or Disaster Cleaning and Restoration and to discontinue the Certificate II see below.
commencement
consultation
assurance
Approval
This project was completed on the 22nd of October, 2021.
Review of Cleaning qualifications
The review of the of the cleaning qualifications provides an opportunity to benefit the cleaning workforce, value add to large and small enterprises and make cleaning a career of choice.
The technical advisory group (TAG) for Cleaning held its first meeting on Friday 30 October 2020. The combined experience and expertise of the TAG members ensures that the project represents diverse sectors of the cleaning industry including commercial, retail, shopping centres, healthcare, childcare, educational institutions, cultural and sporting precincts, food processing plant, end of tenancy cleans and specialist / disaster cleaning. TAG members also contribute a sound understanding of industry training needs.
Key considerations at this early stage of the project are outlined in the table below. The discussion at the first meeting focused on item 1 in the table below. Items 2 and 3 are to be considered at a second TAG meeting to be scheduled for the third week of November 2020. After which a first draft of updated cleaning units and qualifications will be prepared for broad stakeholder consultation.
| Training package component | Issue and consideration | Action |
| 1. Scope/coverage of the qualifications |
Increasing requirements for cleaning in infectious, toxic and trauma situations, as well as increasing demand for skills in environmental cleaning after natural disasters (e.g. fire, flood, cyclones). Are these specialist areas within the scope of the cleaning qualifications? Should they be addressed within the current qualifications? If so, how would this best be achieved? |
The TAG agreed that there was a need for training in disaster, trauma/forensic and mould cleaning and remediation. However, these specialist areas are outside the scope of the current general/commercial cleaning qualifications and suggested that a stand-alone disaster cleaning qualification was required. The potential for a qualification in Disaster Cleaning is being explored. |
| Issue | Consideration | |
| 2. The suite of cleaning qualifications | Do the Certificate II in Cleaning, Certificate III in Cleaning Operations and Certificate IV in Cleaning Management best meet industry needs now and into the future? |
Are two operational level qualifications, Certificates II and III, required? Are there distinct vocational outcomes for each? National Vocstats data shows low enrolment and completion rates for the Certificate IV in Cleaning Management. Is there sufficient industry demand to retain this qualification? |
| 3. Units of competency specific to cleaning | Review of the existing units. |
Are there any gaps, and areas that need to be expanded? Are there any areas that are no longer relevant? Is there replication in units which can be addressed by merging? |
Should you have any comments, questions, or feedback, please contact us.
PREVIOUS DOWNLOADS
Click to download
Review of Cleaning qualifications
Not only does the cleanliness of private and public places enhance the liveability of these environments, in COVID-19 times cleaning is even more important as a measure contributing to the health and safety of people in these spaces.
A national project is underway to review and update the qualifications and skills standards for cleaning to reflect changes in industry practice, which includes:
The details of the draft qualifications, skill sets and units can be downloaded below.
What’s proposed
Qualifications
The CPP20617 Certificate II in Cleaning is proposed for deletion as there is not a clear distinction in the workplace job roles or skill and knowledge requirements between it and the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations.
The Certificate III in Cleaning Operations has been updated based on the set of coherent and more robust streamlined units.
The Certificate IV in Cleaning has been updated and expanded in response to new demands for specialist cleaning skills (such as infectious, toxic, mould and trauma). The model proposed for the Certificate IV in Cleaning enables a specialisation in either Management or Disaster Cleaning and Restoration. Both specialisations offer a career pathway for the cleaning industry.
Skill sets
It is proposed to update five of the cleaning skill sets, delete three and introduce two new skill sets, Entry to cleaning roles (as a pathway into the industry) and Clean exterior areas. The changes would result in a total of seven skill sets – currently there are eight. Over time environmental considerations have become standard in cleaning practice therefore the skill sets on environmentally sustainable cleaning no longer reflect industry need.
Units
The review has revealed duplication between a significant number of the cleaning units. In line with a direction from the Skills Ministers to streamline and rationalise national training products, it is proposed to remove this duplication.
Eleven of the units duplicate functions in a corresponding unit with insufficient differentiation between the skills and knowledge required to perform the task to justify retaining two units. Accordingly, these units are proposed for deletion. Any relevant content has been incorporated into its updated replacement unit.
In 15 units, an existing unit from another training package is proposed as a replacement unit as it better addresses the required skills and knowledge. For example, this cross-sectoral approach was applied with the CPPCMN ‘common’ units, work health and safety units and the management related units from Certificate IV with replacement units drawn from the BSB Business Services Training Package.
Eight units had content applicable to all practical units. Content was included in these and the original units deleted.
Two units were deleted based on the rationale that they were beyond the scope of the qualifications.
The remaining 24 units were updated to reflect current industry practice. Performance Criteria were rewritten and reordered for clarity, Performance Evidence was made more explicit and Knowledge Evidence edited for relevance, clarity and current industry practice. Codes were changed and where needed, titles amended to better reflect unit outcome.
Five newly developed units are proposed for the Certificate IV in Cleaning.
Have your say - feedback opportunities
Consultation on the drafts is open until 15 March 2021.
There are several ways you can provide feedback and comment:
1. Feedback Link
Submit feedback online by following our feedback form link.
2. Email the project team directly
Download the proposed unit, skill set or qualification from the Cleaning Project page and mark up the document with your comments. Attach the documents with your feedback added and send to: frances@artibus.com.au.
Please note any gaps, or areas not needed. Feedback can be specific relating to the application, elements, performance criteria, Performance Evidence and/or Knowledge Evidence of the unit, or more general in nature.
Please also consider whether WHS coverage is adequate in the practical units and whether the terminology used in all units is correct.
Public awareness of the need for high standards of cleaning as an important measure contributing to the health and safety of people has been heightened by COVID-19.
A national project is underway to review and update the qualifications and skills standards for cleaning to reflect current work functions and industry practices. To find out more about the proposed changes to strengthen the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations; to expand the Certificate IV in Cleaning to enable specialisations in Management or Specialty Cleaning and Restoration and to discontinue the Certificate II, see below.
Validation Consultation Round
Thanks to all who have provided feedback on the proposed changes to the national training products for the cleaning industry. Adjustments have been made to address the feedback and the revised drafts are available as downloads below.
The occupational standards have been rationalised and streamlined to remove duplication. There are 28 units of competency, including six newly created units for specialty cleaning.
The Certificate III in Cleaning Operations has been refreshed with updated units and improved packaging. It offers flexibility to develop fundamental skills and knowledge required by professional cleaners, as well as depth to support the development of skills related to periodic cleaning, and breadth to acquire skills transferable to different workplace contexts.
The Certificate IV in Cleaning has two streams which enable an outcome in either management or specialist cleaning and restoration. Both streams provide career pathways.
Deletion of Certificate II in Cleaning
Unlike the universal support received for the proposed changes to the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations and the Certificate IV in Cleaning, the consultation process revealed that deletion of the Certificate II in Cleaning was not supported by a small group of stakeholders.
The Certificate II is proposed for deletion because there is not a clear distinction in the workplace job roles between it and the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations. Most units in the Certificate II duplicate functions in a corresponding unit in the Certificate III with insufficient differentiation between the skills and knowledge required to perform the task to justify retaining two units. The streamlining of the units makes the Certificate II unviable.
The stakeholders objecting to the deletion of Certificate II in Cleaning are delivering the qualification to specific cohorts, such as learners with a disability and learners in correctional services.
The project acknowledges the many individuals who experience disadvantage including Indigenous learners, learners with a disability, learners from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, people who are unemployed, or have low levels of prior educational attainment (not having attained Year 12 or an AQF certificate III or above).
Improving participation and success in VET for disadvantaged learners, Lamb, S, Maire, Q, Walstab, A, Newman, G, Doecke, E & Davies, M, NCVER, Adelaide, 2018.
A skill set, Introduction to cleaning operations which provides entry level skills, is proposed for learners for whom a full qualification may not be suitable. The skill set also provides a pathway into the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations.
For stakeholders looking to meet the needs of disadvantaged learners who require support with language, literacy, and numeracy skills, strengthening of employability skills and a vocational pathway, the FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, contextualised for cleaning, is suggested as an option. A sample qualification is available in the downloads below.
Have your say - feedback opportunities
We welcome comments on the drafts by Friday 23 April 2021.
There are several ways you can provide feedback and comment:
1. Feedback Link
Submit feedback online by following our feedback form link.
2. Email the project team directly
Download the proposed unit, skill set or qualification and mark up the document with your comments. Attach the documents with your feedback added and email to: frances@artibus.com.au.
PREVIOUS DOWNLOADS
Click to download
Quality Assurance Stage
The updated training products proposed for Cleaning are at the Quality Assurance Stage. It is anticipated that the Cleaning Case for Endorsement will be considered by the Australian Industry Skills Committee at its meeting in July 2021.
The occupational standards have been reviewed and rationalised to remove duplication creating a more coherent and robust set of units. There are now 29 units of competency, reduced from 60, including six newly created units for specialty cleaning and restoration.
The Certificate III in Cleaning Operations has been refreshed with updated units and improved packaging. It offers flexibility to provide fundamental skills and knowledge in cleaning; depth to support the development of more advanced skills related to periodic cleaning, and breadth for the acquisition of skills transferable to different workplace contexts.
The Certificate IV in Cleaning has been revised and enhanced and now includes two streams. It has been expanded in response to increasing demand for technical skills to restore fire, smoke and water damage to structures and contents; remediate mould, and decontaminate clandestine drug, trauma and crime scene sites. The packaging rules enable an outcome as either Certificate IV in Cleaning (Management), or Certificate IV in Cleaning (Specialty Cleaning and Restoration). The specialty stream is to be recognised on the testamur.
One skill set is proposed, Introduction to Cleaning Operations Skill Set. It is designed to provide skills for those entering the industry and is a pathway into the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations.
The Certificate II in Cleaning is proposed for deletion. There is insufficient differentiation in the skills and knowledge required to perform the workplace cleaning activities to justify retaining the Certificate II in Cleaning. The FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways contextualised for cleaning is suggested as an alternative for RTOs who have been delivering the Certificate II in Cleaning to disadvantaged cohorts.
The latest drafts of the training products can be downloaded below.
PREVIOUS DOWNLOADS
Click to download
At its July 2021 meeting, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) endorsed the cleaning project. Thank you to all who contributed to the review of the cleaning qualifications.
Subject to final approval by the Skills Ministers, it is anticipated that the updated products will be published on training.gov.au in the next few weeks. Meanwhile the qualifications can be viewed in the downloads section below.
In response to increasing demand for technical skills to restore fire, smoke and water damage to structures and contents; remediate mould, and decontaminate clandestine drug, trauma and crime scene sites, six newly created units have been added to the CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning. The packaging rules enable an outcome in CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning (Management) or CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning (Specialty Cleaning and Restoration) which is recognised on the testamur.
The CPP30321 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations includes updated units and improved packaging. It offers flexibility to provide fundamental skills and knowledge in cleaning, depth to support the development of more advanced skills, and breadth to acquire skills transferable to different workplace contexts.
The project proposed that the updated CPP30321 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations be equivalent to and supersede the CPP30316 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations as the occupational outcomes were the same, even though there were changes to the core units. However, the AISC approval of the cleaning training products for endorsement was on the condition that the equivalence status for the Certificate III be changed to ‘non-equivalent ‘.
A new skill set is available, the Introduction to Cleaning Operations. It is designed to provide skills for those entering the industry and is a pathway into the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations. It would also support learners for whom a full qualification may not be suitable.
There are now 29 units of competency specific to cleaning, reduced from 60, which are more coherent and robust.
CPP20617 Certificate II in Cleaning has been deleted. Most units in the Certificate II duplicate functions in a corresponding unit in the Certificate III with insufficient differentiation between the skills and knowledge required to perform the task to justify retaining two units. The duplication between units results in there being little differentiation between the Certificate II and Certificate III outcomes. Industry stakeholders consider that the Certificate II is not required.
PREVIOUS DOWNLOADS
Click to download
At its July 2021 meeting, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) endorsed the cleaning project. Thank you to all who contributed to the review of the cleaning qualifications.
We were advised of the Skills Ministers' approval of this project in late September and subject to final QA, the updated training products will be added to the National Training Register in early October.
In response to increasing demand for technical skills to restore fire, smoke and water damage to structures and contents; remediate mould, and decontaminate clandestine drug, trauma and crime scene sites, six newly created units have been added to the CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning. The packaging rules enable an outcome in CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning (Management) or CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning (Specialty Cleaning and Restoration) which is recognised on the testamur.
The CPP30321 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations includes updated units and improved packaging. It offers flexibility to provide fundamental skills and knowledge in cleaning, depth to support the development of more advanced skills, and breadth to acquire skills transferable to different workplace contexts.
The project proposed that the updated CPP30321 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations be equivalent to and supersede the CPP30316 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations as the occupational outcomes were the same, even though there were changes to the core units. However, the AISC approval of the cleaning training products for endorsement was on the condition that the equivalence status for the Certificate III be changed to ‘non-equivalent ‘.
A new skill set is available, the Introduction to Cleaning Operations. It is designed to provide skills for those entering the industry and is a pathway into the Certificate III in Cleaning Operations. It would also support learners for whom a full qualification may not be suitable.
There are now 29 units of competency specific to cleaning, reduced from 60, which are more coherent and robust.
CPP20617 Certificate II in Cleaning has been deleted. Most units in the Certificate II duplicate functions in a corresponding unit in the Certificate III with insufficient differentiation between the skills and knowledge required to perform the task to justify retaining two units. The duplication between units results in there being little differentiation between the Certificate II and Certificate III outcomes. Industry stakeholders consider that the Certificate II is not required.
FINAL PROJECT DOWNLOADS
Cleaning - Case for EndorsementCleaning - Case for Endorsement Checklist
Cleaning - Issues Register
Cleaning - Units of Competency
CPP Companion Volume Implementation Guide Release 15.0
CPP30321 Certificate III in Cleaning Operations
CPP40421 Certificate IV in Cleaning
CPPSS00080 Introduction to Cleaning Operations Skill Set