High risk work licensing units of competency
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This page provides information on the High risk work licensing units of competency which are being embedded into Training Packages to meet the requirements of the National Standard for Persons Performing High Risk Work (April 2006).

Latest update

Background

Latest update

19 December 2008 

The integration of high risk work licensing units of competency into nationally endorsed training packages is nearing completion.

All states and territories have given a commitment for training and assessment of high risk work licensing conducted through the vocational education and training system to be underway by 1 July 2009.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is advising that all units of competency have been developed and are now awaiting endorsement by the National Quality Council and sign-off by Ministers.

The three packages under consideration are:

• CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services Integrated Framework Training Package
• UEP06 Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector Training Package
• TLI07 Transport and Logistics Training Package

While no fixed date has been set for endorsement of the units in these training packages, it is hoped that all units will be endorsed by early 2009, but it is possible for the endorsement of these units to be held up due to other issues raised in the training package endorsement process.

Once the units have been endorsed they will be will become the basis on which high risk work licensing is assessed, with relevant regulators issuing a licence based on evidence of successful completion of the training and assessment.

Assessment instruments to support the units are also nearing completion and should be available when the units are endorsed.

To meet the proposed implementation date of 1 July 2009, registered training organisations wishing to deliver in this area will be required to apply to their relevant registering body prior to this date to have any of the new units added to their scope of registration.

Guidance on other implementation matters will be released at a later date, including:

• trainer and assessor competency and experience requirements
• training and assessment resources
• specific state and territory licensing/regulator requirements including transition processes.

Licensing Line News will be publishing more information on the implementation of high risk work licensing units of competency and other matters related to meeting the requirements of the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work in upcoming issues.

Background

The National Standard for Persons Performing High Risk Work (April 2006) aims to facilitate the operation of a nationally uniform, competency based licensing system for persons performing certain types of high risk work.

The National Standard recognises the importance of quality training as an underpinning principle in providing skilled workers, and that the most effective form of training is a combination of informal and formal training methods. It requires training and assessment to be undertaken by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).

Transition from the old certification system to the new will occur on a graduated basis. It is expected that all existing certificate holders will be transited to the licensing system by 1 July 2012.

Units of competency are being developed to support the transition of training and assessment into the vocational education and training sector. It is expected that these units of competency will be incorporated into Training Packages in the second half of 2008.

The table below provides information about which Training Package the high risk work licensing units of competency will be allocated to.

All Industry Skills Councils will be required to import units of competency from these Training Packages where the occupational outcome from a qualification and/or Statement of Attainment requires a licence to operate in one of these licence classes.

For the latest information on the implementation of the high risk work licence units of competency read the article in the July edition of Licensing Line News.