Edition 50, October 2007

Queensland Skills Plan Trade Supervisors Initiative gives tradies training skills

Skilled tradespeople have been giving advice to young workers for generations. Now, through a Queensland Government initiative, they are being given the skills to officially undertake training assessments in the workplace.

The Queensland Skills Plan Trade Supervisors Initiative equips tradespeople with the formal skills and knowledge they need to train and assess apprentices effectively, and improve the on-the-job experience for their apprentices.

By having tradespeople equipped with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, training becomes much more flexible. Apprentices can continue their on the job training, and a workplace assessor can attend the workplace to assess the training.

The time spent studying for the certificate varies, depending on whether it is done on a full or part-time basis. In some instances those involved are able to gain recognition for skills they already have.

To be eligible for a government subsidy, organisations must coordinate the delivery of training to tradespeople supervising apprentices from specific industry training groups. Automotive, building and construction, food processing, furnishing, hospitality, manufacturing and engineering and utilities such as electro-technology refrigeration and airconditioning are some of the industries being targeted.

The Electrical and Communications Association (ECA) is one of the first organisations to take advantage of the initiative. Since it came on board, other organisations including the Joint Industry Services Training (RTO) Pty Ltd (JIST), Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Central Queensland Institute of TAFE and the Industry Services Alliance have joined the scheme.

The ECA has received $92,250 from the Queensland Government to deliver training for Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to 60 participants, 30 of whom are fully funded and the remaining 30 participants subsidised up to 50 per cent.

Training institutions such as TAFE institutes are recording large numbers of people commencing apprenticeships. Given this demand, the ECA felt the need to look beyond the traditional apprenticeship training model and consider more innovative ways of delivering training.

For more information on the Queensland Skills Plan Trade Supervisors Initiative, phone Ross Hanley, Department of Education, Training and the Arts on (07) 3237 1630.

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