Edition 59, August 2008

Delivery of general induction training under current arrangements

Registered training organisations (RTOs) are reminded that they need to adhere to the mutual recognition arrangements agreed to by Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland in relation to general construction safety induction.

Under the arrangements, RTOs are not able to deliver a course from one particular state in another state. For example a Queensland RTO cannot deliver the Queensland induction training course in NSW. In such a case, under the terms of the agreement, any person who ordinarily resides and works in NSW who completed the Queensland course would not be recognised by WorkCover NSW as having met the NSW regulatory requirements.

On 1 January 2007, Victoria, NSW and Queensland agreed to mutually recognise health and safety induction training completed by construction workers.

The agreement means that workers no longer need to undertake additional construction induction training to work in any of these states if they hold a current:

  • General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card (blue card) issued in Queensland
  • Foundation for Safety Construction Industry Induction Training Agreement (red card) issued in Victoria
  • WorkCover Construction Induction Certificate for the Construction Industry (white card) issued in New South Wales.

The mutual recognition of general safety induction agreed to by Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland extends only to the acknowledgement of each state's evidence of qualification. This agreement does not extend and is not intended to extend to the mutual recognition by states of RTOs or trainers or the delivery of training.

The mutual recognition agreement is in place as an interim arrangement to meet the National Code of Practice for Induction Training for Construction Work (ASCC 2006). The agreement will remain in place until national arrangements are fully implemented. These arrangements include the development and endorsement of a unit of competency in a national training package which covers OHS induction training within the construction industry.

The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council has drafted a unit of competency to meet this requirement and has included the unit in the proposed CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services Integrated Framework Training Package, which is currently going through the training package endorsement process.

It is expected that the new training package, including the unit of competency, will be endorsed by the National Quality Council in the next couple of months. However, a date for the release on the National Training Information Service (NTIS) is uncertain and may not be available until early 2009.

For more information on the mutual recognition arrangements visit www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/training/training/induction/recognition/index.htm

For more information on the new CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services Integrated Framework Training Package and associated induction unit of competency visit www.cpsisc.com.au/Default.aspx?query=/projects/CPC08Construction

Related articles:
Construction induction and high risk licensing information pages (Edition 65, March 2009)

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