Public Safety - NSW Public Sector Industry Training Advisory Body

The implementation of the new standards for training
packages and the Public Safety Training Package (DRAFT)
Standards for Training Packages ensure Training Packages are of high quality and meet the
workforce development needs of industry, enterprises and individuals. The Standards
apply to the design and development of Training Packages by Industry Skills Councils
(ISCs), which are then endorsed by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC). The
Standards are developed by the NSSC, for endorsement by Commonwealth and
State/Territory Ministers.
The Standards for Training Packages are supported by the following two policies:


The NSSC Training Package Products Policy supports the design of Training
Packages
The NSSC Training Package Development and Endorsement Process Policy describes
the process by which Training Packages are developed and endorsed and provides
an explanation of key steps to be implemented by ISCs
New Standards for Training Packages were endorsed by the Standing Council on Tertiary
Education, Skills and Employment (SCOTESE) on 16 November 2012.
To support the implementation of the new Standards for Training Packages, GSA must
ensure that all training packages (it manages) comply with the new Standards in
accordance with the transition period as set by the National Skills Standard Council.
The process of transitioning to the new standard for Training packages is often referred to
as “streamlining”. The following information has been compiled to provide responses to
frequently asked questions in relation to GSA’s approach to streamlining of the Public
Safety Training Package.
The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
Frequently Asked Questions
(click on the question below to go straight to the answer)
1. Is this a review of the training package?
2. When will the public safety training package be submitted for endorsement and
when will we need to implement it?
3. In what order will the training package be streamlined?
4. How will GSA consult with industry?
5. What is the role of a technical reference group?
6. Will codes for units of competency and qualifications change?
7. What will units of competency look like?
8. What will qualifications look like?
9. What will be in the companion volumes?
10. What does equivalence really mean?
11. What potential implementation issues do we need to be aware of?
12. Will GSA be conducting any workshops or professional development?
Is this a review of the training package?
No, this is not a review of the Public Safety Training Package (PUA).
The review of the content of PUA was completed in 2012, prior to PUA12 V1.0 being
submitted for endorsement by the NSSC.
The current process is making sure the components of PUA (i.e. units of competency,
qualifications, skill sets) are compliant with the new standards, whilst providing the
opportunity to make amendments to the components that need to be amended. These
amendments could be due to errors, or needs from industry to add some content, update
terminology etc. Many of the components in PUA were recently reviewed, so we don’t
anticipate the need for many amendments or additional content.
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When will the public safety training package be submitted for
endorsement and when will we need to implement it?
Unless there are any industry imperatives requiring a different approach, GSA plans to
submit PUA in its entirety for endorsement. This approach is designed to avoid many of
the implementation issues having two versions of the training package current at the same
time, will potentially create (one streamlined, one not).
Training Packages will no longer require an endorsement year. Therefore PUA12 will
become “PUA”. Continuous improvement of training packages in the new standards is
centred on units and qualifications.
GSA is working towards the implementation of the new standards to PUA material by late
2015, however is mindful of the amount of work and consultation required. We will keep
industry updated about potential dates for endorsement as these dates are not yet set by
the NSSC. Once PUA is endorsed in the new standards, RTOs will need to comply with their
regulators requirements for transition and teach-out.
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
In what order will the training package be streamlined?
A work plan and schedule for the commencement of technical reference groups to support
transferring PUA into the new training package standards has been developed. The work
plan has divided the work of streamlining into logical industry sectors/unit groupings as
follows;
Commenced – Police
Batch 1 (to be completed by end May 2014)
 Surf Life Saving
 Community Evacuation
 SES
 Oil Spill response
 Emergency Call Centre Operations
Batch 2 (to be completed by end September 2014)
 Law
 Emergency Management (EMR)
 Workplace Emergency and Response (WER)
 EME
Batch 3 (to be completed by early 2015)
Subsequent batches not yet determined
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How will GSA consult with industry?
GSA is mindful that PUA is a large training package with a wide range of stakeholders.
Our approach is to consult with industry prepared with good draft material for validation.
The purpose of validation is to allow industry to verify a component is still meeting
industry needs and represents the intent of the training standard.
GSA streamlining process overview
Consultation with industry will occur at the following points in the process:
 Ongoing feedback and intelligence from industry
 Seeking nominations to form technical reference groups (TRG)
 During the conduct of TRGs
 Open consultation on material (post TRG) on GSA website
 Letters of support for inclusion in the case for endorsement
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
What is the role of a technical reference group?
What GSA needs from TRG members is subject matter expertise. GSA, as industry skills
council, will manage and coordinate the process. GSA provides training standards
knowledge, and industry provides subject matter expertise on content requirements and
implementation issues.
GSA will ask for expressions of interest six weeks prior to the formation of a TRG. GSA will
assess the expressions of interest and form the group. The group will be composed of
technical experts providing us with their knowledge. GSA will review the current material
based on their feedback. The material will then be available for broad industry comment
on the GSA website.
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Will codes for units of competency and qualifications change?
It is a requirement of NSSC as the endorsing body that it is clear that material has been
endorsed against the new standards. To achieve this it has been determined that code
changes will be required for material that complies with the new standards.
It is acknowledged that this will provide a burden for users but it will make it clear which
material is current. The new system of modification history at an individual unit level will
future proof material from further code changes during the life of the unit if occupational
outcomes remain consistent.
Final coding will be determined at the end of the streamlining process
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What will units of competency look like?
The new standards for training packages stipulate the use of two separate
parts/documents to provide the information that has previously been contained in a unit
of competency. For practical reasons, GSA will refer to the “the Standard” as:
1. Unit of competency (Part A)
2. Assessment requirements (Part B)
Units of competency specify the standards of performance required in the workplace in a
clear, simple and unambiguous manner. The primary audience will be industry.
Assessment requirements specify the evidence and required conditions for assessment.
The primary audience are regulators and RTOs. Assessment Requirements will be a
separate document to the unit of competency. Assessment Guidelines outline the specific
performance evidence, knowledge evidence and assessment conditions required to
demonstrate competency in the unit.
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
Unit of competency
Purpose: Provide
specification of applied
performance standards
Assessment requirements
Purpose: Describe the
assessment requirements at
the unit of competency
Mandatory requirements
Unit code
Unit title
Application
Elements
Performance criteria
Foundation skills
Unit mapping information
Links
Title
Performance evidence
Knowledge evidence
Assessment conditions
Links
Optional requirements
Pre-requisite unit
Competency field
Unit sector
Range of conditions
Some fields have NSSC mandated statements, some fields can be interpreted. GSA can
make decisions about how we will interpret the fields that are not mandated.
The NSSC template can be can be found here
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What will qualifications look like?
Qualifications will look very similar in the new standards template. GSA’s approach is to
use specialist streams within qualifications where appropriate. To ensure flexibility, the
preferred packaging style is to keep cores and electives, using groups of electives.
Mandatory requirements
Qualification code
Qualification title
Qualification description
Packaging rules (core and elective)
Qualification mapping information
Links
Optional requirements
Entry requirements
The NSSC template can be can be found here
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Will skill sets still exist?
Yes, skill Sets will still form part of PUA as industry deem appropriate, they are still a part
of the new standards. However, AVETMISS 7 will require coding for skills sets.
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What will be in the companion volumes?
The components of a Training Package that are endorsed by the NSSC are:
 units of competency
 assessment requirements (associated with each unit of competency)
 qualifications; and
 credit arrangements
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
Companion volumes (whilst mandatory) are not endorsed by the NSSC, but are subject to
quality assurance by the industry skills council that manages the training package.
Companion volumes provide advice for RTOs, enterprise and industry representatives to
support implementation and are not subject to VET regulation.
Companion volumes will provide advice about the structure and content of training
packages with key features including; qualifications, skill sets, units of competency, along
with guidance to assessors, trainers, RTOs and enterprises on key work and training
requirements with links to additional companion volumes in relation to assessment
strategies, knowledge requirements and foundation skills. GSA will publish the following
four volumes for each training package:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Implementation Guide
Assessment Guide
Foundation Skills Guide
Knowledge Guide
Companion volumes will be a dynamic resource that will be updated periodically and
amended in order to remain relevant and useful to target users
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What if we have a need for some new material?
GSA’s current priority for PUA is the process of streamlining, which is converting the
training package from its current format into the new standards for training
packages. The work plan for the process of streamlining has already been
established. Adding new material to PUA (identified through the continuous improvement
process) will be incorporated into the work plan to coincide with the related streamlining
work.
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Reducing duplication of material across training packages? What
does this mean?
Industry skills councils have agreed to adopt national standards without duplicating them
across training packages. This is the preferred outcome of the new training package
standards.
Specifically for PUA, this will affect first aid units, workplace health and safety and
others. GSA’s plan is to import those standards into PUA qualifications from their “host
training package”. For example, HLT units from the Health Training Package, WHS units
from the Business Services Training Package.
GSA understands that industry may be reticent to adopt this approach due to the
perception that other ISCs may change these units too often. GSA’s opinion is that the ISCs
that manage these standards need to change them based on legislation/industry
standards. If GSA was, for example, duplicating WHS or HLT units, we would need to
change the units as often as other ISCs.
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
What does equivalence really mean?
The new training package standards policy states that industry skills councils must include
an equivalence table within the Companion Volume Implementation Guide on in which the
equivalence status of each unit of competency is shown according to the following
categories:
E = Equivalent - the outcomes of old and new units are equivalent.
N = Not Equivalent - the outcomes of old and new units are not equivalent.
The ISC’s determination that the outcomes of an old and new unit are equivalent: (i) only
applies to workplace contexts and for AQF qualifications purposes, including RPL; and (ii)
does not apply to implications for training delivery and/or assessment purposes.
ISC’s must provide a list of units with any relationships to their predecessors clearly
identified in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide. Information must be sufficient
for users to see what has changed and to assist them in determining matters such as
resourcing, impacts on training for particular competency profiles and any transition
arrangements.
If two units are deemed equivalent by the ISC, an RTO can result the new version of the
unit with credit transfer, if the learner has the old version and can demonstrate currency.
An example
If a participant was to enrol in the qualification PUA30713 - Certificate III in Public Safety
(Firefighting Operations) and;
 as the RTO, you choose to package into the qualification PUAFIR316 Identify,
detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident (as an elective)
 if your participant already has PUAFIR307B Monitor hazardous atmospheres;
 as the RTO, you would be able to result the participant with credit transfer for
PUAFIR316 Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident.
PUA12 version 2.1 unit
code and title
PUA00 version 8.1 unit
code and title
PUAFIR307B Monitor
PUAFIR316 Identify, detect
hazardous atmospheres
and monitor hazardous
materials at an incident
Equivalen Nature of Relationship
ce
E
Unit Title revised
Application of the Unit
added
Method of assessment
added
Whilst ISC’s deem a unit equivalent, it doesn’t mean it is exactly the same as its
predecessor (refer to above table as example). There may be implications for training
delivery and/or assessment purposes and we recommend you map the old and the new
units to identify these.
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What potential implementation issues do we need to be aware of?
The Department of Industry established a VET reform taskforce in November 2013. The
taskforce is working with state and territory governments, registered training
organisations, industry groups, employers and other stakeholders throughout 2014 to reach
a consensus on the way forward for the VET sector in Australia.
During this time, policy may change. Whilst Training Packages are industry led and
informed, they remain copyright of the Commonwealth and are therefore subject to
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The implementation of the new standards for training packages and the Public Safety Training Package
changes in government policy. Whilst it is hoped any future changes will be consistent
with current direction, this is beyond the control of the ISC and industry.
We will endeavour to keep users of GSA managed training packages informed in as timely a
manner as possible.
When PUA is endorsed in the new standards for training packages usual implementation
issues such as; checking for equivalence of qualifications and units of competency,
changes to qualification packaging, identifying code changes, student management system
and training and assessment material maintenance, and transitioning your scope of
registration with your regulator can occur during the transition period.
However prior to endorsement the case for endorsement and draft material will be made
available through GSA’s industry consultation and made publicly available on our website.
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Will GSA be conducting any workshops or professional development?
Yes. Professional development will occur at a few different levels.
When we form a TRG, members are provided with professional development about the
training package standards to enable them to participate fully in the process.
It is anticipated in May/June 2014, that GSA will run industry briefings across the country,
the purpose of which will be to provide;
 An update on NSSC training package policy
 Timeline and priorities for PUA streamlining
 How we will be consulting with industry and the role of technical reference groups
 What the Public Safety Training Package will look like
o Templates in detail
o Example of old versus new
o Codes
o Companion volumes
GSA is also preparing companion volumes, which will be released with PUA. They include
guidance about how to “un-package” PUA and the qualifications.
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