The Extractive Industry Reference Committee (IRC)

DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of CMPA reports on the first IRC meeting of the newly formed committee.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) appointed PwC Skills for Australia (PwC) as the new Skills Services Organisation (took over from SkillsDMC on 1 January 2017). The AISC was established by the Council of Australian Governments Industry and Skills Council in May 2015 to give industry a formal, expanded role in policy direction and decision making
for the vocational education and training sector.

The first meeting of the newly formed Extractives Industry Reference Committee (IRC) was held on 4 April 2017.Leanne Parker, CCAA (Hanson) was elected Chair and Elizabeth Gibson as Deputy Chair.

The following issues were raised by CMPA at the meeting:

• CMPA proposal: A core function of a quarry is construction materials testing such as for Local Councils’ and Roads Authorities’ contracts. Accreditation by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is a mandatory requirement for the on-site quarry laboratories. NATA changed its requirements for NATA signatories in 2013 in that NATA required the NATA signatories to be designated by the Level 3, 4 or 5 person who would have to demonstrate relevant experience/training.

A skills set comprising the following be developed for Certificate IV Surface Extraction Operations and Diploma Surface Operations Management.

>  Routine site samples (MSL952001);
>  Conduct laboratory acceptance tests for construction materials (MSL973010);
>  Identifying sources of variation in test results (uncertainty);
>  Understanding of how to produce a quality assurance program; and
>  Sound understanding of NATA accreditation requirements.

This was agreed to by the Extractives IRC for inclusion into the work program for 2017/18.

• Also included in the work program for 2017/18 is working safely with geotechnical risk.
• Comments were made by CMPA on the Draft Industry Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work: Mining, Drilling and Civil Construction. These were endorsed by the Extractive IRC.

TABLE: The AISC has approved the following members for the Extractive IRC.

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