EDUCATION UPDATE (Issue 9)

One of the ongoing issues currently being tackled by the CMPA is the review of the Extractive Industry Training Package (EITP).  The CMPA has been involved since the beginning of the review with the Education Committee and numerous volunteers from the CMPA playing a significant role in the development of the package.

Finalisation of the review of the EITP occurred on January 23 when the Extractive Steering Committee reconvened for 2003. This was the final review before the new EITP is presented to the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) for approval and endorsement.

Improvements on the current training package include:

• Increase in the relevance of the units to the nature of the work done by employees in the industry
• Increased achievability by both small and large operators
• Increased selection of units to choose from to enable site specific qualification of your employees
• Reduction in the number of units required for completion of each certificate
• Integration of pre-requisite units in the transition from certificate III to IV to ensure that students have the required literacy, computer and numeracy skills to be successful.

Despite being a vast improvement, the CMPA believe there are other areas requiring some attention. Although not necessarily in the scope of this review these issues must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness of the new EITP.

Understanding the Options

The lack of awareness of educational services and training and State and Federal funding, as well as the relationship between education and its ability to improve the bottom line of the business.

The availability of an education officer to promote the variety of available options to complete the training is essential. The person occupying this position would require experience in the industry and training and be able to suggest the method of training best suited to each particular site.

This would help ensure that the competency program is an equitable option for small and large companies and also aid in addressing the needs of those employers, managers and employees who are geographically isolated. Previous training programs had limited success and large attrition rates due to factors that included the lack of support for participants’ learning needs.

Trainee Preparedness

Many companies within the industry may not possess the longevity nor have the financial or intellectual resources to ensure the preparedness required of their employees to be engaged in this method of training.  This problem may be solved through effective liaison between training providers, the education officer, employers and employees before commencement of training by potential trainees.

Constant Monitoring

Once the new EITP is instigated, the knowledge instilled in a trainee by the teacher/assessor must be monitored to ensure the validity of that knowledge when applied in the work environment.  Periodical auditing of Registered Training Organisations would force training providers to re-assess their course content to correspond with changes in technology and legislation.

Ageing Work Force

The CMPA believes that there is a lack of exposure, marketing and vocational experience opportunities to promote the industry to students in high schools in Victoria.  This in turn could have a long term degenerative effect on the industry through lack of “new blood” to carry the industry into future generations – a reflection of the ageing workforce.

The CMPA is currently in the process of sourcing an ILA from an external body. 

Funding Secured

The CMPA recently received news of its successful application for a second round of Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) funding. This exciting news will allow for the running of a further 16 courses in Work Safely Training throughout 2003.   This training is for all industry members and employers, employees and contractors are encouraged to attend.

Dates have been set and locations organised for the 16 courses which will be held in Melbourne, Traralgon, Ballarat, Bairnsdale, Benalla, Shepparton, Bendigo, Horsham and Warnambool.

With 75% Government funding participants will have affordable access to the core unit “Work Safely” in the  Certificate II of the new proposed Extractive Industry Training Package.

The Work Safely Training is run by Box-Hill TAFE with the CMPA’s Work Safely Reference Manual used as the text.  The training team from Box Hill Institute are experienced trainers in the extractive industries and are able to ensure understanding of the safety competency across all levels of participants’ educational/language background. 

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