Commissioners Information Bulletin 053
Issued: 17 June 1999

Certificate III in Laboratory Skills Traineeship - Interim Registration

In 1996 the Director General approved a Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the declared calling of Laboratory Operations. The VTO specifies a Certificate II in Laboratory Operations (National Code 5149).

More recently, at the request of the NSW Process Manufacturing Industry Training Body (PMITB) Limited, the Department of Education and Training has agreed to the interim registration of a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills Traineeship (National Code 8054), pending approval of a revised VTO. The new traineeship option with a nominal term of one year meets the need of a wide range of industries for production operatives to move into the sphere of in-line sampling and testing in laboratories. It is applicable to private and public sectors across in industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food and more traditional science-based industries such as medical services. Interim registration will enable its immediate implementation in NSW.

Course outline and structure
Accredited in 1997 as a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills (National Code 8054), the new traineeship is underpinned by the Guideline Competency Standards for Laboratory Assistants endorsed in 1996. To gain the Certificate III, trainees will be expected to demonstrate competency in the ten Guideline Competency Standards, however, not all elements are appropriate to all laboratories.

The course comprises ten core modules totaling 330 hours with 60 hours of electives. The choice of electives will reflect workplace requirements and will be undertaken by the trainee in consultation with the workplace supervisor.

The modules have been designed to enable maximum opportunity for training and assessment to occur in the workplace as there is a specific requirement for trainees to be employed as laboratory assistants and to demonstrate workplace competence. Further information regarding entry requirements can be found in Attachment A.

There are six listed electives and some modules require pre-requisite or co-requisite modules. In structuring the traineeship, registered training organisations should be guided by the pre-requisite and co-requisite structure as identified in individual modules. Attachment A provides more information regarding the modules, the number of hours duration, pre-requisites and co-requisites.

The following TAFE colleges will offer the course: Hunter, Illawarra, Granville and Meadowbank. Other providers are Canberra Institute of Technology and ADNET Training.

Industrial arrangements
Trainees in the private sector will be able to access the traineeship provided suitable industrial arrangements are in place through an enterprise award or certified agreement. Public sector trainees are covered by the Crown Employees Award and can access the traineeship immediately.

For any enquiries regarding these training arrangements, please contact the Vocational Training Board on (02) 9266-8579.

JILL GIENTZOTIS
Director of Recognition Services