Commissioners Information Bulletin 094
Issued: 7 January 2000

Approval for the declaration of callings in Asset Security and Asset Maintenance

At the request of the NSW Property Services Industry Training Advisory Board (PSITAB) the Minister has declared new callings in Asset Security and Asset Maintenance.

The Minister declared the new callings under section 21 of the Industrial and Commercial Training Act, 1989  on 09 December 1999 and the Director-General approved the relevant VTOs for the callings of Asset Security and Asset Maintenance under section 22 of the same Act.

The new VTOs will specify the requirements for gaining a credential for the relevant traineeship pathways identified in the Asset Security and Asset Maintenance Training Packages endorsed on 3 December 1998 by the National Training Framework Committee.

These steps will align the calling structure to the national competency standards for Asset Security and Asset Maintenance and employment patterns within the industry.

Vocational Training Order Standard Format
The VTO in each instance makes reference to:

• the relevant number of qualifications (certificate levels II-IV) recognised under a particular trade or calling;
• the nominal term which may vary in the case of traineeships from 12 to 48 months. This term of training also identifies part-time arrangements as recognised under DET policy;
• the nominal term for trades which is set at 48 months. Part-time arrangements are not available for apprentices in NSW;
• the appropriate national competency standards underpinning the qualification(s).

A copy of the relevant VTO for each proposed calling is at  Attachment A.

Asset Security Training Package
The new calling of Asset Security will provide a framework for the inclusion of two streams covered by the Asset Security Training Package, being Security and Investigative Services.

The package integrates the occupational requirements of the security industry’s licensing regulations, which have been legislated by respective States and Territories of Australia.

The qualifications for the Security Stream include specialisation in most activities engaged by the sector, such as Guarding, Control Room Operations, Technical Access, Access Management and Risk Management. The Investigative Services stream offers an occupational outcome at Certificate II, III or IV.

In total, there are 17 qualifications within the training package, ranging from AQF levels II to Advanced Diploma. Traineeships will be available in 14 of these qualifications.

For the purposes of the new VTO in NSW, Asset Security trainees will have the option of gaining the following credentials:

• Certificate II in Security (Guarding) PRS 20198
• Certificate III in Security (Guarding) PRS 30198
• Certificate III in Security (Control Room Operations) PRS 30298
• Certificate IV in Security (Control Room Operations) PRS 40198
• Certificate II in Security (Technical Access) PRS 20298
• Certificate III in Security (Technical Access) PRS 30398
• Certificate IV in Security (Technical Access) PRS 40298
• Certificate II in Security (Access Management) PRS 20398
• Certificate III in Security (Access Management) PRS 30498
• Certificate IV in Security (Access Management) PRS 40398
• Certificate II in Investigative Services PRS 20498
• Certificate III in Investigative Services PRS 30598
• Certificate IV in Investigative Services PRS 40498
• Certificate IV in Security (Risk Management) PRS 40598

Asset Maintenance Training Package
The new calling of Asset Maintenance will provide the framework for the inclusion of two streams covered by the Asset Maintenance Training Package being Cleaning Operations and Pest Management. The standards, their packaging and alignment to the AQF address the specific needs of key occupational groups in the services industry, including cleaners, supervisors, technicians and administrators.

This training package offers AQF Certificates II to IV for the Cleaning and Pest Management sectors of the industry. The Cleaning sector includes three qualifications ranging from Certificates II to IV. The Pest Management sector includes five qualifications (Certificates II to IV) for two streams: Technical and Business Operations.

Both the Security and Pest Management sectors covered by this training package are affected by occupational licensing legislation related to the provisions of services or regulations affecting the handling of prescribed chemicals and hazardous materials.

General flexibility has been achieved by using a core/electives model in all the qualifications with flexible entry and exit points.

For the purposes of the new VTO in NSW, asset maintenance trainees will have the option of gaining the following credentials:

• Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations) PRM 20198
• Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations) PRM 30198
• Certificate IV in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations Management) PRM 40198
• Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management - Technical) PRM 20298
• Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management - Business Operations) PRM 20398
• Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management - Technical) PRM 30298
• Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management - Business Operations) PRM 30398
• Certificate IV in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management) PRM 40298

In total, there are eight qualifications within this Training Package. Traineeships will be available in all of those qualifications.

Note: - The packaging and combination of the minimum number of units drawn from the National Competency Standards required for each qualification in Asset Security and Asset Maintenance are outlined at Attachment B and Attachment C respectively.

Learning Resources and Assessment Materials
In NSW, responsibility for mapping of curricula against the new training packages is as follows:

Security- Business and Public Administration Educational Services Division of TAFE
Cleaning Operations - Construction and Transport Educational Services Division of TAFE
Pest Management - Primary Industries and Natural Resources Educational Services Division of TAFE

The NSW PSITAB is intending to submit an application for funding to the Curriculum Resourcing and Operations Unit of DET in the last quarter of 1999 to carry out a mapping exercise in connection with all the training packages covering the property services industry.

The Chisolm Institute of TAFE in Victoria has been contracted by ANTA as the State Curriculum Maintenance Manager for the Property Services sector. A mapping exercise has been undertaken which is included in the Implementation Guides for the Security and Asset Maintenance Training Packages (June 1999- OTFE/ANTA).

As a result of the mapping, a guide to nominal hours for each unit of competence has been recommended. The mapping also indicates modules, which fully address the outcomes in a unit of competence, as well as modules that partially address a unit of competence and the elements in the unit not addressed.

The recommendation of the NSW PSITAB on behalf of industry is to adopt the ANTA/OTFE guidelines as a minimum benchmark for regulated training with amendment as indicated by the NSW ESD mapping when it occurs. As such it is recommended that the ANTA/OTFE mapping for security and asset maintenance represents a framework for implementation of new traineeship qualifications in NSW.

A range of non-endorsed components have been developed and are available through Australian Training Products or through Property Services Training Australia (PSTA) on CD-ROM. These include:

A Candidate’s Kit- This is comprised of guides for self-assessment, career and personal planning and competency record book.

An Assessment and Training Kit - This includes guides for assessors, trainers; lists of formal assessment instruments for each unit of competency and clusters of competencies; and a framework for a database of learning resources.

An Introduction to Training Packages Kit - This includes PowerPoint Slide Presentation, overhead transparencies and brochures.

A number of strategies exist to facilitate RTO’s access to relevant materials information for the various sectors of the property services industry. These include:

The NAC information Service (Internet site)
PSTA telephone support service 1800 304050
The PSTA’s web site www.pstrain.com.au
Ongoing communication with and advice to DET Industry Training Advisers and Industry Training Service Centres
Provision of information seminars in capital cities and regional centres
Assisting with the development of specialised learning materials such as CD Rom interactive materials
Consultation with NACs and RTOs as required
PSITAB telephone service 02 4654 5000

Industrial arrangements
Industrial arrangements for trainees in the property services industry are in place through the following instruments:

Security Industry (NSW) Award 1996 - ODN C No. 21023 OF 1993) - as varied
Retail Industry (State) Training Wage Award
Cleaning and Building Services Contractors (State) Award (No. IRC 6500 of 1998)ALHMWU- NSW. This Award includes traineeship provisions including part-time arrangements.

Flexibility and access
Features of the property services industry which require flexible training arrangements include:

non-traditional working hours
work generally performed on a client’s premise
small business nature of the industry.

The non-endorsed components of both training packages provide a range of resources to assist with effective on-the-job training, assessment and recording of achievement.

VET in schools
Currently, the industry does not support the delivery of training for cleaning operations, pest management, or security/investigative services through VET in schools.

Licensing

Security sector
The Security Industry Act (1997) and regulations include requirements related to licensing in NSW. In addition to mandatory criminal records clearance for candidates wishing to undertake training in the industry (no conviction recorded of prescribed offences within the last five years), candidates are required to acquire a  Class One licence.

Class One licences are required for any person performing services of static mobile and general guarding as well as crowd control. To obtain a licence under this category, candidates must be employed by a Master Licence Holder.

Class One licences are divided into three subclasses:

Class 1A authorises the licensee to patrol, guard, watch or protect property (including guarding of cash in transit)
Class 1B authorises the licensee to act as a bodyguard
Class1C authorises the licensee to act as a crowd controller or bouncer

To be eligible for a Class One licence, candidates will need to have been assessed in a number of core units. The units for each class are:

1A Units 1,2,3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 17 of the National Security Competency Standards. After 12 months, candidates must have also completed units 4, 6, 7 and 18 plus one elective.  NB:This requirement impacts on the selection of electives for candidates.

1B Units 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 17 of the National Security Competency Standards. After 12 months candidates must have also completed units 4, 6, 7 and 18, plus one elective.  NB: This requirement impacts on the selection of electives for candidates.

1C Units 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 17 of the National Security Competency Standards. After 12 months candidates must have also completed units 4, 6, 7 and 18, plus one elective.  NB: This requirement impacts on the selection of electives for candidates.

In addition, candidates must successfully complete an approved first aid course.

People who engage in the service and support areas of the security industry require Class Two licences. Licence Holders must be employed by a Master Licence Holder.

The relevant classes in this sub-class for qualifications other than Guarding are:

Class 2C - authorises the licensee to install, repair, service or maintain security equipment.

Investigative Services sector
Licensing requirements for the Investigative Servicessector are as follows:

Licences are required to operate as a private or commercial enquiry agent. Such licences are issued through a local court under the requirements and conditions of the Private Enquiry and Commercial Agents Act. Individuals may operate on a sub-licence for a period of 12 months and then apply for a full license without undertaking a TAFE course. Although TAFE training requirements remain the only authorised course, it no longer fully meets the needs of those entering the industry. This may change in 2000 as part of a review into the licensing requirements for investigative services.

Pest Management sector
Licensing exists within the Pest Management sector.Technicians/operators are required to be licensed by Workcover as Pest Management Technician. As a result of consultation and review of the implementation issues for the training package, licensing conditions have been linked to the completion of the following competencies from the training package:

PRMPM 05A Modify Environment To Manage Pests
PRMPM 06a Apply Pesticide To Manage Pests
PRMPM 18a Maintain An Equipment And Consumables Area

As such, graduates from Certificates II and III in Asset Management (Pest Management Technical)

and Certificate IV in Asset Management (Pest Management) demonstrating completion of these units are eligible to apply for licensing to operate in the industry.

Cleaning Operations
There are no licensing requirements for the cleaning sector.

Nominal hours for training package qualifications
Nominal hours will vary depending on the learning pathway for qualifications within the training packages.

NSW Crown Copyright Curriculum is available through the website: http://www.nswcccn.net/private/free_products/freeproducts.cfm

For any enquiries regarding this CIB, please contact the Vocational Training Tribunal Unit on (02) 9266 8579.

JILL GIENTZOTIS

Director of Recognition Services