Commissioners Information Bulletin 122
Issued: 30 May 2000

Approval of an amended Vocational Training Order for the declared calling of Asset Maintenance

At the request of the NSW Property Services Industry Training Advisory Board (PSITAB) the Director-General has approved an amended Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the declared calling of Asset Maintenance.

The amended VTO was approved under section 22 of the Industrial and Commercial Act, 1989 on 30 April 2000.

The amendment to the VTO relates to an increase in the nominal terms of training from 6 months to 12 months for the following certificates:

• Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management – Technical) PRM20298
• Certificate II in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management – Business Operations) PRM20398

A copy of the revised VTO is at Attachment A.

Feedback from the PSITAB indicated that the seasonal nature of the pest management industry necessitated a longer nominal term of training for the Certificate II traineeships in pest management. During the busy period it is impractical to release trainees for off-the-job training. It is also difficult to access trainers during this period. Additionally, the longer term allows the flexibility required by the pest management sector of the industry.

Within this context, the increased term reflects more accurately the time required to achieve the relevant competencies in the workplace.

Learning and Assessment Materials
Responsibility for mapping of curricula against the new training package qualifications in pest management is with the Primary Industries and Natural Resources Educational Services Division of TAFE. At this stage, mapping has been completed for Certificate II qualifications.

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.

A number of strategies exist to facilitate RTOs’ access to relevant materials and information for the various sectors of the property services industry.

Industrial Arrangements
Industrial arrangements for trainees in the pest management industry are in place through the Pest Control Industry (State) Award.

Part-time arrangements
Provisions exist for part-time trainees although the PSITAB advise that this option has not been utilised by the industry due to the seasonal nature of pest management work.

Licensing Arrangements
Licensing exists within the Pest Management sector.Technicians/operators are required to be licensed by Workcover as a 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 Maintenance (Pest Management -Technical) and Certificate IV in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management) demonstrating completion of these units are eligible to apply for licensing to operate in the industry.

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

JILL GIENTZOTIS

Director of Recognition Services