Commissioners Information Bulletin 145
Issued: 31 October 2000

Approval of an amended Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the declared calling of Laboratory Operations

Background:
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).

In 1999 at the request of Manufacturing Learning NSW (MLNSW), DET agreed to the interim registration of a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills (National code 8054) traineeship pending approval of a revised VTO.

At the request of Manufacturing Learning NSW (MLNSW) an amended VTO for the declared calling of Laboratory Operations was approved by the Director-General under section 22 of the Industrial and Commercial Training Act 1989. The variation to the VTO was approved on 10 September, 2000.

The revised VTO specifies the requirements for gaining a credential for the applicable traineeship pathways identified in the Laboratory Operations Training Package which was endorsed on 15 December 1999 by the National Training Framework Committee.

The existing Certificate II in Laboratory Operations and Certificate III in Laboratory Skills cease to operate, as the appropriate training package qualifications are being incorporated in the revised VTO.

These steps align the calling structure to the National Laboratory Operations Competency Standards 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 supporting the calling of Laboratory Operations is at Attachment A.

Laboratory Operations Training Package PML99
The Laboratory Operations Training Package is designed to address the training requirements of laboratory personnel working in a wide range of industry sectors. These sectors include manufacturing, construction, biological and environmental, and food.

The qualifications in the Training Package are not a series of nested courses but are a logical skill progression based on real occupational roles and workplace application.

To promote portability, ‘cross industry’ qualifications have been developed for AQF levels III-VI. At AQF level V, four specialist Diploma qualifications have been developed in addition to the broad cross industry Diploma to meet the need for specialisation at this level.

Not all qualifications may apply to all sectors and statements of attainment will be issued to candidates who have completed one or more units of competency but have not met the requirements for a qualification.

There is no vocational outcome at the AQF II level for laboratory personnel. However, the ‘cross industry’ units listed for the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills provide a foundation for developing laboratory skills in any industry sector and these may be incorporated into qualifications within other Training Packages at AQF II where appropriate. Achievement of units of competency from this Training Package provides a pathway for such personnel to develop the skills needed to take on quality control and limited laboratory roles as part of their normal duties.

Samplers, testers, production personnel, drivers, sample couriers and plant operators are some of the occupations which fall into this category.

The Certificate III in Laboratory Skills is suitable for laboratory assistants and laboratory attendants in all industry sectors. The choice of electives addresses the different roles of workers in the manufacturing/food and construction materials industry sectors who commonly perform basic tests; and on the other hand, workers in the pathology and biological/environmental industry sectors who tend to perform procedures rather than whole tests.

Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques is required in some industry sectors, for example, the food and manufacturing sectors where there are enterprises which employ personnel who conduct a wider range of basic tests than do laboratory assistants and who generally have a more enhanced quality role. They may also conduct a limited number of specialised tests.

This qualification recognises that some industry sectors employ technicians who have broad technical-scientific knowledge and skills, but without substantial depth in one specialisation as provided by the higher level qualifications in the Training Package.

In total, there are eight qualifications across AQF levels III-VI. Traineeships will be available in two of these qualifications.

For the purposes of the revised VTO, laboratory operations trainees will have the option of gaining the following credentials:

• Certificate III in Laboratory Skills PML30199
• Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques PML40199

The packaging and combination of the minimum number of units drawn from the relevant competency standards that are required for each qualification are outlined at Attachment B.

Learning and Assessment Materials
The review and alignment of existing program curricula has been finalised. These materials will be available through TAFE Clearing House arrangements.

Guides for the learner, the trainer and the employer are being developed by Manufacturing Learning Australia (MLA), the national industry training advisory body. These materials will be available from Australian Training Products and MLA.

Industrial arrangements
Provisions for the employment of trainees exist in the following industrial instruments:

• * Plastic Moulding, &c (State) Consolidated Award
• * Chemical Workers (State) Consolidated Award
• * Metal and Engineering Industry (New South Wales) Interim Consolidated Award
• Rubber, Plastic and Cable Making Industry - General - Award 1998.
• Crown Employees (Public Service Training Wage) Award 2000.
• National Training Wage Award 1994.

* These awards are parent awards with splinter State Training Wage Awards.

In addition, a few Australian Workplace Agreements and a significant number of enterprise agreements have been established in this industry. Each industrial instrument will need to be verified for traineeship provisions as applicable.

The proposed traineeship pathways are relevant for the public health sector, some of the private medical and pathology service providers and the food industry.

These sectors may have awards or agreements with appropriate provisions for the employment of trainees.

Note: Applications under the Industrial and Commercial Training Act 1989 to establish a traineeship certificate under the declared calling of Laboratory Operations will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Part-time arrangements
Industrial arrangements for part-time and school-based traineeships are available in the Rubber, Plastic and Cable Making Industry - General - Award 1998, the Crown Employees (Public Service Training Wage) Award 2000 and the National Training Wage Award 1994.

MLNSW has advised that the relevant union does not support part-time traineeships in laboratory operations in the private sector.

VET in schools
Although a substantial number of components from the Certificate III qualification has been developed into a VET in schools program, it is not viable to have a Certificate III school based traineeship due to the large amount of work to be undertaken by the student. ‘Cross industry’ units listed for the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills may be incorporated into qualifications within other Training Packages at AQF level II where appropriate.

Licensing requirements
There are no licensing requirements relevant to the streams identified in the Training Package.

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