Commissioners Information Bulletin 156
Issued: 13 February 2001

Declaration of a new calling in Airline Operations

Background
In recent years, Qantas has embarked on a clearly defined process which focuses on providing superior customer service and develops Qantas staff at all levels of the organisation.

Qantas has developed a Qualifications Framework for training and staff development within Qantas. The Qantas Training Package provides the opportunity for the introduction of traineeships across nominated business units.

The package has been developed with extensive involvement within Qantas nationally. External consultation has occurred with representatives from the Flight Attendants Association of Australia, Transport Workers Union and relevant National Industry Training Advisory Bodies including Business Services Training and Tourism Training Australia.

Following consultation to align traineeship arrangements with the Qantas Training Package qualifications, Qantas has requested a new calling in airline operations.

The Vocational Training Order (VTO) supporting the new calling will specify the requirements for gaining a credential for the relevant traineeship pathways identified in the Qantas Enterprise Training Package endorsed on 30 October, 2000 by the National Training Quality Council.

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 is at Attachment A.

Qantas Training Package (ZQF00)
This Training Package has been designed to cover Corporate, Airport (Ramp Services) and Cabin Crew. It contains commercial-in-confidence material which Qantas regards as being part of the company’s competitive advantage.

Qantas will use the package to cover staff in their:

• Airports (Ramp Services) – approximately 2,000 people employed in the thirteen Qantas operated airports within Australia; and
• Cabin Crew – approximately 6,000 people based in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

The corporate competency standards and qualifications apply across all areas of Qantas. These focus on generic competencies particularly in the areas of customer and business focus, leadership and management and workplace assessment/training.

In total, there are nine qualifications across AQF levels II-IV. Traineeships will be available in four of these qualifications.

For the purposes of the VTO, airline operations trainees will have the option of the following credentials:

• Certificate II in Airline Operations (Airport Ramp Services) ZQF20200
• Certificate II in Airline Operations (Cabin Crew) ZQF20400
• Certificate III in Airline Operations (Cabin Crew) ZQF30100
• Certificate IV in Airline Operations (Leadership and Management) ZQF40100

Given the commercial-in-confidence nature of the Qantas Training Package, the packaging and combination of the minimum number of units drawn from the Qantas Competency Standards required for each qualification are not being circulated.

Qualification structure and approach
Qualifications are packaged as either:

• core only: these qualifications identify all units that must be achieved for a qualification. This model is suited to operational areas where all employees must achieve the same competencies, for example, Cabin Crew; and
• core and elective: these qualifications identify core units to be achieved for a qualification but also allow some choice in the selection of elective units. This model is suited to operation areas where skill requirements vary according to local conditions, for example, Air Ramp Services.

Where qualifications from other industries have been used, the packaging follows the requirements of that industry.

The Package has been designed to be delivered through a range of pathways, although most qualifications require actual workplace experience for competency to be achieved.

Customisation
The Qantas qualifications have been developed to allow particular workplaces to customise each qualification to meet local needs where appropriate. Where national industry qualifications are used, these have been customised to suit Qantas business needs within national requirements.

Learning and assessment materials
Non-endorsed materials – by way of training and assessment programs for the qualifications in Cabin Crew and Airport Ramp Services – which are currently being used in the delivery of training have been mapped against the standards to ensure delivery and assessment against the standards.

Qantas College has established a curriculum based corporate training program, the Supervisor Development Program. This 12 months program facilitates the training, delivery and assessment of the core units of the Certificate IV in Airline Operations (Leadership and Management) QZF40100. An additional 12 months period of learning, assessment, skills consolidation and reflection is established to obtain the elective units of this qualification.

Industrial arrangements
There will be no changes to Qantas recruitment processes and employment conditions. Eligible trainees under the traineeship program will be identified at the beginning of the training program and will receive full entitlements upon employment.

Award coverage

• Airline Officers (Qantas Airways Ltd) Award 1992 [A0630]
• Airline Flight Attendant (Qantas Airways Ltd) Award 1993
• Flight Attendant Association of Australia Long Haul Division (Qantas Airways Ltd) Enterprise Agreement IV (1998-2001)
• Flight Attendant Association of Australia Short Haul Division (Qantas Airways Ltd) Enterprise Agreement IV (1998-2001)

Availability of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
Qantas is a recognised Quality Endorsed Training Organisation and intends to deliver all traineeship training for its employees.

Innovation and change

Flexibility and Access
Some innovations in place include:

• Qantas college online – a fully integrated online training facility for 30,000 employees throughout the Qantas network;
• Learning Centres located at airport terminals, call centres etc to provide access and support to Qantas College online, and in some cases Language and Literacy tutors;
• Operational training programs designed to incorporate a range of training delivery modes including off-the-job, on-the-job, online and simulator learning;
• Corporate strategies supporting the new entrant (corporate induction), frontline managers (supervisor development program);
• Provision of a range of delivery methods for each corporate training program to support business unit needs;
• Benchmarking and partnership programs with other enterprise training organisations eg Woolworths and Optus.

VET in schools
Qantas does not intend to run this traineeship intake under a VET in schools arrangement.

Licensing requirements
There are no licensing requirements that will impact on traineeship arrangements for Qantas.

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

PAM CHRISTIE
Commissioner of Vocational Training