Commissioners Information Bulletin 183
Issued: 5 March 2002

Approval of a new recognised traineeship vocation of Property Development and Management and the relevant Vocational Training Order (VTO)

At the request of the Property Services Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB) NSW Ltd the Commissioner for Vocational Training has:

• designated the new recognised traineeship vocation of Property Development and Management under section 5 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001
• approved the relevant Vocational Training Order under section 6 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001

The relevant VTO will specify four new qualifications at Certificate III and IV levels from the Property Development & Management Training Package – PRD01 approved by the National Training Quality Council (NTQC) on 5 May 2001, and one new qualification at Certificate IV level in Strata Management comprised of competencies from the Property Development & Management Training Package.

These qualifications will replace the curriculum based courses supporting the current traineeships in Real Estate Operations.

Vocational Training Order Standard Format (VTO)
The VTO in each instance may make reference to:

1. the appropriate term or terms for apprenticeships or traineeships in that vocation
2. the appropriate probationary period or periods for apprenticeships or traineeships in that vocation, having regard to the term or terms specified for them under paragraph (a)
3. the appropriate qualification or qualifications that may be awarded in relation to an apprenticeship or traineeship in that vocation
4. any other training to be provided in addition to the training required for an appropriate qualification
5. such other matters relating to the training of apprentices or trainees in that vocation as the Commissioner considers appropriate.

A copy of the relevant VTO supporting the recognised traineeship vocation is at Attachment A.

Property Development & Management Training Package (PRD01)
The Property Development & Management Training Package contains six qualifications in the two industry sectors of Real Estate and Stock and Station Agency. Each sector has three qualifications ranging in level from Certificate III to Diploma level.

The Real Estate sector may be broadly grouped into the following categories:

• residential sales
• commercial and industrial sales
• property management

The competency standards have been written in a generic way to incorporate these categories but training and assessment may be conducted solely on the basis of one category.

The Stock and Station Agency sector provides specialist rural services relating to livestock and rural properties (broad hectares). People working in the area enter from a range of backgrounds. Occupational classifications include:

• livestock manager
• auctioneer
• branch manager
• agency manager

Qualification Structure and Approach
The six Training Package qualifications each have a core and elective structure. The Diploma level qualifications require candidates to also achieve the core units from Certificate IV.

TAFE NSW Business and Public Administrative Division has developed an accredited Certificate IV in Property (Strata Management) comprised entirely of competencies from the Property Development & Management Training Package. NSW requires a Strata Managing Agent to be licensed under the Property Stock and Business Agents Act of 1941. When the Training Package was developed the occupation of Strata Managing Agent was not addressed. A proposal for incorporation of the Certificate IV in Property (Strata Management) into the Training Package has been forwarded to the Training Package developer.

For the purposes of the VTO, Property Development and Management trainees will have the option of the following credentials:

Real Estate Sector
PRD30101 Certificate III in Property (Real Estate)
PRD40101 Certificate IV in Property (Real Estate)

Stock and Station Agency Sector
PRD30201 Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services)
PRD40201 certificate IV in Property (Stock and Station Agency)

Strata Management Sector
Certificate IV in Property (Strata Management) TAFE NSW course no. 9674

The packaging and combination of the minimum number of units drawn from the National Property Development and Management Competency Standards required for each qualification are outlined in Attachment B.

Learning resources and assessment materials
Mapping of existing curricula against the national qualifications was undertaken in late 2000. TAFE NSW was funded to develop curriculum for the Real Estate, Stock and Station and Strata Management industry sectors. This has been completed and the curriculum is ready for implementation.

Non-endorsed components for the Training Package are available from Australian Training Products (ATP) or Property Services Training (PST).

The resources are available on CD-ROM and hard copy. They include the endorsed components and the following support materials:

• Assessor’s Materials Guide for Workplace Assessors and Trainers
• Formal Assessment Instruments for 39 units
• Trainer’s Materials Guide for Workplace Assessors and Trainers
• Candidate’s Materials Information Booklet
• Self Assessment Checklists
• Competency Record Book

The Real Estate Assessor and Candidates Resources Pack is available in hard copy, CD-ROM and video. It provides assessment information for Certificates III, IV and Diploma level in Property (Real Estate).

Student Skills Record Books have been developed for the Certificate III in Property (Real Estate) and Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services).

Industrial arrangements
The Property Services ITAB NSW advises that industrial arrangements for trainees in the real estate, stock and station and strata management sectors of the industry are as follows:

• Real Estate Industry (State) Training Wage Award Award Code: 942
• Real Estate Industry (State) Award Award Code 573 Serial: C0505

The Parent Award to the Real Estate Industry (State) Training Wage Award, the Real Estate Industry (State) Award, covers the industry functional areas of real estate property management and real estate salesperson. The award refers to all real estate sectors, that is the management and sale of all real estate including the Strata Title schemes.

The traineeship is at Industry/Skill Level A.

The Award specifically excludes persons ‘employed for the major or substantial part of his or her time in the sale of livestock’. There appears to be no award covering this type of trainee at this time. Options available for those wishing to access the Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services) as a Traineeship could include the following:

1. Enter into an Australian Workplace Agreement
2. Form an association with an industry body who is a respondent to the National Training Wage Award 2000 (ODN C 22542) [Print L5189 {AWA790800CR}].
3. Use the services of a Group Training Company (GTC) where the GTC has the capacity to employ individuals under the auspice of the National Training Wage Award 2000.

With respect to point 2, the following organisations may be appropriate to approach:

• National Union of Workers
• Agribusiness Employers’ Federation
• NSW Farmers’ (Industrial Association)

Alternatively, existing industry organisations such as the Real Estate Employers Federation (REEF), the Stock & Station Agents Association (S&SA), the Real Estate Association of NSW or the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REI NSW) could become respondents to the National Training Wage Award to include the stock operations.

The Property Services ITAB NSW Ltd will hold discussions with industry stakeholders to resolve the matter and establish a clearer position in relation to the Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services).

Note: Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish any of the traineeship certificates under the recognised traineeship vocation of Property Development and Management will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s)
Between 23 and 30 providers currently include various property qualifications on their scope of registration. It is expected that these providers will convert to the new qualifications.

Strategies to assist RTOs
The following strategies are in place to assist RTOs:

• the NAC Information Service (Internet site)
• the National ITAB telephone support service 1800 30 40 50
• the National ITAB web site www.pstrain.com.au
• the Property Services ITAB NSW website http://www.propertyezy.com/psitab/
• information seminars in capital and regional centres
• assistance with the development of specialised learning materials such as CD-ROM interactive materials
• consultation with NACs and RTOs as required

VET in schools
Industry supports the delivery of training for the real estate, stock and station agency and strata sectors through VET in schools with the exception of the Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services).

Licensing
The Property Services ITAB NSW advises that achievement of the Certificates III and IV in Property (Real Estate), Certificate III in Property (Livestock Services), Certificate IV in Property (Stock and Station Agency) and Certificate IV in Property (Strata Management) will satisfy the requirements for the Certificate of Registration.

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

PAM CHRISTIE
Commissioner of Vocational Training