Commissioners Information Bulletin 221
Issued: 10 September 2003

Establishment of a new recognised traineeship vocation of Community Services and the relevant Vocational Training Order

At the request of the NSW Community Services & Health Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB), the Commissioner for Vocational Training has designated a new traineeship vocation in Community Services under section 5 of the Apprenticeship Traineeship Act 2001 and has approved the relevant Vocational Training Order (VTO) under section 6 of the same Act.

The VTO highlights 17 qualifications from the revised Community Services Training Package CHC02 endorsed in December 2002, by the National Training Quality Council.

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 of Community Services is at Attachment A.

Community Services Training Package CHC02
The Community Services Training Package CHC02 qualifications framework covers the competencies required to work in the for-profit and not-for-profit industry sectors.

These sectors within the community services industry are divided into three main areas of service delivery and include:

• Child Care Services
• Residential Support Services
• Non Residential Services

There are a large number of qualifications in the Non Residential Services sector of the training package and this reflects the great variety of job roles in that area. The qualifications address the full range of services, modes of delivery and client profiles that are characteristic of the current community services industry (refer to Attachment B - PDF 47KB).

Due to this diverse employment profile there are some areas where offering a full qualification would not match industry requirements. In cases where workers require competencies that are not likely to equate to a "full" Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification, a Statement of Attainment based on critical units of competency might be appropriate. This could include situations where the work is undertaken primarily by:

• volunteers, in this instance requiring a prerequisite qualification could negatively impact on workforce supply;
• graduates, especially with a social work background. In this instance a "top up" unit(s) would be required to add to existing skills and knowledge; and
• those who have high level prerequisite skills and knowledge from prior training and/or work experience, and their community services work utilises these skills. In this case specific "top up" knowledge and skills is required to ensure compliance with duty of care and legislation.

Several work areas have been identified specifically in relation to this situation and the units of competency that would be suitable for issuance as a Statement of Attainment. These are:

• Governance
• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Financial Counsellor
• Marriage Celebrants
• Substitute Carers for Children at Risk.

Further information regarding the relevant units of competency suitable for a Statement of Attainment under these circumstances can be found in the Community Services Training Package CHC02.

Relationship of the Community Services Training Package CHC02 with other training packages
The Community Services Training Package CHC02 includes units from other training packages. This takes into account the possible career pathways which may exist between the community services industry and other industries.

• Note regarding Health Training Package HLT02

There may be an overlap between the occupational titles of some workers currently covered by the Health Training package and now covered by the Community Services Training Package CHC02 (e.g. Patient Carer). The individual workplace requirements will define the competency profile and therefore determine the relevant qualification and units of competency to be applied. It should be noted that delivery of community services in a health setting does notequate to a health services worker and vice versa.

• Note regarding Business Services Training Package BSB01

Business Services Training Package units of competency have been developed to apply across a number of industries. They are "very broad in nature; they gain in depth and meaning by being placed in the context of an actual business, or being applied in different industries" (Business Services Training Package Volume 1).

A total of 60 qualifications are available from the Community Services Training Package CHC02 ranging from Certificates II, III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

For the purpose of the new VTO in NSW, trainees in the community services industry will have the option of gaining the following 17 qualifications:

Certificate II in Community Services Support Work CHC20102
Certificate III in Aged Care Work CHC30102
Certificate III in Home and Community Care CHC30202
Certificate III in Children's Services CHC30402
Certificate III in Employment Services CHC30502
Certificate IV in Employment Services CHC40502
Certificate III in Youth Work CHC30602
Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40602
Certificate III in Disability Work CHC30302
Certificate IV in Disability Work CHC40302
Certificate III in Social Housing CHC30702
Certificate IV in Social Housing CHC40802
Certificate III in Community Services Work CHC30802
Certificate IV in Community Services Work CHC40902
Certificate IV in Out of School Hours CHC40402
Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs Work CHC41702
Certificate IV in Community Services (Service Co-ordination) CHC42002

The packaging and combination of the minimum number of units required for each revised qualification are outlined in Attachment C.

Packaging Arrangements
The qualifications available are comprised of units of competency drawn from groups in the Community Services Training Package CHC02 or from other endorsed training packages. These units are identified as either compulsory or elective.

Compulsory units represent the minimum work requirements in the range of settings covered by the qualification title. A number of the units occur consistently across qualifications and may be considered fundamental to work in the community services industry; they are often compulsory depending upon the work role, area or function, and include:

• effective work in the health industry (duty of care, ethics, regulatory environment etc)
• infection control
• Occupational Health and Safety
• other areas critical to a sector or type of work that are consistent across qualifications

Elective units allow for variations and differences between areas, roles or functions in the community services industry. Elective units provide enterprises with the flexibility to select units that match their specific workplace needs within identified boundaries. Elective units can be selected from a diverse range of areas and training packages.

A list of generic elective units of competency is listed under Attachment D.

Industrial arrangements
Community Services traineeship provisions exist in the following instruments:

• Aged Care General Services (State) Award
• Miscellaneous Workers - Kindergartens & Child Care Centres (State) Award
• National Training Wage Award 2000
• Private Hospital Employees (State) Award
• Private Hospital, Aged Care and Disability Services (Training) (State) Award
• Social and Community Services Employee (State) Award
• Miscellaneous Workers Independent Schools and Colleges (State) Award

Award arrangements in the non-government community services industry sector vary and include many enterprise agreements. Relevant awards will be included as identified by employers.

Note: Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish any traineeship or apprenticeship will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

VET in Schools
Certificate II in Community Services Support Work CHC20102 has been identified by industry as appropriate for delivery under VET in Schools.

Part-time Traineeships
Award arrangements for part-time employment and training exist for some qualifications.

Learning resources and assessment materials
Some Community Services Training Package CHC02 qualifications have support material and resources available to enterprises, trainers and learners. Information regarding products and their availability can be accessed through http://www.skillsonline.net.au

The Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (NADA) in partnership with the NSW Community Services and Health ITAB is developing assessment tools, including a traineeship log book. Representing the non-government sector, NADA is currently working to increase the number of workplace assessors throughout its member agencies.

The NSW Community Services and Health ITAB will assist in the identification of training support needs. The ITAB will prioritise needs according to training market demands and seek suitable funding for development of support materials, in particular trainee log books to encourage consistency of assessment across the huge diversity of organisations.

The national ITAB Community Services and Training Australia has resources and information available on www.cshta.com.au.

Licensing
There are currently no licensing requirements within the OOSH industry in NSW.

However, any relevant legislation related to Child Protection and Occupational Health and Safety also applies to OOSH centre qualifications.

If delivering OOSH traineeship qualifications two documents that should be considered are:

• The NSW Voluntary Code of Practice of Out of School Hours Services; and
• The National Standards for Outside School Hours Care

Availability of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
The National Training Information Service website www.ntis.gov.au identifies RTOs in NSW registered to deliver qualifications from the Community Services Training Package CHC02.

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

PAM CHRISTIE
Commissioner of Vocational Training