Commissioners Information Bulletin 224
Issued: 9 October 2003

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

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

The VTO highlights 10 qualifications from the new Funeral Services Training Package WFS02, which was endorsed on 11 February 2002, by the National Training Quality Council.

Vocational Training Order Standard Format
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 in the funeral services industry is at Attachment A.

Industry Context
Although there are more than 3,500 people working in funeral parlours in NSW and up to 10,000 employees in cemeteries and crematoria, the funeral services industry comprises largely of small businesses with a third employing less than three staff. Historically the funeral services industry enjoys a low labour turnover.

The funeral industry workforce is comprised predominately of males, over the age of 30 years and who generally enter the industry at an older age compared to other industries and require significant retraining and upskilling despite holding other qualifications.

Consequently, training within the funeral services industry is highly supported and there is an increasing awareness that a formalised training structure can provide a competitive edge for individual businesses.

Funeral Services Training Package WFS02
The funeral services industry consists of four broad sectors:

• Funeral directing
• Coffin and casket manufacture
• Cemetery and crematoria operations
• Monumental stonemasonry

There are more than 20 occupational groupings within these sectors including:

Some of these occupations are specific to the funeral services industry and some are found across a range of industries.

The competency standards and qualifications in the Funeral Services Training Package WFS02 relate to specialist operations within the industry and are not covered in other training packages.

A total of 12 qualifications are covered ranging from Certificate I to Certificate IV.

For the purpose of this VTO in NSW, trainees in the funeral services industry will have the option of gaining the following qualifications:

Certificate II in Funeral Services (Coffin and Casket Manufacture) WFS20102
Certificate II in Funeral Services (Funeral Operations) WFS20202
Certificate II in Funeral Services (Cemetery/Crematoria Operations) WFS20302
Certificate II in Funeral Services (Grounds and Maintenance) WFS20402
Certificate III in Funeral Services (Coffin and Casket Manufacture) WFS30102
Certificate III in Funeral Services (Funeral Operations) WFS30202
Certificate III in Funeral Services (Cemetery/Crematoria Operations) WFS30302
Certificate III in Funeral Services (Gravedigging, Grounds and Maintenance) WFS30402
Certificate IV in Funeral Services WFS40102
Certificate IV in Funeral Services (Embalming) WFS40202

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

Packaging Arrangements
The packaging arrangements include two different models.

• The majority of qualifications must select core, specialisation and electives
• Two qualifications use a core and electives only model. These are:
• Certificate II in Funeral Services WFS20402 (Grounds and Maintenance)
• Certificate IV in Funeral Services (Embalming) WFS40202

Some qualifications may have individual units of competency with a pre-requisite requirement; these units are denoted by a 'p'. If the learner has not previously attained the required pre-requisite competency then it must be completed prior to undertaking the higher level unit. A list of units of competency with pre-requisite assessment requirements can be found at Attachment C (PDF 79KB).

Industrial arrangements
Industrial arrangements for trainees employed in the funeral services industry are in place through the following instruments:

Funeral Industries (State) Award*
Cemeteries and Crematoria Employees (State) Award#
Training Wage - Interim (State) Award

* This award contains three sections:

• Part 1 Funeral Directors and Employees
• Part 2 Coffin Makers
• Part 3 General Conditions

Enterprise Agreements rather than the Funerals Industries (State) Award cover many workers in the funerals sector of the industry.

# The Cemeteries and Crematoria Employees (State) Award applies to workers in the non-Local Government sector of the cemeteries and crematoria industry.

The industrial arrangements permit part-time training.

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

Licensing Arrangements
Currently there are no licensing requirements associated with these traineeship arrangements. However, National OH&S Council licensing is applicable to some units of competency contained within the Funeral Services Training Package WFS02 relevant to the operation of machinery. These include:

TDTC197A Drive vehicle
WFSTVM202A Drive funeral vehicle
WFSTVM301A Operate a backhoe/front end loader/excavator
WFSBCR313A Perform grave digging using machinery
MTMS40A Drive forklift
BCC3012A Conduct dump truck operations
THHBFB09A Provide responsible service of alcohol

VET in Schools
There are currently no qualifications suitable for delivery as part of the VET in Schools program.

Learning resources and assessment materials
There are currently no resources to support delivery of training for the Funeral Services Training Package WFS02. There are resources available that support some imported units of competency. RTOs based in Victoria have developed their own copyrighted resources for the Funeral Services Training Package WFS02 which maybe available for purchase.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations
A list of RTOs that are delivering training from the Funeral Services Training Package WFS02 can be found on the NTIS web site http://www.ntis.gov.au/

Credit transfer or recognition
A limited number of units of competency in the Funeral Services qualifications have either been imported from other training packages such as the Retail Training Package WRR02, or equivalent units have been developed. Therefore trainees could expect to receive credit for these units should they choose to enrol in the future in other courses containing those units or equivalent units.

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

PAM CHRISTIE
Commissioner of Vocational Training