Commissioners Information Bulletin 254
Issued: 24 December 2004

Community Services and Health Industry - Variation to the Vocational Training Order (VTO) for the recognised traineeship vocation of Health Services

At the request of the NSW Community Services and Health (CS&H) Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB), the Commissioner has approved the variation to the VTO for the recognised traineeship vocation of Health Services under section 6 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.

The revised VTO highlights a Certificate III in Prosthetic/Orthotic Technology HLT32102 from the Health Training Package HLT02, endorsed by the National Training Quality Council (NTQC) on 11 December, 2002.

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 revised VTO supporting the recognised traineeship vocation of Health Services is at Attachment A.

Background
In 2001, at the request of the NSW CS&H ITAB, the NSW Department of Education and Training agreed to the interim registration of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology Traineeship – Certificate III to enable its immediate implementation in New South Wales.

The qualification was a NSW TAFE developed curriculum course based on the Prosthetic/Orthotic Laboratory Technical Officer (Victoria) State Competency Statements and accredited in August, 2000. At the time, there was no Training Package qualification to support the proposed traineeship and the NSW Department of Health had indicated that a number of hospitals were wishing to implement the new traineeship.

Health Training Package HLT02
The initial Health Training Package HLT01 covered only the Client/Patient service area. Community Services and Health Training Australia subsequently asked for inclusion of the health technicians sector in the Training Package. The health technicians’ sector includes a qualification for prosthetic/orthotic technicians. Health technicians are generally non-degree qualified and skills recognition and training is undertaken in the vocational education and training sector. The revised Training Package was endorsed by the NTQC on 11 December, 2002.

For the purpose of the VTO, trainees in New South Wales in Health Services will have the option of gaining a Certificate III in Prosthetic/Orthotic Technology HLT32102. The qualification covers workers who work as technical assistants under direction or supervision in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of prostheses and orthoses.

Qualification framework
The Certificate III in Prosthetic/Orthotic Technology HLT32102 is mostly made up of units of competency from the Metal and Engineering Training Package with other relevant units imported from the Health Training Package and the Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking Training Package.

All compulsory units must be selected for this qualification. The packaging and combination of units required for the traineeship qualification are outlined at Attachment B (PDF 65KB).

Articulation and credit transfer
The Certificate III in Prosthetic/Orthotic Technology course articulates with advanced standing into the Diploma of Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology. This provides a career pathway into the undergraduate programs in orthotics/prosthetics.

Industrial arrangements
Industrial arrangements for trainees employed as orthotic and/or prosthetic technicians are in place through the following industrial instruments:

• the Public Hospital (Training Wage) (State) Award
• the Private Hospitals’ Aged Care and Disabilities Services Industry (Training) (State) Award

Each award permits part-time training arrangements.

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.

Mapping of existing curricula
TAFENSW course number 3080 has been developed to meet the requirements of the proposed traineeship. This qualification will replace course number 1898, Certificate III in Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology.

Vocational Education in Schools
The NSW CS&H ITAB has advised that this traineeship is not suitable as a school-based traineeship because the number of hours available for school-based delivery is insufficient to meet the required number of hours for training delivery.

Licensing arrangements
There are no licensing requirements for the Orthotic and Prosthetic Technologyindustry.

Learning resources and assessment materials
Learning materials are available to support trainee knowledge and skill development. A logbook for assessment purposes for trainees will be developed in Semester one 2005.

The Health Training Package Assessment Tool provides templates for recognition of prior learning and current competence and suggestions for gap training. Other learning resources assessment tools will be developed, in response to teacher and student need.

Resources are available within TAFE NSW for the delivery of generic units of competency. Current TAFENSW products will be adapted to support the units of competency in Orthotics/Prosthetics.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations
TAFE NSW is the only provider of this traineeship qualification in Australia.

Flexible training arrangements
The traineeship program is being constructed collaboratively with TAFE NSW - Sydney Institute and practitioners, integrating knowledge and industry training and thereby ensuring flexible training arrangements.

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

IAN KINGSLEY
Commissioner for Vocational Training