Commissioners Information Bulletin 405
Date of effect: 27 February 2009

Furnishing - Blinds and Awnings and Furnishing - Security Screens and Grills - new traineeship vocations

The Commissioner for Vocational Training, in consultation with ForestWorks NSW, the industry training advisory body for the furnishing industry in New South Wales, has varied the existing Vocational Training Orders (VTOs) for traineeship vocations in the furnishing industry.

The qualification Certificate II in Blinds and Awning Fabrication Operations TAFE NSW Course No. 90827 has been deleted from the furnishing VTO.

The traineeship vocations of Furnishing – Blinds and Awnings and Furnishing - Security Screens and Grills have been established, aligned to qualifications from Version 2 of LMF02 Furnishing Training Package.

The VTOs specifiy a number of matters including the terms of training, probationary periods, competency outcomes and courses of study to be undertaken.

The VTOs are at Attachment A.

LMF02 Furnishing Training Package (Version 2)

LMF02 covers occupations such as cabinetmaking, woodmachining, upholstery, floor finishing and covering, picture framing and interior decorating.

Category two changes to LMF02 (Version 2) resulted in units of competency and qualifications for seven new industry sectors, including Blinds and Awnings and Security Screens and Grills.

Qualifications

For the purpose of the VTOs, trainees in the NSW furnishing industry can now gain the following qualifications:

• LMF21008 Certificate II in Blinds and Awnings
• LMF31808 Certificate III in Blinds and Awnings
• LMF21108 Certificate II in Security Screens and Grills
• LMF31608 Certificate III in Security Screens and Grills

The packaging and structure requirements for each qualification are outlined in Attachment B.

Job descriptions

a) Blinds and Awnings

Trainees at the Certificate II level will learn how to make blinds and awnings using hand and power tools and sewing machines. They will learn how to cut fabric, apply hardware and fixing and construct roll up and pull down style awnings. There are options to specialise in one or two of the following:

• construction of vertical-style blinds
• construction of plastic, timber or aluminium Venetian-style blinds, textiles or
• construction of metal louvre or aluminium roll up and
• canopy hooded-style awnings.

Trainees at the Certificate III level will work for blinds and awnings companies and learn measuring, costing, fabricating and installing blinds, awnings (folding arm) and timber shutters for domestic and commercial customers.

Specialisation areas: construction of plastic, timber or aluminium Venetian-style blinds; metal louvre and canopy hooded awnings; aluminium roll up awnings; folding arm awnings, wood weave or pleated blinds, roman blinds; installation of shutters, customer liaison and estimating and costing of jobs.

b) Security Screens and Grills

Trainees at the Certificate II level assist in the production of security screens, doors and grills. They learn how to operate static machinery to manufacture the security products, use hand and power tools, prepare surfaces for application of security products and may remove/insert glass into residential windows and doors.

Trainees at the Certificate III level will be learning measuring and quoting, fabrication and installation of a variety of security screens, doors and grills. They will learn how to operate static machinery to manufacture the security products, use hand and power tools, prepare surfaces, install security products and remove/insert glass into residential windows and doors.

Industrial arrangements

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

Industrial arrangements under which furnishing trainees can be employed are listed at Attachment C.

School based traineeships

ForestWorks NSW has advised that LMF21008 Certificate II in Blinds and Awnings and LMF21108 Certificate II in Security Screens and Grills are suitable for delivery in schools.

For all school based, part-time traineeships being delivered in New South Wales see School Based Traineeships.

For further information on the delivery of training for school based traineeships, refer to Training Arrangements.

Licensing and regulatory arrangements

People working in the security screens and grills sector of the furnishing industry are required to hold a Class 2 licence in accordance with the Security Industry Regulation 2007.

However, the Security Industry Amendment (Exemption) Regulation 2008 exempts security screens and grills trainees from requiring a Class 2 licence while carrying out manufacturing and installation activities in the course of their traineeships.

As a result of this Regulation, trainees undertaking LMF21108 Certificate II in Security Screens and Grills and LMF31608 Certificate III in Security Screens and Grills no longer need a Class 2 licence.

However, this exemption does not apply if:

(a) the trainee concerned would be refused a licence because of a criminal or other related history (under section 16 of the Security Industry Act 1997 and only applies

(b) while the trainee is directly supervised by the holder of a licence that authorises the carrying on of those activities.

Further information is available from Exemption for trainees.

Learning resources and assessment materials

TAFE NSW has developed curriculum and other assessment resources for the LMF02 Furnishing Training Package qualifications. These are available from Resources.
 
Manufacturing Skills Australia has developed self-paced learner guides to align with sector specialist units of competency in the Training Package. These guides, along with other endorsed and non-endorsed support materials are available from Australian Training Products.

Skills on Line has developed user-focused training, learning and assessment materials that support the delivery of furnishing, competency standards and skill sets.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations

The National Training Information Service identifies training organisations registered in New South Wales to deliver qualifications from LMF02 Furnishing Training Package (Version 2).

Note - This Commissioner’s Information Bulletin (CIB) supersedes references to blinds and awnings qualifications and traineeships in CIBs 126, 266 and 266a.

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

PHILLIP MOORE
Commissioner for Vocational Training