Commissioners Information Bulletin 410
Date of effect: 8 May 2009

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - new traineeship vocation

The Commissioner for Vocational Training (Commissioner), in consultation with the NSW Food Industry Training Council (ITAB), has established the traineeship vocation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and made the Vocational Training Order (VTO) for that vocation.

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

The VTO is at Attachment A.

FDF03 Food Processing Industry Training Package

FDF03 includes twenty-five qualifications ranging from Certificate I to Diploma level which offer training in Food Processing, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Plant Baking and Retail Baking.

Qualifications

For the purpose of the VTO in New South Wales, trainees in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will be able to gain the following qualifications:

• FDF20203 Certificate II in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• FDF30203 Certificate III in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The units of competency, packaging and structure requirements for each of the above qualifications are at Attachment B.

Job description

Trainees will be employed in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry developing skills involved with the processing and packaging of pharmaceutical products.

Jobs at the Certificate II level involve working safely and efficiently as an operator of equipment in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. They also involve the implementation of good manufacturing practice, quality systems and workplace communication skills.

Jobs at the Certificate III level will involve working safely and efficiently in the running of many of the processes and assisting others in their work in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. Trainees will also learn about the monitoring of good manufacturing practices and team leadership.

Industrial arrangements

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

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

School Based Traineeships

The ITAB advises that the FDF20203 Certificate II in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is suitable for delivery as a school based, part-time traineeship pathway.

The following elective units of competency are not suitable for school based delivery for licensing, safety and insurance reasons:

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

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

Licensing arrangements

Some occupations within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry are covered by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) Standards for Operators of Industrial Equipment NOHSC:1006 (2001) and NOHSC:7019 (1992). This includes activities in:

• turbine and boiler operation
• forklift operation
• application of pesticides
• working in confined spaces
• retort supervisor's certificate

At this stage NOHSC Standards are not in a format suitable for inclusion in training packages, with the result that there is a dual assessment process - one by state/territory regulatory authority and another by an registered training provider. This is a practice that industry wishes to see rationalised. The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry wants to see the NOHSC Standards written into national units of competency for importation into training packages.

For further information on licensing requirements, go to NOHSC.

When assessing an area covered by licence, the assessment must be conducted according to the requirements of the management authority and according to the Assessment Guidelines contained within the FDF03 Food Processing Industry Training Package. In the case of certificated occupations managed by NOHSC, assessment must be carried out by a certificated assessor in accordance with NOHSC guidelines. Interpretation and implementation of these guidelines are the responsibility of the relevant state or territory health and safety authority.

Learning resources and assessment materials

NSW SkillsOnline has developed user-focused training, learning and assessment materials that support the delivery of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, competency standards and skill sets – refer to NSW SkillsOnline.

Availability of Registered Training Organisations

A list of training organisations registered in New South Wales to deliver training from the FDF03 Food Processing Industry Training Package may be found at National Training Information Service or Training Market.

Note: This Commissioner’s Information Bulletin supersedes information about Pharmaceutical Manufacturing traineeships contained in Commissioner’s Information Bulletins 056, 178 and 233.

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

PHILLIP MOORE
Commissioner for Vocational Training