ForestWorks has facilitated the first national Frame and Truss Working Group meeting. This national group builds on work carried out in other states by relevant industry associations. These key stakeholders reviewed the Timber Manufactured Products skill standards, qualifications and discussed career pathways for frame and truss employees.
The agenda focused primarily on three key issues:
The need to have comprehensive skill standards, qualifications and training pathways for all who work in the Frame and Truss sector (including flooring).
Career Paths and retention of current employees including the attraction of the sector to new employees with the aim of promoting the sector to jobseekers and current employees and increasing employment retention. Discussion was also held on making the sector more attractive to job-seekers – reducing the current perception of it being a stepping-stone to a career in the building industry.
Concerns regarding existing and proposed state level regulation for the sector including the installation of frames and trusses.
Particular attention was paid to examining the role of Estimators and Detailers. ForestWorks, through the national Frame and Truss Working Group, aims to examine the current qualification and see what needs to be introduced and/or amended to make the qualification more suited to the roles of Estimators and Detailers (the working group agreed that later in the process the title of these jobs should be reviewed).
ForestWorks will also be presenting at the forthcoming Frame and Truss Manufacturing Association national conference, which will be held in Melbourne on 21 July 2009. Damian Toohey, ForestWorks Skills Development Officer, will be presenting issues raised at the working group meeting.
The agenda focused primarily on three key issues:
