The Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry Training Package is a large document that contains the standards of competency for Operations work in the industry (these are called Competency Standards or Units of Competence).
It also details the qualifications that apply to work in the industry and provides information about assessment and training. These Competency Standards broadly identify the skills and knowledge that Operators need to apply, to do their job. Mills use different combinations of these Competency Standards to identify the skills and knowledge required in the different jobs at mills. The training and assessment of Operators is organised in line with the Competency Standards and the more detailed job requirements.
There are three broad groupings of Competency Standards:
Compulsory - Some Competency Standards are grouped together because they are needed in every job. These broadly cover:
Occupational Health and Safety
Communication
Numeracy
Quality Assurance
2. Specialisations - Some Competency Standards are grouped together because they are needed in specific areas at mills. These are:
Handling and Preparing Primary Resources
Pulping Operations
Chemical Recovery Operations
Handling and Preparing Waste Paper for Pulp Production
Waste Paper Operations
Stock Preparations
Wet End Operations
Dry End Operations
Coating Systems
Finishing and Converting
Water Services
Steam Generation
Electrical power Generation
3.Electives - Other Competency Standards are grouped together because they might be needed in a particular job, but may not be necessary for all jobs in an area of specialisation at mills - it depends on the requirements of the job and the mill. These are:
Chemical preparation
Computer Skills
Emergency Procedures
Environmental Monitoring
First Aid
Hand Tools
Materials Handling Vehicles and Equipment
Planning and Organising
Preventative Maintenance
Problem Solving
Administration
Frontline Management
Training and Assessment
Metals and Engineering Laboratory
Asset Security
Transport and Distribution
Water
Particular groupings of Competency Standards form qualifications. There are 5 qualification levels in the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry Training Package.
The first is Certificate I. This exists because schools may offer it as part of the years 11 and/or 12 school curriculum.
Certificate II is an entry-level qualification and the Competency Standards contained within are designed for ‘new starters' in the industry.
Certificate III is broadly equivalent to a minimum trade qualification and is used for many post entry level jobs at mills.
Certificate IV is for more developed/specialist post-trade equivalent skills and is used for more senior operations work like team leaders, senior operators, crew leaders.
The Diploma mainly covers supervisory and management related skills.
The qualifications are:
Certificate I in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Certificate II in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing (General)
Certificate II in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Certificate II in Pulp and Paper Services
Certificate III in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Certificate III in Pulp and Paper Services
Certificate IV in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Certificate IV in Pulp and Paper Services
Diploma in Pulp and Paper Industry Operations
Some mills train to full qualifications. Other mills focus purely on the job and train to the Competency Standards that reflect the job, containing the right level of skills and knowledge required. Some mills use a combination of the two. Both full qualifications (a predetermined grouping of Competency Standards) and Competency Standards selected individually for a job, are nationally recognised.
The current Training Package was last reviewed in 2001. There have been significant changes in the industry since then: new technologies and different processes introduced, changes to the way work is organised and structured and new mills or mill components planned and/or constructed. More changes are on the way as the industry constantly strives to innovate and maintain and increase its competitiveness.
These changes impact on the national standards reflecting skills and knowledge required across the industry and the way they are combined. These changes need to be reflected in the Training Package. A review of the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry Training Package will be conducted over the coming 18 months, commencing in early 2008.
For further information on the Training Packge, please contact the state-based Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs)
Following is a list of state-based industry Advisory Bodies: