The value of timber as a resource is widely recognised and new, superior technology means that maximum use can be made of the raw material. The ability of industry to develop a sophisticated workforce has taken on new importance. Years ago, workers may have learned a narrow range of skills, but now they are need to be broadly skilled and adaptable as technology and process knowledge advances.
Today, most workers in the industry:
learn their skills on-the-job, over time, on the machines they use and in a normal production environment
gather over time, the essential knowledge and experience that contributes to their problem-solving abilities (often using training manuals followed-up with formal assessment)
need to be multi-skilled and ready to embrace new and emerging technologies
work within enterprise quality standards that increasingly emphasise product care and recovery and value adding
must meet occupation health and safety (OHS) and risk management requirements.
The industry and its employees need to work smarter, safer and with an eye to quality. Skills development and the identification and assessment of skills are more important than ever.
What is the link between safety and training?
Safety and training are intrinsically bound together. The very nature of the work carried out and the equipment used by the industry means that a workplace cannot be made safe without training employees in job functions and safe systems of work.
Training employees in specific job functions or competencies, enables them to perform tasks to the required standards, in a manner that is safe for themselves and others working around them. The Forest and Forest Products Industry Training Package contains national competency standards that are designed to incorporate occupational health and safety at all levels of job competency - from basic through to advanced.
Training employees in safe systems of work supports the job functions they undertake and complements industry competency standards.
Skill development into the future
In the absence of ready-skilled workers to employ, the industry is placing a greater emphasis on up-skilling existing workers. Many activities in the industry today rely on sophisticated technology. Increasingly, workers need to be computer literate and able to work with complex technology that drives the production process.
VET and Training Packages Vocational Education and Training (VET) – what it is and how it works.
What are Training Packages and what is in them?
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Industry Environmental Scans The industry Environmental Scan captures and analyses the most recent grassroots industry intelligence about existing and emerging skill shortages and training requirements. The document offers a unique opportunity to clearly articulate the skills and labour issues affecting our industry and to feed this intelligence into government decision-making.
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Pulp and Paper Industry Training Package (FPP01) 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).
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