An improved qualifications format is set to improve the quality of outcomes for the timber industry.

Over the past two years ForestWorks has undertaken work to rewrite the timber industry’s skills standards and qualifications into a new format determined by the Australian Government.

The new format offers a clearer and simpler layout, and strengthened aspects of assessment that are designed to improve the quality of outcomes for the timber industry.

While the format has changed – the content has largely remained the same. All revised units, skill sets, and qualifications are equivalent to present standards and Registered Training Organisations’ (RTOs) scope will be automatically updated with no anticipated impact on existing funding arrangements.

Michael Hartman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ForestWorks, said great care was taken during the reformatting process to ensure the fundamental meaning (or content) of the standards did not change.

“We worked with the industry and RTOs throughout the entire process – to ensure the skills standards remained equivalent and that they satisfied the requirements of the job role.

“A key part of our work is ensuring skills standards and qualifications remain up-to-date. So some minor updates and improvements were made to some units and qualifications, but these will not affect the outcomes in total for a particular unit or qualification,” Mr Hartman said.

“We really appreciate the time the timber industry dedicated to provide their expertise, feedback, advice, and support,” he added.

The reformatted units of competency, skill sets, and qualifications can be viewed on the ForestWorks website at www.forestworks.com.au, and by clicking the “˜See units in the new format’ button on the homepage.

The revised qualifications, units of competency, and skill sets are packaged up into similar groupings as it has been done in the past, but with each package having a new name. These are expected to be published to www.training.gov.au soon.

The new names are:

    • PPM Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Training Package.

 

  • FWP Forest and Wood Products Training Package.