PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE - Parliament of Victoria

Chapter 3: Issues Within the Funeral Industry
New Apprenticeships Centres (NACs). There are about 50 NACs in
the metropolitan area with a further 60 to 70 located throughout rural
and regional Victoria. These centres provide free information and
services to employers and people interested in becoming an
apprentice or trainee. As with OHS, targeting information specifically
to the funeral industry through currently available avenues such as
trade journals may assist in increasing industry awareness of the
training currently available as well as government assistance for
employers.
Review of Training Package
3.149 Service Skills is the Industry Skills Council for the Australian
service industries, which includes the funeral industry, and will be
conducting a review of the Funeral Services Training Package
commencing in June 2005. All registered RTOs and industry peak
bodies will be notified of the review during the consultation process.
It may take up to 18 months before a revised version of the package
is completed and endorsed. 43
3.150 Three issues raised during this inquiry which should be
considered during the review of the training package include:
• the method of delivery and the development of flexible or online
delivery to suit small or rural and regional business which
cannot afford even the temporary loss of a staff member to
attend training in Melbourne;
• Statements of Attainment and short courses may provide
funeral industry employees with training relevant to their needs
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