Bulletin - InfraTrain New Zealand

InfraTrain
Bulletin
Behind the scenes
To help you understand more about
what happens behind the scenes at
InfraTrain, the Bulletin is going to
feature articles about qualification
development and our Training Advisory
Groups (TAGs). A fact file on members
of the TAGs will also be included so
you can get to know the industry
experts who build and review the
infrastructure industry qualifications.
Getting Started…
Training Advisory Groups
The role of the TAGs is to provide
industry based expertise and training
expertise as input to InfraTrain’s
activities. By providing opinion, advice
and feedback with other industry
experts, the TAGs help determine
InfraTrain’s direction and activities in
developing national qualifications.
Operate safe tips
We have put together some tips to
ensure the processing of operate safe
cards is as smooth and quick as
possible.
- To be seen in your photo avoid
wearing reflective vests
- Ensure the photo file names are
correctly named with both the
person’s first name and surname
- Emailing the forms and photos
through is much faster.
- The Notification form is clearer and
easier to process when it is typed.
- Remember the invoices are 7-day
invoices and the cards can’t be
processed until payment is received.
For more information about operate
safe you can visit the website
operatesafe.org.nz. Operate Safe forms
are also available on the InfraTrain
website infratrain.co.nz.
InfraTrain operates four TAGs for the review
and development of unit standards and
qualifications. These are:
- Civil Construction and Roading
- Rural Contracting
- Roadmarking
- Pavement and Bitumen
Other specialist industry groups are
formed when they are needed. Recent
examples of these are demolition,
horizontal directional drilling and
forestry earthworks.
Each TAG has a number of key tasks
that are undertaken through meetings
and communication with the industry.
Their roles are to develop, register and
review unit standards and qualification
for their industry sector. They also assist
in the development of Industry Training
Plans and qualification assessment tools.
Each TAG is made up of 5-10 members.
InfraTrain determines the industry
Qualification reviews
eviews..
InfraTrain Training Advisory Groups
have been busy reviewing some of our
current qualifications based upon
industry feedback.
All New Zealand Qualifications Authority
(NZQA) registered qualifications must
be reviewed every five years. This allows
for qualifications to be kept up to date
with industry skills and technology.
Civil Construction, Pavement Surfacing
and Roadmarking qualifications
All the unit standards have been reviewed
by each TAG and have been submitted
to NZQA for approval. Workbooks,
assessment tools and training resources
for some qualifications are currently being
developed by the TAGs. Based on industry
feedback the number of civil qualifications
have been reduced, they will be more
elective based and will contain more
strands. When NZQA have approved the
unit standards the qualifications will be
submitted. This process may take up to
six months.
National Diploma in Civil Engineering
The diploma is currently being reviewed
with IPENZ and others. The current
stakeholder rep for each group and calls
for nominations from the stakeholder
groups and related organisations for the
remaining members.
As a member of a TAG industry experts
are required to:
- Attend meetings to discuss material
meaningfully
- Contribute to meetings in a positive and
constructive manner
- Be a positive advocate for the training
system
- Constructively guide the development
of the training system to benefit the
industry
- Respond to communications and
requests for feedback in a timely manner
- Keep an active, informed overview of
InfraTrain’s business activities
- Act within the advisory role and
functions of the group.
diploma will be spilt into two
qualifications, one theory and one
practical. The theory qualification will
align with the Consortium of Polytechnics.
Anyone wishing to enrol should start
with the theory section at your nearest
training provider.
The rural TAG is due to start the five year
review of their qualifications.
Changes under the Building Act will likely
require alterations in the Architecture
Technology and Quantity Surveying
qualifications. As soon as these changes
are confirmed by the Department of
Building and Housing they will be updated.
NZCF has requested an infrastructure
piplelaying qualification for the civil
construction industry. This will be
discussed and progressed over the next
few months.
Discussions with ACENZ regarding a
Diploma in Draughting are also taking
place.
If you have any comments regarding
qualifications please contact Kevin Walker,
kevin@infratrain.co.nz
Regional Focus Dunedin
Check out what’s been happening in this region
Dunedin Region
Region Statistics
Trainees = 263
Modern Apprentices = 17
Companies = 41
Completions YTD = 31
(Year To Date)
Works Infrastructur
astructure Dunedin lead the MA charge
By Mark Chiaroni
The issue of an aging infrastructure
workforce has not escaped the
Dunedin branch of Works
Infrastructure.
Over the past three and a half years,
this branch has been one of the
country’s most proactive in the
employment and training of modern
apprentices (MAs), having up to eight
on the staff at any one time.
From 2002 to 2004 a total of nine
MAs have been trained in the Dunedin
area by Works, of whom seven are near
completion of their apprenticeships
and remain employed at Works. They
also plan to sign up five to six new
MAs from existing staff within the
next few weeks.
Graeme Henderson, Works Dunedin
Branch Manager is positive about
modern apprenticeships. “Over the
last few years, as our workload has
increased, we have found it almost
impossible to recruit experienced and
competent staff. The modern
apprenticeship program is ideal for
us to build a sustainable workforce,
The first four modern apprentices
so we began a programme of ongoing
apprentice recruitment of four to six
apprentices per annum, not just one
or two every couple of years. The
programme is already paying dividends
with some of our first recruits now
assuming leadership roles within our
work groups.”
Kevin Thompson, Works South Island
Safety, Quality and Environmental
Manager is also positive about the
scheme and its results. “I’m very glad
to see a return to an industry based
apprenticeship scheme that will
produce well trained, well rounded
young people. Our succession
planning has identified the importance
Mark Chiaroni
Regional Manager
of ongoing induction and training of
young people, and we are committed
to it.”
InfraTrain have assisted Works from
the start, helping with recruitment,
ongoing co-ordination and support for
the staff who manage the apprentices’
day to day work and on-job training.
“We can provide advice, manage the
paperwork, and provide subsidies,
but ultimately it’s up to the employer
to make the apprenticeship work,”
says Mark Chiaroni, InfraTrain Regional
Manager. “Works Dunedin should be
congratulated on their commitment
and success.”
Hayden Smith one of the first