Training for your existing staff – part qualifications, Skillsets, under
Smart & Skilled
It’s likely with Local Water
Utilities staffing shortages that some existing water industry operators may
have training needs that are easier and quicker to address with small groups of
Units of Competency (UoC’s), known as Skillsets, rather than an entire 11 units
for a full Certificate III. In this blog we have some suggested Skillsets based
on logical groups of UoC’s.
Got questions or comments on
this blog? Want to express your interest in securing fee-free training on a
particular Skillset? Email us here.
Background
Water Directorate is
collaborating with DPE Water in the first phase of their Town
Water Risk Reduction Program with the delivery of their Water
operations skills and training action plan, the latest
version was issued in December 2022. As the Town Water Risk Reduction Program
moves into its second phase, fee-free training is available in 2023 for full
Certificates as well as Skillsets in Water Industry Operations via Training
Services NSW's Smart
and Skilled program for apprentices,
trainees and existing water industry workers.
Recently we wrote a related blog
on full certificates for water industry operators, Water operator training – Certificate II and III funded in 2023 which
is a training pathway broadly suitable for new entrants to the water industry
in regional NSW. This blog will discuss smaller groups of Units of Competency –
Skillsets – which may be more suitable for experienced staff to address
specific training needs or new job roles. Training in Skillsets can also reduce
the time demands to release staff from work.
What do I need to do?
You can express your
interest in particular Skillsets by contacting us at the Water Directorate or you can contact the
skills broker at Training Services NSW directly to discuss fee-free training.
If you don’t have a large enough cohort of staff to train in a particular
Skillset, you may want to collaborate with neighbouring councils in your region
to form a training cohort.
Suggested Skillsets
Option 1 –
Water sampling and testing
NWPGEN017 – Apply the risk management principles of
the water industry standards, guidelines and legislation, and
NWPGEN020 – Sample and test source or drinking
water.
Option 1a –
Wastewater sampling and testing
NWPGEN018 – Follow environmental and licensing
procedures, and
NWPGEN021 – Sample and test wastewater.
Option 2 –
Drinking water disinfection with sodium hypochlorite
NWPTRT022 – Monitor and operate hypochlorite
disinfection processes, and
TLID0021 – Store and handle dangerous goods and hazardous
substances.
Option 3 –
Water network maintenance
NWPNET061 – Maintain and repair network assets for
drinking water,
NWPNET047 – Install, maintain and repair hydrants,
and
NWPNET064 – Control electrical risk on network
pipes.
Option 4 –
Commissioning or re-commissioning water assets
NWPGEN017 – Apply the risk management principles of
the water industry standards, guidelines and legislation,
NWPNET018 – Disinfect network assets, and
NWPGEN020 – Sample and test source or drinking
water.
Option 5 –
Drinking water disinfection with liquefied chlorine gas
NWPTRT007 – Monitor and operate liquefied chlorine
gas disinfection processes,
MSMWHS216 – Operate breathing apparatus, and
TLID0021 – Store and handle dangerous goods and
hazardous substances.
Option 6 –
Operating and maintaining membrane filters
NWPTRT020 – Operate and control membrane filters,
and
TLID0021 – Store and handle dangerous goods and
hazardous substances.
Option 7 – Wastewater
network investigations
NWPGEN026 –
Provide & promote customer service,
NWPNET030 –
Identify and respond to water quality problems, and
NWPNET035 –
Perform odour and infiltration investigations.