Business Case NWP National Water Training Package Review and Development Water Industry Reference Committee Date: 22 nd December 2016 NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 1
Executive Summary This Business Case responds to an issue raised by Water industry stakeholders that is supported by the Water Industry Reference Committee (IRC) in the Workplan submitted in April 2016. Wide ranging consultation was undertaken to validate the concerns of the Water industry stakeholder s, that the current structure of the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification presents a barrier to entry by particular sectors of the industry. The consultation also identified additional occupational streams that need to be added to the qualification to meet current Water industry requirements. The inclusion of these additional occupational streams will require the development of new units of competency, as well as importing suitable units from existing Training Packages. Consultation with industry also highlighted that some of the existing units are no longer fit for purpose due to changes to the skills and knowledge requirements of workers covered by the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations. A review of these existing units is also proposed to address the identified skills and knowledge gaps. This Business Case provides a proposed solution to address the issues identified by stakeholders. The recommendations will remove the identifed barriers to entry and ensure the qualification provides suitable flexibility to meet the needs of industry across a broader range of occupational streams. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 2
A. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Industry Reference Committee submitting the Business Case Water Industry Reference Committee (IRC) Skills Service Organisation responsible for preparing the Business Case Australian Industry Standards Limited (AIS) The Commonwealth has requested the Water IRC and AIS to: Undertake the necessary research and stakeholder consultation to develop a Business Case for consideration by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) setting out the strategic and evidentiary case for the changes proposed by industry to resolve barriers to entry for water industry workers and scoping the work necessary to update relevant components of the NWP National Water Training Package (Release 1.0). Proposed focus of Business Case review (qualifications, skill sets, units of competency) The Business Case provides the rationale for reviewing the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification. It is anticipated this will include the addition of approximately seven new units and the importation of additional units of competency from other Training Packages. This industry proposed review, supported by the Water IRC, will focus particularly on Water Network Operations. B. METHODOLOGY FOR REVIEW The Water IRC identified the requirement for a review of the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations based on stakeholder feedback that the qualification no longer provided the skills and knowledge required by specific sectors of the industry. The methodology used for development of the Business Case involved the following stages: 1. Planning and communication 2. Stakeholder engagement and research 3. Communication of a draft Business Case Discussion Paper for stakeholder feedback 4. Finalisation and submission. Detailed stakeholder engagement, consultation and research included: Discussions at Water IRC meetings during 2016 Individual IRC member phone meetings with AIS Australian Water Association QLD Water Directorate Hydrography Commission Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute NSW Department of Primary Industries Sydney Water Communication with Skills Impact, the Skills Service Organisation responsible for interdependent qualifications AHC51116 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 3
This Business Case was also made available to registered stakeholders and key bodies for comment and input, including: All State Training Authorities (STA) Water enterprises NSW Water Directorate Registered Training Organisations. C. OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW The review highlighted the need for the review and redevelopment of the NWP50715 Diploma Water Industry Operations qualification. This would include the following: One qualification 25 units of competency Five skill sets. Industry use of NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations This qualification is widely used in the Water Industry Worker training program, and forms part of an established career path for water operators in a variety of specialisation areas including hydrography, irrigation, trade waste, network and general operators. The review confirmed that there are: Currently barriers in the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations that essentially excludes network employees from undertaking a Diploma level qualification in its current form Gaps in the required skills and knowledge in other streams (see Overview of issues identified) contained within the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations Inadequate or technically inaccurate units of competency for some specific occupation streams to meet industry skill and knowledge requirements Inaccuracies in the content in the Hydrography stream that will need amending Additional skills and knowledge gaps that can be filled by the importation of units of competency. It was further identified during the review that the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations has the capacity to include the leadership and management skills required at this level and could also provide the opportunity for Higher Education pathways into areas such as business/management/leadership or the technical side of water engineering/hydraulics as one example, for further career opportunities and succession planning. The initial consultation identified competency gaps for a small number of new units (potentially seven), and for the inclusion of existing units from other Training Packages. It is proposed that these would be confirmed through the establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and consultation in the initial phase of the development. The industry supports this qualification, as with other qualifications in the NWP National Water Training Package, to be suitable for delivery via a traineeship. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 4
The expectations of industry Water industry qualifications and units of competency reflect the skills and knowledge requirements for occupations in the industry All sectors of the industry have training qualifications at the required level Training provided by RTOs address industry needs so that individuals graduate with skills that are relevant and transferable across the industry, enterprises and work contexts RTOs provide high-quality training and assessment that meets the outcomes identified in the units of competency. Nationally recognised training product The recognised qualifications will ensure national and international portability by graduates with consideration for global recruitment which occurs in this industry. All amendments will comply with the 2012 Standards for Training Packages. There are currently seven Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who have the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations on their scope of registration. Overview of the issues identified in the review The review indicated that the current alignment between NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification and the skill and knowledge requirements of industry identified deficiencies in the following areas: Specialist streams are not current or available for network operators, treatment operators, source operators, management and leadership There is a lack of appropriate elective units Backflow requirements are not catered for There is a need for some specific units of competency for current and potential cross-connection control that can be imported from other Training Packages There is currently an error in the use of the term hydrography and hydrology, this will be further investigated and corrected during the review. Occupations to which the proposed training product maps Water and wastewater operators Distribution and collection personnel Reuse system operators meter readers Any individual directly involved in a crossconnection Health Department and code enforcement program officials Operational Managers Compliance Investigator Water engineers and managers (Water industry) Network operator team leaders/supervisors Plumbing inspectors and designers Environment and Health Department officers Compliance Officers (Water industry) Trade waste inspectors Hydrometric Monitoring Coordinator Dams Safety Surveillance Officer Senior Technical Officer (Water industry) Instrumentation and Control Technician Water Operations Manager Wastewater Treatment Manager Water Quality Specialist Water Planner Water Treatment Technologist. Training products where the IRC recommends no change The Water IRC advise that no change is required to the remaining six qualifications. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 5
Training products where the IRC recommends change NWP National Water Training Package Products NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations The proposed changes to the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations will respond to Industry skill and knowledge requirements and involve: Development of new units to address the specific skill and knowledge requirements of the Water industry sectors Incorporating additional stakeholder identified changes. The changes are based on quantifiable benefits: Water employees having the required skills and knowledge for the appropriate sector they work in Broadening the skills and knowledge stream issues within the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations The qualification reflecting the requirements of Industry. Stakeholder feedback further indicated: There should be public health and health and safety improvements as a result of the workers being more appropriately qualified Job satisfaction would improve due to increased confidence and competence The importance of the alignment between the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations units and skill sets with the business needs of the water enterprises. Evidence of industry support for the proposed change This Business Case is supported by: The Water IRC Queensland Water Directorate Sydney Water Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) Australian Water Association. Critical timeframes associated with the proposed change None are currently identified. New training products required The development of new units to address the skill and knowledge gaps. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 6
D. ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF PROPOSED CHANGE Impact of the proposed changes Stakeholder consultation to date has identified that the proposed changes to the NWP National Water Training Package products will result in: All sectors of the Water industry and the skills required for a specialist stream of study in the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification, will be addressed Barriers for various water sectors will be removed through the review and development of this qualification. These changes may incur additional RTO administrative and compliance costs relating to: The need to reapply or apply for the revised NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification to be added to scope Modifications may need to be made to training and assessment strategies. Interdependencies The following qualification is dependent on importing units of competency from the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations qualification: AHC51116 Diploma of Conservation and Land Management Communication with the Skills Service Organisation responsible for this qualification, Skills Impact will continue throughout the review and development of this qualification. Risks Risk factor Likelihood Impact on deliverables Requirements change during the course of the project. Insufficient number of RTOs willing to continue delivering NWP National Water Training Package qualifications owing to costs related to meeting new requirements Mitigation strategy Unlikely Low Any critical changes will be accommodated as far as possible. However, the aim of this project will be stressed with stakeholders. Possible Low Communication strategy to support implementation of new arrangements. E. OUTSTANDING ISSUES There are no known outstanding issues at this time. NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 7
F. EXPECTED TIMEFRAMES AND PROCESS FOR UNDERTAKING TRAINING PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT WORK. Proposed IRC/AIS Development Approach The review of the NWP50715 Diploma of Water Industry Operations will be undertaken at the direction of the Water IRC. AIS will establish Technical Advisory Committees (TAC s) for these projects, which will contain subject matter experts from industry to provide the technical skills and knowledge required to assist in the delivery of this project. Methodology The methodology will involve three key stages: Planning and Communication Review and Development Finalisation and Submission for Endorsement. Key timeframes and milestones for proposed development work See Attachment B G. TRAINING PRODUCT REVIEW STATUS See Attachment A for the qualification to be reviewed. H. IRC Signoff This Business Case was agreed to by: John Harris (Name of Chair) Signature of Chair Date: 22nd December 2016 NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 8
ATTACHMENT A - List of qualifications to be reviewed Australian Industry Standards Limited Training Package Code NWP Training Package Name National Water Training Package Qualification Code NWP50715 Qualification Name Diploma of Water Industry Operations IRC Name Review status (Set options) Change Required (Set options) Water IRC 3.5 NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 9
ATTACHMENT B Key Timelines and Milestones Key Activities Stage one: Planning and Communication Project commencement is communicated to stakeholders via the AIS communication strategy Stage two: Review and Development Project brief and proposed Technical Advisory Committee members are presented to the IRC for approval and sign off Draft units of competency and qualifications are posted on the AIS website and stakeholders are advised throughout the development stage. Feedback is sought during the consultation phase on the content of qualifications and units of competency Review and development of draft units of competency and qualifications is ongoing and will be presented to Technical Advisory Committee members for comment Stage three: Finalisation and Submission for Endorsement Final draft units of competency and qualifications posted on the AIS website for final validation by stakeholders The Case for Endorsement and draft products are signed off by the Industry Reference Committee. Update project information on AIS website and update STAs and Department. Final draft products, along with the Case for Endorsement are submitted to the AISC Timelines (Completion) 06/03/2017 03/04/2017 14/08/2017 11/09/2017 02/10/2017 01/11/2017 08/11/2017 30/11/2017 NWP National Water Training Package Review Business Case 10