The Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) secretary Trevor Gosatti has taken a deep dive into how the society promotes the use of trenchless technology ahead of traditional excavation and replacement construction methods.
Trenchless technology includes benefits in the social, economic, and environmental factors that apply to a proposed worksite.
The ASTT strongly believes that all operators performing trenchless technology works on a civil infrastructure worksite, should as a minimum, be of a “tradesperson” level standard, regardless of the types of work.
A tradesperson level qualification is the equivalent of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level Three (III) qualification that is recognised Australia wide. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for qualifications in the Australian education and training system.
However, the qualifications system is slightly different for New Zealand in comparison to Australia.
In Australia, the ASTT has advocated for and obtained industry qualifications and competency units for the trenchless industry.
For over 20 years now the society has supported the qualifications and competencies on various industry bodies and provided resources towards the training and assessments of trenchless competencies for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to deliver them.
There are three Certificate Three (III) qualifications that trenchless technology operators can obtain to be regarded as a tradesperson level recognised operator:
- Certificate III in Trenchless Technology (RII31619) (Preferred by ASTT)
- Certificate III in Civil Construction (RII30920) (with inclusion of the relevant RIICTT [trenchless] competencies)
- Certificate III in Drilling Operations (RII31820) (with inclusion of the relevant RIICTT [trenchless] competencies and Locating services competencies)
Details of the qualifications are provided on the www.training.gov.au site, which is the Australian Government qualifications site. Qualifications are typically a package of competencies (units) relating to various skills to form a recognised qualification. Competencies can also be attained in a manner to recognise particular skill sets, which can be part of a qualification.
The qualifications are flexible to suit the type of trenchless technology occupation that is sought.
The type of occupation sought relates to the specialist trenchless technology competencies that are contained within the qualifications. At least one of these competencies (RIICTT) must be completed to attain a trenchless technology recognition.
There are currently 10 specialist trainees that would select the appropriate trenchless competency unit to be attained relating to the occupation they seek to obtain qualifications for.
The specialist competencies cover the various occupations include horizontal directional drillers, micro tunnellers, pipeline and chamber renovators, in-situ pipe replacement and pipe relining.
In addition, associated competencies such as vacuum excavation, track directional boring operations and installing trench shoring can be attained as part of a flexible skills-based qualification.
The attainment of recognised qualifications should be done through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that is registered for the national VET (Vocational Education & Training) Framework, and scoped to deliver training and assessment for the relevant qualification.
Trainees and employers should engage an RTO to deliver and assess the learned skills for each of the competencies acquired, that package up to form the eventual qualification. The reality is that most of the skills required for trenchless technology skills are typically learned in an on-site environment, and training and assessment requirements would be framed accordingly for that.
A small amount of training would be done in a classroom. Various government subsidies are offered towards the completion of a qualification.
New trainees would have a program outlined (in consultation with the employer) by the RTO to obtain the qualification. Existing operators who have already acquired skills in their on-site learning during their employment can be assessed and seek recognition of prior learning (RPL) for the various skills and competencies they may have already.
The RTO can then map out the further skills/competencies required to attain the relevant trenchless qualification.
The ASTT believes that it is important that trenchless technology skills be recognised and we encourage all employers and operators to seek to attain industry recognised qualifications.
We acknowledge that there are many operators in our industry that have significant skills but have not been formally recognised for them in the form of competency units or qualifications.
We believe there are significant benefits for the individual operator, their employer, and the industry in general if skills are formally recognised and we encourage this to occur.
RIICTT competencies:
|
RIICTT301E |
Conduct fluid assisted directional boring |
|
RIICTT302E |
Conduct impact moling, ramming and augering operations |
|
RIICTT303E |
Control micro tunnelling and pipe-jacking operations |
|
RIICTT304E |
Undertake on-line replacement for existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT305E |
Undertake localised repair and sealing of existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT306E |
Install cure in-place linings for existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT307E |
Spray linings for existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT308E |
Install close-fit linings for existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT309E |
Install slip lining in existing pipeline systems |
|
RIICTT310E |
Renovate large diameter pipes and chambers |
The ASTT acknowledges the impediments that the industry has experienced that has not encouraged the attainment of formal qualifications:
- Cost – there is a cost to the employer in time spent to train and assess trainees for qualifications. Government provides various subsidies and grants to off-set some of this, but there is no doubt a cost to the employer. This cost however should be seen as an investment not a cost to the organization. Can you afford not to invest in your staff and improve their skills?
- Lack of RTOs – This is the chicken and the egg question? If the industry does not have the demand to train and assess its trainees and operators, the RTO’s will not scope up to provide their services. If as an industry we demand and require training and assessment, many RTOs will scope up and provide the service. The ASTT has a number of RTOs as members and they would be able to assist.
- Equal playing field – As a trenchless technology contractor you may have to compete against other companies that may not be investing in staff and training. They get away with it because the Asset Owners that contract the work via the tender box, or quotation, do not demand a minimum level of training or qualification. If it is demanded at the tender stage by all asset owners, then the cost will be built in to the works and be equal to all.
The ASTT supports the following policy:
ASTT Policy
The ASTT supports the promotion of Certificate III trenchless technology qualifications and recommends that as a minimum asset owners should require that for each trenchless technology crew, at least one person within the crew has obtained one of these qualifications.
In the initial instance a staged approach (over a period of time i.e. up to two years) may be suitable to accommodate the industry. The promotion of having qualified persons on all jobsites is a policy that will improve the safety and quality of infrastructure works for asset owners.
The ASTT believes that asset owners that are not asking, as a minimum requirement, that all operators be qualified to a Level III (tradesperson) level qualification (or equivalent), may be deemed negligent in their responsibilities should an incident occur.
The trenchless technology industry benefits greatly as more skilled operators attain nationally recognised qualifications.
The following AQF qualification types are recognised in the VET sector:
- Certificate I
- Certificate II
- Certificate III – tradesperson level
- Certificate IV – supervisor level
- Diploma
- Advanced Diploma
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma – engineer level
This pathway to become an engineer through the trenchless technology industry is a genuine one with many benefits. They learn on the job skills along the way, get paid whilst working, and obtain qualifications. It is an alternative pathway to doing tertiary education straight from school with little or no practical experience.
I also want to highlight that there are other pathway options for our industry through the VET sector.
The ASTT strongly supports the training and education of the trenchless technology industry in a number of ways:
- We offer and deliver various one day educational courses (licensed via NASTT and amended to suit ASTT audience) prior to the No-Dig Down Under event. We will be looking to expanding these opportunities in the future.
- We advocate industry-led promotion of qualifications to government, asset owners and industry stakeholders and promote our policy.
- We support and have been involved in the creation and maintenance of the trenchless technology competencies and qualifications as part of the AQF training packages. We were an active member of the Resources and Civil Infrastructure Industry body that managed the training packages, and we will look to be part of the new BuildSkills Australia entity that will oversee the training packages in the future.
- We have provided resources towards the training and assessments of trenchless competencies assist RTOs to train and assess trenchless industry trainees.
The ASTT is happy to assist any member that needs assistance regarding training requirements.
For information, contact the ASTT Secretary Trevor Gosatti at secretary@astt.com.au
This article featured in the December edition of Trenchless Australasia.
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