Commissioner's Information Bulletin 659

Forest and Forest Products - Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Forest and Forest Products

Date of effect: 14 June 2016

Updated: 30 October 2020

Bulletin Information

In this Commissioner's Information Bulletin two apprenticeship Vocational Training Orders are varied to update qualification codes. Also, the naming convention for the sawdoctoring qualification is changed to saw technology:

Both qualifications are deemed not equivalent.

Additionally the school based pathway for wood machining is deleted.

The FWPv5.0 Forest and Wood Products Training Package was endorsed on 30 January 2020.

No other changes were made to Vocational Training Orders.

Superseded Bulletin

This Commissioner's Information Bulletin updates Bulletin 603.

Qualifications, structure and packaging

Transition Arrangements

Competency based completion

Competency based completion provisions for apprentices

Industrial arrangements

Licensing and regulatory arrangements

School based traineeships

Registered training organisations

Funding arrangements

Inspecting Vocational Training Orders

Enquiries

To sign up an apprentice or trainee call 1300 363 83. To find a job in an apprenticeship or traineeship search here.

For implementation of new pathways in relation to this Training Package profile, please contact Tim Cleary the Forest and Forest Products & Furnishing NSW ITAB on mobile 0438 846 546.

David Collins
The Commissioner for Vocational Training

Job descriptions

Apprenticeships

The Certificate III in Saw Technology provides specialist coverage of Saw Technology competencies, for example hand sharpening knives and blades, welding, aligning sawing production systems and assessing and maintaining saw and cutter performance.

The Certificate III in Wood Machining provides some specialist coverage of saw doctoring competencies, but has a focus on an in-depth knowledge of timber technology.
Progression from the trades would naturally be to Certificate IV in Timber Processing.

Traineeships

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs cover a range of activities from planting, weeding, pruning and pest management, to falling trees, fire management and construction and maintenance of roads.
This sector also requires higher level technical skills in forest management, with a natural progression to Certificate IV in Forest Operations. At the Certificate IV level there is a balance of supervisory functions together with technical skills in areas such as fire control, breeding and propagation, site establishment and maintenance, tree growing and maintenance.

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs cover a range of activities from construction of roads and log-landings, plant and equipment operation and harvesting trees to stump removal and segregating or sorting logs.

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs cover a range of activities from sawing logs, producing hardwood or softwood chips, kiln drying, conducting end matching and finger jointing operations to weighing loads.
This sector also requires skills at Certificate IV in Timber Processing which provides a balance of supervisory responsibilities together with technical skills in areas such as grading and testing, timber treatment and drying, sawing operations and competitive manufacturing.

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs cover a range of activities from producing veneer, machining panel, laminating boards and assembling products, to chipping or flaking wood and cutting panels to profile.

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs cover a range of activities from dressing boards and timber, cutting material using computer programmed machinery to assembling products.

At the Certificate II and III levels, jobs focus on activities from stock control, estimating and costing jobs, cutting and machining material and grading products to sales and customer service.

At the Diploma level, job emphasis is on management in areas such as planning and managing inventory programs, genetic resources, propagation programs, native forest regeneration, product design and panel production.

At the Certificate II level, jobs involve routine business tasks using basic practical skills. Tasks may include:

  • storing materials
  • assembling products
  • processing orders and dispatching products
  • loading and unloading vehicles carrying special loads
  • preparing cargo for transfer with slings
  • laying up timber roof trusses
  • operating a truss press

At the Certificate III level there are specialised job roles in either Design or Production Fabrication. Common to both roles, trainees will learn:

  • Working effectively in the forest and forest products industry
  • Communicating and interacting effectively in the workplace
  • Implementing safety, health and environment policies and procedures
  • Conducting quality and product care procedures
  • Contributing to team effectiveness

Trainees will then undertake elective units to meet the different job roles of Designer and Production, as described in FPI30910 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design Manufacture. The specialist competencies may include:

  • interpreting designs to prepare timber floor system
  • preparing drawings and documents using computers
  • creating drawings using computer aided design systems
  • designing timber structures
  • assembling timber wall frames
  • planning and coordinating product assembly
  • organising despatch operations

Industry strongly recommends the selection of particular electives to meet the different job roles of Designer and Production Fabricator. For recommended electives go to FPI30911 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design Manufacture. Registered training organisations should insert specialisation (job role) on the certificate only if the industry recommended electives are achieved.

Certificate IV Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture jobs are to analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources and provide leadership and guidance to others. Tasks may include:

  • planning and coordinating product assembly
  • constructing prototypes and samples
  • calculating production costs
  • preparing and advising on a broad range of timber floor system and wall frames details using computers
  • producing labour and material schedules for ordering
  • erecting roof trusses

Certificate IV in Timber Truss and Frame Design jobs are to analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources and to provide leadership and guidance to others. Tasks may include:

  • researching and applying techniques for application to spatial design strategy
  • designing timber structures
  • planning and coordinating product assembly
  • diagnosing and calculating production costs
  • installing and commissioning cnc software
  • identifying and producing estimated costs for building and construction projects
  • managing projects

Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture jobs are to manage team performance, deal with complex and non-routine difficulties, identify potential factors impacting on the effectiveness of the enterprise and develop strategies to manage organisational systems. Tasks may include:

  • managing quality customer service
  • managing personal work priorities and professional development
  • managing installation and commissioning of equipment
  • organising enterprise maintenance programs
  • managing product design
  • managing information management systems
  • managing operational plans

Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Design jobs are to deal with complex and non-routine difficulties, develop work plans, measure and maintain personal performance in varying work conditions, lead and manage continuous improvement systems and conduct formal and informal research. Tasks may include:

  • assessing product feasibility of designs
  • developing, trialling and evaluating prototypes
  • generating and transferring complex computer-aided drawings and specifications
  • managing product design
  • optimising Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operations
  • facilitating the development of a new product
  • facilitating continuous improvement
  • managing personal work priorities and professional development.

Forest and Forest Products - Saw Doctoring - Apprenticeships

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Updated 30 October 2020
Qualification FWP31019 Certificate III in Saw Technology
Terms of apprenticeship Full time:
  • 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
Probationary period 3 months

Forest and Forest Products - Wood Machining - Apprenticeship

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Updated 30 October 2020
Qualification FWP31119 Certificate III in Wood Machining
Term of apprenticeship Full time:
  • 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
Probationary period 3 months

Forest and Forest Products Forest and Forest Products - Traineeship

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Updated 17 August 2018
Qualification FWP50116 Diploma of Forest and Forest Products
Terms of traineeship Full time:
  • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
Part-time:
See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
Probationary period 3 months

Forest and Forest Products - Forest Operations - Traineeship

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Qualifications
Terms of traineeships Full time:
  • FWP20116 Certificate II in Forest Growing and Management
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP20216 Certificate II in Harvesting and Haulage
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30116 Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30116 Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management where the trainee holds FWP20116 Certificate II in Forest Growing and Management or the FWP20216 Certificate II in Harvesting and Haulage
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30116 Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management - 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds one of these:
    • FWP20136 Certificate II in Sawmilling and Processing
    • FWP20416 Certificate II in Wood Panel Products
    • FWP20516 Certificate II in Timber Manufactured Products
    • FWP20616 Certificate II in Timber Merchandising
    • FWP20716 Certificate II in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
  • FWP30216 Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30216 Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage where the trainee holds the FWP20116 Certificate II in Forest Growing and Management or FWP20216 Certificate II in harvesting and Haulage
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30216 Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage - 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds one of these:
    • FWP20316 Certificate II in Sawmilling and Processing
    • FWP20416 Certificate II in Wood Panel Products
    • FWP20516 Certificate II in Timber Manufactured Products
    • FWP20616 Certificate II in Timber Merchandising
    • FWP20716 Certificate II in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
  • FWP40116 Certificate IV in Forest Operations by direct entry
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP40116 Certificate IV in Forest Operations where the trainee holds the FWP30116 Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management or the FWP30216 Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
Part-time:
See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
School based The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days on-the-job training.
Probationary periods Where the nominal term is:
  • Up to and including 24 months - 2 months
  • Greater than 24 months - 3 months

Forest and Forest Products - Timber Processing - Traineeship

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Qualifications
Terms of traineeships Full time:
  • FWP20316 Certificate II in Sawmilling and Processing
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP20416 Certificate II in Wood Panel Products
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP20516 Certificate II in Timber Manufactured Products
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP20616 Certificate II in Timber Merchandising
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30316 Certificate III in Sawmilling and Processing by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30316 Certificate III in Sawmilling and Processing where the trainee holds the FWP20316 Certificate II in Sawmilling and processing
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30416 Certificate III in Wood Panel Products by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30416 Certificate III in Wood Panel Products where the trainee holds the FWP20416 Certificate II in Wood Panel Products
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30516 Certificate III in Timber Manufactured Products by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30516 Certificate III in Timber Manufactured Products where the trainee holds FWP20516 Certificate II in Timber Manufactured Products
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30616 Certificate III in Timber Merchandising by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30616 Certificate III in Timber Merchandising where the trainee holds FWP20616 Certificate II in Timber Merchandising
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP40216 Certificate IV in Timber Processing
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
Part-time:
See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
School based The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days on-the-job training.
Probationary periods Where the nominal term is:
  • Up to and including 24 months - 2 months
  • Greater than 24 months - 3 months

Forest and Forest Products - Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacturing - Traineeship

Vocational Training Order

Date of effect 14 June 2016
Updated 17 August 2018
Qualifications
Terms of traineeships Full time:
  • FWP20716 Certificate II in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30916 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP30916 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture where the trainee holds the FWP20716 Certificate II in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP40316 Certificate IV in Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP40316 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture where the trainee holds the FWP30916 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP40416 Certificate IV in Timber Truss and Frame Design
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP50216 Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture by direct entry
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP50216 Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture where the trainee holds the FWP40316 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Manufacture
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP50316 Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Design by direct entry
    • 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • FWP50316 Diploma of Timber Truss and Frame Design where the trainee holds the FWP40416 Certificate III in Timber Truss and Frame Design
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
School based FWP20716 Certificate II in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days on-the-job training.
Probationary periods Where the nominal term is:
  • Up to and including 24 months - 2 months
  • Greater than 24 months - 3 months
Page last updated: 30 October 2020