$1.1 million Toolbox funding focuses on sustainability and trades

April 20th, 2010 by swilson in Article, Resources, Training

Source: Flex-e news

With $1,100,000 of funding and support from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), seven new Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) that support the delivery of nationally endorsed training packages in critical industries will be developed in 2010.

Many of the Series 13 Toolboxes, to be developed by registered training organisations, will focus on providing customisable learning objects covering sustainability units. This is in line with the Australian Government’s National Green Skills Agreement which aims to embed green skills in all training packages over the next few years.

The 2010 Toolboxes will also have a strong trades focus, and are aligned with skills shortage areas as identified by Industry Skills Councils and Industry Training Advisory Boards.

Toolboxes are high quality, cost effective, interactive e-learning and assessment resources, designed to provide flexible and engaging support for learning on the job, in the classroom or in remote locations. They can be cheaply and easily customised to form complete training programs and meet individual learner requirements.

Series 13 Toolboxes are expected to be available from late 2010, either for purchase on CD-ROM through TVET Australia or as free, downloadable learning objects from the Toolbox Repository.

The new Toolboxes will be developed to support training in the following industry areas:

Plumbing

• Licensed to Plumb (Part II) will extend the Series 12 Licensed to Plumb Toolbox by supporting an additional three units from the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services, covering eight units in total. It will focus on core skills and knowledge for licensed plumbers including water, drainage, sanitary, gas, roofing and mechanical services.

Electrotechnology

• Harness the Sun will address three units from Certificate IV in Electrical (Photovoltaic Systems), a qualification required by licensed electricians to operate as accredited designers and installers of photovoltaic systems. This Toolbox will provide timely support for training in a high growth industry. Formerly a niche product, photovoltaic systems have gained national status as an environmentally friendly product, attracting an Australian Government rebate for businesses and individuals.
• Fresh or Freezing will support selected units from Certificate II, III and IV in Refrigeration and Air conditioning. This Toolbox supplements technical units with theoretical units addressing energy saving strategies and renewable energy concepts. This will help meet the industry’s growing demand for employees who understand how domestic and commercial appliances use energy.

Music

• Music Box will support the Certificate II in Music. The music industry is experiencing revolutionary change and requires employees who are skilled in working with new technologies. This Toolbox will address industry training needs to help cater for the shift towards multi-skilling and independent artist business models and the uptake of new technologies for the production and distribution of contemporary music.

Manufacturing

• Sustainable Manufacturing will support Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications in the Manufacturing Training Package. The process manufacturing sector is facing a number of challenges including a large number of highly experienced workers without formal qualifications and rising costs associated with sustainability. This Toolbox will provide a user-friendly and innovative form of learning to introduce experienced workers to a formal learning environment and effectively engage them in structured sustainability training.

Forestry

• Timber ‘Plus’ will extend the Series 12 Timber Toolbox, covering a total of nine competencies from the Forest and Forest Products Industry Training Package. The Toolbox will include more in-demand core units as well as sector-specific units relating to the timber manufactured products sector. This sector has a high demand for training resources for frame and truss makers, who account for the majority of the sector’s 38,000 workers.

Asset maintenance

• Squeak e-Clean will support the Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations). The learning objects in the Toolbox will be contextualised to relate directly to the knowledge, skills and activities covered in workplace inductions for the cleaning industry. The Toolbox will address the significant lack of high quality resources available to support learning and assessment for this qualification and provide flexible learning opportunities for asset maintenance workers, allowing them to complete practical training on-the-job.

Visit the Toolbox website to preview the Framework’s full range of Toolboxes. Alternatively, you can access learning objects from past Toolboxes for free through the Toolbox Repository.

Toolbox Champions operate in all states and territories and provide free advice, mentoring and professional development for practitioners using Toolboxes.
For more information about the Framework, its products, resources and support networks, contact: (07) 3307 4700, email: enquiries [at] flexiblelearning.net.au (replace at with @ to use the email address) or visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au