NECA's Alternative Pathways Project well underway

In response to the government’s ‘Australian Apprenticeship Program - Alternative Delivery Pilots’, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has developed the NECA 'Electrical Innovative Delivery and Pathways Project', which is referred to as the Alternative Pathways Project (APP).

NECA says that ongoing innovation and increased efficiency are essential to the success and relevancy of the electrical contractor sector and that the wealth of experience already embedded in the industry should be used to drive the design of adequate education and training.

The APP has been developed to test and evaluate essential elements of alternative delivery models and will operate Australia-wide over the next two years. It will be delivered across the electrical contractor sector via public and private training partners.

The association says that there are four core activity areas to be addressed:

1. Training relevance to industry need.
2. Training for new business opportunities.
3. Attracting new and diversified entrants.
4. Workplace support and effectiveness.

NECA has clarified its position in relation to a Certificate III in Electrotechnology as follows. It supports:

• Pre-apprenticeship programs to ensure sufficient numbers of literate and numerate applicants enter the industry.
• Courses that are a combination of on- and off-the-job training. These are underpinned by an agreement in a competency-based system where the training contract is formulated through discussion with the employer, apprentice and registered training organisation (RTO) and must meet the needs of all parties.
• The completion of ‘electrical work’ by employees with Certificate III qualifications and the relevant worker’s licence.
• Theory training taught as part of the Certificate III and that training must be taught by an RTO.
• Blended learning, facilitated by an RTO.

Furthermore, NECA does not support:

• Two-year apprenticeships
• Fully institutionalised training

The association says it is committed to retaining the on- and off-the-job training rigour under the current system to ensure that training outcomes are appropriate for obtaining a licence under electrical safety legislation to safeguard workers and the community.

For further information on APP,  the specific programs that will be developed and trialled, as well as the core activity areas which underpin these programs, visit the NECA website here.