About ForestWorks Tasmania Branch

ForestWorks Tasmania, in addition to a wide range of SET project activities, oversees the operation of the Tasmanian forest industry operator licence system, administers an industry database, supports registered assessors and manages forest industry standards and accreditation committees.

The principle activities are based around the Skills Enhancement and Training (SET) Project which was originally a Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) funded project originating as part of the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement following the 2004 Federal election.

ForestWorks Tasmania also administers the Tasmanian Forest Operators Assessment and Licensing Scheme on behalf of the Tasmanian Forest Industries Training Board (TFITB).

SET Project

The aim of the project is to work closely with the various industry sectors and training providers to develop more sustainable skills solutions than currently exist. This includes improvements to training availability, communication of training demand, development of training support systems and careers promotional activities aimed at both young people and adults seeking to change careers or re-enter the workforce.

A steering committee, comprising both national and state based stakeholders, provides direction for the project and through an industry consultative process have identified a number of priority activities.

SET Priorities

Product Care, Log Grading and Basic Forest Practices training including skills recognition for existing and new employees in the forest harvesting and haulage sector integrated with the Industry TFITB Licensing System
The availability of employment and training pathways for process operators to meet the needs of the two rotary peeling veneer mills in the south and north west of the State.
The availability of employment and skill development pathways systems for training the operational staff for the proposed pulp mill.
Available flexible training for workplace based trainers and assessors, to allow for greater in-house training and assessing to the national standards, supported by an assessor network to provide validation and moderation.
VET in school programs to provide new entrants to all sectors of the industry.
Training of sawmill operators resulting from the move to smaller diameter sawlogs and the inherent technical demands in handling and sawing such logs and the drying, grading and machining of the timber produced.
Quantification of training delivery and formal assessment to enterprises in Tasmania including the funding source of training and assessment activities.
Discussions and participation in processes that lead to improved skill development opportunities and employment outcomes for indigenous persons in Tasmania.

Initiatives that will be considered later in the project timelines by the steering committee:

A. Mechanical harvesting skills training (feller buncher, processor, forwarder), to meet the existing skills shortage and projected increased skills shortage, brought about by the rapidly increasing percentage of wood being sourced from plantation grown forests and the thinning of regrowth native forests.

B. Information to enable operators to adapt to variable aggregated retention harvesting (ARH)

C. An increase in applications for Graduate Forester and Technical Forester to meet the demands caused by falling enrolments and the increased planning and supervision required by modern forest practices and changing silvicultural practices.

D. Supervisor training to enable better management of requirements for product quality, traceability, environmental care and human resource management.

Tasmanian Forest Operators Assessment and Licensing Scheme

In 2007 the Tasmanian Forest Industries Training Board (TFITB) took the decision to streamline their activities by delegating most of their activities to ForestWorks. As well as the day to day processes of issuing operator licences and administering the industry database, ForestWorks Licensing Standards Officer, Debbie Tickner and the Licensing Administration Officers, Fiona Lucas and Sandra Hodge are involved in introducing an improved system of quality training and assessment, that links licensing outcomes to national Training Package qualifications and providing more support and professional development opportunities for TFITB registered assessors.

Additional activities include management of the Tasmanian Forest Industries Safety Standards Committee and the Tasmanian Forest Industry Accreditation Committee and sub committees.

An industry representative group provides direction to the overall activities of the licensing work through a Specialist Reference Group.