Advice and Instructions

Inspection and Report Requests on Trade Recognition Applications by the Vocational Training Tribunal or the Appeal Panel

Issued: 1 April 2003

Section 37 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act, 2001 (A&T Act) provides that the Vocational Training Tribunal (VTT) is responsible for the assessment of applications for the recognition of a person’s qualifications or experience in a particular declared trade.

In assessing an application the VTT must be satisfied that the applicant has been adequately trained to pursue that trade by considering:

• the length of time the applicant has been working in the trade,
• the training received by the applicant in the trade,
• the qualifications, relevant to the trade, held by the applicant

To assist in the assessment of an application the VTT may require the applicant to undergo a trade test or may require that the application is investigated at the applicant’s place of work.

Similarly the Appeal Panel, in exercising its functions under Part 5 of the A&T Act, may stand over a matter of appeal against a decision by the VTT pending the outcome of such a test or investigation.

Custom and practice has been for the VTT or the Appeal Panel to request that an Industry Training Advisor investigate and report on an applicant’s skills and experience where evidence indicates the applicant/appellant is currently working in the trade.

In order to provide an accurate report on of the applicant’s trade skills Industry Training Coordinators, whenever possible, should allocate requests for investigation of an applicant’s trade skills and competencies to Industry Training Advisors who have the background in the particular trade or general knowledge of the industry applied for.

The relevant Industry Trade Skills and Competencies check list should be utilised by the investigating officer to support his/her report.

The checklist should outline the applicant’s skills and competencies and identify the process undertaken to confirm these:

• Observation of the applicant performing the task
• Verification by employer, supervisor or workplace assessor of applicant’s level of competence
• Validation of documents supporting the applicant’s qualifications

As with all other matters reported to the VTT or the Appeal Panel these reports should include a recommendation by the investigating officer and an endorsement by the ITC if he/she is different to the investigating officer.

To assist the VTT or Appeal Panel to make timely determinations on applications/appeals, prompt attention to matters referred is necessary.

In the interest of quality client service the VTT and Appeal Panel requires any matter referred for investigation to be completed and returned within 30 days of referral. If this time requirement cannot be met, the file is to be returned to the VTT or the Panel, with covering advice setting out the reasons for delay.

If an application is lodged directly with an Industry Training Centre and an investigation and report on the applicant’s trade skills is considered to be of assistance to the VTT in its determination, the investigation should be undertaken, in accordance with the above requirements, and a report prepared to be forwarded to the VTT with the application.

For any enquiries regarding these training arrangements, please contact the Vocational Training Tribunal on (02) 9266 8450.