The Today Group’s Industry Today publication and the Central Queensland Industry Collaborative (CQIC) are strong supporters of the Apprentices and Trainees Queensland’s Precast Employment Pathways Program (PEPP).
This program dovetails nicely addressing one of the five main issues identified by the CQIC – skill and labour shortages in Central Queensland, specifically relating to the Rockhampton Ring Road Project.
The following report comes courtesy of Apprentices and Trainees Queensland:
An analysis of the Rockhampton Ring Road Project (RRR) and the Capricornia supply chain recognised a local supply shortfall of precast concrete.
The local supply chain includes a group of precast concrete manufacturers, and the result of this analysis identified a lack of skilled precast concrete labour.
As a result, Apprentices and Trainees Queensland have identified a suitable training project to meet the demand of the RRR.
ATQLD is a 37-year-old business specialising in developing people through traineeships and apprenticeships, with services covering the entire lifecycle of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
The service ranges from workforce analysis, recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, training to successful completion and everything in between.
Further details on our services can be found at www.atqld.com.au
The Rockhampton Ring Road Project is a joint Queensland and Australian Federal Government project delivered by the Queensland Governments Department of Transport and Main Roads. The
project involves the construction of 14.7km of road linking the Bruce Highway, bypassing the city of Rockhampton.
– No. Cast in place piles 138 each
– 205,000m3 excavation (all general types)
– 52,000 tonnes of heavy and medium-duty asphalt
– 101,000m2 of bridge deck area
– 4200m of concrete pipes and culverts
– 83,000m3 Precast concrete items such as piles/girders
– 33,200m steel guardrail, road furniture and concrete barriers
– 923,000ltrs Bitumen Surfacing/C170 or Polymer Modified Binder
There are three local precast concrete suppliers Humes, Stresscrete and ARC.
The three businesses are established Rockhampton suppliers of manufactured concrete products to the Central Queensland Region. To meet the precast concrete demand of the RRR Project, the three companies will need to work together and increase their output.
The current capacity of the group to meet the anticipated demand of the RRR Project is 30 per cent A review of the three facilities, identified a common restriction to growth, labour shortage with precast concrete experience.
Further, the group anticipates the following risks of manufacturing the precast concrete locally:
– Labour and/or skills shortages
– Losing existing workforce to the RRR Project
– Availability of high tolerance Rio to meet the demand
– Ability to meet the current and forecast projects demand
A tailored training pathway will upskill the local Rockhampton labour force to meet the forecast demand of the RRR Project. This training initiative will be capable of producing up to 96 graduates each year.
Further, the graduates with this training and work experience will be employable in the precast concrete manufacture, RRR Project, other construction projects, or related industries.
Furthermore, research shows 57.3%1 of graduates’ will progress to a trade (Certificate III Level) such as concreting, steel fixing, carpentry, bricklaying, cabinetry, or wall and floor tiling.
Following a review of the three precast concrete suppliers with the skilled labour shortage, training package Certificate II in Construction Pathways (CPC20220) is the ideal pathway to upskill the local
labour force. This qualification is designed to introduce learners to the recognised trade callings in the construction industry and provide meaningful credit in the construction industry Australian
Apprenticeship. The qualification has core units of competency requirements necessary in most Certificate III qualifications.
The elective options are structured to allow choice from areas of trade skills as an introduction to a range of occupations.
The following units of competence are identified as ideal units for the group of companies, trainees and future employers.
– CPCCOM1012 Work effectively and sustainably in the Construction Industry
– CPCCOM1013 Plan and organise work
– CPCCOM1015 Carry out measurements and calculations
– CPCCVE1011 Undertake a basic construction project
– CPCCWHS2001 Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the Construction Industry
– CPCCJN3100 Process materials to produce components using static machines.
– MEM05050 Perform routine gas metal arc welding.
– MEM13015 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering.
– MEM16006 Organise and communicate information