WITC Training Information - Click here to download our training handbook.

Operator Training

Aims of the Certificates II, III and IV in Water Operations
The Certificates II, III and IV in Water Operations aim to provide operations personnel with skills and knowledge required to work efficiently and effectively in one or more of the following areas:

• Municipal and Industrial Water Treatment
• Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment

A similarly important aim of the course is to ensure that a high standard of Occupational Health and Safety practice is maintained and promoted within the Water Industry.

Structure of the Training
Training modules (courses) are mapped to relevant Units of Competency in the Water Training Package. These modules are designed to be vocationally relevant and need not be completed in a specific sequence. This means they can be undertaken as required and/or when available.

Core modules are compulsory and must be completed in order to qualify for the award of a Certificate.

To complete Qualification you will need to have been awarded-

• Statements of Attainment for the appropriate Core Units of Competency

and

• the required number and level of elective Units of Competency according to the Training Package qualification rules.

The assessment criteria may consist of a combination of written tests, demonstration of skills in hands-on training both on and off-the-job (eg. laboratory, field exercises) and provision of relevant Workplace Evidence.

Assessing and Evaluating the Student
Apart from the formal assessment, trainers may choose to use other techniques to ascertain students' progress and discover learning difficulties. This might apply particularly to those activities which are part of the student's normal classroom and/or work activities, for example, classroom discussion, practical exercises, diagnostic tests.

Students will be informed of assessment requirements at the commencement of each module.

To successfully complete each module or unit of competency, students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of all general objectives to a level described by the assessment guidelines for the Water Training Package.

Selecting the Units of Competency
The particular selection of modules will depend on the type of work that a prospective student does, or anticipates being involved in. It is anticipated that a number of students will not wish to complete the minimum requirements for the award of the Certificate, but rather to undertake a limited range of relevant modules for their particular job requirements. Consultation should occur between prospective course participants and Water Industry Training Centre staff to ensure that an appropriate selection of modules are undertaken. Stream related Training Plans to assist in this process are available on request. The Training Handbook provides details of the range of modules that are available.

Duration of Training
It is anticipated that those students intending to complete the Certificate would do so over a period of some 1 to 3 years. Water businesses wishing to accelerate the training provided for staff may of course plan a program to ensure completion of the Certificate within a shorter time.

Training Facilities to Support Courses

Laboratory
The Centre has a well equipped laboratory, with a range of up-to-date scientific equipment required to perform routine process monitoring of water and wastewater treatment plants. The Centre upgrades the laboratory equipment and process monitoring procedures in line with current industry standards.

Disinfection
Trainees gain hands-on experience at correctly operating disinfection equipment. Breathing apparatus and other safety equipment are used to demonstrate routine change over procedures for gaseous chlorine cylinders.

Technical Short Courses

Basic Water and Wastewater for Engineers/Scientists
A five day course for engineers and scientists, outlining the general principles and practices of water and wastewater treatment. This course is based on the Water and Wastewater Treatment technical modules.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

Key Terms In Training

Registered Training Organisation

The Water Industry Training Centre is a "Registered Training Organisation" (RTO) which has the Water Training Package (NWP07) in its Scope of Registration.

This registration and authority are administered by the Victorian Qualifications Authority however, under the terms of the Training Package, the Centre is recognised to deliver training in other Australian States.

Water Training Package

The Water Training Package is the formal basis for the training activity of the centre. This package consists of three "endorsed" features: National Competency Standards, Assessment Guidelines,and Australian Qualification Framework.

The content and assessment provisions of this package are based on the competent performance of work related skills together with the knowledge required to underpin these skills. The Water Industry Training Centre continues to develop training material to satisfy the requirements of selected units of competency in the National Package.

A computer based Student Record System is used to provide accurate and accessible student training records and progress reports.

Delivery Options

There are different options for delivering training as follows:

Flexible training delivery
There are two broad approaches to the Centre's training-

1. Group Studies - block release typically 2-5 days. Delivered at the Water Industry Training Centre, Geelong or On-site in regional locations should there be sufficient local demand.
2. Individual Studies. Distance delivery is available for selected units of competency. Self paced learning. Flexible delivery enables the trainee to use these approaches both on and off the job to suit the requirements of themselves and their employer. Flexibility exists for trainees to change their mode of study as required

Methods of delivery and assessment
The successful completion of a unit of competency consist of three elements:

• Underpinning Knowledge
• Practical skills
• Workplace Evidence

Enrolling in a single module
Enrollments are accepted into individual modules which are mapped to unit/s of competency within the Water Training Package.

Packaging modules to suit
Any organisation or regional group wishing to discuss content and delivery strategies should contact the Water Industry Training Centre.