Written by Kat Welsh
Andrew Jones and Renika Muthaya, from purple infinity, are midway through building the Introduction to Timber Systems Design (online pre-employment program). And they need the sector’s assistance.
Andrew has been presenting updates on the process at the FTMA State Seminars this year, and from the manufacturers that have attended so far, the interest in the project is immense.
What we need though is to involve as many manufacturers as possible, to build this course into something that collectively represents the frame and truss sector.
“It just makes the course far more inclusive when you’ve involved so many people in the development of it,” said Andrew.
Introduction to Timber Systems Design
This self-paced online learning program is being developed for people who want to work as timber systems designers in the timber frame and truss industry.
It is a pre-employment program, which means it is a training program that people undertake ‘before’ they gain employment. It has been designed to prepare people for work in the timber frame and truss industry.
Learners who complete the program will have attained seven of the thirteen units that make up the Certificate III in Timber Systems Design.
Why Be Involved?
The course is typifying the sector for frame and truss manufacturers. This is an opportunity to have a presence that will standardise skill recognition, get more training on the curriculum, and encourage more people into the sector. Often the sector’s pool of employees come from smaller family businesses, or people coming into it per chance. The traditional issue frame and truss faces is not being seen as a career pathway – many careers advisors don’t know about it, nor advertise it – it’s not on their radar.
The Timber Systems Design course will help put the sector on the map. Having it online will open it up nationally, and not narrow access to the 2 states where our current RTOs are located. Given there are frame and truss manufacturers in every state, this will assist in preparing more potential employees who will be ready to hit the floor running in systems designing roles. It also gives participants the ability to study at their own pace, when it suits them.
“When Forestworks asked us to undertake this work, one of the key aims was for the course to serve as a career pathway into the timber frame and truss sector, because at the moment there isn’t one. And so that’s what we were trying to do. We hope that an engaging online course will attract people into the sector. We’re hoping to create an exciting career pathway into a sector that students may not have heard about… one that’s really interesting; one that’s got a design focus, one that involves specialist software.”
What’s Needed?
Here’s what is needed from manufacturers to assist in developing the training, and how you can contribute to the future skills development for the sector.
Industry Images
Strong visual content will make the online program more engaging for learners.
We need images that capture ‘a typical day in the life’ of a timber systems designer, including:
- wall frames, flooring systems and roofing systems
- drawings, plans and layouts (generic, with no proprietary content)
- technology (e.g. computers, drawing/take off/estimating software)
- PPE (e.g. safety helmets, hearing protection, eye protection, hi-vis clothing)
- communication equipment (e.g. mobiles, site-specific comms)
- standards and regulations (e.g. AS1684; AS1720; AS4440)
Industry Videos
We also need short targeted videos, including:
- walk-through footage of design plans (3D modelling software)
- time lapse footage of residential house builds
- career videos (see below)
- topical videos (see below)
Career Videos
30 second videos of timber systems designers talking about their job using the following script:
Hi, my name is ###, and I’m a timber systems designer.
I started out in the industry as a ### (Did they start in the factory, or in other roles? If they started as a designer, they should just say how long they have been in the job).
The thing I enjoy most about my job is ###
Topical Videos
30 to 60 second videos of timber systems designers talking about the following:
- AS1684 Residential timber-framed construction
- AS4440 Installation of nail plated timber roof trusses
- AS1720 Timber structures
- National Construction Code
Example of a Career Video – from Maddy Charlton, Timber Systems Designer, at AAA Advanced Trusses
The training is due to be completed before the end of the year, and we encourage frame and truss manufacturers to please be involved in this important step for our sector. This is recognition of our collective industry.
For further information, including more details on what to include, and scripts for the videos
contact Andrew Jones on E. mailto:andrew@purpleinfinity.com.au P. 0408 355 593
purple infinity was established in 2006 as an innovative educational consultancy with a key focus on vocational education and training (VET).
Our Services
organisational evaluation
training product development
learning resource development
educational and workforce skill research
Our Design Capacity
we design training products and learning resources, we gather, analyse and evaluate learning content. We consolidate and present learning content to a variety of audiences and prepare educational and skill reports for a variety of audiences.
Andrew Jones
Senior Planning Officer (Tasmanian Office of Vocational Education and Training
Curriculum Consultant (Tasmanian Department of Vocational Education and Training)
Renika Muthaya
Economics and Research Coordinator (Australian Industry Group)
Project Officer (Innovation and Business Skills Australia)
Project Officer (Australian National Training Authority)
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