Welcome

1. Welcome • Duration - 1.5 to 2hours • Content • STRC Background & Committee • STRC update • Skills and Training Guideline • Overseas ESI Workers • Authorisations / Network Access • National Licensing • Blue Book / Green Book • Administration • Emergency evacuation • Toilets • Adam Beel • Adam Beel • Pam O’Neill • Chris Websdale • Mark Andrews • Adam Beel • Chris Websdale

2. Skills & Training Reference Committee In September 2008, the VESI established the Skills & Training Reference Committee to: • stipulate the requirements for Qualifications, Training & Authorisations • demonstrate how the participating Companies are meeting their Regulatory obligations of ensuring persons operating or maintaining its network assets have qualifications, proficiency and experience to safely perform their function • agree to VESI Passport for entry into the Australian ESI Skills Passport • represent the VESI at appropriate Victorian & National forums.

3. Skills & Training Reference Committee • The committee consists of representatives from the Vic Distribution Companies and Transmission Company:

4. Updates • UET12 ESI – Transmission Distribution and Rail Sector Training Package • Anticipated endorsement February 2012 • New and updated Qualifications, Competency Standard Units and Essential Knowledge and Skills (EKAS) • Refresher units have been updated • National Asset Inspection Qualification created (based on VIC qual) • Vegetation Control – update to qualification • Refer to the EE-Oz website for details • Training providers are to ensure they comply with all changes to the package and refresher units and update there scope of registration where applicable

5. Updates • VESI Skills & Training guideline and Matrix updated in December 2011 • Training matrix will be in a downloadable format for a specific job role/s and can be used as a companies employee training matrix and/or to complete a training needs analysis • Apprentice Supervision guidelines have been updated

6. Skills and Training Guideline Renamed and re - formatted the original Electricity Network Operator Training & Assessment Requirements document to the VESI skills and Training Guideline • Incorporation of requirements for: - • the VESI Skills and training matrix • Skills and Training Matrix Role Descriptors • Qualifications and Licencing / Registration • Training Frequency

7. Skills and Training Guideline • Reviewed and revised training modules • Added CSU Working safely near live electrical apparatus as non-electrical worker - UETTDREL04B • Revised Live Low Voltage (LV) Work - Cable Jointing training module to align with other live low voltage work modules

8. Skills and Training Matrix • Updated the VESI Skills and Training matrix to include: • New roles for Communications worker, Rigger, Trade Assistant and Vegetation Tree climber • CSU UETTDREL04B - Working Safely near live electrical apparatus as non electrical worker • Notes 10 – 14 to clarify roles and training requirements • First aid equivalence given for CPR & First Aid in an ESI environment (yearly) if Apply First Aid (HLTFA301B) (3 yearly) has been completed in the same year

9. Worker Role descriptions • The roles identified in the VESI Skills and Training Matrix are commonly used in the VESI. The descriptions of the roles are identified in the Skills and Training Guideline.

10. Training Compliance • All employers to ensure that the training providers they have engaged comply with the VESI Skills and Training guideline • Training providers ensure that they are training to the VESI Skill and training guideline and they are meeting the requirements of the network operator • All Training and Authorisation requirements shall be current at all times as per the VESI Skills and Training matrix • Expired training and Authorisations shall result in no Network access

11. Training Compliance • Update ESI passport data base for change in job role or when an employee leaves • Trainer qualifications shall be updated for all VESI trainers to the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment qualification by July 2013 to align with the determination by the National Skills Standards Council

12. Overseas ESI Workers • Increasing capital works in the Electricity Supply Industry across both Transmission and Distribution Networks • New labour markets have been sought to fill labour shortages in critical trades • Overseas qualifications may not meet AQF standards and gap training will be required to be awarded an Australian qualification by an RTO

13. Overseas ESI Workers • The VESI Skills & Training Reference Committee (STRC) have established a guideline to assist in the process of engaging overseas trained workers to undertake works on VESI networks. • http://www.vesi.com.au/skillsandtraining

14. Overseas ESI Workers • This Guideline applies to overseas trained workers from the 1 July 2011 in the following categories:

15. Overseas Trained Worker process flow • Outlines the ESI employer, Overseas Worker, RTO and Network Operator process

16. Authorisations • The Green Book stipulates the Authorisation requirements and processes for work on or near VESI networks. • Authorisations include: • Authority to Receive Access Permits • Authority to Operate – Distribution • Authority to Enter Enclosures • Authority to Make Application for • Authority to Receive Sanction for Testing • The Authorisations may have a restriction / endorsement placed on them by the issuing Network Operator e.g. geographical or itemised plant

17. Network Access – HV Switching • No person may undertake any work on the VESI networks unless they have been issued a relevant Authority from the Network operator you are undertaking work for (if required) • The Victorian Electricity Supply Industry (VESI) High Voltage Switching Authority Classes are agreed HV Switching classifications which are mutually recognised between Network Operators. • Where necessary, inductions may be undertaken by a Network Operator.

18. Network Access – HV Switching • VESI has 6 types of HV Operating Authority: • Restricted Switching Overhead (RSO) • Distribution Switching Overhead (DSO) • Distribution Switching (DS) • Zone Substation Switching (ZSS) • Terminal Switching Feeders (TSF) • Terminal Switching (TS) • Restricted Switching Overhead (RSO) • Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: • Distribution overhead and ground type substations, spur and SWER lines and associated apparatus excluding metal enclosed switchgear and the underground Network • Zone Substation Switching (ZSS) • Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: • All Sub Transmission and Distribution apparatus within zone substations Terminal Switching Feeders (TSF) Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: All Distribution controlled feeder apparatus in Terminal Stations • Distribution Switching Overhead (DSO) • Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: • All Distribution overhead field apparatus excluding metal enclosed switchgear and the underground network. • Distribution Switching (DS) • Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: • All Distribution field apparatus, including metal enclosed switchgear and the underground network. Terminal Switching (TS) Authorised to carry out high voltage switching, earthing and issue electrical access authorities on: All Transmission and Sub-Transmission apparatus in Terminal Stations

19. Network Access - Forms • The following Network Access forms are mutually agreed by the Victorian Electricity Supply Industry (VESI) to ensure consistency across all Network Operators. • VESI access forms are to be utilised across all networks and are not to be altered in any way • Forms can be found on the VESI website http://www.vesi.com.au/

20. National Licensing • The National Occupational Licensing System (NOLS) is being developed to remove licensing inconsistencies across state and territory borders and provide for a more mobile workforce. • Its primary aim is that licence holders will be able to perform work in any state or territory with a single national licence. • Initially, four occupational areas will be covered by the NOLS: • electrical, • plumbing and gas fitting, • refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics and; • property occupations.

21. National Licensing • Interim Advisory Committees (IAC’s) were established to provide policy advice to the COAG National Licensing Steering Committee in the development of national licensing for each occupational area. • The Electrical Occupations IAC (EOIAC) has met on a number of occasions to develop a series of proposals in relation to: • licence categories, scopes of work and licence types and; • eligibility requirements, both skills based and non-skill based. • The Occupational Licensing National Law Bill was passed by Victoria’s upper house on Friday 17 September 2010

22. National Licensing • The Law provides the flexibility where it may be necessary to apply exemptions, endorsements, restrictions, conditions and directions to a licence category or an individual licence • The new National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) will be based in Sydney • A CEO will be appointed and applications have closed • Draft regulations and accompanying Consultation Regulation Impact Statements (RISs) for each occupational area will be released for public comment in the first half of 2012. • The public will have 6 weeks to make comments on the proposals at this time. • The draft regulations and the RISs will be made available at http://nola.gov.au/

23. National Licensing - Categories • Electrician • Electrical Fitter • Electrical Transmission Lineworker • Electrical Distribution Lineworker • Electrical Rail Traction Lineworker • Electrical Cable Jointer • Electrical Inspector (currently VIC TAS only) • The EOIAC members have envisaged a single electrical contractor licence and that the applicant would need to provide a technical nominee for the different areas of electrical work they wish to contract for

24. National Licensing - Eligibility • Eligibility will be based on the qualifications or skill sets from the national training packages • A Certificate III level qualification has been identified as appropriate for an electrician, electrical fitter, electrical cable jointer and the three categories of electrical Lineworker. • COAG have established a “no disadvantage” principle that will allow current licence holders to transition to the new system • Workers who do not hold a relevant (AQF) qualification and are working where a licence is not required may face difficulties becoming licensed. • Applicants in this situation will meet eligibility requirements through support from their employer and/or host network operator and their Australian ESI Skills Passport.

25. Blue Book and Green Book Update • Blue book – Out for public comment • Energy Safe Victoria - Home Page • Written comments on the draft Code are invited and should be sent to Loc Vuong, Energy Safe Victoria, PO Box 262, Collins Street West VIC 8007 or emailed to lvuong@esv.vic.gov.au no later than 5pm on 20 February 2012. • Major changes include but not limited to; • SADS Special distance now 450mm for up to & including 22kV • Reference to Arc Flash protective clothing • Training – reference to National Competency Standards • Annual authorisation review – now current for the task being performed 25

26. Blue Book and Green Book Update • Green Book review • Review commenced in November 2011 • Proposed new format and structure • Proposed timeline for initial comment July 2012 • Publication late 2012 26

27. Green Book update

28. Upcoming events/Projects • EE-Oz training package implementation Breakfast 6th March • Review of Plant & Equipment training and timeframes • Align current Live Line rules training modules for Live Work Pole Replacement for Crane Borer Operators and Live Line work for Vegetation management • Align VESI training matrix / modules to the new National Units e.g. Servicing procedures • Standardisation of authorities across networks