CIB - 742 Electricity Supply Industry - apprenticeships and traineeships

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET30621 - Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead

Terms of apprenticeship

Full-time:

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET30821 - Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Underground

Terms of apprenticeship

Full time:

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET30721 - Certificate III in ESI - Rail Traction

Terms of apprenticeship

Full-time:

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET30521 - Certificate III in ESI - Transmission Overhead

Terms of apprenticeship

Full-time:

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET20621 - Certificate II in ESI - Asset Inspection and Testing

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
31 March 2023

Qualification

UET40422 - Certificate IV in ESI - Network Systems

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

There is no direct entry to UET40422 - Certificate IV in ESI - Network Systems.

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

For a person to enter UET40422 - Certificate IV in ESI - Network Systems they must hold a Certificate III in an electrical trade qualification or equivalent and is authorised to work on the distributors network.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
31 March 2023

Qualification

UET60222 - Advanced Diploma of ESI - Power Systems

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

There is no direct entry into UET60222- Advanced Diploma of ESI - Power Systems.

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds a Certificate IV in an electrical supply industry or Certificate IV in an allied electrical trade qualification and is authorised to work on the distributors network.
• 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds a Certificate III in an electrical supply industry or Certificate III in an allied electrical trade qualification and is authorised to work on the distributors network.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Qualification

UET20321 - Certificate II in ESI - Powerline Vegetation Control

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
21 March 2023

Qualification

UET40522- Certificate IV in ESI – Substations*

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

There is no direct entry to UET40522 - Certificate IV in ESI - Substations.

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds a Certificate III in an electrical trade qualification and may also be required to be authorised to work on the distributors network.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
29 October 2021

Updated
31 March 2023

Qualification

UET20422- Certificate II in Transmission Line Construction

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Jobs supported by ESI - Distribution Overhead apprenticeships consist of:

• installing, maintaining and inspecting poles, structures and associated hardware used on poles and structures
• installing and maintaining electrical equipment, conductors and cables used in the powerline industry
• stringing overhead lines and cables
• using support plant and equipment to undertake these tasks in an environmentally concerned fashion.

Jobs supported by ESI - Distribution Underground apprenticeships consist of:

• installing underground cables and associated equipment for the distribution and rail industry
• the laying, installation and maintenance of de-energised Low Voltage (LV) and High Voltage (HV) underground polymeric cables
• the laying, installation and maintenance of energised cables and or LV and HV paper insulted cables
• the installation and maintenance of electrical equipment.

Jobs supported by ESI - Rail Traction apprenticeships consist of:

• the installation, maintenance and inspection of overhead poles/structures, conductors and cables and rail traction wiring systems including associated equipment used on these structures
• the installation and maintenance of the overhead traction configuration
• the installation and maintenance of bonds as well as the operation of the rail traction height access equipment
• stringing overhead lines and cables associated with the trams and trains.

Jobs supported by ESI Transmission Overhead apprenticeships consist of:

• installing, repairing and maintaining high voltage overhead lines and cables carrying electricity to domestic, commercial and industrial users and electric train services
• operate plant and equipment near live electrical conductors/apparatus
• install and maintain poles/structures and associated hardware
• inspect overhead structures and electrical apparatus (towers).

Jobs for traineeships in ESI - Assets Inspection and Testing support managing assets in capital intensive industries such as power transmission and inspecting and maintaining the assets in remote places, in accordance with local government legislation and industry guidelines and codes of practice.

Duties may include:

• complying with sustainability, environmental and incidental response policies and procedures
• working safely near live electrical apparatus as a non-electrical worker
• operating asset inspection plant, machinery and equipment near live electrical apparatus
• inspecting and treat poles and inspection of electrical apparatus
• identifying and interpreting characteristics of electrical apparatus associated with power industry assets

Jobs supported by ESI  - Network Systems traineeship consist of:

• performing work on network systems in the specific fields of:
  • live line transmission,
  • live line distribution,
  • live line rail traction, and/or
  • installation and maintenance of specialised underground cables
• encompassing undertaking specialised work in a prescribed area(s), such as:
  • distribution high voltage live line
  • transmission live line
  • specialised cable
  • switching
  • testing

May also include:

• leading or supervising work teams
• carrying out work in transmission, distribution, rail or cable jointing

Jobs supported by ESI - Power Systems traineeship consist of:

• performing specialised work in a prescribed specialisation area, such as one of the following:
  • design and drafting 
  • design 
  • system operations distribution 
  • system operations transmission 
  • protection (testing) 
  • protection and metering (testing)

Jobs supported by ESI - Powerline Vegetation Control traineeships consist of:

• preparing assessment control measures that encompass job safety assessment
• identifying broad environmental values of sites, potential hazards
• implementing consultation and notification processes associated with sites and categorisation of sites as per legislative and regulatory codes
• assessing trees for defects and hazards prior to climbing, preparation of climbing equipment and understand aerial emergency rescue procedures.

Jobs supported by ESI – Substations traineeship consist of:

• selecting, installing, setting up, testing, inspecting, fault finding, repairing and maintaining electrical systems within substations
• switching, maintaining circuit breakers and transformers, and diagnosing and rectifying faults

May also include:

• skills involving high current direct current (d.c.) switchgear and equipment
• installation of high voltage (HV) plant and equipment and/or
• the maintenance and commissioning of discrete protection and control systems.

Jobs supported by ESI - Transmission Line Construction traineeship whilst under supervision consist of:

• assembling transmission structures
• assembling and installing hardware
• stringing transmission overhead conductors prior to being tensioned and terminated
• reinstating transmission towers
• performing basic dogging and rigging work
• performing basic excavation work.

UETr5.0 Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector Training Package includes the following qualifications that support the apprenticeship and traineeship pathways:

Apprenticeships

• UET30521 - Certificate III in ESI - Transmission Overhead
• UET30621 - Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead
• UET30721 - Certificate III in ESI - Rail Traction
• UET30821 - Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Underground

Traineeships

• UET20321 - Certificate II in ESI - Powerline Vegetation Control
• UET20422- Certificate II in Transmission Line Construction
• UET20621 - Certificate II in ESI - Asset Inspection and Testing
• UET40422- Certificate IV in ESI - Network Systems 
• UET40522- Certificate IV in ESI – Substations
• UET60222- Advanced Diploma of ESI - Power Systems  

On successful completion of the relevant qualification

• parties may apply to the Commissioner for Vocational Training for completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship prior to the nominal completion date of the training contract or;
• Training Services may issue letters from the Commissioner to both parties inviting them to consider competency based completion if it has received advice from the training organisation that the apprentice or trainee is eligible to receive their qualification.

Download a Request for Competency Based Completion form.

To undertake the UET40522 Certificate IV in ESI – Substations traineeship, a trainee must hold:

• a current Electrician licence or its equivalent issued in an Australian state or territory

or

• Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician qualification or the equivalent issued in an Australian state or territory (see note below)
  Note: UET40522 Certificate IV in ESI – Substations can be undertaken in conjunction with the entry requirement qualification listed above as long as the following conditions are met:
  • must be permitted within jurisdictional training and regulatory requirements;
  • at least one third of the total units of competency required for completion of the entry requirement qualification must be met prior to commencing the Certificate IV in ESI – Substations; and,
  • the Certificate III entry requirement qualification must be successfully completed prior to issuing the Certificate IV in ESI – Substations.

There is no direct entry into the following two qualifications:

• UET40422 - Certificate IV in ESI - Network Systems
• UET60222 - Advanced Diploma of ESI - Power Systems

The skills and knowledge described within the units in these qualifications may require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace.
Additional and/or other conditions may also apply under state and territory legislative and regulatory licensing requirements which must be confirmed prior to commencing these qualifications.

Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish an apprenticeship or traineeship, whether full-time, part-time or school based will not be approved unless the Commissioner for Vocational Training is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Apprentices and trainees may be employed under the following awards:

• Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020
• Electrical Power Industry Award 2020
• Rail Industry Award 2020

All private sector employers and employees in New South Wales are covered by the national industrial relations system administered by the Fair Work Commission (the Commission). The industrial instrument that applies is a national (modern) award or a current enterprise agreement registered with the Commission. Further information is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman by telephoning 13 13 94 or via their website.

EE-Oz Training Standards publishes information about careers in the electrotechnology industry on its website.

There are a number of licensing requirements for the Electricity Supply Industry in NSW. Further information on current licensing criteria is available from NSW Fair Trading by telephoning 13 32 20 or via their website.

UET40522 Certificate IV in ESI Substations may be able to obtain a qualified Supervisors Certificate - Electrical upon completion of their traineeship. The applicant must satisfy certain criteria established by the NSW Fair Trading at the time of application to be granted a licence.

For registered training providers that can deliver the apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications go to training.gov.au.

A list of training organisations in contract with the NSW Department of Education to be paid for the delivery of the training is here.

When developing Training Plans, registered training providers should ensure that the training program satisfies the qualification packaging requirements and at the same time, reflects the nature of the business. Training Plans should be customised so that workplace activities support and align with the qualification units of competency.

From 1 January 2015 the NSW Government introduced new fee arrangements for government subsidised vocational education and training (VET). Under Smart and Skilled, all apprenticeship and most traineeship qualifications are subsidised. For a full list of all the qualifications refer to the current NSW Skills List. Information on the types and levels of subsidies can be found in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy. Training for existing-worker trainees is not subsidised.

From 14 December 2015 Training Services and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) transition arrangements will be aligned.

A superseded qualification in the Vocational Training Orders on this page can be specified on apprenticeship and traineeship applications for up to 12 months after the training package is released on the National Register. Registered training organisations (RTOs) may commence training in either the new or superseded qualification but must meet the requirements of ASQA. For more information refer to ASQA's General Direction - Learner Transition.

A copy of each Vocational Training order is available for inspection on this internet site below or at any Training Services centre of the NSW Department of Education.