Funeral Services Training Package Continuous Improvement

Funeral Services Continuous Improvement

Service Skills Australia (SSA) is currently conducting a review of the SIF08 Funeral Services Training Package to ensure that the Training Package meets both current and emerging industry skill needs.

The SIF08 Funeral Services Training Package was endorsed in August 2008 and will be reviewed under the continuous improvement process in 2012. SSA is in the process of researching what is really important for future skills development for the funeral services industry, and whether current qualifications need to be updated or changed in any way. Input from current workers in the industry as well as those providing industry training is a very important part of this process.

The continuous improvement process

This continuous improvement process will provide an opportunity for industry, training organisations, employers, employees and anyone else with an interest in this training package to be involved and provide input into the future skills and knowledge requirements of the funeral services industry.

Stakeholder feedback will be sought throughout the entire review process, including:

Phase 1: Scoping

The first stage of the project involves seeking advice from stakeholders on their ideas regarding the training package to evaluate its currency and relevance for industry. An essential component of the maintenance and continuous improvement of any training package is an in-depth understanding of the emerging skills needs for the industry. For the funeral services industries this means not only understanding changes in technology, products and services but also includes workforce development trends such as changing work roles for typical jobs.[1].

A scoping paper will be used to gather the feedback from this phase. The feedback will be used to develop the first drafts of units and qualifications for the training package.

Download the scoping paper here. Feedback is due 2nd March 2012.

Phase 2: Drafting

In early February 2012, a scoping paper was distributed to funeral industry stakeholders, asking for feedback on emerging industry skill needs and the current training package.

The feedback received was comprehensive, constructive and consistent, and in summary indicated the need for:

• more flexible packaging rules for all qualifications to address further job/skill outcomes across all sectors of the funeral industry
• higher level qualifications that address business/management skills for each industry sector
• skill gaps within the Certificate IV in Embalming to be addressed
• work preparation knowledge and skills  that are applicable for pre-vocational and pre-employment programs.
• general/technical improvements to existing units including reference to new WHS legislation, environmental sustainability and cultural awareness.

The feedback gathered from the scoping phase was used to develop 1st drafts of units and qualifications for the proposed revised training package.

These drafts are currently available for your review and feedback on SSA’s Feedback Register (http://feedback.serviceskills.com.au/) until 18 May 2012.

To assist you with identifying with the context and rationale in which the proposed changes have been made, download the Guide to Reviewing Draft 1.

Phase 3: Validation

The feedback obtained from the Drafting Phase will be used to develop final or ‘validation’ drafts. The validation stage will be conducted over a 4 week period and provides a final opportunity for stakeholders to review and comment on the draft components of the revised package to ensure that the revised training package reflects the current skill needs of the funeral services industry.

The revised Training Package will once again be made available on SSA’s Feedback Register. (http://feedback.serviceskills.com.au/). for feedback and comment.

Phase 4: Submission

Following the final sign off by the WRAPS Industry Advisory Committee of SSA, the reviewed package is required to pass through the quality assurance processes determined by the National Skills Standards Council.

These processes include the Equity Evaluation, Editorial Report, and Holistic Report. The requirements for each of these can be found on the SSA website. The  training package is then circulated to the state and territory training authorities for their review and comment..

The package will be submitted to the NATESE on 19th October 2012 for consideration at their 6th December 2012 meeting.

How to be involved

To be kept informed on the updates of the review of the Funeral Services Training Package, subscribe to SSA’s news alerts and eNewsletter (https://www.serviceskills.com.au/user/register).

You can provide feedback and comment during every phase of the review on SSA’s Feedback Register (http://feedback.serviceskills.com.au/) or by emailing Lina Robinson at lrobinson@serviceskills.com.au.