individual needs. One person’s training needs may be very different from another’s. Someone may need to upskill in a technical area or someone else may need softer skills around communication or leading teams. The IQA may be able to directly deliver that training or recommend them to an approved training provider. That’s the core of what we do.” To maintain certified status, practitioners must undertake at least 15 hours of CPD and training per year, preferably in subjects such as risk and emergency management, leadership and management, workplace health and safety (WHS), and technical skills. The CPD may take the form of a combination of formal learning or PDP courses. The IQA offers formal recognition of professional development through the QMCS. The individual will fulfil the requirements and be as a Certified Practicing Quarry Manager (CPQM) or a Certified Practicing Quarry Supervisor (CPQS). In NSW, a mandatory competency maintenance scheme applies for quarry managers, who must undertake up to 90 hours of CPD over a five-year period (or 18 hours per year), with 50 per cent of those total hours dedicated to formal learning. Learning must be undertaken in five areas of competence, including: • Mining and WHS. • Legislation. • Emergency management. • Leadership and management. • General WHS, including a mandatory eight-hour Learning from Mining Disasters course developed by the NSW Resources Regulator. The IQA has been entrusted with delivering the Learning from Disasters program to NSW members. “The outcomes are quite specific,” Fahey said, “that is, of learning lessons from the past, and ensuring they are part of a systematic approach to safety. The workshop goes through a number of case studies. The participants work through those and discuss how those incidents can be avoided in the future.” As of November 2019, the IQA has realigned the QMCS framework with the NSW program to mirror the benchmark of CPD hours and the categories of learning. “The framework is quite malleable,” Fahey explained. “It requires set professional development hours, prescribed across certain topics as run in NSW, and other states may require a certificate or a diploma or certain units. The framework is now very adaptable to what the states require and is clearer for participants to engage with.” Although the 2020 certification year (which is a calendar year) has begun, applications for the QMCS may be submitted at any time and are assessed by the CP Committee. More information about the QMCS program is available at the IQA website: quarry.com.au
ENGAGING THE WORKFORCE Fahey said the IQA board is very focused on servicing the needs of the industry over the next five years with a view to improving future workforce recruitment, development and retention. “There are going to be significant changes in technology, legislation, and health and safety so we have to find ways of attracting young people and doing things more efficiently and effectively. The IQA will play an important role in facilitating that discussion. “This forms what we call the ‘softer’ skills part of the workforce – that’s everything from motivating a team to good communication and leadership. Training has an important part to play in an industry overall – but it’s also the performance of the business and the individuals
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