The AMWU operates an OHS and Industry Training Fund, replacing the previous Health and Occupational Safety Training Australia (HOSTA), to provide subsidised training and education for eligible AMWU members.
AMWU enterprise agreements in some industries require employers to make a weekly contribution into the fund on behalf of each employee. If you aren’t sure if your agreement provides for OHS and Industry Training contributions, or want to see them in your next agreement please reach out to your organiser or delegate.
OHS Training
Through our registered training organisation partner, Future Skills, the AMWU is able to use those funds to put members through accredited courses and qualifications in Work Health and Safety.
The current range of courses and available dates can be seen here on the Future Skills website.
If you’re employed under an agreement that provides for OHS Industry Training contributions and would like to undertake training, please contact us via the form below or at [email protected] and we will be in touch.
Construction Industry Training
The AMWU also uses the Industry Training Fund to supplement the CSQ funding for eligible AMWU members in the construction industry.
In practice this means eligible members can access CSQ approved short courses, tickets or higher qualifications at either no cost or a heavily reduced cost.
What kind of courses or training can members access funding support for?
The AMWU can supplement funding for CSQ supported short courses or higher qualifications, including:
- HRW License – Dogging
- HRW License – Rigging (Basic to Advanced)
- HRW License – Scaffolding (Basic to Advanced)
- HRW License – Confined space entry
- HRW License – EWP
- HRW License – Slewing and Non-slewing mobile crane
- HRW License – Tower crane
- First Aid
- IRATA Rope Access Training (Level 1 to 3)
- Work Safely at Heights
- Asbestos Removal
- Electrical short courses
- Plumbing and gas-fitting short courses
- Silica exposure/awareness training
The full list of courses and tickets can be viewed on the CSQ website here.
Who is eligible for AMWU Training Fund Support?
Eligible members require:
- Minimum 6 months working under an EA that provides for employer contributions to the AMWU training fund.
- Minimum 6 months AMWU membership and continuous financial membership at the date of claim
- Must be eligible under CSQ funding rules for a CSQ supported Short Course or Higher Qualification, therefore:
- an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident or
- a participant who has the right to work and study in Australia on a VISA and has been employed in the Building and Construction Industry for a period of 6 months or more and is
- an eligible worker in Queensland or is
- an unemployed eligible worker who has been unemployed for a period not greater than 6 months, in Queensland
And must not be:
-
- an employee of an Authority
- currently enrolled and participating in a Queensland secondary school program,
- a contracted trainer or assessor or existing worker of an RTO,
- funded by an Authority or such other source for delivery of the same training being undertaken as part of this program,
- funded for more than eight (8) short courses under this program (either in building specific and/or civil specific) in the same program period,
- funded for more than three (3) high risk work (HRW) units of competency (excluding Asbestos units of competency) in the same program period,
- a participant seeking a verification of competency.
What will the AMWU Industry Training Fund contribute?
- Where CSQ has funded a short course or higher qualification, the AMWU training fund will make a contribution for some or all of the balance of the course cost.
- For most courses and providers the CSQ contribution plus the AMWU funding will be 100% of the course cost so members aren’t left out of pocket, however the exact amount varies by the course/qualification sought and may not always cover the cost of the particular Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that that the member has chosen.
- It is a member’s responsibility to clarify with CSQ and the AMWU what their contributions will be before they undertake the course.
What evidence does the AMWU require for a claim for reimbursement of the balance of course costs from the fund?
- Evidence of payment for the course, including CSQ’s contribution and any outstanding amounts paid out-of-pocket.
- Evidence of successful course completion.
What is the process for accessing AMWU and CSQ supported training?
- Eligible members should select the course, ticket or qualification they want to undertake from the list of CSQ supported courses here.
- Find an RTO that offers the course at a time and location that suits you. The CSQ website lists training provider contact details for each course.
- Contact the RTO to express your interest in the course and confirm you are eligible for CSQ funding. The RTO will determine your eligibility and advise their price for the courses and qualifications available. As the price charged by each RTO and their method of delivering training can vary, you may wish to shop around before choosing an RTO and enrolling.
- At this stage you can contact the AMWU and we will confirm what amount of funding the Industry Training Fund will provide you as a reimbursement. This is usually the remaining 25% that CSQ doesn’t cover, but it may not be the full amount if the RTO you have chosen is charging fees above the industry norm.
- Enrol and complete the course you have selected. Where the course is CSQ funded, that funding will be delivered directly to the RTO and you will only be responsible for any additional fee charged by the RTO that is not covered by CSQ funding.
- Once the course is completed members should send proof of course completion and a receipt of the out-of-pocket amount paid to [email protected]. We will get in contact to take details so we can make a reimbursement payment direct to the member.