Timber Essentials
Timber Essentials is a ‘micro credential’ designed for timber industry personnel who want to improve their understanding of wood properties, quality control and timber product knowledge.
The course has been tailored to meet the needs of timber production workers, wood machinists, sawyers, frame and truss makers, orderpersons, yard workers and supervisors. It is also suitable for sales and management staff who talk directly to builders, architects or other technical clients, or are involved in dealing with customer complaints.
Modules and competencies
This accredited course is delivered in four modules, covering four trade-level units of competency from the Forest and Wood Products (FWP) Training Package.
On successful completion, you will receive a statement of attainment from Workspace Training (RTO No. 91247). The competencies can be counted towards various qualifications from the FWP Training Package if you wish to pursue further training in future.
The modules and competencies are shown below. You can see the range of topics covered by looking at the learning materials for the course.
Module 1: Wood technology
Competency: FWPCOT3349 Assess timber against quality requirements and specifications
Module 2: Timber product knowledge
Competency: FWPCOT3302 Access and provide timber and wood product information
Module 3: Quality control and product care
Competency: FWPCOT3322 Apply quality and product care procedures in forest and wood products operations
Module 4: Workplace safety and environment
FWPCOR3205 Apply safety, health and environmental requirements in forest and wood products operations
Assessment requirements
To receive a statement of attainment in the four competencies covered in this micro-credential, you will need to successfully complete the following assessment requirements:
On-line multiple-choice test – comprising 80 questions relating to tree growth and wood formation, softwoods and hardwoods, characteristics and defects, wood properties, seasoning, destroyers of timber, structural grades and standards.
Workplace assignments – where you will be asked to submit template forms and digital photos that cover the following activities and research carried out in your own workplace:
site inspection and risk assessment of your order processing or production area
description of the properties, characteristics and end-uses of three timber products you handle
inspection of sample pieces of one timber product you handle in your workplace, checking for compliance with specifications *
optimisation and preparation of the product for despatch or next stage of the production process.
Third party sign-off – where your supervisor or line manager will confirm that you are applying your skills and knowledge on-the-job at an industry-approved standard.
* Note that this is not a ‘grading course’. Instead, it provides a general coverage of wood properties, growth characteristics, types of defects, and principles for assessing products against the relevant Australian Standards or customer specifications. (Workspace Training delivers face-to-face courses in visual stress grading, but these courses are not available on-line.)
Course fees and payment
If you’re enrolling as an individual and are paying the fees yourself, you’ll be sent an invoice after you’ve submitted the enrolment form (see the link below, under ‘How to enrol’). When the fees have been paid, you’ll be given access to the student portal.
If you’re enrolling as an employee of a company that has organised the course with us on your behalf, you will bypass the payment procedure and be given a student login once your enrolment form has been processed.
Course fee per participant: $495 (GST exempt). Discounts apply for large groups from the same organisation.
How to enrol
Click on the link below to go to the enrolment procedures for Timber Essentials. If you have any questions, please contact us.