Pulp & Paper Manufacturing Review Project
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New science, technology and changing consumer preferences has seen changes to the types of skills required by the pulp and paper industry. In particular, the industry is increasingly moving towards bioenergy and biomass opportunities. It is also developing its capabilities to offer innovative alternatives to packaging and other products through recovered paper and de-inking processes. This will be the first time the training package will be fully reviewed to reflect changes in job requirements and specialisations since 2011.
Download Project Proposal (see page 19)
- A full review will ensure that qualifications, skill sets and units of competency:
- are reflective of current industry needs,
- represent changes to industry policy, and
- include updated technology and manufacturing processes for emerging skills in areas such as biomanufacturing, paper recovery and de-inking, and the evolution of industry job roles.
Download Project Proposal (see page 19)
Register your interest in the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Pulp and Paper Manufacturing’ as your industry of interest. |
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Pulp and paper manufacturing is an essential industry, providing vital products to households, offices, hospitals, food outlets and public buildings. The need for a skilled pulp and paper workforce in Australia has been reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw record demand for products such as toilet paper, tissues, medical, sanitary and packaging products. Job roles and the type of products being manufactured have evolved over the past decade, as a result of new science, technology and consumer preferences. This project will undertake a full review of the qualifications, skill sets and units of competency that make up the PPM Pulp & Paper Manufacturing Industry Training Package so they reflect current job roles, new technologies and processes and the current regulatory environment.

Project Scope
This project involves identifying and defining skills standards to meet current and future work practices in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry in Australia.The project will undertake a full review of the PPM Pulp & Paper Manufacturing Industry Training Package. It will review seven qualifications and 80 units of competency, to consider whether they reflect existing industry requirements. Within this review, consideration will be given to whether the sector could be better supported by a reduced number of qualifications that allow greater specialisation through a larger bank of elective units.Qualifications with specialisations in new technical streams, such as bioenergy, recovered paper and deinking may be developed to reflect modern job roles in the industry and offer learners more flexible training pathways.Register your interest in the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Pulp & Paper Manufacturing’ as your industry of interest. |
Relevant Occupations
- Pulp and Paper Plant Production Support Operators (pulp and bale handing, fibre preparation, hydrapulping, dryer operation, stock preparation, paper products, plant support, pulping machine operations)
- Pulp and Paper Plant Operators and Technicians (pulping operations, wastepaper recycling, wet end, dry end, finishing and converting, chemical preparation, coated paper operations, electricity generation/turbine operator, steam generation/boiler operator, water services operator, chemical recovery operator)
- Pulp and Paper Plant Senior Operators and Production Specialists (quality management, environmental/sustainability co-ordination, pulping and papermaking operations, electricity generation/turbine senior operator, steam generation/boiler senior operator, chemical recovery senior operator)
- Pulp and Paper Plant Line Supervisor, Production Manager, Quality Assurance Specialist, Sustainability Coordinator/Manager, Training Coordinator
Timeline
September/October 2020 Initial scopingNovember/December 2020 Workforce functional analysisJanuary/February 2021 Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and unitsMarch/April 2021 Drafts available for broad consultationJune 2021 Validation of final draftsJuly/August 2021 Finalisation of Training Package components Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package componentsSeptember 2021 IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsementProject Team
| Ruth Geldard | Industry Skills Standards Specialist, ForestWorks | [email protected] |
| Michelle Clayton | Project Manager – Industry Reference Committees, ForestWorks | [email protected] |
| Sarah Fitzpatrick | [email protected] |
Opportunities for stakeholder input
Stakeholder input is appreciated throughout the duration of this project. The documents will be drafted in consultation with Technical Experts and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available in March/April 2021, and again for validation of final drafts in June 2021. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the qualifications, skill set and units.It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The qualifications, skill sets, and units need to reflect real work experience. So, if you work in the sector, we would appreciate your input and assistance.Those working in areas of pulp and paper production and others with knowledge in this sector who are able to describe the skills and qualifications needed for this industry, are invited to engage with this project.Please register your interest in project updates and consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link. Alternatively, contact the project manager, Ruth Geldard on 0424068319 or [email protected].Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Webinars will be held to replace the face-to-face consultation workshops Skills Impact would usually host around Australia.Stakeholder Consultation Process
A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project based on their industry role, size or specialty. The project team will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations to seek their involvement and views on all draft skill sets and units. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list, they have simply been identified as the most, likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this projectIf you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team to ensure they are contacted by us.D
Australia's pulp and paper manufacturing sector provides many essential products to households, offices, hospitals, food outlets and public buildings. Over the past decade, developments in science, technology and consumer preferences have had an impact on the sector, influencing job roles and the type of products being manufactured.Sustainability is a key focus for the industry, with movement towards techniques to turn industrial waste into biomass, extracting maximum value from materials, reducing costs and largely eliminating waste. De-inking processes also provide the opportunity to use recovered paper for white-grade products such as newsprint, tissue and market pulp. Developments in this space are opening opportunities for new products and markets, creating new skills requirements.

Development outcomes and next steps
Broad stakeholder consultation is scheduled to commence in March 2021, when draft units, qualifications and skill sets will be made available for feedback on this webpage. Your input is welcome, please feel free to register your interest to keep informed of project updates and when draft materials are available for feedback by following the newsletter subscription link below.Register your interest in the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Pulp & Paper Manufacturing’ as your industry of interest. |
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Job roles in the pulp and paper manufacturing sector have changed over the past decade, as industry draws on the latest science and technology to innovate new products and adapt to consumer preferences. With sustainability a high priority, industry is turning towards bioenergy and biomass opportunities, to extract maximum value from facilities, processes and materials, reduce costs and eliminate waste. Developments in biodegradable packaging are also presenting exciting opportunities, with increasing demand for moulded-fibre products.Those with experience in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry are invited to participate in this project, which will update qualifications, skill sets and units for this essential sector. This will support industry as it continues to provide vital products to households, offices, hospitals, food outlets and public buildings.

Overview of key changes
Engagement with industry stakeholders based in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales has provided support for a simplified qualification structure, combining each of the Certificate II, III and IV level qualifications to consolidate the number of qualifications from seven to four. The proposed new structure of one qualification at each of four AQF levels reflects the common skills across papermaking and pulping, while still addressing the full breadth of skills required for different job roles in a pulp or paper manufacturing facility. Each merged qualification covers core competencies in work health and safety, quality assurance and problem solving at the appropriate level. They also include specialist elective units to support skills in unique operations, such as pulping and chemical recovery, along with a general elective list of pulp and paper manufacturing units and imported units. The revised structure, alongside targeted consultation with registered training organisations (RTOs), aims to improve viability of training delivery and increase enrolments.The units have been updated to consolidate common skills standards and reflect industry feedback that certain tasks associated with production processes are incorporated within the one role. Industry feedback to date has also supported the incorporation of emerging technologies associated with bio-processing, recovered paper and de-inking in current units and the creation of seven stand-alone new units of competency. Some units have been merged or replaced with cross-sector units to reduce the total number of units from 80 to 68.Qualifications
This review proposes a structure which combines each of the Certificate II, III and IV level qualifications to consolidate the number of PPM qualifications from seven to four. In this structure, the Diploma level qualification will be retained but undergo a revision. The revised qualification structure captures core competencies of work health and safety, quality assurance and problem solving, as well as specialist skills for key operational areas in elective streams and a range of cross-sector units of competency.
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.Â
| New Qualification | Replaces | Proposed New Structure Applies To… | Link |
| Certificate II in Pulp and Paper Operations | PPM30116 Certificate II in Pulping OperationsandPPM30216 Certificate II in Papermaking Operations | Production support roles across a range of processing operations (pulping and papermaking).Covers an overview of the industry: safety, quality, process flow, and equipment operation. | View draft qualification |
| Certificate III in Pulp and Paper Operations | PPM30116 Certificate II in Pulping OperationsandPPM30216 Certificate II in Papermaking Operations Operational roles in pulping or papermaking | Can be packaged as a general qualification or specialise in pulp or papermaking operations.Pulping operations stream covers waste-paper recycling, primary resources; stock preparation and handling, and fibre preparation.Papermaking operations stream covers wet and dry end operations, finishing and converting, winder/reel and roll operations, packaging/folding; dry end testing. | View draft qualification |
| Certificate IV in Pulp and Paper Operations | PPM30116 Certificate II in Pulping OperationsandPPM30216 Certificate II in Papermaking Operations | High level technical production roles across a broad range of pulping or papermaking operations.Reflects the duties of a senior operator or technician or production specialist providing complex technical advice and support to a team. | View draft qualification |
| Diploma of Pulp and Paper Operations Management | 50116 Diploma of Pulp and Paper Process Management | Management or oversight of pulping/papermaking operations, or related complex functional specialisations. | View draft qualification |
Skill Sets
Three new Skill sets are proposed for development which include newly developed units of competency.
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.Â
New Skill Set | Application | Link |
| Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry Induction Skill SetComprised of units:PPMIND2XX Work effectively in the pulp and paper industryPPMIND2XX Apply principles of pulp and papermaking to work practices | The skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to work in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry by integrating industry knowledge and principles of papermaking processes into work practices that comply with industry standards and organisational quality, health and safety and environmental requirements. | View draft skill set |
| Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Management and Leadership Skill SetComprised of units:PPMIND5XX Research and evaluate emerging technologies and processesPPMQAS5XX Evaluate production processes for regulatory and quality compliance | The skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to provide leadership in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry through research of current and emerging industry technologies, processes and legislative requirements to plan for future activities, and ensure that functional areas of the organisation comply with legislative and quality requirements. | View draft skill set |
| De-inking Operations Skill SetComprised of units:PPMDIK2XX Monitor and control de-inking operationsPPMDIK3XX Perform de-inking operationsPPMDIK4XX Troubleshoot and rectify de-inking systems | The skill set describes skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the de-inking operations of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
Eight current PPM skill sets have been revised to include updated units of competency.
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.Â
| Revised Skill Set | Previous Version | Application | Link |
| PPMSSXXXX2 Chemical Recovery Skill SetComprised of units:PPMREC2XX Monitor and control chemical recovery operationsPPMREC3XX Perform chemical recovery operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00001 Chemical Recovery Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the chemical recovery operations of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX3 Converting Paper Products Skill SetComprised of units:PPMFCO2XX Monitor and control paper finishing and converting operationsPPMFCO3XX Perform paper finishing and converting operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00003 Converting Paper Products Skill set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the paper finishing and converting operations of a paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXX11 Paper Finishing and Converting Skill SetComprised of units:PPMFCO3XX Perform paper finishing and converting operationsPPMFCO4XX Troubleshoot and rectify paper finishing and converting systemsPPMWHS4XX Maintain work health and safety processes | PPMSS00004 Paper Finishing and Converting Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, shut down and troubleshoot the paper finishing and converting operations of a paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX4 Papermaking Dry End Operations Skill SetComprised of units:PPMDEO2XX Monitor and control dry end operationsPPMDEO3XX Perform dry end operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00005 Papermaking Dry End Operations Skill set Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the papermaking dry end operations of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX5 Papermaking Wet End Operations Skill SetComprised of units:PPMWEO2XX Monitor and control wet end operationsPPMWEO3XX Perform wet end operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00006 Papermaking Wet End Operations Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the papermaking wet end operations of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX6 Pulping Stock Preparation Skill SetComprised of units:PPMSPR2XX Monitor and control stock preparation systemsPPMSPR3XX Perform stock preparation operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00007 Pulping Stock Preparation Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the pulping stock preparation of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX7 Warehousing Paper Products Skill SetComprised of units:PPMWAR2XX Prepare and dispatch productPPMWAR2XX Store productPPMWHS 2XX Participate in work health and safety processes | PPMSS00009 Warehousing Paper Products Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely store, prepare and dispatch warehousing paper products for a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
| PPMSSXXXX8 Recovered Fibre Operations Skill SetComprised of units:PPMRPO2XX Monitor and control recovered fibre operationsPPMRPO3XX Perform recovered fibre operationsPPMWHS3XX Contribute to work health and safety processes | PPMSS00010 Waste Paper Operations Skill Set | This skill set describes the skills and knowledge required to safely start up, maintain and control, and shut down the recovered fibre operations of a pulp and paper manufacturing facility. | View draft skill set |
Two skill sets are proposed for deletion and content will be merged with revised skills sets.
| Skill Set | Â | View skill set on training.gov.au |
| PPMSS00002 Coated Paper Products Skill Set | Coated Paper Processes now covered in Dry End Operations | View unit on training.gov.au |
| PPMSS00008 Safety in Pulp and Paper Operations Skill Set | This skill set is currently made up of three Work Health and Safety (WHS) units of competency. WHS units will be listed in all revised skill sets along with units related to operation of equipment across the functional areas of a pulp and paper plant. | View unit on training.gov.au |
Units of Competency
The titles and description of the proposed seven new units of competency are listed below and will incorporate skills and knowledge to work in contemporary job roles in the pulp and paper industry.