Australian Skills Training (AST) were honoured for outstanding export achievement at the Australian Export Awards, hosted by the Minister for Trade, the Hon Simon Crean MP. AST won the Education and Training Award, sponsored by CPA Australia, and was praised by the judges for its strong export marketing strategy, and its focus on developing a reputation for quality training and service.

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Australian Skills Training has been awarded a contract to provide rigging expertise to a construction project in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The work consists of providing onsite rigging expertise with a focus on supervision and coordination of lifting/rigging tasks.

The onsite team will consist of five experienced Indonesian Rigging Supervisors, who will initially undergo further training with AST in Rigging and Lift Planning before mobilising to site. The team will be supported by AST’s Indonesian based expat staff who will provide occasional onsite assistance and external technical support, including third party review of lifting studies and plans for complex rigging tasks.

This is a significant project for AST as it demonstrates our capability to go beyond the core business of training. The provision of AST’s expertise in the field will facilitate a wider up skilling of the construction workforce in Banda Aceh, and help to improve safe lifting and rigging practices onsite.

For further information contact:

Chris Gittens, Managing Director, Australian Skills Training, P: +61 438 343 744, E: chris@astpl.com

Australian Skills Training (AST) has become a finalist in the Australian Export awards by winning the NT Chief Minister Export Award in the Service Division.

The award was received during a presentation evening at the Crowne Plaza in Darwin on the 23rd Sept 2009. AST was very pleased to receive the award as recognition of the hard work and dedication of our staff who have contributed to our success.

Chris Gittens, Managing Director AST receives the NT Chief Ministers Export Award (Service Division) from Carrie Altamura, Vice Chairman International Business Council

Australian Skills Training has provided training in East Timor to support an asbestos removal/roof sheeting project carried out by Kaefer Integrated Services. The project involved the removal of asbestos roofing on several warehouses currently operated by the United Nations.

To ensure the task was carried out safely and efficiently the local workforce were provided training in Height Safety, Asbestos Awareness, and the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment.

The training demonstrated Kaefer’s commitment to implementing safe work practices and their professionalism in managing projects.

The use of PPE and Height Safety formed a large component of the training to ensure the job was carried out safely.

Saipem International is one of the world’s largest turnkey contractors in the oil and gas industry with over 30,000 employees. PT Saipem Indonesia is currently constructing a large fabrication yard in Karimun, Riau Islands, with a total project investment of US$271 million. Occupying some 140 hectares of land, the facility will have a production capacity of 30,000 tons of oil and gas related components. The site at Karimun will employ 5,000 workers when complete.

6GR is a welding position specified in American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Welding Code. A welder who is qualified to 6GR is qualified to weld in any position for the process used (SMAW, GTAW...). It is generally regarded as the highest level qualification for a structural welder with the test replicating the type of joint typically found in structures such as offshore platform jackets. ie. Bracing to leg chords.

Australian Skills Training offers training and testing in a wide range of welding qualifications and welding processes. Tests are conducted at our modern facility and under the supervision of qualified welding inspectors.

For further information please contact:

Erni Tanuwijaya – Office Manager, AST Batam, +62 778 425 969, erni@astpl.com

Keith Gittens – Managing Director, PT Australian Skills Training, +628 1270455128, keith@astpl.com

Figure 2 - A candidate from Songa Offshore conducting a 6GR weld test
at Australian Skills Training centre in Batam, Indonesia

Australian Skills Training (AST) has completed a program of training at MMHE Shipyards in Johor Bahru. The program consisted of Basic Rigging Courses and Train the Trainer in Basic Rigging.

A pioneer in the Malaysian heavy industry, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd were incorporated on 18 May 1973 under the name of Malaysia Shipyard & Engineering Sdn Bhd (MSE).

In May 2005, after establishing itself as one of the main players in marine heavy engineering, the then MSE was re-branded into the Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE).

The three core businesses of MMHE are Engineering and Construction, Marine Repairs, and Marine Conversion.

The AST Spearwood Training Centre (WA) has recently erected an FM-Gru hammer head tower crane. With a boom length of 45 m and sitting at a height of 32 m the crane can be seen far and wide across the lush meadows of Spearwood.

AST is now running Tower Crane training every fortnight. On completion, candidates will be awarded the National Licence to Perform High Risk Work; Class CT. AST is one of two training centres in Western Australia that conduct this training at their premises.

Contact AST on (08) 9434 3744 or email ast@astpl.com

To compliment AST’s commitment to health and safety in industry, we are proud to announce accreditation to deliver Introductory Training for Health and Safety Representatives. This five-day course is accredited by The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health (WorkSafe WA) and will provide participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake their duties as a Health and Safety Rep in a professional and efficient manner.

This training is aimed at those in the Building & Construction, Mining & Resources and Logistics & Transport Industries who have been elected as Health and Safety Representatives in accordance with Sections 29, 30 and 31 of the OSH Act and Sections 54 and 55 of
the MSI Act.

As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to:
• Apply knowledge of legislation in the role of a Safety and Health Representative.
• Conduct workplace inspections and investigations as a Safety and Health Representative.
• Conduct hazard identification and risk management as a Safety and Health Representative.
• Communicate on safety and health matters and represent employees.
• Resolve conflict and issue provisional improvement notices in the role of a Safety and Health Representative.

Australian Skills Training (AST) has recently completed an offshore crane training program onboard the Jascon 25 in Singapore. The training was conducted using the ships 800T Huisman crane and was part of an assessment/validation process prior to the vessels mobilisation for a major project in the NW of Australia.

AST Trainer, Tom Cambridge was responsible for the training which was aimed at assessing candidates for the new training unit PMASUP305A Operate Offshore Crane, a NOPSA requirement for all offshore crane operators in Australian waters.

Jascon 25 at sea undertaking load test

Australian Skills Training (AST) has completed the set up of its welder training facility in Batam, Indonesia and delivered its first course in Indonesia in Feb 2009. The first course in Basic MMAW was provided to Geophysical Veritas Pte Ltd.

The facilities in Batam consist of 12 welding bays with modern equipment that enables training and assessment to be conducted to the highest standard. The welding machines used by AST are from the Inverter Fusion product range which are designed and made in the United Kingdom.

AST now has the capability to train and test welders to recognised standards in various welding processes and levels of qualification. The facility in Batam is also accredited to delivery courses recognised under the Australian Quality Training Framework.

The units of competency completed by successful candidates can lead to a Certificate III in Metals Engineering. Some of the Competencies available include:

• MEM05015C Weld using Manual Metal Arc Welding Process
• MEM05016C Perform Advanced Welding using Manual Metal Arc Welding Process
• MEM05017C Weld using Gas Metal Arc Welding Process
• MEM05026B Apply Welding Principles
• MEM05046B Perform Welds to Code Standards using Manual Metal Arc Welding Process
• MEM05045B Perform Pipe Welds to Code Standards using Manual Metal Arc Welding Process
• MEM05046B Perform routine Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
• MEM05022C Perform Advanced Welding using Oxy Acetylene Welding Process
• MEM05044B Perform Welds to Code Standards using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Process
• MEM05043B Perform Welds to Code Standards using Gas Metal Arc Welding Process

For further information please contact:

Erni Tanuwijaya – Office Manager, AST Batam +62 778 425 969, erni@astpl.com

Keith Gittens – Managing Director, PT Australian Skills Training, +628 1270455128, keith@astpl.com

AST is pleased to announce approval by the Training Accreditation Council to train and assess in PMASUP305A Operate Offshore Cranes. This Nationally Recognised unit of competency is the industry standard for offshore crane operation.

It is a requirement in Australian waters in accordance with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) Assessment Policy (Ref No: N-04000-PL0050) as outlined below:

4.10. Assessment of Competency (Extract)
As a matter of policy, and in light of the specific risks associated with lifting operations, NOPSA will apply this assessment to competency of crane operators in particular and assess competency schemes for suitability using the nationally endorsed Unit of Competence (PMASUP305A Operate Offshore Cranes) as a standard.

This course is designed to give participants the necessary skills and knowledge to operate a crane safely and efficiently on an offshore facility. Actions may include transfer of equipment to and from support vessels; transfer of personnel using appropriate approved equipment; safe management of loads during diving operations and other complex lifts at sea.

AST delivers this training within and outside of Australian waters.

Australian Skills Training (AST) has been approved by Depnaker (the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower) as a registered training provider in Indonesia.

The is a significant step forward for AST’s operations in Indonesia and will provide our clients training to an international standard together with the endorsement of the Government of Indonesia.

It also recognises AST’s commitment to working with local and government agencies in Indonesia to develop suitable training programs.

For further information please contact:

Erni Tanuwijaya – Office Manager, AST Batam +62 778 425 969, erni@astpl.com

Keith Gittens – Managing Director, PT Australian Skills Training, +628 1270455128, keith@astpl.com

Australian Skills Training (AST) and Protection Access Rigging (PRA) Malaysia have entered into an alliance to promote each others services internationally.

PRA will provide representation and support for AST in Malaysia, and in a reciprocal arrangement AST will represent and support PRA operations in Indonesia.

Protection Rigging Access (PRA) is an established company that provides access solutions to the mining, oil & gas and commercial industries.

PRA specialises in Industrial Rope Access, Rigging and Scaffolding. By combining all these disciplines PRA can provide clients with safe, cost-effective and time efficient methods for performing a seemingly endless variety of tasks.

PRA also supply Industrial Rope Access technicians that have trades and qualifications in:

• Non-Destructive Testing
• Corrosion Control and Painting
• Fabrication and Coded Welding
• Electrical installations and Repairs
• Geo-Technical Engineering
• Scaffolding & Rigging

For further information contact:

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