Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy

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Telephone 1300 369 935
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Telephone 1800 210 210
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Queensland Training Ombudsman
Telephone 1800 773 048
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TPAS system upgrade (March 2024)

The new Training Policy Administration System (TPAS) is now available.

We anticipate increased user support needs with this release and are thankful for users' patience in resolving issues experienced. During this period, enquiries to trainingpolicy@desbt.qld.gov.au will experience response delays. We apologise for any inconvenience.

The Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy (PDF, 1MB) (the 'Training Policy') applies from 1 July 2014. The Training Policy replaces the Queensland Government Building and Construction Contracts Structured Training Policy (10% Training Policy) and the Indigenous Employment Policy for Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects (IEP 20% Policy).

The Training Policy supports employment opportunities and skills development in Queensland's building and construction industry. It also focuses on increasing the economic independence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders in the industry.

The Training Policy is one element in a longstanding partnership between the building and construction industry and the Queensland Government to develop the industry's skills base and future workforce capability. It requires contractors to employ apprentices and trainees and undertake other workforce training as a mandated component of being awarded work on eligible Queensland Government projects.

The Training Policy has a core requirement that a minimum of 10% of the total labour hours on eligible projects be undertaken by apprentices and/or trainees and through other workforce training. From 1 September 2017, this core requirement increases to 15% for eligible major building and/or civil construction projects.

All Queensland Government departments and statutory bodies, as defined in the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and government owned corporations are required to comply with the Training Policy.

Key changes from 1 September 2017

From 1 September 2017, there were changes to the Training Policy that impact major Queensland Government and government owned corporation buildings and/or civil construction projects.

On major Queensland Government and government owned corporation building and/or civil construction projects with a contract sum of $100 million or greater (including GST) it is a core requirement that a minimum of 15% of the total labour hours on eligible projects is to be undertaken by apprentices and/or trainees and through other workforce training. This requirement applies to projects tendered or undertaken by Queensland Government agencies, statutory authorities and government owned corporations.

Key changes from 1 July 2015

From 1 July 2015 there were changes to the Training Policy that impact government owned corporations and public private partnerships.

Government owned corporations–any procurement processes that government owned corporations commence for building and/or civil construction projects above $20 million (including GST) must comply with the Training Policy.
Public private partnerships–any procurement processes that commence for public private partnerships in relation to building projects with a contract sum of $500,000 or greater (including GST) and civil construction projects with a contract sum of $3 million or greater (including GST) must comply with the Training Policy.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects are Queensland Government building projects with a contract sum of $500,000 or greater (including GST), and civil construction projects with a contract sum of $3 million or greater (including GST). Eligible projects include:

projects throughout Queensland, including projects in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
projects that are selected as Indigenous projects by Queensland Government agencies
public private partnerships
all building and/or civil construction projects with a contract sum above $20 million (including GST) tendered or undertaken by government owned corporations will also be eligible projects.

From 1 September 2017, additional requirements apply to eligible major building and/or civil construction projects with a contract sum of $100 million or greater (including GST).

Indigenous projects

There are 2 categories of Indigenous projects under the Training Policy:

eligible projects located in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community and the Township of Weipa
eligible projects located throughout the rest of Queensland that are proposed as Indigenous projects by Queensland Government agencies, government owned corporations or by the Director-General of the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts (DTATSIPCA).

The compliance requirements for Indigenous projects under the Training Policy are the same regardless of whether it is located in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community or outside of these communities.

For further information on the additional requirements for Indigenous projects, please refer to the Guidelines for Indigenous Projects below as well as the processes for Indigenous projects.

Training Policy Administration System

The Queensland Government administers and reports Training Policy compliance data through the Training Policy Administration System (TPAS). The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training manages and maintains TPAS on behalf of the Queensland Government.

Queensland Government agencies are required to submit project information into the TPAS for eligible projects once the contract has been awarded. This includes uploading a copy of the Letter of Acceptance. Government agencies can also access TPAS for their own compliance monitoring and reporting purposes.

Contractors are required to submit the Compliance Plan, report labour and training hours and submit the Practical Completion Report using TPAS. Contractors will be informed of their compliance performance based on the data that they have entered into TPAS.

Training Policy documents and resources

Policy

Guidelines

Manuals

Frequently asked questions

Training Policy compliance for other workforce training (PDF, 553KB)

Indigenous project processes and templates

The below processes and templates also support Indigenous projects under the Training Policy.

Eligible projects located in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community and the Township of Weipa:

remote discrete Indigenous communities process
remote discrete Indigenous economic opportunities overview
remote discrete Indigenous economic opportunities plan template
eligible projects map.

Eligible projects located throughout the rest of Queensland selected as Indigenous projects:

criteria for the selection of Indigenous projects
selected Indigenous projects process
selected Indigenous economic opportunities overview
selected Indigenous economic opportunities plan template.

Contract clauses for Queensland Government agencies

The Department of Energy and Climate (DEC) provides a suite of building contracts for use on government building projects.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads provides a suite of civil construction contracts for use on government construction work.

Please note that standard clauses for use in documentation for eligible projects under the Training Policy can be found on the above sites.

Training Policy compliance audits

DEC Buy Queensland Audit Unit supports the Training Policy through audit, investigation and education activities. The unit undertakes compliance audits against the Training Policy to ensure that contractors meet their obligations under the policy. An annual program of audit is undertaken as well as investigations into complaints or referrals that allege non-compliance with the Training Policy. Read more about the Buy Queensland Audit Unit.