RNZAF recognised for outstanding training

Each year, ATTTO presents awards to businesses that have shown excellence in workplace training. The awards acknowledge the important investment workplaces make in supporting their staff to achieve formal qualifications.

The winners proved their exceptional commitment to supporting workplace training, demonstrated innovation  in training and commitment to continual improvement.

Aviation winner: RNZAF

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is a critical component of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Its mission is to carry out military air operations to advance New Zealand's security interests with professionalism, integrity and teamwork.

The RNZAF has been involved  with industry training in its wider sense since the National Qualifications Framework was established in the early nineties and prides itself on striving to be judged as the best in every aspect of its operation.

Warrant Office Michael Naus, Air Force Qualifications Officer, believes that world class training techniques and standards as well as ongoing support is integral to its recognition as a successful workplace trainer.

“Aviation by its very nature requires continuous training. Our aim is for every person who walks in the door to be linked up on a training plan,” says Naus. “We always encourage personnel to engage in relevant qualifications and will not hesitate to support courses that broaden the personal or professional skills of our people.”

The RNZAF currently has 300 technical trade trainees signed up to Training Agreements and aims to include personnel in both its Aircrew and Ground Crew areas of operation.

As employees, RNZAF trainees are paid while they learn, with all training costs met. They are also offered various programmes for sponsorship and assistance with funds and time off for training and education.

Since 2001, the RNZAF have had the skills of over 200 people's training formalised through Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) assessment. This means personnel had their existing skills and knowledge formally assessed and recognised and put towards earning a national qualification. They then completed the training required to fill any skill gaps between current competency and what was required to meet the national standard.

“This is not a ‘tick and flick’ exercise,” says Elizabeth Valentine CE of ATTTO.

“The RNZAF as well as ATTTO want to be assured that people are awarded qualifications via the RCC process because they can demonstrate competence, not just to put a tick in a box. The whole aviation sector needs this quality assurance,” says Valentine.

In July 2008, the RNZAF congratulated the first group of trainees to ever gain civilian recognition in the form of national certificates solely for their military training.

“Offering national qualifications is a great attraction and retention tool for the RNZAF because it means graduates have training that the wider industry can recognise,” says Naus.

“Training is an integral part of the RNZAFs existence. As both the military and aviation environments demand continued currency and up skilling, training in some form never really stops.”

The RNZAF sees relevancy and currency as the two major benefits of on the job training, which is a core component of all trainee development.

“On the job training means people can see the relevance of what they’re doing, it makes learning easier. The workplace experience benefits the quality of the training.”

“Further down the track we’d like to be able to present trainees with a clear pathway for each and every trade, showing how they can get to where they want to be. We’d also like to see civilian qualifications available for as many trades as possible,” concludes Naus.



Related links

Click here to find out more about the first RNZAF training to receive civilian recognition.

Click here to meet Paul Garlick, RNZAF Aircraft Serviceman and recent graduate.