The Maintenance Welding Upskilling Program (MWUP) provides trade qualified welders with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out effective repairs of structural cracking of heavy equipment in the mining sector.
The Maintenance Welding Upskilling Program (MWUP) is a joint initiative of Manufacturing Skills Australia NSW ITAB, WQMS, and TAFE NSW. This initiative has been funded by the NSW Government Trade Pathways Innovation Fund, which enables the delivery of industry-led projects that enhance pathways to trade qualifications.
The following units in the Cert IV Engineering Fabrication package were recently released
MEM05069 Undertake Advanced Weld Repair and Maintenance,
MEM05061 Apply Basic Metallurgy Principles to Welding Applications.
The MWUP is developing a training package for the pilot delivery of these units via short course program, and participants will be issued with Statements of Attainment on successful completion.
The MWUP is designed to provide upskilling in the complete crack repair process, providing welders with the theory and practical skills required to be able to carry out typical crack repairs. The program covers topics such as
Steel type identification
Consumable selection
Preheat and interpass temperature management
Interpreting typical types of cracking, and applying a suitable repair methodology
Carbon arc gouging
Grinding and preparation ready for welding
Welding using FCAW
Blending and dressing to improve fatigue performance
Understanding causes and prevention of fatigue cracking
Specialised coaching is provided by expert industry-based welders, to support skill progression for gouging, grinding and preparation, and then welding of the typical crack repair scenarios that they will experience in industry. The objective of the coaching is
1) To learn how to do Carbon Arc Gouging and do single sided crack repairs using material backing
or
2) Advanced participant to be able to do single-sided open root and material backing repairs in the overhead and vertical positions.
The testimonials below were provided by welders who have completed the MWUP practical upskilling and assessment
"Knowledge passed on is useful and helpful. General useful skills that can be used in practical situations and will be applied in my job"
"Brilliant! Wish we had longer to learn as much as possible. Will be valuable for my career"
"Great course. I learned a lot"
"Was a great week learning and upskilling "
"Very useful skills for any tradesperson to have. I believe it should be taught as part of a Cert III"
"I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this transformative learning experience"
"Great having hands on demos and coaching from people who are great at what they do.
Should be mandatory for any boilermaker in heavy industry"
"Excellent course, advice and tips for weld repairs. Trainers and assessor were very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the week and able to demonstrate course value in real time"
Overall the coaching and training provided in the program are instrumental in shaping participants into competent and confident welders and metallurgists. By combining personalise instruction, hands on learning experiences and expert guidance, these sessions empower participants to unlock their full potential and success in a rapidly evolving and competitive industry.
For businesses and individuals doing maintenance welding in the mining sector, the MWUP meets an industry need for a formalised pathway to upskill welders. The current way of relying solely on experiential learning on the job can be very hit and miss due to the lack of any formal training structure, variability between employers, and access to peers who can pass on their knowledge.
This provides employers with a formal and professional upskilling program for the training and development of their staff - whether they be experienced and wanting to get to the next level, or new to industry and needing comprehensive training and coaching. It also provides a pathway to a Cert IV, for ongoing professional development.
The MWUP course is run as a 5 day practical training and assessment at Muswellbrook TAFE.
Participants are also required to complete the theory training and assessment via online delivery over a 6 month period.
Group 1
January 15th
COMPLETED
January 19th
Group 2
January 29th
COMPLETED
2nd February
Group 3
15th April
COMPLETED
19th April
Group 4
1st July
FINAL
5th July
Positions are still available for courses in June and July. Applicants must have a Certificate III Engineering Fabrication, and be able to attend Muswellbrook TAFE for the delivery of the program.
To register yourself or employees to participate, please fill in the form below.
The MWUP will be delivered at Muswellbrook TAFE, commencing 15th January 2024, with completion by July 2024.
This is a fully funded, fee-free course for all participants.
Please enter your details in the form below to show your support and/or register to attend
Companies are invited to show their support by sending their employees on the MWUP.
Individuals are also encouraged to register their interest