Wellington Stadium Staff on the Framework

Framework unit standards are at the centre of an innovative training scheme for workers at Wellington's new stadium.

Work and Income New Zealand, the Stadium Trust, the Wellington Tenths Trust and Armourguard have collaborated to set up training for multi-skilled staff for the new stadium, due to open early in 2000.

Staff will be expected to take on a variety of jobs, from cleaning, security and ushering to ticket collecting, waiting, catering or any of the other tasks required for a particular event in the multi-purpose stadium. So their four week training course will lead to Framework credits in hospitality, fire safety, first aid and customer service.

WINZ agreed to fund the training so long as Armourguard agreed to employ WINZ clients. Armourguard estimate that they could need up to 600 people for some events. Those who complete the training will come away with credits for nine unit standards.

Qualifications Authority spokesperson Bill Lennox said the stadium training is an excellent demonstration of the potential of unit standards. "We've long encouraged this kind of pick-and-mix formula. Why invent new competencies when the relevant industry experts have already established national standards?" says Bill Lennox.