MEM: Blacksmithing

Heritage, creative and architectural ironwork have become important sectors within the blacksmithing trade.

The increasing use of smaller hydraulic presses and a range of options for heating metal to forging temperature means smithing is no longer restricted to heavy industrial environments.

To address these and other changes, 6 units were updated and 2 new ones developed.

Project guidance came from a technical committee. We thank them for sharing their industry and educational expertise.

The changes have the support of stakeholders representing unions, employers, professional organisations, RTOs and Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

Timeline

Complete
Initial development
Complete
Public and government consultation
Complete
Incorporating feedback
Complete
Senior Officials check
Complete
Submit to Assurance Body
Complete
Skills Ministers endorsement
Complete
Initial development
Develop initial draft products in line with the Training Product Development Plan, establish Technical Committee.

Status

We have established a Technical Committee to provide expert advice, a pivotal step as we commence development work on the project. As we move forward, we encourage your active involvement where you can provide valuable input on the draft training products.

Register now to have your say about this project.

Pease direct any questions to solutions@misa.holdingsite.com.au

What we’re reviewing

We're developing two new units to be added to the appropriate elective group:

  • MEM06016 Perform press forging
  • MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes.

As part of this work, qualifications that have blacksmithing units included will require updating.

Technical Committee and Consultation Strategy

A technical committee has been established to provide industry and educational advice on the project, the proposed training products, and the consultation strategy.

Technical Committee members

Name Organisation Stakeholder Type State
Martin Geddes Geddes Blacksmithing SME, educational expert QLD
Pete Matilla Matilla Studio SME, educational expert TAS
Jim Deering Wilkur Forge SME, educational expert VIC
Craig Drew Artist Blacksmith's Association NSW Professional association representative, SME NSW

Complete
Public and government consultation
Release draft products for broad stakeholder feedback in line with Consultation Strategy.

Closed

Public and government consultation for MEM: Blacksmithing was open from 12 August until 6 September 2024.

We’re updating the trade qualification for blacksmiths, which is delivered via a specialisation (Group F) in MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade.

The proposed changes include 2 new units of competency and updates to 6 existing units of competency.

The 6 existing units have been revised to better align with current employment opportunities and industry requirements:

  • MEM06001 Perform hand forging
  • MEM06002 Perform hammer forging
  • MEM06005 Perform drop and upset forging
  • MEM06006 Repair springs
  • MEM06008 Hammer forge complex shapes
  • MEM06009 Hand forge complex shapes.

The 2 new units address press forging skills. Presses are increasingly being used to efficiently and precisely forge components with high tensile strength, both for smaller-scale architectural and heritage ironwork applications and for larger-scale industrial applications. The draft units address introductory and more advanced skills:

  • MEM06016 Perform press forging
  • MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes

Feedback was sought from industry on the suitability of the draft content to ensure it is accurate and relevant and meets the needs of industry.

Please see the summary of proposed changes and the proposed training package components below.

View draft Training Products

CLICK ON THE COMPONENT TO VIEW THE DRAFT Release No.
Revised Units of Competency (6 Revised Units)
MEM06010 Perform hand forging Release 1
MEM06011 Perform power hammer forging Release 1
MEM06012 Perform drop and upset forging Release 1
MEM06013 Repair springs Release 1
MEM6014 Perform power hammer forging of complex shapes Release 1
MEM06015 Hand forge complex shapes Release 1
New Units of Competency (2 New Units)
MEM06016 Perform press forging Release 1. New Unit
MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes Release 1. New Unit
Qualification
MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade Release 1

Download the summary of proposed changes

View draft Companion Volumes:

 

CLICK ON THE COMPONENT TO VIEW THE DRAFT
Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Volume 1
Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Volume 2

Training Package Maintenance - Minor Changes

As part of maintenance in the Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) Training Package, the following updates have been made:

CLICK ON THE COMPONENT TO VIEW THE UPDATED DRAFT Release No.
Qualifications
MEM20219 Certificate II in Engineering - Production Technology Release 3
MEM30119 Certificate III in Engineering - Production Systems Release 3
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering Release 3
MEM50119 Diploma of Engineering - Advanced Trade Release 3

Supporting information

Download the summary of proposed changes

 

Complete
Incorporating feedback
Update products in line with feedback, publish summary consultation log on website, determine whether further consultation is required.

Complete

Public and government consultation took place between 12 August and 6 September 2024.

Feedback was collected during the Public and Government Consultation phase through information sessions, phone calls, emails, and feedback forms.

We would like to thank all participants who provided feedback and contributed to the development of the draft training products.

Consultation log

A high-level summary of feedback received, the changes made in response to that feedback, and justifications for changes not made are available in the consultation log summary.

Summary of proposed changes

An updated version of the summary of proposed changes contains the most up-to-date amendments and how the proposed training products differ from those currently listed on training.gov.au.

The components can be viewed below.

View Drafts

Revised units of competency  
MEM06010 Perform hand forging Release 1
MEM06011 Perform power hammer forging Release 1
MEM06012 Perform drop and upset forging Release 1
MEM06013 Repair springs Release 1
MEM06014 Perform power hammer forging of complex shapes Release 1
MEM06015 Hand forge complex shapes Release 1
New units of competency
MEM06016 Perform press forging Release 1
MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes Release 1
Qualifications – Major change
MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade Release 1
Qualifications – Minor change
MEM20219 Certificate II in Engineering – Production Technology Release 3
MEM30119 Certificate III in Engineering – Production Systems Release 3
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering Release 3
MEM50119 Diploma of Engineering – Advanced Trade Release 3
Companion volumes
Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Volume 1
Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Volume 2

For more information, contact solutions@misa.holdingsite.com.au

Complete
Senior Officials check
Seek feedback from Commonwealth, state and territory authorities, amend products as required.

Closed

The draft training products have been submitted to Senior Responsible Officers – senior officials in each state and territory and from the Commonwealth – who have reviewed the proposed training products to ensure any implementation issues identified during the consultation period have been resolved in each jurisdiction.

All feedback received has been captured in the consultation log.

For more information, contact solutions@misa.holdingsite.com.au.

Complete
Submit to Assurance Body
The final draft Training Products has been submitted to the Assurance Body who will consider the submission based on compliance with the Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF).

Closed

Submission documentation:

Training Product Submission Form All relevant evidence associated with the submission form has been submitted.
Consultation Log The consultation log has been updated to reflect the consideration and support by the Senior Responsible Officers.
Project Overview and Consultation Strategy The consultation strategy identifies key stakeholders and consultation mechanisms for obtaining feedback on draft training package products.
Terms of Reference The Terms of Reference identifies the governance framework for appointed Technical Committee members
Anti-Discrimination Assessment The anti-discrimination assessment ensures training package products are consistent with anti-discrimination legislation.
Companion Volume Implementation Guides (CVIG) Mapping Information is available in Part 2 of the CVIG.
MEM release 5.0 Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Part 1 of 2 Release 5.0
MEM release 5.0 Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Part 2 of 2 Release 5.0

Training Products for submission:

Major changes
Qualifications: (1 revised qualification)
MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade Release 1
Units of Competency: (6 revised units)
MEM06010 Perform hand forging Release 1
MEM06011 Perform power hammer forging Release 1
MEM06012 Perform drop and upset forging Release 1
MEM06013 Repair springs Release 1
MEM06014 Perform power hammer forging of complex shapes Release 1
MEM06015 Hand forge complex shapes Release 1
Units of Competency: (2 new units)
MEM06016 Perform press forging Release 1
MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes Release 1
Minor changes
Qualifications:
MEM20219 Certificate II in Engineering – Production Technology Release 3
MEM30119 Certificate III in Engineering – Production Systems Release 3
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering Release 3
MEM50119 Diploma of Engineering – Advanced Trade Release 3

 

For more information, contact solutions@misa.holdingsite.com.au

 

Complete
Skills Ministers endorsement
Products have been endorsed by ministers with responsibility for skills and training.

Products

The new training products were endorsed by state, territory and Commonwealth ministers with responsibility for skills and training on 22 August 2025 and published on the National Training Register on 4 September 2025.

Units of competency

MEM06010 Perform hand forging Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06011 Perform power hammer forging Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06012 Perform drop and upset forging Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06013 Repair springs Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06014 Perform power hammer forging of complex shape Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06015 Hand forge complex shapes Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM06016 Perform press forging New unit. Release 1.
MEM06017 Perform press forging for complex shapes New unit. Release 1.

Qualifications

MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade Major change – new code. Release 1.
MEM20219 Certificate II in Engineering – Production Technology Minor change. Release 3
MEM30119 Certificate III in Engineering – Production Systems Minor change. Release 3
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering Minor change. Release 3
MEM50119 Diploma of Engineering – Advanced Trade Minor change. Release 3

Companion volumes

MEM Companion Volume Implementation Guide – Part 1 & Part 2. Release 5.0.

See Part 2 for mapping information.

For more information, contact solutions@misa.holdingsite.com.au.

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