About Us

• FOLS is the national skills verification program for the forestry industry.
• FOLS is an industry-led system that supports the professionalism and safety of industry through a national electronic system of recording training and verifying currency of worker’s skills.
• FOLS enables a worker to record their training and currency in an online system, which can be shared with employers.
• FOLS offers businesses a streamlined system to manage the skills of employees and improve safety in the workplace. FOLS also assists workers by verifying that a worker has undertaken the nationally recognised training and has kept their skills current through regular practice.
• FOLS is delivered on behalf of industry by Forest Works. Forest Works is an industry owned not-for-profit organisation offering services to support the skills development of the forest, wood, paper, timber and furnishing industries

From 1 July 2024, ForestWorks will no longer accept applications to create a new FOLS, renew a FOLS, add skills to a FOLS or replace a lost plastic card. 

• ForestWorks will continue to maintain archives of the website data so that users of the system can access their records and generate reports. 
• ForestWorks will honour written requests for skills and training evidence, which will be returned via email. 
• The FOLS skills verification program will be discontinued by 30 June 2027 and all user data will be deleted at that time. 

Why is this happening? 

ForestWorks has been maintaining the FOLS skills verification program on behalf of industry since 2014. 

The FOLS program has seen declining usage over the past nine years, and has not been financially viable for some time. As a result, ForestWorks has determined the program is no longer viable and will not be resourced in the long term. We are conscious however of our responsibilities to the users of the system who will need time to adjust to alternative arrangements. 

What happens next? 

ForestWorks will be working with all forest managers that use the system to let them know what is happening. The forest managers will be responsible for establishing new policies and procedures for their contractors and employees and communicating their new requirements. 

ForestWorks suggests that you engage with your forest manager as soon as possible to find out about their alternative arrangements. 

If you have any further questions about the future of the skills verification program then please contact the FOLS Team on 1800 177 001 or via fols@forestworks.com.au