Getting Started:

• You can pick a male or female worker to move around the Distribution Centre, the office, the lunchroom, the back of a truck, and later even drive a forklift.

• You use the keyboard to move the worker, mostly by up/down/left/right keys, but Ctrl is also used (to hide or retrieve notes from in-tray), Shift when you are lifting (so as not to hurt back), Space bar for pushing doors, buttons, inspecting things etc, End to bend down to pick things up, to lower forklift forks (which you can do later in the simulation, but not at the beginning). Home is to raise forks. Pg Up and Pg Dn give you a different view of what is going on. When you are using the computer in the office you use the full keyboard.

• The aim is to move the worker around and complete activities, which may be as simple as listening to the Supervisor (part of induction), and viewing notice-boards to complex things like driving forklift. There is carton moving (by hand or trolley), moving palletts, inspecting cartons, locking doors, labeling etc. Do not stick TWU labels over everything!

• The unusual shaped box on the screen becomes filled up with little “x” symbols as you demonstrate things. The first box covers 7 units of competency from the Transport and Distribution Training Package at Cert I level. A Cert I on the screen tells you this. When there are “x” symbols filling up the whole box you get a VIRTUAL Certificate I in Transport and Logistics. This means that you have demonstrated the knowledge to get a real Certificate I. You have to go to a real Distribution Centre to demonstrate skill, but remember, competency=knowledge+skill, so you are half way there. A real Registered Training Organisation (RTO) can take into account the knowledge you show here, but they are not legally obliged to accept it 100%. You still have to demonstrate things in the real world.

• The other boxes on the screen tell you what unit of competency you are “working” on, and ticks appear as you complete more.
• The $ symbol on the screen tells you how much more valuable you are as you learn more. It is called a Productivity Bonus, but really means more money with more skill. The TWU helped to negotiate this, and the generous Award you work under. No AWAs here!

• There is also a Health Bar. This shrinks the longer you work, or if you hurt yourself. Going to the lunchroom to get a drink of water restores your health.

• In the office is an in-tray, with notes telling you what to do.

• There is also a computer in the office. You have to do some things there, starting off with induction. You have to leave your details.

Moving On:

• After getting a virtual Certificate I, the worker can go on and get a virtual Certificate II and a virtual Certificate III. Things get harder as you go on. Forklift driving doesn’t come until Certificate II level. After-all, you have to know how to move and lift things by hand and by trolley before you can be let lose with a machine!
  
• There is a chance that if you cannot detect a suspicious package you could be blown up (Game Over!). The same applies if you are inside the yellow line and don’t look out for the forklift. If it says “Game Over” you lose everything in the level you are on. If you don’t die though, you can “SAVE” your progress, and work on it later. There is a place to save your progress in the lunchroom, or if you exit.
  
• If you are relatively competent at using a PC, and take notice of everything, it is possible to obtain a virtual Certificate III after about 12 hours of keyboarding. This of course translates to several days or weeks if learning happens at work or part of a structured program involving actual or simulated Distribution Centre work. And remember, the virtual Certificate only covers knowledge, not skill. Skill is demonstrated in the workplace.
  
• Adrian Denyer on 0400911459 may be able to help with some sticking points, but it isn’t guaranteed.
  
• This product is licensed to the TWU, and can be used for learning purposes, so long as this does not involve charging any fee.
  
• Good luck

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Click here to download the game to your PC or laptop hard drive*.

2. The game should save to your desktop. Double click on Setup.exe if installation does not begin immediately.

3. You will need to insert this serial number: TWU031AND when requested.

4. You should also download the coloured instruction booklet HERE.

This product is based on modern computer game technology, but it isn’t a game, it is a virtual simulation of a Distribution Centre!

System requirements:
*You need 128MB of RAM, 3D Video Card (32=MB), Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP and Direct 9.0c or above. Most modern PCs or laptops have this. (not macs)