Edition 80, July 2010

Update on high risk work licensing in Western Australia

Worksafe and the West Australian Training Accreditation Council have jointly produced a flyer to provide updated information on high risk work licensing in Western Australia. It also provides information about the transition arrangements for registered training organisations (RTOs) that are currently registered to deliver the units of competency recognised by WorkSafe for the high risk work licences (HRWL) and would like to register for the new HRWL units of competency.

The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 Part B reflect the National Standard for Persons Performing High Risk Work (April 2006) which requires training and assessment for high risk work licences to occur within the vocational education and training system. The aim is to achieve nationally uniform, competency based training.

The regulations recognise 29 licence classes. Units of competency have now been endorsed for 24 of these classes. The HRWL units of competency have been embedded in training packages to meet the requirements. A list of the endorsed units of competence is attached at the end of this flyer.

Use of mandated assessment tools

The TLI07 and CPC08 training packages identify that the new units require the use of mandated assessment tools. There are new national assessment tools, produced by Safe Work Australia, available from WorkSafe
(email wslicensing@commerce.wa.gov.au). However, it has been recognised that these assessment tools may not meet all of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and training package requirements. Safe Work Australia has commenced a review of the tools. The review is to be completed in the first half of 2010 so that changes can be approved and implemented during the second half of the year.

When using assessment tools mandated by either the training package or by a regulating authority, the RTO has the responsibility to ensure that the requirements of both the AQTF and the regulator/licensing authority are met. Where gaps are identified between the assessment tool(s) and the training package requirements, the RTO will need to assess what is not covered in the mandated assessment tools and ensure compliance with the AQTF and training package requirements.

WorkSafe will continue to accept statements of attainment for units of competency currently recognised for the issuance of the high risk work licences until the new assessment tools have been through the moderation process. At that time, a transition arrangement will be put into place.

Training Accreditation Council's amendment to registration process

The 24 HRWL units have been identified as new units in the summary mapping of the relevant training packages. They are not 'direct replacements' to the currently recognised units, which are from multiple training packages. The amendment to registration process outlined below is for RTOs currently registered to deliver and assess units of competence recognised by WorkSafe for high risk work licences.

For complete information access the flyer here

Information for holders of existing licences is available from the Worksafe WA website http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/Content/Services/
Certification_registration_and/High_risk_work_licence.html

This page was generated on 26 July, 2010