Changes to Delivery by RTO's for Prescribed Occupation licensing
The following information has bee provided to all RTO's delivering prescribed occupation training in Queensland.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) seeks to clarify the intent of Formal Training which must take place prior to any time being accumulated in a log book.
Section 18 and section 25 of the Workplace Heath and Safety Regulation 2008 (the regulation) mandates who has authority to perform high risk work and earthmoving or particular crane occupations. Both sections require the operator to be either a licence or certificate holder, or a trainee.
Section 31 of the regulation mandates that a person is a trainee, if they are receiving formal training and informal learning, in an earthmoving or particular crane occupation or high risk work, under a training plan and log book. As such, without a training plan and log book, the person is not considered a trainee. Accordingly, if the person does not hold the relevant licence or certificate, and is not a trainee, the person and his employer are in breach of the regulation. The requirements for what a training plan must state are mandated at section 33 of the regulation.
Schedule 18 of the regulation defines the following:
formal training means training involving theory and practical demonstration.
This means, training provided by an approved person, which covers all the elements from the unit of competency. informal learning means workplace experience.
This means, experience gained operating the plant in the workplace and logged in the log book.
Section 32 (3) of the regulation states:
For the workplace experience in the use or operation of plant to be treated as informal learning for a trainee, the trainee must have already received formal training in the use or operation of that plant.
This means that prior to accumulating time in a log book (informal learning) the trainee must undertake formal training.
WHSQ seeks to clarify that the formal training, which must be provided prior to the trainee going onto the log book, must include all of the elements from the unit of competency. This must include both the theoretical and the practical components. Documented records must be kept outlining the dates of the formal training, who provided that training and the content of the training.
An assessment does not need to take place at the completion of the formal training, the trainee can move straight to the log book at that stage and on completion of the log book, both theory and practical assessments can be undertaken. However, if the RTO and trainee wish to undertake the theory assessment at the completion of the formal training, then that is also considered appropriate. (Note: If the
trainee cannot complete the log book (informal learning) and be assessed in the performance within 6 months of the theory (underpinning knowledge) assessment being undertaken, the trainer/assessor must reassess the applicant again in the underpinning knowledge prior to undertaking the practical assessment).
It should be noted that the log book must be completed prior to the practical assessment being undertaken. Remembering the theory assessment must be completed before the practical assessment.
In summary:
- A training plan must be established for the trainee.
- Formal training, covering all the elements of the unit of competency, including both theory and practical, must be provided by an approved person.
- At this point the trainee may undertake the theory assessment.
- The trainee's informal learning is logged in the log book.
- The trainee undertakes the theory assessment if not completed prior to the log book.
- The trainee undertakes the practical assessment.
- If competent, the trainee makes application for a licence.
Given these directions ASTA is running additional courses for load shifting and forklifts prior to the end of the year. It is expected that the governments requirements shown above will increase costs for licensing training in the new year.
Front End Loader – 13th October
Backhoe – 14th October
Skid Steer – 15th October
Excavator – 21st October
