Assessment Guidelines

Introduction

These Assessment Guidelines provide the endorsed framework for assessment of units of competency in this Training Package.  They are designed to ensure that assessment is consistent with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Standards for Registered Training Organisations.  Assessments against the units of competency in this Training Package must be carried out in accordance with these Assessment Guidelines. 

Assessment System Overview
This section provides an overview of the requirements for assessment when using this Training Package, including a summary of the AQTF requirements; licensing/registration requirements; and assessment pathways.

Benchmarks for Assessment
Assessment within the National Training Framework is the process of collecting evidence and making judgments about whether competency has been achieved to confirm whether an individual can perform to the standards expected in the workplace, as expressed in the relevant endorsed unit of competency.
In the areas of work covered by this Training Package, the endorsed units of competency are the benchmarks for assessment.  As such, they provide the basis for nationally recognised Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). 

Australian Quality Training Framework Assessment Requirements

Assessment leading to nationally recognised AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment in the vocational education and training sector must meet the requirements of the AQTF as expressed in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations. 
The Standards for Registered Training Organisations can be downloaded from the DEEWR website at www.deewr.gov.au or can be obtained in hard copy from DEEWR.  The following points summarise the assessment requirements under the AQTF.

  • Registration of Training Organisations

Assessment must be conducted by, or on behalf of, an RTO formally registered by a State or Territory Registering/Course Accrediting Body in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.  The RTO must have the specific units of competency and/or AQF qualifications on its scope of registration.  See Section 1 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Quality Training and Assessment

Each RTO must have systems in place to plan for and provide quality training and assessment across all its operations.  See Standard 1 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Assessor Competency Requirements

Each person involved in training, assessment or client service must be competent for the functions they perform.  See Standard 7 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations for assessor competency requirements.  Standard 7 also specifies the competencies that must be held by trainers.

  • Assessment Requirements

The RTO’s assessments must meet the requirements of the endorsed components of Training Packages within its scope of registration.  See Standard 8 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Assessment Strategies

Each RTO must identify, negotiate, plan and implement appropriate learning and assessment strategies to meet the needs of each of its clients.  See Standard 9 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Mutual Recognition

Each RTO must recognise the AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by any other RTO.  See Standard 5 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Access and Equity and Client Services

Each RTO must apply access and equity principles, provide timely and appropriate information, advice and support services that assist clients to identify and achieve desired outcomes.  This may include reasonable adjustment in assessment.  See Standard 6 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Partnership Arrangements

RTOs must have, and comply with, written agreements with each organisation providing training and/or assessment on its behalf.  See Standard 1.6 of Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

  • Recording Assessment Outcomes

Each RTO must have effective administration and records management procedures in place, and must record AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued.  See Standards 4 and 10.2 of the Standards for Registered Training.

  • Issuing AQF qualifications and Statement of Attainment

Each RTO must issue AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment that meet the requirements of the AQF Implementation Handbook and the endorsed Training Packages within the scope of its registration.  An AQF qualification is issued once the full requirements for a qualification, as specified in the nationally endorsed Training Package are met.  A Statement of Attainment is issued where the individual is assessed as competent against fewer units of competency than required for an AQF qualification.  See Standard 10 and Section 2 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

Licensing/Registration Requirements

This section provides information on licensing/registration requirements for this Training Package, with the following important disclaimer.
Licensing and registration requirements that apply to specific industries, and vocational education and training, vary between each State and Territory, and can regularly change.  The developers of this Training Package, and DEEWR, consider that the licensing/registration requirements described in this section apply to RTOs, assessors or candidates with respect to this Training Package.  While reasonable care has been taken in its preparation, the developers of this Training Package and DEEWR cannot guarantee that the list is definitive or accurate at the time of reading; the information in this section is provided in good faith on that basis.

Contact the relevant State or Territory Department(s) to check if the licensing/registration requirements described below still apply, and to check if there are any others with which you must comply.  For further information contact the relevant State or Territory Authority (see table below).
Many of the workplace tasks and activities undertaken to achieve a qualification or competency standard in this Training Package are covered by licensing and/or registration requirements. It is vital that before commencing work in the Civil Construction sector, the required certification has been granted by the relevant State or Territory regulatory authority. There is no one ‘National’ license for the sector or any of its functions. Certification responsibilities and systems are administered by State legislation and may differ between States and Territories.

The driving of plant on public roads will require the driver to obtain the relevant class drivers license from the relevant transport department or equivalent in their jurisdiction.

License/ Registration Jurisdiction  Contact Details
Boom type elevating work platform (boom length 11m or more)         Forklift truck  
Front End Loader  
Front End Loader/Backhoe  
Front End Loader (Skid Steer type)  
Excavator
Australian Capital Territory ACT WorkCover
www.workcover.act.gov.au 
Boom type elevating work platform (boom length 11m or more) Forklift truck  
Front End Loader  
Front End Loader/Backhoe  
Front End Loader (Skid Steer type)  
Excavator
New South Wales WorkCover New South Wales
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
Shot firer   Department of Mineral Resources
www.minerals.nsw.gov.au
Industrial truck (forklift) operation Shot firer Northern Territory Northern Territory Work Health Authority
www.deet.nt.gov.au/wha/
Operator of a boom type elevating work platform with a boom length of 11m or more Operator of a dozer  
Operator of an excavator (engine capacity of more than 2L)  
Operator of a fork lift truck (other than pedestrian operated)  
Operator of a front end loader (engine capacity of more than 2L)  
Operator of a front end loader/backhoe (engine capacity of more than 2L)  
Operator of a grader  
Operator of a roller (engine capacity of more than 2L)  
Operator of a skid steer loader (engine capacity of more than 2L)  
Operator of a scraper
Queensland Department of Industrial Relations (Workplace Health and Safety Division)
www.dir.qld.gov.au
Shot firer Department of Natural Resources and Mines
www.nrm.qld.gov.au/mines
Forklift truck
Front End Loader 
Front End Loader/Backhoe 
Front End Loader (Skid Steer type) 
Excavator 
Dozer
South Australia South Australia Workcover Corporation
www.workcover.com
Blaster Workplace Services
www.eric.sa.gov.au
Boom type elevating work platform (boom length 11m or more)         Forklift truck Tasmania Workplace Standards Tasmania
www.wst.tas.gov.au
Boom type elevating work platform (boom length 11m or more)         Forklift truck  
Front End Loader  
Front End Loader/Backhoe  
Front End Loader (Skid Steer type)  
Excavator
Victoria Victorian WorkCover Authority
www.workcover.vic.gov.au
Blasting explosives Department of Primary Industries (Minerals and Petroleum Division)
www.nre.vic.gov.au
Forklift operation (optional) Western Australia Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (Worksafe)
www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
Boom type elevating work platform (boom length 11m or more)             Shot firer Department of Industry and Resources
www.dme.wa.gov.au

Requirements for Assessors
In order to conduct assessment for statutory licensing or other industry registration requirements, assessors must meet the requirements outlined in the following chart, in addition to the AQTF requirements.

Requirements for RTOs
Selected units of competency and qualifications in this Training Package provide the basis for a range of statutory licensing and industry registration arrangements.  To satisfy these licensing and registration arrangements, RTOs must meet the additional requirements detailed in the following chart.

Requirements for Candidates
Individuals being assessed under statutory licensing and industry registration systems must comply with training and experience requirements additional to the minimum requirements identified in this Training Package. 

Pathways

The competencies in this Training Package may be attained in a number of ways including through:

  • formal or informal education and training
  • experiences in the workplace
  • general life experience, and/or
  • any combination of the above.

Assessment under this Training Package leading to an AQF qualification or Statement of Attainment may follow a learning and assessment pathway, an assessment-only or recognition pathway, or a combination of the two as illustrated in the following diagram.

Learning and Assessment Pathway

Each of these assessment pathways leads to full recognition of competencies held – the critical issue is that the candidate is competent, not how the competency was acquired. 

Assessment, by any pathway, must comply with the assessment requirements set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

Learning and Assessment Pathways

Usually, learning and assessment are integrated, with assessment evidence being collected and feedback provided to the candidate at anytime throughout the learning and assessment process.

Learning and assessment pathways may include structured programs in a variety of contexts using a range of strategies to meet different learner needs.  Structured learning and assessment programs could be: group-based, work-based, project-based, self-paced, action learning-based; conducted by distance or e-learning; and/or involve practice and experience in the workplace. 

Learning and assessment pathways to suit New Apprenticeships have a mix of formal structured training and structured workplace experience with formative assessment activities through which candidates can acquire and demonstrate skills and knowledge from the relevant units of competency.

Download Learning and Assessment Pathways document

Assessor Requirements

This section identifies the mandatory competencies for assessors, and clarifies how others may contribute to the assessment process where one person alone does not hold all the required competencies.

Download the Assessor Requirements and Resources documentation