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 judgements 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.

The technology, size and complexity of the equipment to be used, occupational health and safety issues and legislative and regulatory requirements require assessment - for an AQF qualification in any sector of the Mining Industry - to be conducted in the workplace or a simulated situation.  On-the-job assessment conducted in the workplace or in a simulated situation ensures that candidates can function effectively in the real work environment and that the competencies assessed are relevant to the mine site and the industry.

• Registration of Training Organisation (RTO)

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. 

The Metalliferous Mining units of competency complement but do not infringe on the responsibilities and requirements of state/territory based regulatory authorities.  An individual seeking a qualification for a position covered by state/territory regulatory requirements should check with the relevant Act and regulatory authority, the employer and the RTO providing the training and assessment, when selecting elective units of competency to complete the qualification.
Individuals being assessed under statutory licensing and industry registration systems must comply with any training and experience requirements additional to the minimum requirements identified in this Training Package.

Contact the relevant state or territory regulatory authority(ies) to check relevant licensing/registration requirements.  For further information, contact:

Mining Regulatory Authority	Website details
NSW Department of Department of Mineral Resources	www.minerals.nsw.gov.au
Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy	www.nrme.qld.gov.au
Tasmanian Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources	www.mrt.tas.gov.au
Victorian Department of Primary Industries	www.dpi.vic.gov.au
Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy	www.dme.nt.gov.au
Western Australian Department of Industry and resources	www.doir.wa.gov.au
South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Resources	www.pir.sa.gov.au

Requirements for Assessors
In order to conduct assessment for statutory licensing or other industry registration requirements, assessors must meet the requirements of the relevant state or territory regulatory authority(ies) and should check relevant licensing/registration 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 in the mining industry, RTOs may have to meet the additional requirements of the relevant state or territory regulatory authority(ies) and should check relevant licensing/registration requirements.

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

Assessment for the issuing of an AQF qualification in any sector of the mining industry will be conducted in the workplace or in a simulated situation where issues of safety and/or environmental damage are limiting factors. On-the-job assessment conducted in the workplace or in a simulated situation ensures that candidates can function effectively in the real work environment and that the competencies assessed are relevant to the mine site and the industry.
The competencies in this Training Package may be attained in a number of ways, including:

• 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.

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 the Learning and Assessment Pathways documentation

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