Frequently Asked Questions

In the last five years, State and Federal governments have made changes to Rail Safety law. The aim is to make work practices and skills the same nationally, across different regions and railway systems. Key to these changes has been the move away from individual state or rail network "non-accredited" training courses and outcomes, towards nationally recognised training.

Nationally recognised training:

• Is regulated by vocational education and training (VET) standards
• Delivers consistent skills
• Ensures that all workers have the same base skills and knowledge to do the job

Nationally Recognised Training is delivered by Registered Training Organisation (RTO), such as CERT. Only registered training organisations (RTOs) can deliver nationally recognised training and issue nationally recognised qualifications (or statements of attainment). Nationally Recognised Training consists of:

• Training Packages
• Qualifications
• Units of competency
• Accredited courses
• Skill sets

Nationally Recognised Training is maintained by the Industry Skills Council, Auto Skills Australia (training packages, qualifications, units of competency and skill sets) and Vocational Education and Training Regulators (accredited courses and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) details and scope information). 

Accredited courses are assessed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to ensure they are compliant with the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 and the Australian Qualifications Framework (Hyperlink: http://www.aqf.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AQF-2nd-Edition-January-2013.pdf). The Australian Qualifications Framework is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework. The AQF was first introduced in 1995 to underpin the national system of qualifications in Australia encompassing higher education, vocational education and training and schools.

A VET accredited course can be accredited for all qualification types recognised under the AQF that are eligible for delivery within the VET sector, including:

• Certificate I
• Certificate II
• Certificate III
• Certificate IV
• Diploma
• Advanced Diploma
• Graduate Certificate, and
• Graduate Diploma.

Each of our courses listed online have noted on their page whether the course is nationally recognised/accredited.

If you’re still not sure you can contact your local CERT branch and enquire or simply visit the training.gov.au website which lists all nationally recognised training. If the training course you wish to enrol in is not listed on training.gov.au, it is not nationally recognised training.

In Australian vocational education and training (VET), a Unit of Competency is a specific set of knowledge and skills. A unit normally defines the specific knowledge and skills required; and the evidence that a qualified assessor needs to see the learner demonstrate.

A unit of competency is the smallest unit that can be assessed and recognised. In turn, units are assembled into skill sets or qualifications (Certificate I, Certificate II, Certificate III, etc.).

A learner attains a Unit of Competency by “demonstrating the specified knowledge and skills of the unit to a defined standard; usually to a level that would reasonably be expected in the workplace”. You demonstrate this knowledge and skills to a qualified Assessor, who then records evidence of you performing the task. Assessments can be conducted using:

• Theory assessments (written tests)
• Practical assessments (simulated exercises)
• One-on-one questioning
• Workplace diaries or on-the-job assessments

  If you do so correctly, a mark of “Competent” is recorded, and you attain the Unit of Competency.

Australian rail networks mostly require a worker to hold individual units of competency relevant to the role they work in. These units are chosen based on the nature of the role; the more technical or advanced the role, the more units and certifications that are required.

Different Australian railways are moving to standardise roles and the nationally recognised units required by each. This benefits individual workers by making it easier to work across Australia and minimising additional training or endorsement needed to work in other states or territories.

NSW

Lists of different roles and the units required by each are defined in ‘matrices.’ These spreadsheets are published on the Rail Industry Worker website (railindustryworker.com.au) and the websites of individual railway networks, normally under the “Contractor Information” section.

Each matrix shows a particular field or discipline; there are separate matrices for Track/Civil, Safeworking (Track Protection), Signals, Structures, and Engineering roles. In future, matrices for Rail Operations (train drivers, shunters, signallers, rail vehicle maintenance) and other disciplines will likely be introduced

Generally, most nationally recognised Units of Competency do not expire; once you attain a unit, you hold it for life. While you hold a unit for life once you attain it, some rail networks impose a period of ‘currency’ (usually two years) for several roles.

After two years, they ask learners to be “periodically reassessed” to prove that they still have the skills and knowledge in the units required by their roles. On completion of these periodical reassessments (sometimes called “recertifications”) a certificate for another two year period of currency is issued.

Some roles in infrastructure, track, and civil construction only require you to renew your track awareness every two years – other units (the Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure – Core Units) do not need to be reassessed.

Different rail networks have different periods of currency.

All course materials are provided for you, so you will just need to bring along 100 points of Identification.

In our Cannington office you are not required to wear PPE as it is classroom based training. However you are required to wear enclosed footwear.

For the PO1, PO2, RRVO and RTC you will be required to wear PPE for part of the course as you will complete a practical component out of office. The Trainer will let you know on the first day of the course when this practical component will take place.

In order to successfully complete the assessment requirements for any High Risk Work Licence, participants must complete a written test, answering more than 60 questions. Participants who have literacy difficulties, but are otherwise skilled and knowledgeable in, for example, forklift operations, might find it challenging or improbable to pass the assessment because of issues with reading the assessment (test) and providing written responses.

 A number of training organisations have sought clarification about this issue from WorkSafe WA, which is the government body responsible for issuing all High Risk Work Licenses.

 WorkSafe WA has provided clear instructions to training organisations about the literacy requirements for the written assessment component of the High Risk Work Licences (HRWLs). WorkSafe WA has advised that:

Regulation 6.20(2)(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 requires that an assessor must not issue a notice of satisfactory assessment (NOA) unless satisfied that the applicant for the HRWL has sufficient knowledge of the English language, both written and oral, to safely do the work relevant to the HRWL applied for.

WorkSafe considers that to assist in ensuring safety at the workplace, and to comply with the above regulatory requirement, applicants for a HRWL must have sufficient knowledge of the English language to communicate orally with other workers and where appropriate be able to read and understand:   

•Safety signs at workplaces.

•Operator manuals in the case of plant such as, for example, fork-lift trucks, work platforms and cranes.   

•Load charts and/or compliance plates in the case of plant as exampled above.   

•Assembly instructions and drawings associated with rigging and scaffolding work.

•Job Safety Analyses (JSAs).

In undertaking the written component of the Assessment Instrument, WorkSafe does not permit, under any circumstances, an interpreter to be used and requires that applicants attempt the written examination in their own hand.

Being able to write answers to the written questions is an essential means of applicants demonstrating to the assessor that they can read the English language. However, when marking written assessments assessors can seek verbal clarification/enhancement of questions not fully answered.  

WorkSafe also wishes to confirm that all written assessments for HRWLs must be 'closed book' in that applicants must not have access to any information, such as course text books or other learning material that will assist them in providing answers to the Assessment Instrument questions.

We appreciate that it can be difficult for people from non-English speaking backgrounds and those with reading and writing difficulties to meet the WorkSafe requirements and we are committed to making whatever reasonable adjustments we can. However, we must always comply fully with the WorkSafe WA requirements which are designed to ensure the safety of workplaces where high-risk activities are being undertaken.

You will need to do the full training with reduced events of mentoring which is dependent upon the 2 years’ experience in the role. You must also be employed by one of the Queensland Rail Safeworking Panel.

You will need to undertake the SARC and Fatigue Management training. Once completed you need to do a Category 3 medical and obtain your WHS Construction card to apply for the Rail Industry Workers card.

Students need to undertake SARC and the Certificate ll Core units (TLI21315 Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure).

Yes.

SX52 (formally RISI) is conducted every Monday and Friday in our Beresfield office at 8.30am (7.30am if conducting the medical with us) concluding approximately 3.30pm.

SX52 (formally RISI) is conducted everyday of the week Monday through to Friday in our Chullora office at 8.30am (7:30am if conducting the medical with us) concluding approximately 3.30pm.

The medical criteria for the TfNSW SX52 (formally RISI) and ARTC National Track Safety Awareness is a Category 3 Health Assessment (hearing, vision, mobility) and a Drug and Alcohol Screen (breath & urine analysis) from one of the Rail Authorised Health Professionals.

Medical criteria for Category 3 workers;

Yes, all participants must be dressed sensibly and wear enclosed shoes.