SES training information book v1 8

33 Pages·2009·0.25 MB·English

by  Paul Cortese

ACT State Emergency Service

Training and Assessment
Handbook

Version 1.8 2009

Number 11
POLICY NAME: Training and Information VERSION: 1.8
Handbook
DATE EFFECTIVE: 01/06/2009 REVIEW 01/06/2010
BY:
APPROVED BY: Deputy Chief Officer – ACT State Emergency Service
CONTACT: Learning and Development Coordinator
T. 02 6207 8726
RELATED
POLICIES & • ESA Training Procedures manual
DOCUMENTS:

Table Of Contents

Introduction...........................................................3

Gaining Competence....................................................................................3
Skills Recognition.........................................................................................3
Training..................................................................5

Introduction...................................................................................................5
Training delivery...........................................................................................5
Training material...........................................................................................5
Training methods..........................................................................................6
The SES Learning and Development Coordinator.......................................6
Assessment...........................................................6

Introduction...................................................................................................6
Assessors.....................................................................................................7
Joint Assessment.........................................................................................7
Qualifications........................................................8

Introduction...................................................................................................8
Training Support...................................................8

Training Support Team.................................................................................8
Acticards.......................................................................................................8
SES Roles & Competencies.................................9

Introduction...................................................................................................9
SES Team Member................................................9

Introduction...................................................................................................9
Training........................................................................................................9
SES Team Leader................................................11

Introduction.................................................................................................11
Training......................................................................................................11
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SES Unit Officer..................................................12

Introduction.................................................................................................12
Training......................................................................................................12
Other Training Opportunities.............................13

Introduction.................................................................................................13
Nationally Recognised Training..................................................................13
Non-Nationally Recognised Training..........................................................15
AIIMS....................................................................16

AIIMS Overview (ALL)................................................................................16
Course in AIIMS.........................................................................................16
Incident Management Skills........................................................................16
Incident Planning........................................................................................16
Situation Unit Officer..................................................................................17
Logistics Officer..........................................................................................17
Operational Management...........................................................................17
Staging Area Management.........................................................................17
Training Pathways ..............................................18

Skills Trainer and Assessor endorsement pathway....................................18
ASSESSOR..................................................................................................1
TRAINER......................................................................................................1
Certificate II in Public Safety (SES Rescue) PUA20400.............................21
Certificate II in Public Safety (SES Operations) PUA20500.......................22
Certificate III in Public Safety (SES Rescue) PUA30400............................22
Certificate III in Public Safety (SES Operations) PUA30500......................24
Certificate IV in Public Safety (SES Leadership) PUA40200......................25
Diploma of Public Safety (SES Operations Management) PUA50400.......26
Skill Sets (Attachment A) ...................................27

Introduction.................................................................................................27
• SES Member (Induction).................................................................27
• SES Member (First Aid and Safety).................................................28
• Basic Rescue...................................................................................28
• Air Search Observer........................................................................29
• Basic Tree Operations.....................................................................29
• Operations Centre...........................................................................30

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Introduction

AIM

This book, known as the Training and Assessment Handbook, describes the
roles, responsibilities and qualifications required to undertake the various
tasks within the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES).

Learning and development opportunities for the ACTSES are designed to
allow members to perform their roles within the ACT community safely,
proficiently and competently. The framework for this training is nationally
recognised competency based training from the Public Safety Training
Package, which has been adopted by all State and Territory Emergency
Services. Other non- nationally recognised training programs, for example the
training provided by ACTAGL, is laos shown within this handbook.

Gaining Competence

The skills, knowledge and attitudes of SES members can be gained through:

• Formal training and assessment;
• Experience with the ACTSES;
• Prior learning in another environment;
• Life Experience.

How members gain these knowledge and skills is not important. the key issue
is ensuring members can demonstrate the appropriate level of skills and
knowledge required to ‘do the job’. The Emergency Services Agency (ESA)
achieves this through consistent and reliable assessment processes. Any
member, who believes they already hold the skills and knowledge required,
can seek recognition of current competence through a challenge assessment
process. For more detail, members are invited to approach the ACTSES
Learning and Development Coordinator.

Skills Recognition

This is the process of evaluating and recognising a members skills and
knowledge which they may have obtained from one of, or a combination of the
above mentioned ways of gaining competency. This process involves the
incorporation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Recognition of
Current Competence (RCC). Any member wishing to have skills and
knowledge recognised should speak to their Unit Training Officer who will
liaise with the SES Learning and Development Coordinator to make the
arrangements.

RPL and RCC is an essential component of competency-based training. It
focuses on current competency standards gained by individuals through:
• Work experience;
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• Life experience;
• Formal training;
• Informal Training.

ACTSES volunteers and staff, who believe they possess, and can
substantiate relevant competencies, may apply for Skills Recognition.
Applications will be processed on the basis that it is the Applicants'
responsibility to provide all the evidence required to support their claim for
recognition.

Skills Recognition is a process involving an assessment of an individual's
current knowledge and skills even though the evidence produced in support of
the claim for recognition may be drawn from the past. Applicants must note
that the Skills Recognition is still a form of assessment and may require
detailed evidence and/or a skills challenge test.

Selected personnel appointed by the ESA Manager Training will conduct RCC
assessments.

Note: Full details relating to Skills Recognition (RPL/RCC) can be found in the
ESA Training Procedures Manual.
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Training

Introduction

ACTSES operates under the ESA Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
operating within the vocational education and training (VET) system. As an
RTO, the ESA is able to offer nationally recognised training to staff and
volunteers.

To become an RTO, the ESA has undertaken a registration process with the
ACT Accreditation and Registration Council (ARC). In order to be registered
and maintain registration, ARC audits the ESA for compliance with the
Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) 2007 Essential Standards for
Registration.

Training delivery

The responsibility for the delivery of training is shared between the Units, the
Service, and the RTO.

Trainers:
In order to be permitted to conduct nationally recognised training, ACTSES
trainers must hold either of the following units of competence:
• TAADEL301A – Provide training through instruction and demonstration
of work skills, or
• BSZ404A – Train small groups.

All trainers should also be competent in the unit of competence in which they
are training. Where the trainer is not competent in the unit of competence in
which they are training they may train in a team with someone who holds the
particular unit of competence being delivered.

As a quality assurance measure designed to ensure that trainers are provided
with the required support, all trainers undergo a formal trainer endorsement
process conducted by the SES Learning and Development Coordinator or an
RTO Training Officer.

Training material

ESA Training (ESAT) is responsible for the development of training material
across the ESA. Copies of training material can be obtained through the SES
Learning and Development Coordinator.

Unit Trainers may develop their own training material to complement that
provided by ESAT staff. This material shall not contradict any of the training
material, policy or processes endorsed by either the ACTSES or the ESA.

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Training methods

Training will be delivered by a variety of methods matched to the
characteristics of the subject matter, and the needs of the candidates.
Generally, the focus will be on practical skills based training with a minimum
of classroom training. The greatest opportunity possible will be provided to
enable participants to use their normal Unit activities for learning and
assessment.

The SES Learning and Development Coordinator

The role of the SES Learning and Development Coordinator is to:
• Assist Units in delivering training and conducting assessments;
• Endorse trainers and assessors at a Service level;
• Chair of the Training Support Team (TST);
• Guidance and advice on training related matters;
• Production of materials for training;
• Maintenance of the ACTSES Training Database;
• Coordinate the provision of training and assessment;
• Participate in assessment validation;
• Participate in assessment moderation;
• Member, National Education and Training Committee;
• Provide professional development for trainers and assessors.

Assessment

Introduction

Assessment will be conducted using assessment tools developed by the RTO.
Candidates enter into assessment agreements with their assessor when they
feel they are ready to be assessed, this provides candidates with the
opportunity to seek clarification on any issues that they are unsure about and
to identify any special needs they may have. Note: in the interests of fairness
and consistency, assessment tools cannot be developed or amended at Unit
level.

As part of the development process, assessment tools are validated to ensure
they meet the following rules:
• Valid (assess what they claim to assess)
• Reliable (give consistent results)
• Flexible (allow for mutual convenience)
• Fair (not disadvantage any person)

However, regular feedback is sought from candidates and trainers to improve
assessment tools and processes. If you feel that an assessment tool or
process you have undergone could be improved, you are invited to contact
the ACTSES Learning and Development Coordinator or ESAT RTO
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personnel. Feedback, including constructive comments, assists us to improve
the service we provide and is welcomed.

Assessors

Only those who are competent in the following units of competence may act
as assessors:

TAAASS401A – Plan and organise assessment, and
TAAASS402A – Assess competence, and
TAAASS404A – Participate in assessment validation

These units are the current units of competence available. Members who hold
the superseded units of competence mentioned below will be offered up
skilling to the current competency from time to time.

BSZ401A – Plan Assessment, and
BSZ402A – Conduct Assessment, and
BSZ403A – Review Assessment

As a quality assurance measure designed to ensure that assessors are
provided with the required support, all assessors undergo a formal Assessor
endorsement process conducted by the SES Learning and Development
Coordinator or RTO Training Officer. Assessor endorsements are reviewed
every 2 years to maintain a fair and moderated assessment process.

Joint Assessment

Where assessors do not have the competency in the subject that they are
assessing, they may call on someone with the necessary competency to
assist with the assessment process.

Note: The TAA units replace the old BSZ units of competence. New trainers
and assessors will need to complete these new units in order to either assess
and/or train in the ACT SES. Existing trainers and assessors may continue to
train and assess however they will need to up skill to the new units of
competence from the training and assessment training package when the
opportunity is offered.

Training and up skilling in TAA units of competence will be provided by ESA.
This training will be delivered flexibly to suit the needs of volunteers.

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Qualifications

Introduction

Most of the training offered by the ACTSES is aligned with units of
competency from the Public Safety Training Package V7.

The focus of SES training is to meet operational needs of the organisation to
ensure SES is able to meet its’ legislative requirements rather than focussed
on awarding qualifications. However the ACTSES is though very supportive of
its members gaining qualifications and will consider opportunities and
assistance to those members seeking such qualifications.

The ESA is the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for the ACTSES. The
ESA can issue the relevant qualifications listed on page 21-26 to SES
members. ESA has the ability to customise each of these qualifications, within
the Qualification Packaging Rules. Elective units may be taken from other
endorsed training packages as well as from higher or lower level Public Safety
Qualifications. Members should talk with their Unit training officer if they
believe they may meet the requirements for any of the qualifications below.

Training Support

Training Support Team

So as to provide a high level of liaison between the ESA, SES and the
volunteer Units, the SES Training Support Team (TST) operates as a sub-
group of the ACTSES Principal Advisory Group. The SES Learning and
Development Coordinator chairs the TST and membership comprises a
representative from each of the SES volunteer Units.

The TST is responsible for co-ordinating the SES annual field day, the
conduct of whole-of-service exercises, and for providing advice to the SES
Learning and Development coordinator on training assessment related
matters. TST members are also responsible for providing advice related to the
upkeep of the training database.

Acticards

The Australian Council of State Emergency Services has implemented and
developed a website for use by SES volunteers and staff to assist in training
activities. The site can be located at www.ses.org.au . Acticards are the
method used within this website to share and store information related to
training and assessment activities. Members are encouraged to populate the
site with any suggested training activities that they may find useful and that
they are prepared to share with other members of the wider SES community.

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