Q&As for Training Providers

Abbreviations:

"06 Approval" means Approvals granted from 1 February 2006 to 31 August 2007

"08 Approval" means Approvals granted from 1 September 2007

"EOI" means Expression of Interest
"RPL" means Recognition of Prior Learning
"RTO" means Registered Training Organisation
"SIR" means Security Industry Registry
"VETAB" means NSW Vocational Education & Training Accreditation Board

"CoA" means Conditions of Approval

Question 1

As an approved RTO we have to notify the SIR of certain matters such as location, dates and times of training before they occur. What is the preferred way of notifying the SIR of any matter relating to our Conditions of Approval?

Answer to Question 1

On 30 July 2007 we advised approved RTOs that have a ‘06 Approval to immediately cease emailing notifications in relation to:

·         trainer approval requests - as per CoA no. 4;

·         location, dates and times of training and names of your approved trainer - as     per CoA no. 6;

·         list of students having been issued qualifications for the purposes of licensing - as per CoA no.7

to compsir@police.nsw.gov.au which should be used for all compliance enquiries and related matters.

Instead, you are requested to fax the above notifications to the SIR on 1300 362 066 and include on the header sheet:

Please also include your full Company and/or Business Name, Approval number and Master licence number on both the header sheet and all notifications. The header sheet should also indicate the notifications that are to follow (e.g. "Issued qualifications for week commencing...").

Please ensure that you retain your facsimile confirmation advice as evidence of the successful transmission of each notification, as the SIR will no longer acknowledge their receipt except for 2D trainer approval requests.

For those matters that we will continue to accept by email (see above), we will acknowledge receipt within five working days. However please allow up to 14 working days for a response to any issues raised, if applicable.

All RTOs that have a ‘08 Approval are required to submit their notifications in accordance with Condition No 21 of their Approval letter.

Question 2

Our RTO would like to employ two trainers who have specialist training and assessment skills but are yet to complete their risk management qualification. What are the current trainer requirements?

Answer to Question 2

Your proposed trainers will need to possess appropriate vocational qualifications including a risk management qualification which as a minimum should be a Certificate IV in Security (Risk Management) or related discipline as well as a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.

All trainers should also hold the appropriate security industry qualifications and experience that relates to your Commissioner’s Scope of Approval. Thus, there is no requirement for the proposed trainers to hold the required qualifications and experience relating to any specialist Modules that your RTO does not offer.

The Specialist Modules contained in the Certificate I in Security Operations

(pre-Licence) 91190 NSW Accredited course are as follows:

·                 1A - Unarmed Static & Mobile Guard

·                 1B - Close Personal Protection/Bodyguards

·                 1C - Venue/Crowd Control

·                 1D - Guard/Dog Handler

·                 1E - Control Room

·                 1F - Armed Guard

·                 1G - Loss Prevention Officer

The units of competency contained in the above Modules form the basis of the vocational pathway for security licensing purposes in relation to the following qualifications:

(i)               Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103; and

(ii)             Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103.

Engagement of licensed 2D trainers

When an approved RTO advertises for 2D trainers, they must insert their Master licence number in their job placement advertisement in accordance with Clause 33 of the Security Industry Regulation 2007. Furthermore, approved RTOs must clearly indicate to all intended applicants the type of qualifications and experience required in relation to the training position being offered.

In relation to ’06 Approved RTOs they must engage the services of a 2D trainer as an employee rather than a contractor or sub-contractor; otherwise their Conditions of Approval may be breached.

In relation to ’08 Approved RTOs please refer to Condition No. 3 of your Approval letter.

Question 3

Is it a requirement to notify the SIR of any changes to our approved trainers/assessors who conduct security training and assessment activities, e.g. if they resign or are terminated by the company?

Answer to Question 3

In relation to ’06 Approved RTOs it is expected that you notify the SIR of all changes to your approved trainers/assessors as the SIR tracks all trainer/assessor engagements. As an Approved RTO your compliance management system should ensure that you capture those events which require written notification and prior approval by the SIR. Therefore, the same system should also allow you to notify the SIR of changes arising as all approved training activities are cross-checked and validated when you are audited.

In relation to ’08 Approved RTOs please refer to Condition No. 7 of your Approval letter.

Question 4

In accordance with our Approval Letter, we previously notified the SIR that we were conducting a Certificate I in Security Operations (pre-Licence) 91190 NSW course on a particular number of days. However, due to operational reasons we have since cancelled the course. Is there any requirement to notify the SIR of the cancellation?

Answer to Question 4

In relation to ’06 Approvals while the Conditions are silent in respect to cancellations, these should nevertheless be notified to the SIR as unannounced random field visits of training activities are periodically conducted. Moreover, notices of cancellations would assist with the validation of your training activities as issued qualifications are cross-matched against your scheduled training activities.

RTOs that hold a ’08 Approval are required to notify the SIR of any cancellations in accordance with Condition 9 of their Approval letter.

Question 5

Who is permitted to conduct on-the-job training and assessment of units in relation to:

·                 Certificate II in Security Operations PRS20103; and

·                 Certificate III in Security Operations PRS30103?

Answer to Question 5

Please see the answer to Question 2 for details. While assistance in the gathering of evidence may be sought from the employer and/or supervising staff of security licence holders, the Approved RTO retains the responsibility of administering and processing of all assessments.

Question 6

Our RTO has employed two qualified 2D trainers who hold Risk Management qualifications as well as possessing suitable vocational qualifications. Upon receiving the SIR's approval and due to operational reasons we rotated both trainers during a recently held Certificate 1 in Security Operations (pre-Licence) 91190 NSW course. Even though both trainers were supervised by a senior trainer, who should sign off on the Certificates for those trainees which we have deemed competent?

Answer to Question 6

It is desirable that the trainer who delivers the training and undertakes the assessments should sign off on the issued Certificates. However, in those instances where assessment and training is undertaken by a team of trainers, then the head trainer would normally be expected to sign off on them. Furthermore, it is expected that all issued Certificates should be co-signed by the RTO’s Chief Executive Officer.

Question 7

What is the minimum attendance time for a trainee when undertaking their relevant course?

Answer to Question 7

Nominal student hours for each Module are listed in the relevant training package. Anything less than 100% attendance for each training activity would be considered as non completion of the said Module. For example, Module 4492B - Apply Basic Communication Skills requires eight (8) nominal student hours. Thus, if a trainee only undertakes six (6) hours of the above Module, the SIR would consider that trainee as not completing the requirements of their qualification. Please refer to your Approval Letter for details.

Given it is the Approved RTO's responsibility to ensure that all students receive the required instructional time relevant to their qualification being undertaken, any non-compliance could lead to the refusal of a trainee's security licence application or if a security licence has been issued, its revocation. Random audits of security licence applications are continuously being conducted by the SIR.

Question 8

How often can an Approved RTO expect to be audited by the SIR?

Answer to Question 8

The SIR's compliance monitoring program and audits are continuous activities and accordingly, a random unannounced field visit could be instigated at any time including evening courses or weekend activities which have been scheduled by you.

Security Industry Registry
NSW Police Force
16 April 2009

Telephone: 1300 362 001
Facsimile: 1300 362 066
Mail: Locked Bag 5099 Parramatta NSW 2124
Email: compsir@police.nsw.gov.au