WorkSafe and the Training Accreditation Council Western Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing sharing of information about High Risk Work Licence training.
As the industry regulator, it is WorkSafe's responsibility to ensure that licensed persons are trained to a level that enables them to conduct activities safely. The Training Accreditation Council (TAC) regulates registered training providers that deliver nationally recognised vocational training to domestic students in WA.
The MoU provides for communication and cooperation between the two bodies with the aim of improving the quality of vocational training for WA workers. It allows for the sharing of information on training providers registered with TAC that provide High Risk Work Licence training.
Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the MoU aimed to improve the regulation of training and assessment in WA.
"TAC and WorkSafe have not previously been able to share specific information, so this MoU will potentially help both agencies identify anyone who is not properly assessing licence applicants," Ms North said.
"WorkSafe audits the assessors who carry out the training, and this process has in the past led to the discovery of assessors who have awarded licences to workers who have not demonstrated that they can do the work in a safe and proper manner.
"WorkSafe has increased compliance activities, and with the addition of this new MoU, it's even more likely that assessors will be found out if they do not conduct assessments properly.
"The potential repercussions of inadequate assessments are serious - from the loss of the assessor's livelihood to a significant number of workers who have been granted licences when they have not demonstrated that they can safely do the work, which can endanger lives."
TAC Chairperson Anne Driscoll said the MoU would provide opportunities for the two regulators to work together to improve the quality of training and assessment outcomes in WA and contribute to safe workplace practices for graduates.
"The MoU supports TAC in strengthening its oversight of the quality of training and assessment in training products that lead to high risk work licences, and provides the opportunity for the sharing of information between the two regulators," Ms Driscoll said.
