Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to present gathered information on access compliance for people with disabilities in an access report. It requires the ability to organise and evaluate gathered information and data, and prepare and present reports and associated documentation in a format suitable for review and dissemination. This work would be carried out according to organisational guidelines and requires knowledge of the access requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Premises Standards, the Building Code of Australia, and Australian standards.
The unit supports the full range of access consulting services. The preparation of access reports is a requirement of most of the types of activities undertaken by access consultants. It applies to access consultants working under limited supervision to complete access reports for clients, who may be builders, architects and developers; building owners and managers; corporations; engineers; the general public; representatives of government agencies; loss assessors and adjusters; and members of the legal profession.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Prepare to develop access report. | 1.1. | Client report requirements, terms of reference, and organisational requirements are established. |
1.2. | Gathered information is organised and prioritised in a logical manner for intended use in report and according to legislative and organisational requirements. | ||
1.3. | Gathered information is analysed and evaluated for relevance and accuracy, consistency with client terms of reference, and reporting and organisational requirements. | ||
1.4. | Additional information is sought as required from identified sources and verified for relevance and accuracy according to organisational requirements. | ||
1.5. | Report information is handled safely and securely according to client confidentiality, and legislative and organisational requirements. | ||
2. | Compile access report. | 2.1. | Report format, style and structure are established according to industry standards, and client and organisational requirements. |
2.2. | Report is drafted according to client instructions, organisational requirements, and access requirements of applicable standards, codes and legislation. | ||
2.3. | Feedback from key stakeholders is sought and integrated into draft report where appropriate. | ||
3. | Finalise access report. | 3.1. | Report content is checked for accuracy and suitability according to organisational requirements. |
3.2. | Report and associated documentation are finalised and distributed in a professional manner and within required timeframe. | ||
3.3. | Copy of report and associated documentation are stored according to client and organisational requirements. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also prepare an access report for two different clients, ensuring that each report:
reflects agreed client terms of reference
meets client, legislative and organisational requirements relating to:
common industry terminology
enclosures and attachments
length
format, including written or verbal
sequence of coverage
style
required timeframe for completion
use of abbreviations
use of appendices
is valid, accurate and free of inconsistencies
complies with legislative requirements
provides and presents evidence that supports claims, including attachments containing other documents, photographs, videos, physical evidence and sketch plans
has recommendations for potential solutions to the provision of adequate access that are clearly supported by verifiable information.
In preparing the above reports, the person must:
apply organisational policies and procedures for preparing access reports, including quality assurance requirements
prioritise, analyse and evaluate reliable and valid information, and organise it in a logical manner
use research skills to obtain information from reliable sources
use effective consultation skills with clients and other key stakeholders to confirm and elicit report information
apply a writing process when preparing each report that involves preparation, drafting, seeking and incorporating feedback and constructive advice, revising and editing
present final version reports in a professional manner and within required timeframe
interpret and apply regulatory and legislative requirements relating to disability access and evaluate the provision of access in relation to those requirements
interpret the impacts of the full range of disabilities and the limitations that each disability places on the individual’s ability to access the building
interpret how the full range of environmental barriers impacts on people with a range of disabilities and impairments
use business equipment effectively to prepare and present reports and attachments in required formats.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
key requirements of access-related standards, codes and legislation relating to assessing and reporting information to be included in access reports, including:
anti-discrimination legislation
Australian standards relating to accessibility, including AS
Building Code of Australia
building legislation, regulations and standards
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
DDA Premises Standards
trade practices
work health and safety (WHS) legislation
disability awareness to inform access report, including:
range of disabilities to be considered when assessing gathered information and preparing report
disability-specific physical barriers to access
disability-specific minimum requirements for enhancing accessibility
organisational requirements for organising, assessing, and collating gathered information into an access report, including:
access and equity policy, principles and practices
client service standards
code of conduct and code of ethics
client privacy, confidentiality and security requirements
communication channels and reporting procedures
communication of services offered
complaint and dispute resolution procedures
procedures for sourcing and assessing information and supporting documentation to meet report requirements
procedures for developing and recording access reports, including required:
content
format, style, and structure
presentation
quality assurance requirements
records and information management systems and processes
requirements for proofreading and editing draft reports sufficient to ensure they are accurate
reliable sources of information on matters relating to above access reports
limitations of own work role, responsibility and professional abilities with regard to above access reports.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment, including:
computer and computer applications
modem
personal scheduler
facsimile machine
printer
photocopier and scanner
specifications:
standards, codes and legislation specified in the knowledge evidence
relationship with clients, including:
members of the general public
building developers, owners and managers
other professionals who interact with access consultants, such as:
building certifiers
architects
building designers
regulatory authorities
community and disability groups
educational institutions.
Timeframe:
in line with timeframe established in contractual arrangements for preparing access report.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | maintain knowledge of current legislation, codes, standards, regulations, practices and industry updates relating to access reports. |
Oral communication skills to: | facilitate discussion with clients to explore needs and proposed terms of reference, demonstrating: command of language to elicit and clarify information in a clear and accessible manner communication techniques suited to individual clients use active listening and questioning techniques to obtain information convey knowledge and ideas through oral and visual means. |
Reading skills to: | read a range of sometimes complex texts, and assess and use workplace information relating to access report locate and interpret legislation and legal cases on the provision of access. |
Writing skills to: | document and record findings from analysis and evaluation of gathered information write access reports that: meet client requirements and organisational standards of style, format and accuracy use language that is clear, concise and free of inconsistencies. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | interpret and analyse routine and non-routine situations to establish suitable methods of reporting consult effectively with clients and colleagues and share disability access knowledge. |
Planning and organising skills to: | evaluate and organise information in a logical manner to meet report’s intended use prioritise work tasks for completion within required timeframes. |
Problem-solving skills to: | apply disability awareness to work processes. |
Technology skills to: | use business equipment to manage information according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Information must include: | standards, codes and legislative requirements for the provision of access at least three of the following: photographs physical evidence results of inquiries and searches sketch plans statements of evidence. |
Sources must include at least three of the following: | colleagues, supervisors or managers external organisations government departments industry networks interviews and meetings notices procedural manuals records, reports and case notes available online and in hard copy specialists workshops, conferences or seminars. |
Report content must include: | conclusions and recommendations that are clearly supported by information gathered and verifiable evidence attachments containing supporting documentation that is relevant and consistent with references made in body of report. |
Sectors
Access consulting