Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to work effectively as an access consultant. In order to commence work, access consultants must be aware of regulatory requirements, ethical standards, and their own roles and responsibilities. This unit covers the basic entry-level functions that enable compliance with legislative and procedural requirements. It includes providing quotes, preparing contracts, and promoting the provision of access for people with disabilities. It also includes identifying potential risks associated with a range of activities in the access consulting sector.
The unit supports all aspects of the full range of access consulting services. The unit applies to access consultants working without supervision to manage their own professional development.
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. | Interpret and comply with legislative, financial and procedural requirements. | 1.1. | Legislative, financial and procedural requirements relating to access consulting services are identified and interpreted according to client and organisational requirements. |
1.2. | Key principles relating to disability access are identified and interpreted according to legislative and industry requirements. | ||
1.3. | Own interpretation and application of legislative, financial and procedural requirements are confirmed with relevant persons to ensure consistency and accuracy. | ||
1.4. | Situations requiring specialist advice are identified and assistance is sought as required according to organisational requirements. | ||
2. | Interpret and comply with ethical practices and codes of conduct. | 2.1. | Regulatory, industry and association standards, codes of ethics and/or conduct are identified and interpreted according to organisational requirements. |
2.2. | Key principles relating to organisational ethical values are identified and interpreted according to legislative and industry requirements. | ||
2.3. | Own interpretation and application of ethical and conduct requirements are confirmed with relevant persons to ensure consistency and accuracy. | ||
2.4. | Situations requiring specialist advice are identified and assistance is sought as required according to organisational requirements. | ||
3. | Interpret access consulting work role and responsibilities. | 3.1. | Own role and responsibilities are identified and confirmed with relevant persons according to organisational requirements. |
3.2. | Work tasks are identified, scheduled and completed within designated timeframes according to client and organisational requirements. | ||
3.3. | Understanding of and respect for individual differences is reflected in all work, and work practices are adapted where required to meet specific needs of relevant persons. | ||
3.4. | Feedback from clients and colleagues is sought in regard to own professional competency and performance, and used to identify key areas for improvement. | ||
3.5. | Information regarding learning and professional development is recorded and maintained according to organisational requirements. | ||
4. | Identify risks involved in working as an access consultant. | 4.1. | Potential risks are identified and reported to relevant persons according to organisational requirements. |
4.2. | Recommendations on suitable strategies to minimise risks and complaints are discussed with relevant persons. | ||
4.3. | Limitations in identifying risks are identified and assistance is sought from relevant persons according to organisational requirements. | ||
4.4. | Information collection processes suited to work operations are used to access information from individuals and groups on potential risks. | ||
5. | Develop understanding of access industry employment requirements. | 5.1. | Industry employment requirements are identified and interpreted to establish future professional development needs and priorities to ensure own continuous professional development. |
5.2. | Employee and employer rights and responsibilities, remuneration and awards, are accessed and interpreted. | ||
5.3. | Key industry and statutory organisations able to assist own professional development are identified and assistance is sought as required. | ||
6. | Promote the provision of access for people with disabilities. | 6.1. | Opportunities are identified during performance of own access consulting role to inform and educate people on issues relating to the provision of access for people with disabilities. |
6.2. | Legislative requirements for the provision of access for people with disabilities are advised in a positive manner using effective interpersonal skills and communication techniques. | ||
6.3. | Requests for further advice and information on the provision of access for people with disabilities are responded to according to organisational requirements. | ||
7. | Prepare a quotation for access consulting services. | 7.1. | Scope of proposed service requirement is analysed to understand extent of task. |
7.2. | Own competence and organisational capability to provide proposed service are assessed. | ||
7.3. | Cost of delivering proposed service is estimated and documented according to organisational requirements. | ||
7.4. | Quotation to provide service, addressing capability and price, is prepared according to organisational requirements. | ||
8. | Complete standard contractual documentation. | 8.1. | Standard documentation for access consulting operations is completed according to legislative and procedural requirements. |
8.2. | Business equipment and technology are used as required to complete documentation according to applicable work health and safety (WHS) and organisational requirements. | ||
8.3. | Written information meeting organisational standards of language, accuracy and relevance is used in a legally compliant manner. | ||
8.4. | Documentation and information systems are securely maintained according to confidentiality, legislative 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 work effectively in an access consulting role for two different projects. For each project:
interpreting and verifying own role and responsibilities in project, demonstrating an understanding of and respect for individual differences when carrying out work tasks
identifying, interpreting and complying with legislative, financial and procedural requirements of the work operation, and confirming own understanding and application with relevant persons
completing standard documentation ensuring adherence to legislative and procedural requirements and maintaining information securely
identifying opportunities to promote the provision of access for people with disabilities and providing information and advice based on legislative requirements
identifying potential risks using a different information collection process in each project, and discussing recommendations on strategies to minimise the risks with relevant persons.
The above potential risks must relate to at least two of the following:
changes to regulations and legislation
client or staff dissatisfaction, such as a complaint
health and safety
physical, financial or human resources
project control and cash flow
suppliers and contractors
time constraints.
During each of the above projects, the person must:
comply with the organisational requirements specified in the knowledge evidence, and check own understanding and application with relevant persons
interpret access consulting work role and responsibilities
interpret and comply with ethical practices and codes of conduct
demonstrate understanding of access industry employment requirements
interpret the impact of the full range of disabilities and the limitations that each disability places on the individual’s access
interpret how the full range of environmental barriers impacts on people with a range of disabilities and impairments
use effective communication skills
use research skills to source information required for work operations
interpret and apply building legislative requirements relating to disability access
apply and adhere to work health and safety (WHS) requirements applicable to work operations
fulfil contractual obligations within designated timeframe.
In the course of the above projects, the person must:
accurately interpret and use industry employment and professional development guidelines and benchmarks
seek assistance from key industry and statutory organisations to demonstrate commitment to own continuous professional development, using at least one of the following methods:
formal or informal learning program on current issues for work or professional practice
work rotation to facilitate changing work priorities
involvement in community or industry activity
being coached, mentored or supervised in regard to a specific workplace task.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
key requirements of legislation, codes and Australian standards applicable to the specific area of work and relating to the provision of access for people with disabilities, including:
anti-discrimination legislation and regulations
Australian standards relating to accessibility
building legislation and codes
consumer protection and trade practices legislation
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
DDA Premises Standards
DDA Transport Standards
equal employment opportunity
disability awareness to inform work operations, including:
range of disabilities to be considered when undertaking work tasks
disability-specific physical barriers to access
disability-specific minimum legislative and regulatory requirements for enhancing accessibility
organisational requirements relating to working effectively as an access consultant, including:
access and equity policy, principles and practices
business and performance plans
client service policies, procedures and standards
code of conduct and code of ethics for access consultants
communication channels and reporting procedures
communication of services offered
complaint and dispute resolution procedures
compliance with legislation, codes and workplace standards
continuous improvement processes and standards
defined resource parameters
duty of care
employer and employee rights and responsibilities
legal policies and guidelines
organisational goals, objectives, plans, systems and processes for access consulting services provided
policies and procedures relating to the setting of fees and the negotiation and management of contracts
policies and procedures relating to own role, responsibilities and delegation
privacy and confidentiality policies and procedures
procedures for writing and storing workplace documentation
quality assurance and procedures manuals
records and information management systems and processes
style guides and other guides used to prepare documents
WHS policies, procedures and programs
principles of effective communication
procedures for sourcing and accessing documentation to meet the requirements of applicable standards, codes and legislation
limitations of own work role, responsibility and professional abilities.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
business equipment and technology required to provide the range of access consulting services, including:
computers
internet, extranet and intranet
printers, photocopiers and scanners
data storage devices
software applications, such as databases and word applications
specifications:
legislative, regulatory and industry requirement documentation specified in the range of conditions
relationships with clients, including:
building owners and managers
building designers and architects
builders
owners and managers of transport conveyances
educational services providers
organisations developing Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Action Plans
other access consultants.
Timeframe:
within commercially realistic timeframe required of access consultancy service.
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, practices and industry updates relating to access matters review own skills and knowledge in relation to access consulting career to clarify future study or training plan draw selectively on workplace information to adapt past learning to new circumstances. |
Oral communication skills to: | demonstrate command of language to convey information relating to the provision of access in a clear and accessible manner demonstrate communication techniques suited to individual clients and stakeholders and required to clarify and elicit information convey knowledge and ideas through oral and visual means. |
Reading skills to: | read a range of complex texts and extract information relating to access requirements. |
Writing skills to: | prepare and complete accurate and legible documentation required of access consultants to meet organisational and service delivery requirements. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | provide access advice in a sensitive and professional manner use opportunities to propose solutions to eliminate identified barriers and facilitate change for greater disability access. |
Planning and organising skills to: | collect, organise and collate information implement organisational policies and procedures respond to requests from clients and other stakeholders respond to customer service expectations. |
Digital literacy skills to: | apply information technology and computer skills to prepare working documentation and materials for presentation. |
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. | |
Legislative, financial and procedural requirements must include consideration of: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation and regulations that affect organisational operation, including: anti-discrimination building access environmental equal employment opportunity industrial relations public health taxation WHS common law applicable to access matter trade practices laws and guidelines consumer protection laws and guidelines Australian standards business or occupational licensing requirements quality assurance and certification requirements industry code of practice and code of ethics privacy and confidentiality requirements and laws applying to owners, contractors and tenants local government policies and regulations freedom of information documents tribunal and court precedents. |
Relevant persons | business partners supervisors colleagues clients legal representatives industry association representatives consumers. |
Specialist advice | supervisors and colleagues business partners architects owners and developers builders designers solicitors government officials industry associations WHS representatives. |
Regulatory, industry and association standards must include: | industry codes of conduct and ethical practices legislative and statutory requirements outlined in legislation, such as licensing, anti-discrimination and building access tribunal and court precedents industry standards WHS standards. |
Specific needs | beliefs and values conventions of gender and sexuality cultural stereotypes dress food and diet religious and spiritual observances social conventions traditional practices and observations verbal, non-verbal and written language. |
Feedback must include: | formal and informal discussions, reviews and evaluations with: existing and previous clients peers, colleagues and managers information provided by others involved in a professional capacity, both internal and external to the organisation. |
Risks must be identified through one of the following methods: | regular formal and informal consultation or meetings with colleagues regular housekeeping activities ongoing training audits or review of audit reports inspections in area of responsibility checking work area and/or equipment before and during work review of WHS records. |
Limitations must include consideration of: | complying with WHS requirements industry requirements job role and responsibilities legal responsibilities own competency level own interpretation of legislation, regulations and procedures own understanding of risk identification processes quality processes. |
Information collection processes must include at least two of the following: | documentation and reports informally from business partners, supervisors or colleagues quality assurance data questionnaires regular meetings. |
Employment requirements must include as required: | competency standards relating to: access consulting industry standards other industry, cross-industry and enterprise standards benchmarks relating to: industry codes of conduct and ethics statutory and legislative requirements for working in the access consulting sector. |
People to be educated on access matters must include: | building and construction industry personnel, including: building certifiers building owners and managers property developers clients, their staff and contractors community groups government agencies regulatory authorities service groups. |
Legislative requirements for the provision of access may include: | Australian standards Building Code of Australia commonwealth, state and territory anti-discrimination legislation and regulations Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) DDA Premises, Transport and Education Standards state and territory building legislation. |
Sectors
Access consulting