1

Determine and manage scope of advice to be offered and associated risk.

1.1

Advice offered by access consultants with a range of specialist fields is researched and instances of associated litigation are analysed.

1.2

Own professional expertise is defined and range of individuals and organisations that can be offered advice is determined.

1.3

Levels of risks associated with giving a range of professional advice are determined, strategies for risk management developed, and appropriate insurance is arranged.

1.4

Risks associated with specific requests for advice are analysed and protocols applied or requests declined as appropriate.

2

Analyse and report on access and use issues.

2.1

Documentation relating to access and use issues is reviewed and broad outline of issues is defined in consultation with clients.

2.2

Timeframes, scope of work, service levels and fees for advice are negotiated in consultation with clients.

2.3

Other parties involved in or affected by access and use issues are identified and consulted as required.

2.4

Detailed compliance requirements relating to access and use issues are interpreted from applicable legislation, codes, standards and premises owner or developer specifications.

2.5

Gaps in, and conflicts and interactions between, applicable compliance requirements are analysed and interpretations are considered and noted.

2.6

Professional network is consulted to inform technically accurate interpretations of requirements as necessary.

2.7

Detailed analyses of access and use issues are communicated to clients in agreed format and queries are addressed.

3

Develop solutions to access and use issues.

3.1

Existing best practice solutions to comparable access and use issues are reviewed and options selected for possible application to issue at hand.

3.2

New ideas for National Construction Code (NCC)-compliant alternative solutions to access and use issues are developed, and costs and practicalities of implementation are explored.

3.3

Management plans are developed to support alternative solutions, as required.

3.4

Outline of solutions that could resolve access and use compliance issues is prepared and communicated to clients in appropriate format.

3.5

Consultation with parties involved in access and use issues is undertaken on behalf of the client, as requested, to negotiate acceptable solutions.

3.6

Impact of different solutions is discussed with clients and best solution is selected.

3.7

Conflicts between statutory compliance requirements are analysed and expert opinion is provided to resolve issues.

4

Formalise advice on access and use issues.

4.1

Report is prepared on scope and implications of access and use issues, with reference to access and use principles and technical and compliance requirements.

4.2

Strengths and weaknesses of options considered for resolving access and use issues are recorded and rationale for selection of solution is explained.

4.3

Specifications for selected solution are prepared in consultation with other relevant technical professionals, as required.

4.4

Risks and liabilities associated with implementing or not implementing solutions to access and use issues are clearly defined.

4.5

Formal report is compiled and submitted in appropriate format to client and other parties as required.

5

Provide ongoing advice and support.

5.1

Explanation of elements of formal report is provided, within scope of agreed service level.

5.2

Additional agreements for providing ongoing advice and support are negotiated and finalised with clients.

5.3

Detailed advice on elements of the formal report is provided on request throughout planning and implementation of the solution, within scope of service agreement.

Required skills

communication skills to interpret non-verbal communication, such as facial signs indicating lack of understanding

initiative and enterprise skills to:

apply knowledge of disabilities to access and use issues

conceptualise creative and practical access solutions

develop strategies for risk management

language and literacy skills to:

exchange complex information with people from diverse backgrounds using relevant language and format, such as:

advice notes on interpretation of standards

expert opinion reports

technical reports

interpret complex legal and technical documents regarding accessibility, for example:

Australian and international standards

NCC

legislation

specifications

present information in a range of formal and informal settings

learning skills to:

participate in debate on interpretation of compliance requirements

undertake appropriate professional development, including maintaining own knowledge base

numeracy skills to test cost-effectiveness of access and use solutions

planning and organising skills to:

develop and manage business processes relating to the provision of advice

ensure completeness of compliance requirement analysis, including organising diverse references

provide accurate and timely advice

problem-solving skills to:

analyse and apply compliance requirements to develop buildable and cost-effective solutions

negotiate, persuade and resolve conflicts between parties involved in access and use issues and promote practical and cost-effective access solutions

self-management skills to:

apply diplomacy, professional judgement, empathy and patience to build and manage client relationships

maintain task orientation and focus on complex access and use issues

technical skills to sketch design solutions

Required knowledge

access and use compliance requirements, including but not restricted to:

codes

guidelines

legislation

local authority policies

protocols

regulations

standards

accessibility requirements relating to equipment used by people with disabilities, such as:

assistance animals

audio frequency induction loops

braille and tactile signage

long white canes

TTY telephones

walking frames

wheelchairs

best practices in access and use, including measures that exceed compliance requirements

building and construction industry processes, roles and terminology

gaps and trends in, interrelation of, and conflict between compliance requirements

policy development, legislative and regulatory frameworks relating to access to and use of the built environment

principles of access to and use of the built environment, including:

adaptable design

best practice solutions to access and use requirements

principles of risk management and strategies for the management of risk associated with giving compliance advice

requirements of people with different disabilities, and the aids and solutions available to meet them, such as:

audio frequency induction loop systems to enhance communication for people with hearing impairment

passenger lifts for vertical access for people with mobility impairment

tactile ground surface indicators for vision orientation

scope of functions of the human body, including:

auditory and visual processing

cognitive functions

mobility

psychiatric conditions

types of disabilities and combinations of disabilities and related range of functional limitations, including:

auditory

cognitive

mobility

muscle wasting and weakness

psychiatric

vision

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.

In particular, the person should demonstrate the ability to:

define scope of advice to be offered and develop risk management strategies

provide consultation and give advice on at least five different access and use issues according to agreed service levels

provide alternative solutions to access and use issues where relevant

provide detailed reports on access and use issues and proposed solutions.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context and is to comply with regulatory and Australian standards’ requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include access to:

documentation outlining access and use issues for five different types of issues

relevant legislation, codes, standards and guidelines

relevant specialists.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must:

satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the CPP07 Property Services Training Package

include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application

reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles

confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Assessment processes and techniques should, as far as is practical, take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Advice offered by access consultants may include:

appropriate means of overcoming existing barriers to access and use identified during access audits

cases referred by Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

correct application of access and use design principles, relevant legislation and codes

expert judgment as defined by the NCC

home modifications suitable for individuals with disabilities

information to assist clients in resolving disputes about the application of the NCC as it applies to building accessibility

reasonable adjustments to workplaces for people with specific disabilities

renovations of commercial and domestic buildings to meet compliance requirements.

Specialist fields may include:

access product supply

architecture

building design

building surveying

education provision

engineering

ergonomics

human movement

law

medicine

mobility

occupational therapy

orientation

vision orientation

wayfinding.

Individuals and organisations may include:

access officers

access and equity officers

architects

builders

building designers

building surveyors

councils

developers

engineers

lawyers

occupational therapists

owners and managers

planners

policy makers

surveyors

users of the built environment

welfare rights and advocacy groups.

Risk management may include:

applying quality assurance systems

declining to give advice

obtaining third-party advice.

Appropriate insurance may include:

business risk policies, such as loss of profits

personal accident and injury

professional indemnity

public liability

vehicle

workers compensation.

Legislation, codes and standards may include:

Australian and international standards

Australian and international guideline documents

Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards, known as the Premises Standards (PS)

Disability Discrimination Act and regulations and amendments

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT)

Disability Standards for Education

NCC

state, territory and local authority legislation, regulations and planning requirements.