Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to provide consultancy services to senior managers and staff in an organisation, and provide input into the development of operational policies and procedures for the organisation’s services, processes, premises or facilities, which enable the inclusive participation of people with disabilities.
Operational policies and procedures must be consistent with the objectives of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the areas of:
event management to ensure that access for people with disabilities is managed and maintained in a manner that enables inclusive participation
communication systems to ensure formats are accessible to people with various disabilities
facility management to ensure policies and procedures are developed and implemented that guarantee maintenance of the accessibility of premises and spaces
making adjustments in the workplace to enable people with disabilities to maximise their potential
making adjustments and providing support with educational facilities to enable people with disabilities to maximise their learning potential
facilitating development of DDA action plans specific to an organisation which may be lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC); or similar plans that may be required under state, territory or local government authority legislation and schemes.
The unit supports access consultants in the role of informing executive personnel and staff in a range of organisations, which may be commercial and public organisations, about the abilities and potential of people with disabilities in relation to the organisation’s environments and services. It applies to experienced access consultants who promote the benefits of providing people with disabilities with access to the organisation’s services, processes, premises and facilities; and developing and advising on operational policies and procedures that enable inclusive participation of people with disabilities.
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. | Plan policy and procedures consultancy project. | 1.1. | Nature of client organisation is determined and scope of organisational operations analysed to inform project planning. |
1.2. | Extent of consultancy services required, stakeholders to be involved, and fees and timelines for project are confirmed with client. | ||
1.3. | Processes and methodologies for providing consultancy on policies and procedures are explored, selected and negotiated with client and key stakeholders. | ||
1.4. | Project plan is prepared and negotiated with client and stakeholders. | ||
2. | Analyse and report on organisational operations. | 2.1. | Organisational policies are reviewed and opportunities for inclusion of enabling provisions for people with disabilities are noted. |
2.2. | Communication, information and consultation systems and materials are reviewed and alternative formats required by people with sensory and cognitive impairments are proposed. | ||
2.3. | Detailed options for amendments and additions to organisational policies that would enable increased participation of people with disabilities are formulated and documented. | ||
2.4. | Organisational human resources procedures are reviewed and opportunities for improvements in enabling provisions for people with disabilities are analysed and documented. | ||
2.5. | Organisational service delivery procedures are reviewed and opportunities for improvements in enabling provisions for people with disabilities are analysed and documented. | ||
2.6. | Detailed report on analysis of organisational operations is presented to client and key stakeholders and discussed, queries are addressed and actions on proposals negotiated. | ||
2.7. | Advice is provided to guide the organisation in preparing a DDA action plan, if required. | ||
3. | Contribute to organisational disability awareness. | 3.1. | Methodologies for raising organisational disability awareness are proposed, and impact on support for changes and improvements across all levels of the organisation is discussed. |
3.2. | Resources for developing organisational disability awareness are evaluated and recommended as required. | ||
3.3. | Support is provided to client for the implementation of strategies to raise organisational disability awareness. | ||
4. | Contribute to implementing and testing improved procedures. | 4.1. | Advice is provided to client on the implications for organisational policies of agreed changes. |
4.2. | Support is provided to client for the planning and implementation of changes to human resources procedures. | ||
4.3. | Support is provided to client for the planning and implementation of changes to service delivery procedures. | ||
4.4. | Advice is provided to client on the testing and evaluation of implemented changes and improvements. | ||
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 develop and advise on the policies and procedures of two of the following different organisations to enable access for people with disabilities, ensuring that at least one of the organisations is large:
aged care organisation
private or public commercial enterprise, such as:
car parking provider
communication service provider
entertainment provider
facilities management company
hospitality, retail and tourism enterprise
educational institution
government agency, such as a public transport provider
health centre, hospital or medical practice
industrial designer
internet-based company or service provider
manufacturing company
non-government organisation
religious organisation.
For each of the above organisations, the person must:
develop a plan for providing consultancy services
analyse and report on organisational operations
develop and describe enhancements to procedures that will enable inclusive participation of people with disabilities
propose and contribute to disability awareness
assist in implementing and evaluating improved policies and procedures relating to access for people with disabilities.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
access and use compliance requirements, including:
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
gaps and trends in, interrelation of, and conflict between compliance requirements
policy development processes, and 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
requirements of people with different disabilities, and the aids and solutions available, 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.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer and software to access organisational data and prepare policies and procedures
physical conditions:
two different organisations, including one large organisation, requiring access consultancy services to advise on improvements to their organisational procedures with regard to access for people with disabilities
specifications:
documentation required to inform access consultancy services relating to projects specified in the performance evidence
applicable legislation, standards, codes and guidelines.
Timeframe:
in line with timeframe established in contractual arrangements.
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: | organise own professional development to maintain currency of technical information and knowledge base. |
Numeracy skills to: | investigate and analyse organisational data and develop policies and procedures based on a comprehensive analysis of the data. |
Oral communication skills to: | exchange complex information with people from diverse backgrounds using language and format suited to the context and audience, such as: advice on application of the DDA applications for exemptions on the grounds of unjustifiable hardship DDA action plans technical reports interpret non-verbal communication, such as facial signs indicating lack of understanding. |
Reading skills to: | interpret complex legal and technical documents regarding accessibility, such as: legislation, and Australian and international standards and codes relating to access Building Code of Australia (BCA). |
Writing skills to: | write detailed procedural text, including alternative courses of action, after determining client and organisational needs. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | apply knowledge of disabilities to organisational policies and procedures conceptualise creative and practical access improvements develop strategies for risk management. |
Planning and organising skills to: | develop and manage business processes relating to the provision of consultancy services ensure completeness of document analysis. |
Problem-solving skills to: | analyse and apply DDA requirements to organisational policies and procedures. |
Self-management skills to: | apply diplomacy, professional judgement, empathy and patience to build and manage client relationships maintain task orientation and focus on complex issues. |
Technology skills to: | prepare project documentation. |
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. | |
Processes and methodologies | accessibility audit change management. |
Organisational policies | business and office management customer relations human resources organisational safety quality assurance service delivery staff training. |
Sectors
Access consulting