Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assess and evaluate the adequacy of access and use for people with disabilities. The process is conducted in order to determine compliance with legislation, regulations, standards, codes or planning scheme requirements that are designed to provide access and use for people with disabilities. It includes the technical assessment and audit of existing premises, outdoor and urban spaces, and transport infrastructure and related facilities for compliance with predetermined criteria; and the provision of advice to owners, managers and clients. The audit process may also involve the provision of advice that would lead to improved access that may meet or exceed minimum legislative requirements.
The unit supports access consultants conducting audits of domestic, residential, commercial, retail, industrial and public buildings; outdoor spaces, including parks, gardens, open spaces and public byways; and transport infrastructure, conveyances, facilities and systems, such as public transport stops, stations and vehicles; temporary venues, such as home shows and food and wine festivals; tunnels and bridges. It applies to experienced access consultants who provide services to clients who may be public or private building owners, managers, architects, builders, building certifiers and surveyors, building designers, developers, and potential purchasers of premises, facilities or services.
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. | Negotiate and finalise the brief to conduct an audit. | 1.1. | Client requirements for conducting an access audit in a range of settings are identified. |
1.2. | Nature of project, location and demographics of occupants or users are researched and noted. | ||
1.3. | Scope of work, timelines for completion, and required service standards are identified and the organisational and personal capacity to respond within these parameters is assessed. | ||
1.4. | Levels of risks associated with conducting the access audit are determined, protocols for risk management developed, and required insurance is arranged. | ||
1.5. | Tools and techniques used to undertake the audit are evaluated and selected, and the audit process is discussed with client. | ||
1.6. | Contract to undertake the audit is negotiated and finalised with the client. | ||
2. | Conduct site analysis and collect evidence of compliance. | 2.1. | Plan is finalised to conduct the audit and assess the compliance of the premises, facilities or service. |
2.2. | Building and construction plans, specifications, planning permits and other documentation related to the audit site are obtained, read and interpreted. | ||
2.3. | Premises, facilities and service operational management practices and procedures are obtained, read and interpreted as appropriate to the site and audit. | ||
2.4. | Transport passenger assistance operational policies and procedures are obtained, read and interpreted as appropriate to the site and audit. | ||
2.5. | Preparations are made with the authorised person to access the site in order to conduct the audit. | ||
2.6. | Auditing tools required to undertake the audit are gathered and checked for accuracy and serviceability. | ||
2.7. | Personnel required to conduct the site visit are briefed and roles are identified. | ||
2.8. | Site visit is conducted in line with the audit plan. | ||
2.9. | Measurements and photographs are taken and other documentary evidence is recorded and verified according to organisational requirements. | ||
2.10. | Gaps in, and conflicts and interactions between, applicable compliance requirements are analysed and interpretations are considered and noted. | ||
2.11. | Detailed analyses of access and use issues are communicated to client in agreed format and queries are addressed. | ||
3. | Determine risk of non-compliance and identify opportunities to improve access performance. | 3.1. | Legislation, standards, codes and planning scheme requirements relevant to premises, facilities and service being audited, and which prescribe access and use requirements, are accessed and reviewed. |
3.2. | Outcomes of the on-site visit and the premises’, facilities’ and service’s plans and specifications are analysed to identify areas of non-compliance that warrant more detailed analysis. | ||
3.3. | Professional expertise in specialist areas of compliance is sought as required to finalise advice and inform the development of the audit report. | ||
3.4. | Risks of identified non-compliance are evaluated. | ||
3.5. | Options for addressing areas of non-compliance are canvassed, taking into account costs and benefits of providing more accessible and useable premises. | ||
3.6. | Opportunities to improve access and use and to exceed minimum compliance requirements are identified and evaluated. | ||
4. | Prepare an audit report. | 4.1. | Strengths and weaknesses of options for ensuring compliance or improved access and usage solutions are considered and documented. |
4.2. | Opportunities are identified to seek exemptions from legislative or other requirements based on hardship grounds. | ||
4.3. | Report addressing the compliance of the premises, outdoor spaces and transport infrastructure with legislation, standards and planning scheme requirements is drafted and reviewed for accuracy and completeness before release to the client. | ||
4.4. | Discussions are held with the client to review the draft audit report. | ||
4.5. | Formal report is compiled and submitted in agreed format to client and other parties as required. | ||
5. | Provide ongoing advice and support. | 5.1. | Explanations of elements of formal report are provided, within scope of agreed service level. |
5.2. | Additional agreements for providing ongoing advice and support are negotiated and finalised with client. | ||
5.3. | Detailed advice on elements of the formal report is provided on request throughout planning and implementation of the solution, according to service agreements. | ||
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 scope and plan an audit process for the following two different projects:
one premises construction project
one transport infrastructure, conveyances, facilities and systems development project.
During each of the above audit processes, the person must:
determine client requirements for conducting the audit and negotiate the provision of service
conduct thorough site inspections and analyse findings against the requirements of applicable legislation, codes, standards and permits
conduct audits:
that measure, test and assess compliance with legislative, code and planning requirements
using rigorous and consistent methodologies, and audit techniques and tools
collect a range of audit evidence, including photographs and visual displays of compliance and non-compliance
prepare an audit report that details:
level of compliance found
options for ensuring compliance or improved access and usage solutions
recommendations for future action.
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
building and construction industry processes, roles and terminology
gaps and trends in, interrelation of, and conflict between compliance requirements
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 managing risk associated with conducting audience and providing compliance findings
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 and ramps 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:
audit tools
specifications:
audit checklists
design briefs, policies, drawings and other support documentation for the two projects specified in the performance evidence
applicable legislation, standards, codes and guidelines
physical conditions:
one construction development project of premises
one development project of transport infrastructure, conveyances, facilities and systems
relationships with team members and colleagues:
personnel required to conduct site visits
design and construction specialists
relationship with client, including:
public or private building owners and managers
architects, builders, building designers and developers
building certifiers and surveyors
potential purchasers of premises, facilities or services.
Timeframe:
in line with timeframe established in contractual arrangements and projects being development work being audited.
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 own knowledge base relating to access issues. |
Numeracy skills to: | test cost-effectiveness of options for improvements to access and use. |
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 interpretation of standards expert opinion reports technical reports interview personnel during audit to identify and clarify access matters, using open-ended questioning, active listening, and summarising techniques participate in debate on interpretation of compliance requirements. |
Reading skills to: | review and evaluate complex legal and technical documents regarding accessibility, such as: legislation, standards and codes as specified in the range of conditions specifications for buildings. |
Writing skills to: | prepare accurate and comprehensive audit reports. |
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. |
Planning and organising skills to: | develop and manage business processes relating to conducting audits and providing advice ensure completeness of compliance requirement analysis, including organising diverse references prepare and negotiate contracts of service provide accurate and timely advice. |
Problem-solving skills to: | analyse and apply compliance requirements to develop efficient and cost-effective solutions negotiate, persuade and resolve conflict between parties involved in access and use issues, promoting 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. |
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. | |
Nature of project must include: | extent and type of stakeholder involvement location timeframe type, extent and purpose of premises, infrastructure, transport or urban space development project. |
Techniques must include consideration of: | checklist of minimum requirements for specific type of built premises, infrastructure or facilities, and their components special purpose technical requirement audit forms building and facility access audit report forms. |
Plan includes factors that will deliver a quality product and must include: | methodology to be used timelines personnel undertaking the audit and their responsibilities detailed description of premises, space, facilities or services to be audited level of detail to be contained in audit report legislation, codes and standards against which the premises, space, facilities or services will be audited. |
Auditing tools | loop receiver properly calibrated measuring instruments photographic equipment software and information technology vernier calipers. |
Legislation, standards and codes | Australian and international standards relating to access Australian and international guideline documents relating to access Building Code of Australia (BCA) Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and its regulations and amendments DDA Premises Standards DDA Transport Standards DDA Education Standards state, territory and local authority legislation, regulations and planning requirements. |
Access and use requirements must include consideration of the following, as specific to the premises, space, facilities or services being audited: | doors external approaches to the premises horizontal circulation, including corridor widths, circulation areas, and obstructions vertical circulation, including platform lifts and stair lifts sanitary facilities escape and evacuation facilities lighting acoustics assistive listening systems communication access real-time translation (CART) good listening environments information and communication systems finishes fixtures and fittings signage and other forms of wayfinding. |
Specialist areas | acoustics and hearing augmentation architectural or building design biomechanics emergency preparedness gerontology heritage legal occupational therapy orientation and mobility provisions in buildings for occupants with the potential for self-harm psychiatry. |
Sectors
Access consulting