Frequently Asked questions - Nationally Accredited Qualification
- How do I register for the Certificate IV in Government?
- Do I register for the APSC courses separately?
- What types of evidence can I use in my portfolio?
- What information do I need to de-identify in my evidence?
- How do I de-identify evidence?
- Who do I need to send APSC module assessments to?
- What happens if I don’t supply enough evidence?
- How should I present my evidence?
- How long do I have to complete the qualification?
- How long do I have to submit the assessment for a module?
- How long will it take for my work to be assessed?
- Can I present the same piece of evidence for different units of competency?
- What happens if I am deemed not yet competent? Can I fail?
- How will my work be assessed?
- How long will it take to complete the assessment requirements for a module?
- What payment options are there?
- Can I prepay some?
How do I register for the Certificate IV in Government/Statement of Attainment - Contribute to workplace safety?
Refer to the eligibility and enrolment section of this handbook. Once you have completed the enrolment form, fax it to 02 6274 8705, mail it to GPO Box 9905, Canberra ACT 2601 or email it to learning.development@comcare.gov.au
Do I register for the APSC courses separately?
No. When you complete the Certificate IV enrolment form it is submitted to Comcare. We will then enter your information in our Learning Management System and forward your information to the APSC.
What types of evidence can I use in my portfolio?
You can submit the following types of evidence in your portfolio:
- testimonial references from colleagues, managers and peers
- hard copy evidence (de-identified) of work you have completed that relates to the qualification (e.g. copies of reports, letters, publications)
- resumes
- training certificates or records from relevant training courses
What information do I need to de-identify in my evidence?
You need to remove any information that may identify anyone associated with your case study, apart from yourself. This includes personal information about the claimant, for example, their first and last name, date of birth, claim number and address. Other information that could be used to identify other stakeholders must also be removed, for example details of the supervisor/manager or treating doctor, etc. Be careful not to de-identify yourself.
How do I de-identify evidence?
You could use a dark marker and black out the information but you should then photocopy it to effectively de-identify the document. Alternatively you could rewrite the form/memo and use aliases, for example Mr Z, Ms Y, Dr Z.
Who do I need to send APSC module assessments to?
All assessments should be sent to Comcare. We will make electronic copies and forward any assessments to the APSC. This ensures that all pieces of assessment are centrally received and distributed appropriately.
What happens if I don’t supply enough evidence?
If your assessor determines that you have not met the requirements of the competency they will contact you to provide detailed feedback, identify the gaps in your evidence and assist you to identify options to provide the additional evidence required. These options could include:
- asking you questions to verify your underpinning knowledge
- asking you to supply additional workplace evidence
- seeking additional feedback from supervisors and peers
How should I present my evidence?
Electronically (email, thumb drive, CD, DVD) is preferred but you can submit hard copies. It is important to make sure all of your evidence is referenced and numbered (e.g. Attachment A, B etc.) to allow for ease of assessment. We recommend you retain a copy of all submitted work for your own personal records.
How long do I have to complete the qualification?
Once you commence the qualification, Comcare and the APSC expect that you would complete the qualification within two years.
How long do I have to submit the assessment for a module?
If you have attended a training session, Comcare and the APSC expect you to submit your assessment within six months.
How long will it take for my work to be assessed?
Comcare and the SRCC undertake to notify you of the outcome of your assessment within 15 business days of receipt of your work.
Can I present the same piece of evidence for different units of competency?
You can use the same piece of evidence for multiple competencies. For example an appropriately completed return to work program could be used to address components of the course:
- ‘conduct situational workplace assessment’ (as an example of suitable duties developed for injured workers)
- ‘develop return to work plans’ (as an example of a return to work plan completed and signed by individual with delegation and all relevant stakeholders)
- ‘implement and monitor return to work plans’ (as an example of evidence of a communication agreement)
What happens if I am deemed not yet competent? Can I fail?
Where an assessor determines you are not yet competent against any one (or more) competency, they will contact you and provide detailed feedback on your portfolio of evidence and identify what you need to do to meet the criteria. Your assessor may even request an interview either in person or on the phone to ask you some questions in relation to your knowledge and skills against a particular competency. Where this is the case, you will be given advance notice and an agreed time will be negotiated for the interview to occur.
It is not possible to fail competency-based training. Rather, if you are still unable to demonstrate competency (or provide enough evidence of competency) after working with your assessor, you may be deemed not yet competent until such time as you are able to demonstrate the required level of competency. Once your assessor determines you have met the competency, you will be assessed as competent.
The assessor will evaluate your portfolio against the criteria specified in the assessment package. In doing so they will consider four key issues:
- Relevancy - Does the evidence clearly support the competencies? Is it appropriate?
- Currency - Is the material relevant to your ability today?
- Authenticity - Does the evidence relate to your skills?
- Sufficiency - Is there enough evidence to demonstrate competency?
How long will it take to complete the assessment requirements for a module?
We are unable to give a precise timeframe on how long it will take to complete the assessment requirements, as this will vary depending on a range of factors, for example, your experience, current role, work schedule, access or ability to complete/compile assessments.
For those who choose the face to face training learning pathway, you will be given some time during the training sessions to complete most of the workbook activities. However it is likely you will need time to fully complete the workbook after attending the course. In addition, you will need time to identify and compile your evidence for your portfolio. We strongly encourage you to discuss your study needs with your supervisor, particularly whether you might be able to block out periods for Certificate IV assessment work in your work calendar.
For those who choose the RPL pathway, you will need time to work through and compile your evidence. This could involve working through old case files and other material which could take quite some time. Again, we strongly encourage you to discuss your study needs with your supervisor, particularly whether you might be able to block out periods for Certificate IV assessment work in your work calendar.
What payment options are there?
You can choose to pay as you go or pay up front. Comcare accepts payment via invoice, credit card or direct debit or cheque.
Comcare is flexible with your payment options. Depending on your organisation’s requirements we can arrange to prepay for modules to be attended later in the year. Please speak to our Certificate IV coordinator regarding your request.