Qualification details

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS QUALIFICATION SUMMARY 

Employability Skill 

Industry /enterprise requirements for this qualification include :

Communication

• Receive and pass on written and oral messages, provide relevant information in response to requests and demonstrate effective interpersonal skills including conflict resolution techniques
• Record and store data, perform basic calculations of scientific quantities and present information in tables and graphs
• Report using verbal responses, data entry into laboratory information management system (LIMS) and brief written reports
• Communicate with team members, supervisors and customers
• Interpret standard operating procedures (SOPs) and material safety data sheets (MSDS)

Teamwork

• Work effectively with team members who may have diverse work styles, cultures and perspectives when reporting problems, hazards and incidents and results or contributing to productivity improvements
• Promote cooperation and good relations in the team

Problem solving

• Deal with inquiries in accordance with enterprise customer service requirements
• Rectify errors in data using enterprise procedures
• Recognise and report non-conformances or problems to appropriate personnel

Initiative and enterprise

• Access and provide relevant information that meets own authorisation and confidentiality requirements
• Recognise potential incidents and take appropriate corrective action
• Identify and report opportunities for improvements in procedures, processes, quality and equipment
• Identify hazards associated with samples, preparation methods, reagents and equipment and implement enterprise control measures

Planning and organising

• Plan and organise daily work activities to ensure the timely completion of tasks
• Modify work plans to suit changing conditions and priorities
• Assemble and organise specified laboratory equipment and materials

Self-management

• Follow enterprise procedures which reflect equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and non-harassment legislative requirements
• Maintain enterprise standards of personal hygiene
• Conduct work based on ethical values and principles and ensure quality and integrity of own work
• Review own strengths, weaknesses and work practices for opportunities to continuously improve performance
• Maintain security and confidentiality of all client/enterprise data and information
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety when sampling, processing, transferring or disposing of samples

Learning

• Clarify instructions with supervisors to ensure a complete understanding of the task
• Update knowledge and skills and take advantage of skill development opportunities
• Coach others in participating in occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management issues

Technology

• Use communication, emergency, data recording and equipment, including items such as instruments that emit ionising radiation, calibration standards, laboratory information management systems and earth moving equipment.
• Select and use computers and software to collect and report information

To be awarded a Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques competency must be achieved in a total of seventeen (17)  units of competency, consisting of:

• six (6)  core units of competency
• eleven (11)  elective units of competency.

Units listed under core  are considered essential for all technical assistants. The units listed as electives  may only apply to some personnel according to the size and scope of the particular enterprise and laboratory.

Note : Units marked with an asterisk have one or more prerequisite requirements and must be considered in the total number of units. Please refer to individual units for details.

Core units of competency 

• Select all six (6)  units of competency listed below.

Unit code 

Unit title 

MSL913001A

Communicate with other people

MSL913002A

Plan and conduct laboratory/field work

MSL924001A

Process and interpret data

MSL934002A

Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

MSL943002A

Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety

MSAENV272B

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Elective units of competency  

Select eleven (11)  elective units from Groups A, B and C as specified below:

• a minimum of five (5)  units must be selected from Group A
• the remainder may be chosen from Groups A, B and C, with a maximum of four (4)  from Group B and a maximum of three (3)  from Group C, to bring the total number of electives to eleven (11) .

Note that three (3)  of the elective units may be chosen from this Training Package, other endorsed Training Packages and accredited courses, where those units are available at Certificate IV.

Group A 

Unit code 

Unit title 

Prerequisites 

MSL904001A

Perform standard calibrations

MSL914001A

Prepare practical science classes and demonstrations

MSL924002A

Use laboratory application software

MSL934001A

Contribute to the ongoing development of HACCP plans

MSL934003A

Maintain and control stocks

MSL944001A

Maintain laboratory/field workplace safety

MSL954001A

Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan

MSL954002A

Prepare mineral samples for analysis

MSL974001A

Prepare, standardise and use solutions

MSL974002A

Conduct geotechnical site investigations

*

MSL974003A

Perform chemical tests and procedures

MSL974004A

Perform food tests

MSL974005A

Perform physical tests

MSL974006A

Perform biological procedures

*

MSL974007A

Undertake environmental field-based monitoring

MSL974008A

Capture and manage scientific images

MSL974009A

Undertake field-based, remote-sensing monitoring

MSL974010A

Perform mechanical tests

MSL974011A

Prepare tissue and cell cultures

*

MSL974012A

Perform tests to determine the properties of construction materials

*

MSL974013A

Monitor performance of structures

*

MSAENV472B

Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

HLTPAT419C

Perform pathology tests

• Group B 

Unit code 

Unit title 

Prerequisites 

MSL933001A

Maintain the laboratory/field workplace fit for purpose

MSL933002A

Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives

MSL933003A

Apply critical control point requirements

MSL933004A

Perform calibration checks on equipment and assist with its maintenance

MSL943001A

Work safely with instruments that emit ionising radiation

MSL953001A

Receive and prepare samples for testing

MSL953002A

Operate a robotic sample preparation system

MSL963001A

Operate basic handblowing equipment

MSL963002A

Repair glass apparatus using simple glassblowing equipment

*

MSL973001A

Perform basic tests

MSL973002A

Prepare working solutions

MSL973003A

Prepare culture media

MSL973004A

Perform aseptic techniques

MSL973005A

Assist with fieldwork

MSL973006A

Prepare trial batches for evaluation

MSL973007A

Perform microscopic examination

MSL973008A

Perform histological procedures

MSL973009A

Conduct field-based acceptance tests for construction materials

MSL973010A

Conduct laboratory-based acceptance tests for construction materials

MSL973011A

Perform fire pouring techniques

MSL973012A

Assist with geotechnical investigations

TAEDEL301A

Provide work skill instruction

HLTPAT317C

Operate effectively within a pathology testing environment

Group C 

Unit code 

Unit title 

Prerequisites 

MSL905001A

Perform non-standard calibrations

*

MSL905002A

Create or modify calibration procedures

*

MSL905003A

Create or modify automated calibration procedures

*

MSL915001A

Provide information to customers

MSL915002A

Schedule laboratory work for a small team

MSL925001A

Analyse data and report results

*

MSL925002A

Analyse measurements and estimate uncertainties

*

MSL935001A

Monitor the quality of test results and data

*

MSL935002A

Assist in the maintenance of reference materials

MSL935003A

Authorise the issue of test results

*

MSL935004A

Maintain instruments and equipment

MSL955001A

Supervise a robotic sample preparation system

*

MSL965001A

Design and manufacture glass apparatus and glass systems

*

MSL965002A

Perform glass coating, grinding and finishing operations

*

MSL965003A

Construct, modify and maintain high vacuum systems

*

MSL975001A

Perform microbiological tests

*

MSL975002A

Perform haematological tests

*

MSL975003A

Perform histological tests

*

MSL975004A

Perform chemical pathology tests

*

MSL975005A

Conduct sensory analysis

MSL975006A

Perform immunohaematological tests

*

MSL975007A

Supervise sampling, inspections and testing at construction sites

*

MSL975008A

Apply electrophoretic techniques

*

MSL975009A

Apply routine chromatographic techniques

*

MSL975010A

Perform fire assay techniques

*

MSL975011A

Design and supervise complex environmental field surveys

*

MSL975012A

Provide input to production trials

*

MSL975013A

Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

*

MSL975014A

Perform molecular biology tests and procedures

*

MSL975015A

Prepare animal and plant material for display

*

MSL975016A

Perform complex tests to measure engineering properties of materials

*

MSL975017A

Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques

*

MSL975018A

Perform complex tests to measure chemical properties of materials

*

MSL975019A

Apply complex instrumental techniques

*

MSL975020A

Apply routine spectrometric techniques

*

MSL975021A

Apply routine electrometric techniques

*

MSL975022A

Perform food analyses

*

MSL975023A

Supervise geotechnical site investigations

*

MSL975024A

Locate record and collect forensic samples

MSL975025A

Perform complex laboratory testing of forensic samples

MSL975026A

Perform physical examination of forensic samples