Unit of competency

Modification History

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to PMAOMIR317B Facilitate search and rescue operations

Application

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to establish and implement a support plan to facilitate search and rescue operations.

This unit of competency applies to experienced operators in roles such as senior technician, team leader or manager who are required to establish local support for interaction between an isolated facility and appropriate agencies, initiate a muster, provide advice to assist the search and rescue, liaise with all relevant internal and external personnel, provide details of local weather, contact the search controller and activate incident response system.

This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift and emergency response team members, and the incident commander and control room operator, as appropriate.

This unit of competency applies to search and rescue operations arising from any incident and/or context, for example:

• lost plane/helicopter transporting crew
• lost supply vessel
• lost truck/vehicle
• individual or groups requiring rescue
• hazardous or non-hazardous goods
• land and sea rescue.

This unit of competency applies to site/facility personnel who will need to provide organisation input to the specialist search and rescue organisations. It does not cover the development of search and rescue plans, or the conduct/coordination of a search and rescue.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Incident readiness and response

Unit Sector

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to PMAOMIR317B Facilitate search and rescue operations

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=9fc2cf53-e570-4e9f-ad6a-b228ffdb6875

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to PMAOMIR317B Facilitate search and rescue operations

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include the ability to:

• interpret the search and rescue plans for different agencies and determine interfaces with own organisation/site/facility
• keep required records before, during and after a search and rescue incident
• effectively communicate, negotiate and consult with internal and external parties.

Knowledge Evidence

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

• organisational procedures, including those covering:

• safety, hazards and hazard control
• incident, fire and accident
• communication systems
• emergency response plans

• external support agencies and their roles
• types and limitations of rescue vessels, aircraft or motor vehicles
• accessing and interpreting weather conditions
• response times
• available local resources.

Assessment Conditions

• Competency must be achieved before performing this work unsupervised. Therefore this unit will typically be assessed off the job. Where assessment is undertaken on the job appropriate supervision and safety precautions must be provided.
• The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.
• The collection of performance evidence:

• should provide evidence of the ability to perform over the range of situations which might be expected to be encountered including typical disruptions to normal, smooth work conditions
• must include a simulated search and rescue
• must include the use of appropriate tools, equipment and safety gear requiring demonstration of preparation, operation, completion and responding to problems.

• Off-the-job assessment must sufficiently reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
• Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:

• walk-throughs
• demonstration of skills
• industry-based case studies/scenarios
• ‘what ifs’.

• Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).
• Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
• Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
• Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
• Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
• In addition, the assessor or anyone acting in subject matter expert role in assessment must demonstrate both technical competency and currency. If the assessor cannot demonstrate technical competency and currency they must assess with a subject matter expert who does meet these requirements.
• Technical competence can be demonstrated through one or more of:

• relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment
• appropriate workplace experience undertaking the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions
• appropriate workplace experience supervising/evaluating the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions

• Currency can be demonstrated through one or more of:

• being currently employed undertaking the type of work being assessed
• being employed by the organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed and having maintained currency in accordance with that organisation’s policies and procedures
• having consulted/had contact with an organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed within the last twelve months, the consultation/contact being related to assessment
• conducting on-the-job training/assessments of the type of work being assessed
• being an active member of a relevant professional body and participating in activities relevant to the assessment of this type of work

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=9fc2cf53-e570-4e9f-ad6a-b228ffdb6875