TRANSPORT SAFETY VICTORIA

Maritime Accreditation of Examiners for Certificates of Competency: Administration Procedures

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Disclaimer (a) Purpose This procedure has been produced by Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) to provide information about the accreditation of examiners for certificates of competency, as at the date of publication. No substitute This procedure is not a substitute for, and should not be read in lieu of, the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) or the Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic), or any other relevant laws, codes, rules, procedures or policies. Further, the contents of this procedure do not constitute legal or business advice. No Warranty While TSV has used due care and skill in the production of this procedure, neither TSV, nor any of its employees, agents and consultants make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for particular purposes of the information in this procedure.

(b)

(c)

State Government of Victoria 2012 Copyright in this publication resides with the Director, Transport Safety and the State of Victoria. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

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1. Term

Glossary Definition A person having the relevant vocational competencies and adequate maritime experience and knowledge, accredited by the Safety Director to conduct oral examinations for the purpose of issuing a COC. The statutory marine authority of the Commonwealth of Australia or of a State or Territory within the Commonwealth. The certificate issued by the Safety Director under section 78 of the MSA A person who has fulfilled the requirements of NSCV Part D to be eligible for a COC. The set of examination questions developed by the Accredited Examiner that cover the requirements detailed in section 4 of this procedure. Maritime Training Package means the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Councils TDM07 Maritime Training Package Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic) National Standard for Commercial Vessels, Part D, Crew Competencies, as published by National Marine Safety Committee. Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 The Director, Transport Safety, a statutory office established under s171 of the Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic) (TIA) for the purpose of independently seeking the highest transport safety standards that are reasonably consistent with the vision statement and the transport system objectives set out in the same Act. Transport Safety Victoria

Accredited Examiner

Authority Certificate of Competency (COC) Eligible Applicant Exam Questions

Maritime Training Package MSA MSR NSCV Part D

OH&S Safety Director

TSV

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2.

Purpose and scope

Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) is Victorias marine safety regulator and is responsible for the administration of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) (the Act) and the Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic) (the Regulations). Under section 258 (e) of the Act, the Safety Director has the function of issuing commercial certificates of competency (COC) to eligible applicants. COCs are issued by the Safety Director under section 78 of the Act. Section 74 of the Act makes it an offence for a person to act as a master of or crew member on a commercial vessel in any capacity for which a COC is required if that person does not hold that COC. To obtain a COC, an applicant must meet the criteria required in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels Part D, Crew Competencies relevant to the type of COC they have applied for. This includes a certificate of attainment from a TSV accredited training provider showing that the applicant has completed the training as required under the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council TDM07 Maritime Training Package for the type of COC applied for. The Safety Director requires that an Accredited Examiner examine applicants in the format of an oral examination and assess whether the applicant is suitably qualified and has sufficient knowledge and experience to obtain a COC. The oral examination by an Accredited Examiner should be undertaken when all other requirements for the issue of a COC have been successfully completed (NSCV Part D 1.15.5). The purpose of this document is to set out the qualifications and qualities that are required for an Accredited Examiner and to describe the administrative and governance arrangements under which they will operate.

This document should be read in conjunction with TSV Maritime Accreditation of Examiners for Certificates of Competency: General Terms and Conditions
3. Accredited Examiner qualifications

TSV requires the Accredited Examiner to have: An appropriate marine qualification and experience. Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the regulatory requirements and environment applicable to commercial vessels. For the conduct of the navigation oral examination, a minimum qualification as a Master Class 3, with at least five years of experience. For the conduct of the engineering oral examination, a minimum qualification as an Engineer Class 2, with at least five years of experience. Commitment to keep abreast with the latest developments. Conduct of the examination
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4.

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During the oral examination, the Accredited Examiner needs to ascertain the Eligible Applicants knowledge relevant to the COC that is being applied for. The Accredited Examiner should: Inform the Eligible Applicant of the limitations of the COC and the topics that will be covered. Give sufficient time to the Eligible Applicant to answer the question. Provide writing material in case something requires to be explained. Rephrase or break up the question if the question is not understood properly. Take into consideration the different academic levels of understanding. If he/she considers it practical, ask the Eligible Applicant to return a few days later with additional critical information relating to certain questions. The result is delayed until the candidate provides a satisfactory answer to the question. Attempt to find out that the Eligible Applicant is capable of communicating effectively with team/colleagues/shore personnel at all times. Attempt to find out if the Eligible Applicant uses simple elimination processes to address a difficult situation. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the emergency procedures. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the OH&S rules. The Accredited Examiner needs to be satisfied of the Eligible Applicants ability in the following: Problem solving skills Fault finding Analysing symptoms Leadership skills People management skills appropriate to the COC Interpersonal skills Communication skills Expressing themselves clearly and Practical experience by questioning the underpinning knowledge. During the oral examination the Accredited Examiner questions the Eligible Applicant on the topics relevant to the COC applied for. The Accredited Examiner satisfies himself/herself that the Eligible Applicant demonstrates competence on the critical aspects of evidence as stated in the Maritime Training Package (which includes NSCV part D requirements) for each unit of competency for the relevant qualification. The Accredited Examiner may recommend the addition of limitations or conditions to the COC which may become evident during the oral examination. The Accredited Examiner should develop a set of Exam Questions that cover the requirements detailed above. The Accredited Examiner should ask a selection of these questions such that all major topics are covered for the relevant COC. 5. Administrative procedures

The Accredited Examiner should use an Examination Form, in a form approved or provided by TSV, to record the details of the Eligible Applicant (full name, address and date of birth). The Accredited Examiner should check the identity of the Eligible Applicant prior to commencing the oral examination to ensure it is the correct person. Details of the evidence
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of identity should be noted on the Examination Form. See Appendix 1 for acceptable evidence of identity. On completion of the oral examination the Accredited Examiner shall inform the Eligible Applicant of the outcome and submit his report to the Manager, Authorisations (or a delegated person) at TSV by completing the relevant section in the Examination Form.

6.

Audit and reporting

TSV will periodically audit the Accredited Examiners activities using the following audit tools: 1. A desktop audit of the Accredited Examiners set of Exam Questions. 2. A desktop audit of the Examination Forms, including a check that evidence of identity has been recorded and satisfies the requirements in Appendix 1 of this document. 3. Feedback from successful and unsuccessful applicants. 4. The presence of a member of TSVs Authorisations/ Qualifications business unit at selected examinations. For the guidance of Accredited Examiners, the audit template is attached in Appendix 2.

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Appendix 1: EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

When attending an oral examination for a COC the applicant must provide Evidence of Identity (EOI). The EOI required is defined as a photo licence OR multiple evidence of identity. Photo Licence A photo licence means any Australian photo driver licence or photo learner permit which is current or expired by no more than 2 years. Multiple Evidence of Identity For transactions where multiple EOI is required it is necessary to provide: a primary evidence document (high quality evidence of who the applicant is), a secondary evidence document (to confirm the current use of the applicant's name in the community),

evidence of change of name (where it differs between primary and secondary evidence documents). Primary and secondary evidence documents must be separate documents. All documents must be originals as supplied by the issuing authority (or copies certified by the issuing authority, a Justice of the Peace or a solicitor). One document must contain a signature of the applicant. Primary Evidence Documents One of these documents: Australian passport, An overseas passport, Australian birth certificate or change of name certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Birth extracts and Commemorative birth certificates are not accepted, change of name certificate issued by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, a document of identity issued by the Passport Office (usually issued to travellers to Norfolk Island), document of identity issued by the Australian Passport Office, Australian police force officer or Australian Defence Force photo identity card (excluding civilian staff), consular photo identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian naturalisation or citizenship document issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship immigration papers (eg. visa) issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship ,

NSW Photo Card (issued by NSW Road Traffic Authority after 14 December 2005). OR One of these documents that is current or expired by no more than two years: Australian defence force photo licence, or Victorian firearm photo licence. AND Secondary evidence documents In addition to one of the above primary evidence documents the applicant must provide one secondary evidence document from the list below: Medicare card, Pensioner Concession card,
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Department of Veteran's Affairs card, current entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth, student identity card, credit card or account card from a bank, building society or credit union,

state or federal government employee photo ID card. OR; One of these documents that is current or no more than one year old: passbook or bank account statement, telephone, gas or electricity bill.

OR; One of these documents that is current or no more than two years old: electoral enrolment card, armed services discharge papers, current Proof of Age card issued by Consumer Affairs Victoria, current Victorian Driving Authority photo identity card.

Evidence of change of name The applicant will need one of the following documents if the name is different on the primary and secondary evidence documents: marriage certificate issued by a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia, divorce papers (showing the name being reverted to), Deed Poll (issued before November 1986 in Victoria), or Change of Name Certificate (issued after November 1986 in Victoria).

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Appendix 2: AUDIT TEMPLATE Audit criteria Compliant / non-compliant, with comments

Desktop audit of the Accredited Examiners set of Exam Questions

Do the questions address the criteria required in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels Part D, relevant to the type of COC they have applied for? Do the questions address the ability to communicate effectively with team/colleagues/shore personnel at all times? Do the questions address the ability to use simple elimination process to address a difficult situation? Do the questions address the emergency procedures? Do the questions address the OH&S Rules? Do the questions address problem solving skills? Do the questions address fault finding? Do the questions address analysing symptoms? Do the questions address leadership skills Do the questions address people management skills appropriate to the COC? Do the questions address Interpersonal skills? Do the questions examine practical experience?

Desktop audit of the Examination Forms

Has Evidence of Identity been collected and recorded consistent with Appendix 1 of the TSV Maritime Accreditation of Examiners for Certificates of Competency: Administration procedures? Has the Accredited Examiner clearly recorded the outcome of the oral
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examination on the Examination Form?

Feedback from successful and unsuccessful applicants

Did the Accredited Examiner: Inform the Eligible Applicant of the limitations of the COC and the topics that will be covered Give sufficient time to the applicant to answer the question Provide writing material in case something requires to be explained. Rephrase or break up the question if the question is not understood properly. Ask the Eligible Applicant to find out the answers to certain questions and return a few days later. Attempt to find out that the Eligible Applicant is capable of communicating effectively with his team/colleagues/shore personnel at all times. Attempt to find out that the Eligible Applicant uses simple elimination process to address a difficult situation. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the emergency procedures. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the OH&S Rules?

Presentation audit: monitoring by TSVs Authorisations/ Qualifications business unit at selected examinations
Did the Accredited Examiner: Inform the Eligible Applicant of the limitations of the COC and the topics that would be covered Give sufficient time to the Eligible Applicant to answer the question. Provide writing material in case something requires to be explained. Rephrase or break up the question if the question is not understood properly. Take into consideration the different academic levels of understanding. If he/she considers it practical, ask the Eligible Applicant to find out the answers to certain questions and return a few days later. Attempt to find out that the Eligible Applicant is capable of communicating effectively with team/colleagues/shore personnel at all times.
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Attempt to find out that the Eligible Applicant uses simple elimination processes to address a difficult situation. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the emergency procedures. Ensure the Eligible Applicant is aware of the OH&S Rules? Did the Accredited Examiner address the applicants ability in the following: Problem solving skills Fault finding Analysing symptoms Leadership skills People management skills appropriate to the COC Interpersonal skills Communication skills Expressing themselves clearly and Practical experience?

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