Executive+Summary+021

Both Aurora Training & Professional Services Pty Ltd and Safety in Focus Pty Ltd (hereinafter known as “the Business Partners”) face the challenge of meeting industry demands to provide learning solutions to industry for OHS induction training. As the companies have grown the need to service isolated learners has increased. The demands of customers for more flexible training options are extending the capability of the staff and the capacity of current products.

Occupational Health and Safety requirements now place a heavy burden on industry to ensure the comprehensive induction of all staff, contractors and visitors. Limitations of existing industry based induction training include, but are not limited to, the following: • Low levels of consistency in delivery and assessment strategies • Low level of trainer competence • Significant time demands on trainers • Low level of responsiveness to learner needs including accommodation of language and literacy limitations, geographical isolation and need for rapid response to urgent access to workplaces • Almost complete absence of accredited training from within the Australian Qualifications Framework as a basis for induction training.

Phase I of the project will be the collection of data by way of written survey and interview regarding the readiness for e-learning in two major industries: mining, and aged & disability care, in particular considering knowledge, skills and attitudes toward e-learning. Phase II will review best-practice e-learning tools and recommend e-learning solutions to present the units BSBOHS201A: Participate in OHS processes and BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace. This project will develop flexible learning strategies and processes to address the issues associated with current induction training programs. The units chosen to address this underpin the entire risk management process as required by legislation. Phase III will conduct exit surveys to analyse both perceived and actual changes in knowledge, skills and attitudes about the e-learning process by both employer and employee groups. Phase IV will be to make recommendations for changes in current business practices to: • both the Business Partners regarding their current delivery of training material • target organisations with regard to adjusting their current training practices to adopt e-learning solutions.

The project will produce: • Learning and assessment strategies for two units of competency in an e-learning format • Entry and exit surveys and questionnaire to assist implementing tailored e-learning • Survey results • Recommendations for best-practice solutions administrative processes.

This project will provide opportunity to impact significantly on the current delivery of training in both Business Partners, which have historically delivered in face-to-face mode. As the organisations grow the learner base has become more scattered and the industries they come from have employees scattered across sites (some of these rural and remote). Changes in contracting have meant Aurora and Safety in Focus have to be in a position to deliver nationally, and across NSW, to remain competitive. The project will also have applicability to any industry requiring risk assessment.