MT01 - Definitions for registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering STCW AMSA approved qualifications
MT 01
Information for Registered Training Organisations
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DEFINITIONS FOR REGISTERED TRAINING
ORGANISATIONS (RTOs) DELIVERING STCW
AMSA APPROVED QUALIFICATIONS
Purpose
The following definitions explain the terms used specifically in the Maritime Training (MT) series documents for
Registered Training Organisations.
Definitions
AMSA
Abbr. Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The Australian Flag State Administration.
AMSA Approved Course
Completion Certificate
A certificate issued by an AMSA approved RTO after the candidate has successfully
completed an AMSA approved course.
Anniversary Date
The day and month of each year that corresponds to the date of the initial audit.
Approved
Means approved by the Manager.
Approved Course
A single course or series of courses, or a training program, approved by the Manager as
being an approved course, for the issue of marine qualifications as required by relevant
Marine Orders.
ASQA
Abbr. Australian Skills Quality Authority.
AQF
Abbr. Australian Qualifications Framework.
Auditor
A person appointed by the Manager to conduct audits.
Certificate(s)
Certificates issued in accordance with Marine Orders 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, 71
(Masters and deck officers) 2014, 72 (Engineer officers) 2014, 73 (Ratings) 2014 and
Marine Order 6 Marine radio qualifications.
Certificate of Approval
An AMSA issued certificate indicating that the Registered Training Organisation has
approval to conduct approved training for an AMSA issued qualification.
Challenge Test
An assessment for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), whether by written examination
or by other means, that is equivalent to the normal course assessment.
Examiner
A person appointed by the Manager, Ship Operations and Qualifications under Marine
Orders 70, 71, 72, 73 to conduct oral examinations leading to the issue of Certificates of
Competency.
Final assessment
Means an assessment by AMSA, of which part must be an oral examination conducted
by an examiner. This is to assess whether the applicant has operational knowledge and
knowledge of Australian maritime legislation appropriate for the grade of certificate. A final
assessment applies for the following:
a) an application for the initial issue of a certificate; and
b) an application for revalidation of a certificate.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - July 2015
AMSA 5 (7/15)
Page 1 of 5
MT01 - Definitions for registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering STCW AMSA approved qualifications
GMDSS
Abbr. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
GMDSS ROC
Abbr. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Radio Operator’s Certificate. A
qualification required to operate GMDSS equipment.
High Managerial Agent
An employee or agent of the organisation with duties of such responsibility that his or her
conduct may fairly be assumed to represent the organisation in relation to the business of
providing courses.
IMO
International Maritime Organization.
IMO Model Course
Courses developed by the International Maritime Organization to assist Registered
Training Organisations in training seafarers to the required standard.
Industry Regulator
A body or organization responsible for the regulation and/or licensing arrangements
within a specific industry or occupation.
Lead Auditor
An auditor in charge of a particular audit.
Licensed or regulated
outcome
Compliance with an eligibility requirement for an occupational licence or a legislative
requirement to hold a particular training product in order to carry out an activity.
Manager
Responsible for supervising Shipping Qualifications.
Mode of delivery
The method adopted to deliver training and assessment including e-learning, online,
distance, blended learning.
Module
A group of learning outcomes in a VET accredited course where it can be established that
it is not possible to develop an appropriate unit of competency.
MTP
Abbr. Maritime Training Package. The maritime industry developed competency based
training package. The current version is MAR.
MO6
Abbr. Marine Order 6 (Marine radio qualifications) 2000.
MO70
Abbr. Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014.
MO71
Abbr. Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2014.
MO72
Abbr. Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014.
MO73
Abbr. Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014.
Professional
development
Activities that develop and/or maintain an individual’s skills, knowledge, expertise and
other characteristics as a trainer or assessor. This includes both formal and informal
activities that encompass vocational competencies, currency of industry skills and
knowledge and practice of vocational training, learning and assessment, including
competency based training and assessment. Examples of professional development
activities include:
a) participation in courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, or formal learning
programs;
b) participation in mentoring, professional associations or other learning networks;
c) personal development through individual research or reading of publications or other
relevant information;
d) participation in moderation or validation activities; and
e) participation in industry release schemes.
PQO
Abbr. Principal Qualifications Officer. The AMSA officers holding the positions of Principal
Qualifications Officer, Engineering (PQO(E)) and Principal Qualifications, Nautical
(PQO(N).
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - July 2015
AMSA 5 (7/15)
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MT01 - Definitions for registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering STCW AMSA approved qualifications
Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL)
An assessment process that assesses the competency/s of an individual that may have
been acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent
to which that individual meets the requirements specified in the training package or VET
accredited courses.
a) formal learning refers to learning that takes place through a structured program of
instruction and is linked to the attainment of an AQF qualification or statement of
attainment (for example, a certificate, diploma or university degree);
b) non-formal learning refers to learning that takes place through a structured program
of instruction, but does not lead to the attainment of an AQF qualification or statement
of attainment (for example, in-house professional development programs conducted
by a business); and
c) informal learning refers to learning that results through experience of work-related,
social, family, hobby or leisure activities (for example the acquisition of interpersonal
skills developed through several years as a sales representative).
Registration
Registration as an RTO by the VET Regulator, where that registration is then entered on
the National Register.
RTO
Abbr. Registered Training Organisation.
RTO code
The registration identifier given to the RTO on the National Register.
Scope of registration
The training products for which an RTO is registered to issue AQF certification
documentation. It allows the RTO to:
a) both provide training delivery and assessment resulting in the issuance of AQF
certification documentation by the RTO; or
b) provide assessment resulting in the issuance of AQF certification documentation by
the RTO.
Skill set
A single unit of competency or a combination of units of competency from a training
package which link to a licensing or regulatory requirement, or a defined industry need.
Standards for VET
Accredited Courses
The standards made under subsection 188(1) of the National Vocational Education and
Training Regulator Act 2011 or the equivalent requirements adopted by a non-referring
State.
STCW or STCW 78, as
amended
Abbr. International Maritime Organisation, International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.
Third party
Any party that provides services on behalf of the RTO but does not include a contract of
employment between an RTO and its employee.
TLISC
Abbr. Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council.
Training
The process used by an RTO or a third party delivering services on its behalf, to facilitate
learning and the acquisition of competencies in relation to the training product on the
RTO’s scope of registration.
Training and assessment The approach of, and method adopted by, an RTO with respect to training and
strategies and practices assessment designed to enable learners to meet the requirements of the training
package or accredited course.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - July 2015
AMSA 5 (7/15)
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MT01 - Definitions for registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering STCW AMSA approved qualifications
Training Package
The components of a training package endorsed by the Industry and Skills Council or
its delegate in accordance with the Standards for Training Packages. The endorsed
components of a Training Package are:
a) units of competency;
b) assessment requirements (associated with each unit of competency);
c) qualifications; and
d) credit arrangements.
The endorsed components form part of the requirements that an RTO must meet under
these Standards. A training package also consists of a non-endorsed, quality assured
companion volume/s which contains industry advice to RTOs on different aspects of
implementation.
Unit of competency
The specification of the standards of performance required in the workplace as defined in
a training package.
Validation
The quality review of the assessment process. Validation involves checking that the
assessment tool/s produce/s valid, reliable, sufficient, current and authentic evidence to
enable reasonable judgements to be made as to whether the requirements of the training
package or VET accredited courses are met. It includes reviewing a statistically valid
sample of the assessments and making recommendations for future improvements to the
assessment tool, process and/or outcomes and acting upon such recommendations.
VET
Vocational Education and Training.
VET Quality Framework
The Framework comprises:
a) the Standards for Registered Training Organisations
b) the Australian Qualifications Framework
c) the Fit and Proper Person Requirements
d) the Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements
e) the Data Provision Requirements
VET Regulator
This means:
a) the National VET Regulator; and
b) a body of a non-referring State that is responsible for the kinds of matters dealt with
under the VET legislation for that State.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - July 2015
AMSA 5 (7/15)
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MT01 - Definitions for registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering STCW AMSA approved qualifications
ATTACHMENT
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
LINKS BETWEEN AMSA ACCREDITATION OF
RTOS AND COURSES AND AMSA CERTIFICATION
OF RTO SEAFARER QUALIFICATIONS
Note: Completion of an AQF course does not entitle a person to a
seafarer certificate unless all other conditions for issue have been met.
Australia is signatory to STCW Convention and STCW Code, 1978 as
amended.
AMSA is the Commonwealth government agency responsible for
implementation of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended. The STCW
Convention places considerable responsibility on AMSA to monitor
seafarer training.
Navigation Act 2012 provides AMSA with the power to regulate the actions
of seafarers in Australian waters and ensure AMSA’s compliance with
STCW Convention and Code. This is done through the issuing of Marine
Orders.
The Marine Orders 70 series describes the provisions that apply for the
certification of seafarers under the Navigation Act 2012 which includes
approval, monitoring and auditing of seafarer training courses.
AMSA approved RTOs deliver AQF Courses based on the requirements
of the latest version of the Maritime Training Package. AMSA audits
training package courses to ensure that the requirements of the STCW
Convention are complied with.
On completion of an Australian Qualification Framework (AFQ) course
seafarer applies for the issue of AMSA STCW seafarer certificate.
AMSA ensures that, prior to issue of a seafarer certificate. all requirements
for issue of certificate are complied with, including correct qualifying sea
service, TAGS book, STCW short courses, medical fitness etc.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - July 2015
AMSA 5 (7/15)
Page 5 of 5