VRQA guide to accreditation of potentially high risk courses
Background
The VRQA regularly assesses the potential risk of courses as part of the intention to accredit
or re-accredit process. Courses may be classified as low, medium or high risk. Courses that
are assessed as low or medium risk include those where there is a low or moderate level of
risk of physical injury. Course developers must ensure that all courses and qualifications
submitted for accreditation address occupational health and safety risks in a relevant and
appropriate manner. Courses assessed as high risk must meet additional requirements.
What courses are seen as potentially high risk?
Potentially high risk qualifications and courses are defined by the VRQA as those where
there is a risk of potential physical or mental harm to course participants during the training
period, or associated with the vocational outcomes, for example a course where the
outcomes require the use of hazardous substances in the workplace, or working with
equipment that has the potential to cause injury.
Qualifications and courses considered by the VRQA as potentially high risk include those
which involve any of the following:
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penetration of the skin
possible invasive treatments
risk of infection
physical manipulation
serious contra-indications may apply
treatments that deal with or may impact on the mental or emotional health of a
client
possible financial impact on a client
first aid treatments
working in a dangerous or hazardous environment
working with children
What should you do if you wish to accredit a course that might fall into the potentially high
risk category?
1
Course concept proposal
You should submit a Course Concept Proposal application form to the VRQA and provide all
the required information. The VRQA has general requirements for all course concept
proposals for a course or qualification. You may download the course concept proposal
application form from the VRQA website. The VRQA will consider each course on a case by
case basis.
If the VRQA decides that the proposed course has the potential to be of high risk, how the
risk is mitigated must be addressed and evidence provided in the course document. The
VRQA may ask you to provide further information to assist in its assessment of the course
concept proposal and the final course documentation.
VRQA Guide to accreditation of potentially high risk courses V4.00-April 2015
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The accreditation submission
The VRQA has general requirements for all courses that comply with the AQTF Standards.
Templates for accreditation submissions may be downloaded from the VRQA website.
Courses designated as potentially high risk must include a completed Risk Assessment
Form signed by the Chairperson of the project steering committee in the supporting
documentation submitted with the course accreditation documentation.
3
Maintenance of the course
The VRQA has general requirements for the maintenance of all courses. A condition of
accreditation for all state accredited courses is that copyright holders will monitor the course
during the period of accreditation and that they will notify the VRQA of significant changes,
such as any change to structure, duration, or change in the selection of units which should
be made on advice from industry. This includes any change to skill and knowledge
outcomes of units. A course may also be expired if it is replaced by a Training Package
qualification. No additional requirements apply to potentially high risk courses.
VRQA Guidelines for accreditation of potentially high risk courses V4.0-April 2015
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