DEF Work Health and Safety
Project scope
Review and development of Defence Training Package components relating Work Health and Safety will be undertaken as part of ongoing capability reviews across the Australian Defence Force. Wider industry practices and Defence legislative requirements will also be addressed during this process. Where imported elective Units of Competency are identified as either deleted or superseded, the IRC may also elect to update the affected Defence qualification(s) through this review.
The Public Safety IRC will have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders. A Defence focus group will be formed to provide the subject matter expertise for this project.
Deliverables
One qualification to be reviewed:
- DEF43315 Certificate IV in Work Health Safety
15 existing Units of Competency to be reviewed:
- DEFGEN012 Provide technical advice
- DEFWHS001 Identify and monitor radiation hazards
- DEFWHS002 Develop noise management plans
- DEFWHS003 Apply radio frequency radiation safety procedures
- DEFWHS005 Apply ionising radiation safety procedures
- DEFWHS007 Work safely with lasers
- DEFWHS008 Apply laser safety procedures
- DEFWHS010 Identify confined space
- DEFWHS011 Enter confined space
- DEFWHS012 Test confined space environment
- DEFWHS013 Control entry to confined spaces
- DEFWHS014 Monitor and report on hazardous substances safety
- DEFWHS015 Conduct a work health and safety audit
- DEFWHS016 Conduct work health and safety inspections
- DEFWHS017 Apply knowledge of WHS legislation
- DEFRNG009 Supervise contractors
One existing Skill Set to be reviewed:
- DEFSS00014 Enter Confined Space Skill Set
Timeline
The Case for Endorsement is expected to be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee by 30 October 2020.
How to get involved
A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed to provide expertise for this work. If you have any questions about this project, or are a subject matter expert and would like to be considered for the TAC for this project, please contact the Industry Manager.
Stakeholder feedback on draft training materials will be sought as part of the development phase of work.
Technical advisory committee
25 JULY 2019
DEFENCE PROJECT COMMENCEMENT
Work on the Defence Work Health and Safety project has commenced.
The Public Safety IRC is currently working with Defence to revise existing qualifications in the DEF Defence Training Package.
Consultation
11 MAY 2020
DRAFT MATERIALS
The following qualification has been identified for deletion from the DEF Defence Training Package:
Qualification:
- DEF43315 Certificate IV in Work Health Safety
The following Skills Sets including three new Skill Sets are available for review:
Skill Sets:
- DEFSS00014 Enter Confined Space Skill Set
- DEFSS999991Y Laser Safety Officer Skill Set
- DEFSS999992Y Ionising Radiation Safety Officer Skill Set
- DEFSS999993Y Radiofrequency Radiation Safety Officer Skill Set
The following Units of Competency are available for review:
- DEFGEN012 Provide technical advice
- DEFWHS001 Identify and monitor radiation hazards
- DEFWHS002 Develop noise management plans
- DEFWHS003 Apply radio frequency radiation safety procedures
- DEFWHS005 Apply ionising radiation safety procedures
- DEFWHS007 Work safely with lasers
- DEFWHS008 Apply laser safety procedures
- DEFWHS010 Identify confined space
- DEFWHS011 Enter confined space
- DEFWHS012 Test confined space environment
- DEFWHS013 Control entry to confined spaces
- DEFWHS014 Monitor and report on hazardous substances safety
The following Units of Competency been identified for deletion from the DEF Defence Training Package:
- DEFWHS015 Conduct a work health and safety audit
- DEFWHS016 Conduct work health and safety inspections
- DEFWHS017 Apply knowledge of WHS legislation
Feedback on draft materials closed on Friday, 5 June 2020 for consideration by Defence.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next focus group meeting.
31 JANUARY 2020
A focus group comprised of Defence personnel is continuing review and development work for this project.
Summary of development
Draft units, skill sets and/or qualifications are developed in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and industry stakeholders.
Initial drafting of Training Package material (Units of Competency, Skill Sets and/or qualifications) is being undertaken. Defence, has ensured that the draft Units are informed by the needs of industry.
Quality Assurance
4 SEPTEMBER 2020
Final draft Case for Endorsement (Release 4.0)
The draft Training Package materials have undergone independent edit and quality assurance.
The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC in October 2020.
Consultation
15 JUNE 2020
DRAFT MATERIALS
Defence has finalised draft materials for this project and would like your feedback.
Feedback on draft materials closed on Wednesday, 1 July 2020 for consideration by the TAC.
Summary of Feedback
View Summary of Consultations – DEF R4.0
Endorsement
15 FEBRUARY 2021
The Defence Training Package (Release 4.0) has been endorsed by Skills Ministers for implementation.
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, with support from subject matter experts, has led the development of new Skill Sets and Units of Competency, and the revision of qualifications and units through the projects below to address Defence capability reviews, wider industry practices, and Defence legislative requirements:
- Work, Health and Safety – three new Skill Sets have been developed to support specific Defence capabilities for Laser Safety Officers and Radiation Safety Officers. The Certificate IV in Work Health Safety has been deleted as part of this release as the qualification is no longer used by Defence.
To support the delivery of the Training Package, a Companion Volume Implementation Guide (CVIG) has been developed to assist assessors, trainers, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises. The CVIG contains a comprehensive list of all products in the Training Package; mapping information which details the changes that have been made to the materials; regulation and licensing implications; and useful links to other information.
The Defence Training Package Release 4.0 is now available on training.gov.au.
This release includes the below listed projects:
The following materials were approved:
Qualifications
DEF40520 | Certificate IV in Simulator Maintenance |
DEF50420 | Diploma of Simulator Maintenance Management |
Revised Units
DEFSIM011 | Fault find and repair simulator control systems |
DEFSIM014 | Work effectively with simulator systems |
DEFSIM015 | Fault find and repair simulator power distribution and control systems |
DEFSIM016 | Fault find and repair simulator computer systems and peripheral hardware |
DEFSIM017 | Fault find and repair simulator image generator and visual display systems |
DEFSIM018 | Fault find and repair simulator sound systems |
DEFSIM019 | Fault find and repair simulator weapons systems |
DEFSIM020 | Conduct simulator performance evaluation |
DEFSIM021 | Operate the simulator for testing purposes |
New Units
DEFSIM010 | Apply knowledge of Simulator Systems and Architecture |
DEFSIM012 | Fault find and repair simulator motion systems |
DEFSIM013 | Manage Simulator accreditation or in service testing |
Deleted Qualifications
DEF43315 | Certificate IV in Work Health Safety |
DEF54315 | Diploma of Evaluations |
Deleted Units
DEFWHS015 | Conduct a work health and safety audit |
DEFWHS016 | Conduct work health and safety inspections |
DEFWHS017 | Apply knowledge of WHS legislation |
Approval
16 DECEMBER 2020
At its meeting on 2 December 2020 the AISC approved the Defence Training Package (Release 4.0) for referral to the Skills Ministers for endorsement.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Manager.
Submission
27 OCTOBER 2020
CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT SUBMITTED TO AISC
The draft Training Package materials have been submitted to the AISC.
Thank you to all stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and contributed to this project.

Paschal Somers
Industry Skills Manager - Aviation, Corrections, Defence and Public Safety