DEF Work Diving
Project scope
This project involves the revision of 17 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package that are not housed in a qualification. These units were originally part of a Certificate IV in Defence Diving which was deleted in 2017. However, the units are maintained by Defence as they are still used in Accredited Courses by other RTOs outside of Defence such as Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
Defence Divers carry out diving operations with surface supplied breathing apparatus to complete a range of activities using pneumatic, hydraulic, and explosive power tools, thermal arc cutting and welding equipment. In addition, divers are trained in clearance operations, search techniques and recovery. They must retain a current diving status by diving for a minimum of 180 minutes during every six-month period, 60 minutes of which is to be at night or with zero visibility.
The review will determine the extent those units are being used, with potential to recommend they be deleted from the national register if no longer in use.
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed to provide subject matter expertise for the development of Training Package materials.
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 Skills Manager.
Timeline
The Case for Endorsement and draft materials are due to be submitted by 30 June 2022.
Deliverables
The full list of products included in this project:
Units of Competency
- DEFWDV001Y Dive using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus in open water to 30 metres
- DEFWDV002Y Support SCUBA diving operations from the surface
- DEFWDV003Y Act as a standby diver
- DEFWDV004Y Dive using surface-supplied breathing apparatus in open water to 30 metres
- DEFWDV005Y Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (N2O2) in open water to a maximum depth of 40 metres
- DEFWDV006Y Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (O2) in open water to a maximum depth of 10 metres
- DEFWDV007Y Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (HeO2) in open water to a maximum depth of 60 metres
- DEFWDV008Y Employ hand tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV009Y Conduct an underwater search of a ship’s hull
- DEFWDV010Y Employ power tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV011Y Perform non-technical structural inspections underwater
- DEFWDV012Y Perform underwater beach and waterway surveys
- DEFWDV013Y Employ air-lift devices underwater
- DEFWDV014Y Perform concreting in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV015Y Employ explosive power tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV016Y Perform underwater rigging work
- DEFWDV017Y Employ thermal cutting and welding tools (non-load bearing) in an underwater environment
TAC Established
10 SEPTEMBER 2021
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has established a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for this project.
Comprising six subject matter experts from the Work Diving Industry and personnel from Defence, the TAC has been tasked with:
- Providing specialist industry subject-matter knowledge to help review and develop 17 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package
- Validating the technical content of the Training Package products
- Identifying relevant qualitative and quantitative data sources to inform the development of draft materials
- Reviewing feedback from stakeholders through public consultations
- Assisting in identifying and engaging broader industry networks to participate in consultation and/or validation activities during the duration of the project
- Offering advice and guidance to assist in informing the direction of the project throughout its duration
- Making recommendations on the developed Training Package materials to the relevant IRC, which has the final decision-making authority.
The first meeting of the TAC is scheduled for late September.
Technical advisory committee
7 JULY 2021
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS NEEDED
Work on this project has commenced and the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee (IRC) is forming a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Your industry expertise and insight is welcome to help review and develop Training Package materials in the revision of 17 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package that were orphaned in 2017. These units were originally part of the Certificate IV in Defence Diving which was deleted in 2017 however, the units are maintained by Defence as they are still used in Accredited Courses by other RTOs outside of Defence such as Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
A background in the defence force or scuba diving is being sought for this project.
Registrations closed Wednesday, 21 July 2021.
Consultation
17 MARCH 2022
DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, itsTechnical Advisory Committee (TAC), has drafted Training Package materials for this project.
The materials include 16 revised Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package which address current diving practices and skills requirements. The changes are aligned with the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
The TAC has also recommended the deletion of one unit – DEFWDV014 Perform concreting in an underwater environment
This material will not be made available publicly during consultation, and access to this material will be authorised by contacting the Industry Skills Specialist and approved by Defence Education, Learning and Training Authority (DELTA).
Please submit your feedback by close of business Thursday, 14 April 2022.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
If you would like to know more about this project, or request access to the materials please contact the Industry Skills Specialist.
Quality Assurance
10 JUNE 2022
FINAL DRAFT CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT
Development work has been completed on draft materials for the Defence Training Package (Release 5.0), addressing priority skills needs of the industry.
16 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package have been updated to address current diving practices and skills requirements. The changes are aligned with the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
This material will not be made publicly available and access to the proposed products need to be authorised by contacting the Industry Skills Specialist and approved by Defence Education, Learning and Training Authority (DELTA).
The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC in June 2022.
Validation
9 MAY 2022
FINAL DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the Public Safety Industry Reference Committee, its Technical Advisory Committee has considered all stakeholder feedback and revised draft Training Package materials for the Work Diving project.
16 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package have been updated to address current diving practices and skills requirements. The changes are aligned with the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
The TAC has also recommended the deletion of one unit – DEFWDV014 Perform concreting in an underwater environment.
This material will not be made publicly available and access to the draft products need to be authorised by contacting the Industry Skills Specialist and approved by Defence Education, Learning and Training Authority (DELTA).
Detailed mapping information, tracking changes to the existing Training Package, is attached.
Feedback is required by close of business Monday 23 May 2022.
Endorsement
26 OCTOBER 2022
The Defence Training Package Release 5.0 has been endorsed by the Skills Ministers for implementation.
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has led the development of new and revised materials through the projects below to address priority skills needs for Defence.
This project has resulted in updates to 16 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package to address current diving practices and skills requirements. The changes are aligned with the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
The revised Units of Competency are in response to the increasing demand for Defence divers in flood rescue, clearing underwater obstacles and mines, supporting wet gap crossing operations and removal of underwater battlefield hazards, among other tasks. They will enable workforce development of Defence Divers for carrying out diving operations with surface supplied breathing apparatus across a range of activities using pneumatic, hydraulic, explosive power tools, thermal arc cutting and welding equipment.
The units are maintained by Defence as they are used in Accredited Courses by other RTOs outside of Defence, such as Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS).
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 endorsed Defence Training Package Release 5.0 is now available on training.gov.au
This release also includes the following projects:
- DEF Digital Forensics
- DEF Moral Injury
- DEF Paralegal Services
- DEF Range Control Officer
- DEF Test and Evaluation
The following materials were approved:
New/Revised Units
- DEFWDV018 Act as a standby diver
- DEFWDV019 Conduct an underwater search of a ship’s hull
- DEFWDV022 Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (HeO2) in open water to a maximum depth of 60 metres
- DEFWDV023 Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (N2O2) in open water to a maximum depth of 50 metres
- DEFWDV024 Dive using closed-circuit breathing apparatus (O2) in open water to a maximum depth of 10 metres
- DEFWDV025 Dive using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus in open water to a maximum depth of 30 metres
- DEFWDV026 Dive using surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) in open water to 30 metres
- DEFWDV027 Employ air-lift devices under water
- DEFWDV028 Employ explosive power tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV029 Employ hand tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV030 Employ power tools in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV031 Employ thermal cutting and welding tools (non-load bearing) in an underwater environment
- DEFWDV034 Perform non-technical structural inspections underwater
- DEFWDV035 Perform underwater rigging work
- DEFWDV036 Perform underwater surveys
- DEFWDV039 Support self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving operations from the surface
Approval
1 SEPTEMBER 2022
At its meeting on August 19, the AISC approved the DEF Defence Training Package Release 5.0 for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.
Training Package materials developed through the projects below address priority skills needs for the Defence Industry.
- Digital Forensics
- Moral Injury
- Paralegal Services
- Range Control
- Test and Evaluation
- Work Diving
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Specialist.
Submission
7 JULY 2022
CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT SUBMITTED TO AISC
The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee has submitted the Case for Endorsement and draft materials for the Defence Training Package (Release 5.0) to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) for consideration at its meeting on 17 August 2022.
The proposed materials address priority skills needs for the Defence Industry.
16 Units of Competency in the Defence Training Package have been updated to address current diving practices and skills requirements.
