RTO Information
WMI sets the standard in wilderness medicine today. Equip Health Systems P/L trading as the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS Australia, is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
The following courses are mapped to Nationally Recognised Units of Competency from the Certificate 3 in Outdoor Recreation (SRO03). The units vary from course to course. Please see the details for each course type for the specific units.
3 Day WFA
4 Day WFA
7 Day LWAFA
10 Day WFR
Following successful completion of one of our Nationally Recognised courses, students will receive:
- a WMI card that is recognised and recertify-able globally.
- a statement of attainment showing the units of competency attained.
- a WMI of NOLS Australia Adult CPR/EAR certificate.
Equip Health Systems P/L trading as the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS Australia is a Registered Training Organisation. Our Code of Conduct is as follows:
WMI CODE OF PRACTICE FOR TRAINING DELIVERY
1. Promotion & Marketing
WMI undertakes to market its courses using information that accurately describes the content or expected learning outcomes. Comparisons with other training/service providers will not be made in any marketing or promotional material. National protocols for marketing will be complied with.
2. Admissions
All selection processes relating to learners will be fair and equitable and utilise transparent selection criteria. Selections will be made in accordance with the training products or services being provided.
3. Equal Opportunity
WMI is committed to non-discriminatory dealings in all its business with all its customers, staff, management and suppliers.
4. Access to Services
WMI will ensure that clients and potential clients are not denied access to services, unfairly. Criteria to determine access to courses/services will be clearly stated on promotional material and will be followed closely.
5. Qualified Staff
WMI will ensure that staff employed to deliver training/services are suitably qualified and experienced.
6. Course/Service Delivery
Clients of WMI can expect all courses/services to be delivered according to the specifications outlined before commencement, and in a manner that contributes to learner success. Details of learner support services will be provided prior to commencement.
7. Certification
WMI will provide accurate detail, prior to commencement, on competencies to be achieved, ,methods of assessment, RPL arrangements and the certification to be issued.
8. Student Guidance Services
All training services shall have an identified staff person whose role includes providing personal assistance/guidance to learners.
9. Fees/Refunds
WMI will provide prospective students with all fee-related information, including refund conditions, prior to admission.
10. Complaints & Appeals
WMI acknowledges the right of its clients to complain. WMI will not disadvantage any client who complains. Complaints may involve an appeal against an assessment or a more general grievance. Both general complaints and assessment appeals should be directed to a trainer/assessor or the Training Manager who will provide full details of the processes. WMI has written policies on these processes which may be viewed, on request, by anyone with a legitimate interest.
WMI's Refund, Cancellation and Transfer Policy:
All cancellations must be in WRITING but may be sent by fax, email (from the students email address) or letter.
A cancellation received 30 days or more prior to the start of the course shall receive a full refund.
The deposit is non-refundable when a cancellation is received between 14 and 29 days prior to commencement. The deposit, however, may be transferred to another course if requested.
Cancellations received less than 14 days prior to course commencement shall forfeit 100% of the payment.
For a student to transfer from one course to another there is an administration cost of $50.00 per transfer.
Where a course is cancelled by WMI a full refund or transfer shall be provided at no cost.
STUDENT INFORMATION
2, 3 or 4 day course
If you have booked on a 2, 3 or 4 day course, following is the introductory information for your course. Please find the course outlines for your 2, 3 or 4 day course at the above links. Should you have any questions, feel free to call the office.
Attendance: 100% attendance is required to gain your Wilderness First Aid certification. Each class builds upon learning from previous classes, compounding the effect of missed lessons. We ask that you are present for every class.
Text: Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care, Buck Tilton 2002
Assessment process
2 DAY WFA
No assessments although full participation is expected.
3 DAY WFA
25 question multi-choice Adult CPR/EAR written assessment
Adult CPR/EAR practical assessment
4 DAY WFA
25 question multi-choice Adult CPR/EAR written assessment
Adult CPR/EAR practical assessment
25 question multi-choice WFA written assessment
WFA practical assessment
If, after assessment, you are found Not Yet Competent, you will be able to retest with a second staff member during the course. If found NYC on the second assessment, you will need to retest at a later date at your own expense and arrangement.
If you are found you are found Not Yet Competenton the written component (80% or greater is required), you will have to retest at a later date at your own expense and arrangement.
Certification: Upon completion of a 2 day WFA course, you will be issued with a WMI of NOLS Australia 16 hour WFA card, recognised internationally and valid for 2 years.
On completion of a 3 or 4 day course, you will be issued with a WMI of NOLS Australia 24 or 32 hour WFA card, recognised internationally and valid for 2 years, as well as a WMI Adult CPR/EAR card, valid for 1 year. Added to this you will receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment listing the Units of Competency achieved for each course.
All WMI certifications are valid for 2 years with a 1 year grace period in which you are not certified but are still able to recertify. (ie. all recertification must occur within 3 years of original course).
RECERT, 7 or 10 day course
If you have booked on a LWAFA (7 day 60 hours), WFR (10 day 80 hours) or LWAFA/WFR Recert course, please find the course outlines by following the above links. Following is the introductory information for your course. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask the office staff.
Attendance: 100% attendance is required to gain your Wilderness First Aid certification. Each class builds upon learning from previous classes, compounding the effect of missed lessons. We ask that you are present for every class.
Text: Wilderness First Responder, Buck Tilton 2nd Ed
Assessment process
LWAFA and WFR
25 question multi-choice Adult CPR/EAR written assessment
Adult CPR/EAR practical assessment
100 question multi-choice written assessment
Practical assessment
LWAFA/WFR Recert
50 question multi-choice written assessment
Practical assessment
Optional CPR recert – 25 question multi-choice Adult CPR/EAR written assessment and Adult CPR/EAR practical assessment
LWAFA and WFR - If you are found Not Yet Competent on the practical components of your assessment, you will be able to retest with a second staff member during the course. If found NYC on the second assessment, you will need to retest at a later date at your own expense and arrangement.
If you are found Not Yet Competent on the written component (80% or greater is required), you will have to retest at a later date at your own expense and arrangement.
Recert - If you are found Not Yet Competent on the practical components of your exam, you will be able to retest with a second staff member during the course. If found NYC on the second assessment, you will need to redo your original course at your own expense.
If you are found NYC on any written component (Competent = %80 or greater), you will be able to sit another 50 question test on course. If found NYC on the second assessment, you will need to redo your original course at your own expense.
Certification On completion of a LWAFA or WFR course, you will be issued with a WMI of NOLS Australia LWAFA or WFR card, recognised internationally and valid for 2 years, as well as a WMI Adult CPR/EAR card, valid for 1 year.
Added to this you will receive a Nationally Recognised Statement of Attainment listing the Units of Competency achieved for each course type.
For the recert course, you will regain your original certification and a WMI Adult CPR/EAR card if you choose to recertify it. As your original Statement of Attainment still applies, we will not re-issue you with this.
All WMI certifications are valid for 2 years with 1 year grace period in which you are not certified but are still able to recertify. (ie. all recertification must occur within 3 years of original course).
Other information
Professionalism, safety and appropriateness,
All WMI courses are professional-level courses and as such we expect a standard of behaviour from our students:
• Gloves and barrier devices, hand washing and covering of existing wounds should be used where appropriate to simulate real circumstances and prevent disease transmission between students.
• Where students are required to touch other students in simulations and scenarios, they will maintain a level of professionalism by avoiding touch of genital areas, breasts or other inappropriate regions of the (simulated) patient’s body.
• Students will avoid the use of profanity or any bigotry slurs.
• Students will respect the physical, emotional and mental safety of other students and staff.
• Any student who is deemed to be acting in a dangerous or inappropriate manner may be excluded from a course at WMI staff’s discretion without refund of course fees.
WMI of NOLS Australia is a Registered Training Organisation and as a Registered Training Organisation, we need to inform you of the following:
1. Client selection, enrolment and induction/orientation procedures.
Your enrolment is accepted (client selection) once you have received written confirmation of this from WMI. WMI will email confirmation of acceptance as soon as possible following receiving your registration form and deposit.
To enrol for a course you must complete an online registration and pay a deposit. If you do not have internet access, we can send you these forms. You will be inducted / orientated at the beginning of the course.
2. Course information, including content and vocational outcomes.
Course information including content can be viewed on this web site under course outlines. For further information, please phone (08) 9331 6066.
Course specific information will be forwarded upon booking via email and is available constantly on our website. This information includes starting times and venue details.
3. Fees & charges, including refund policy and exemptions (where applicable)
Fees associated with the course shall be set prior to course promotion. A deposit is required with your registration.
Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to course start date.
See cancellation policy above.
WMI recognises, and has formal procedures and policies in place for the following:
1. provision for language, literacy & numeracy assessment
2. client support, including external support for clients
3. flexible learning and assessment procedures
4. welfare & guidance services
5. appeals, complaints and grievance procedures
6. disciplinary procedures
7. staff responsibilities for access and equity
8. recognition of prior learning arrangements
For further information on any of the above please phone (08) 9331 6066 or visit www.wmi.net.au
About Competency-based training
Some definitions:
Competency (also competence) means the ability to perform tasks and duties to the standard expected in employment.
Competency-based Assessment (CBA) is the gathering and judging of evidence in order to decide whether a person has achieved a standard of competence.
Competency-Based Training (CBT) is training which develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve competency standards.
A Competency Standard means an industry-determined specification of performance which sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are made up of units of competency, which are themselves made up of elements of competency, together with performance criteria, a range of variables, and an evidence guide. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package.
Ideally, progress within a competency-based training program is not based on time. As soon as students have achieved or demonstrated the outcomes, they can move to the next section of training. In this way, students may be able to complete a program of study much faster.
About Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning, also known as Recognition of Current Competencies or Skills Recognition, is designed to help you obtain recognition for your knowledge and skills in this field. The main focus is on learning outcomes of these experiences, not on how, when or where the learning occurred. RPL acknowledges skills and knowledge obtained through:
• formal training (conducted by industry or educational institutions in Australia or overseas)
• work experience (informal training)
• life experience.
As an applicant you will be able to demonstrate your skill and knowledge levels through:
• evidence which may include
• documentation (letters or other papers which demonstrate that you have the required skills such as assessment results from other assessors, performance reviews, awards or prizes for work or learning);
• references from employers, clients (verbal or written);
• certificates (copies of certificates, diplomas, statements of attendance, statements of attainment or results from a relevant course);
• licences (interstate or overseas);
• proof of employment (payslips, group certificates, computer records).
• interview
• challenge testing against the assessment criteria of the course.
RPL enables you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge so that you can obtain a Statement of Attainment: This is issued where, although you are clearly competent in the unit or units identified, achievement of the competencies required for a full qualification is incomplete. The Statement of Attainment is recognised nationally by government and industry through the Australian Recognition Framework.
How do I know whether my evidence for RPL is applicable?
A brief checklist:
Is it valid? = Does the evidence of prior learning directly relate to the current version of the relevant endorsed unit or units of competency?
Is it authentic? = Is the evidence being submitted your own work?
Is it reliable? = Does the evidence show that you consistently meet the unit or units of competency?
Is it current? = Can you still perform to the level shown in the evidence?
Are the skills and knowledge shown in the evidence still relevant?
Is it sufficient? = Does the evidence cover all of the assessment/performance criteria for a given learning outcome or unit of competency, namely task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills, and job/role environment skills?
If you wish to discuss aspects of the RPL process with an experienced assessor, please contact the RTO Manager at WMI on 9331 6066
How does the RPL process work?
1. Complete an application form (obtainable on request from WMI), and gather together any documentation which supports your claim for RPL.
2. Submit copies of these to WMI at the above address, with a fee of $550.00. A qualified assessor who is also experienced in the field of wilderness medicine and first aid will then evaluate your application and supporting evidence. Where appropriate, the assessor will:
confirm the source of the documentation
establish the authenticity of the information contained in the documentation
request further information to support your application.
3. The WMI assessor will interview you and in conjunction with an evaluation of the submitted evidence and additional demonstration of competency as required, evaluate whether you hold some or all of the required competencies for the issue of the Statement of Attainment being applied for.
4. After the Following assessment/interview WMI may find that you:
hold some of the required competencies: you will be requested to undergo a partial assessment in relation to the gap competencies;
hold none of the required competencies: you will be required to complete a full assessment for the Certificate applied for and complete further supervised training;
need to provide further documentary evidence of relevant work experience / academic study to enable the application to receive further consideration;
hold all the required competencies and can be issued with a Certificate in recognition of the relevant qualification
5. If further assessment is required, a suitable place, date and time will be arranged at which you will be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate your skills to an assessor. The assessor will guide you through this process and provide feedback on how you went. If further training is required, you will be advised of course dates and times. Some gaps may be simply knowledge based and you will be able to organise your own learning through accessing books, legislation or through mentoring by experienced industry personnel.
6. If you are unhappy for some reason with the outcome of the Skills Recognition/assessment process, contact WMI to find out about the appeal process.
7. On completion of the RPL process, you will receive written notification of the results and the appropriate Statement of Attainment will be issued.
What kind of certification do I get?
A Statement of Attainment is issued which shows that you have achieved a unit or units of competency such as SRXFAD0001A and that this is partial completion of a related qualification such as SRO30203 Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation.
You will not however recieve the WMI of NOLS Austrlalia certification associated with those units of competency. These can only be gained through the appropriate WMI course.
Learning strategies
The strategies used by WMI to help you learn the material are designed to be both fun and instructive and include:
o Discussion groups
o Simulations / role plays
o Case studies
o Practical activities
o Self study worksheets
Assessment strategies
Assessment means the process of collecting evidence and making judgements on whether competency has been achieved to confirm an individual can perform to the standard expected in the workplace, as expressed in the relevant endorsed industry/enterprise competency standards or the learning outcomes of an accredited course.
The units of competency in the Sport and Recreation Training Package form the benchmarks for assessment and are the basis of the nationally recognised Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statements of attainment issued by Registered Training Organisations.
Principles upon which assessment is based in the sport and recreation industries are:
o Assessment is an integral component of learning
o Assessment must be reliable, flexible, fair and valid.
The role of the assessor
The role of the assessor is to compare the student's evidence with the criteria for assessment and to make a judgement about whether competency has been demonstrated.
It is the assessor's responsibility to:
o interpret the criteria for assessment
o use relevant assessment techniques
o ensure that the evidence provided is sufficient to make impartial judgements
o record assessment results
o provide detailed feedback to the assessee
o advise on strategies to achieve competency and identify shortfalls, e.g. training pathways or options
o carry out necessary administration to ensure that assessment procedures are recorded correctly and all parties are advised
o maintain the integrity of the assessment system
o comply with assessment instructions provided by the RTO
o promote the assessment system, its benefits and procedures.
Planning assessment
Here’s how course assessments are planned:
3 day
Competency to be assessed:
SRXFAD001A Provide First Aid
Assessment methods/s
Students will be critiqued on their performance during scenarios to ensure understanding of basic principles. There is a 25 question multiple choice CPR exam to verify competence at this level.
• Oral questioning (scenario)
• Simulation (CPR) (scenario)
• Multiple choice questions
• Observation (CPR)
4 Day
Competencies to be assessed:
SRXFAD001A Provide First Aid
SRXFAD002A Provide Advanced First Aid Response
SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policies and procedures
SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
Assessment methods/s
Students will be critiqued on their performance during scenarios to ensure understanding of basic principles. There is practical skills verification both in elements of Wilderness First Aid and CPR as well as a 50 question multiple choice exam to verify competence at this level.
• Oral questioning (ongoing throughout training)
• Direct observation (ongoing throughout training)
• Simulation/Role play (scenarios) (formalised assessment)
• Short answer tests (formalised assessment)
7 and 10 Day
Competencies to be assessed:
SRXFAD001A Provide First Aid
SRXFAD002A Provide Advanced First Aid Response
SRXFAD005A Manage casualty in a remote and/or isolated area
SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policies and procedures
SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
Assessment methods/s
• Oral questioning (ongoing throughout training)
• Direct observation (ongoing throughout training)
• Simulation/Role play (formalized assessment)
• Short answer tests (formalized assessment)
Units of competency in WMI courses
The following units of competency are integrated in WMI’s courses and were developed for the Community Recreation, Fitness, Outdoor Recreation and Sport Industry Training Packages:
SRXFAD001A Provide first aid
This guideline competency deals with the provision of essential first aid in recognising and responding to an emergency using basic life support measures. The first aider is not expected to deal with complex casualties or incidents, but to provide an initial response where first aid is required. It is assumed the first aider is working under supervision and/or according to established workplace first aid procedures and policies.
SRXFAD002A Provide advanced first aid response
This unit deals with the provision of advanced first aid response, life support, management of casualty(s), the incident and other first aiders, until the arrival of medical or other assistance, and provision of support to other providers.
SRXFAD005A Manage casualty in a remote and/or isolated area
This unit deals with the provision of first aid to a casualty in a remote or isolated area and their management over an extended period of time until the provision of medical assistance or evacuation of the casualty.
SRXOHS001B Follow defined Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures
This unit covers competency in applying general occupational health and safety requirements in the usual workplace environment. It describes generic Occupational Health and Safety competencies applicable for employees without managerial or supervisory responsibilities (eg, school-based workers, entry-level workers, trainees, apprentices). This unit is equivalent to the generic Occupational Health and Safety Competency A.
SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
This unit covers the knowledge and skills to recognise potential risks and emergency situations and to take action, within own area of responsibility and ability.
To see what units are associated with each course, follow the links above.
Student complaints and assessment appeals
Complaints
Where it is within the relevant staff member’s authority to address a complaint, they may do so. Where the issue is not one that can be rectified in this way the complainant shall be advised as such.
All complaints which cannot be resolved at the staff member level are treated in accordance with TPOL7 Complaints and Complaints: Natural justice is defined as “the right to disagree or question adverse decisions, the right to be heard and the right to have each case treated on its merits.”
Assessment Appeals
Where a student believes an assessment was invalid or unfair and wishes to appeal, they shall be shall provided with F2.10 Assessment Appeal form, which is to be passed to the Manager upon completion with a non-refundable lodgement fee of $50 (for which a receipt shall be issued). Appeals need to be lodged within 7 days of advice of an assessment decision.
Decisions, action and written feedback to student shall be completed within 7 days as per WMI’s policy TPOL6 Assessment Appeals. A learner may appeal an assessment if the learner believes an incorrect judgment was made in regard to competency; or The judgment made was not made in accordance with the assessment plan. Copies of appeals and responses are to be placed on file.
Course Links
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