Persons wanting to become a Ventilation Officer at an underground metalliferous mine.

Training

• RIIUND601E - Establish and maintain ventilation management systems
• RIIUND603D - Manage, operate and maintain the mine ventilation system
• Ventsim training is included as part of this course. (The Trainer Assessor will organise a Ventsim licence for the duration of the training)

• You will participate in 2 face-to-face workshops of 5 days each, delivered over a period of 9 months.  This 10 days of trainer assessor face-to- face contact time is essential to ensure that learning concepts are understood. 
• Workshops are spaced several months apart, to allow time to practice your skills in the workplace in between workshops. 

• You will be provided with recommended readings electronically, prior to the course. It is recommended that you read these as the knowledge will support your learning in the course.

• It is mandatory that you participate in the mentoring program where you will be required to engage with worksite personnel who can provide support for you throughout your studies. These may include the appointed ventilation officer, technical services manager, gas drainage superintendent, electrical maintenance (gas monitoring) supervisor, ventilation officers, First-class mine manager.  
• Simtars will provide a formal structure to you and your onsite mentors to guide your progress through the mentoring program, which includes a Mentor workbook and activities for you to carry out and discuss with the worksite personnel. It is estimated that the mentoring program will take approximately 120 hours to complete.

Assessment

• Practical Assessments and Mentoring will occur back at the workplace.
• To obtain the units of competency, you will be required to undertake and successfully complete written assessments, workplace projects/case studies and a workplace log book with Supervisor verification.  

• You will need to organise a Supervisor to sign to confirm your workplace log book activities were completed by you and that you have discussed your findings with them. (This can be your immediate supervisor, the site technical services manager or superintendent or mine manager).
• Simtars’ assessor will contact the Supervisor to verify the information provided.

 
Trainer Assessor 

• Dr Rick Brake

Entry requirements

• Have a minimum of 2 years of recent operational experience at an underground metalliferous mine.
• Be currently employed in an Australian underground metalliferous mine or by a mining contractor and have access to an underground mine and its safety and health management system (to undertake assessment), and a Supervisor at the mine (to verify your workplace log book).
• Demonstrate that you are at or exceed level 5 in foundation skills (see below).
• Meet the following minimum age requirements:
  • ​If you work in a mine in Queensland: minimum 18 years of age
  • If you work in a mine in the Northern Territory: minimum 19 years of age
  • If you work in a mine in Tasmania: minimum 19 years of age
  • if you work in a mine in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, or Victoria: minimum 20 years of age. 
•  It is highly recommended that you are proficient in  Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook prior to enrolment.  If you require an upgrade to your computer skills, we recommend using the free online tutorials available from Microsoft or else attend a short course. These courses are not provided by Simtars.

Foundation skill requirements

• To study in this course, you will be required to have core skills at level 5, or the ability to reach level 5 with support, on the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). Simtars has an eLearning solution to assess Language, Literacy, Numeracy (LLN) and foundation skills.
• Prior to enrolment you will be sent an email with a link to  complete the LLN initial assessment. If you do not reach the required foundation level, the LLN tool can provide tutorials to help you reach the required foundation skill level. For more information about Foundation Skills, see the ‘Choosing your Course’ section in our Learner Handbook.

Materials and equipment required

• Laptop with internet access, and licenced copies of Microsoft Excel and Ventsim (provided by trainer) and Outlook account set up for emails
• Access to an underground metalliferous mine (including access to the SHMS)
• Agreement from a Supervisor to verify your assessment activities
• Access to mentors (worksite personnel) at your mine (or in your mining company).
• Access to Recognised Standards, Guidelines and Guidance Notes (Metalliferous Mines)
• A scientific calculator or phone with scientific calculation ability
• Access to the current Metalliferous Mining Safety and Health Acts and Regulations 
• Access to your mine’s SHMS documents including PHMPs, SOPs, Procedures, TARPs, etc.
• A USB stick minimum (8GB)
• Access to the internet
• A notebook and pen

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• You can apply for RPL for each of the units of competency in this qualification. You will need to supply information on your work history and samples of work and may need to undertake assessments and/or an interview to determine whether you have met the competency standards.
• RPL is assessed on a case-by-case basis. You can read more about RPL in our Learner Handbook or contact us to discuss your RPL options. 

Apply for enrolment - How to Apply

• You will receive a confirmation email with the Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment , complete it asap.
• Once complete, your application will be reviewed and a letter of offer will be sent to you, should you qualify.
• You must sign the letter of offer and return to the designated email address.
• You will then be invoiced for your course.
• Fees are payable prior to the workshop start date.
• Your application will be reviewed by Simtars prior to you being offered a place in the course. For more details, please read our Learner Handbook.

 Fees 

• $22000 (GST exempt).
• For quotations, payment options, and company group bookings please contact Simtars.
• Payment is required prior to all workshops.
• Where a learner misses a workshop or part of a workshop, Simtars will attempt to place this learner into other courses being conducted. If this is not possible, learners will be required to attend a workshop at the end of the course to undertake the work they have missed. This will incur an additional cost for the supplementary workshop, plus venue and trainer accommodation costs.
• Fees include costs of flights for the trainer, car hire/transfer costs for the trainer, all course material and pre-course readings during each workshop.
• Learner accommodation and food are not provided or included in course fees.
• Government funding or subsidies, including VET-FEE HELP are currently not available.

Payment Method

• Credit card
• Purchase order (for approved companies only) 
• Payments can be made in instalments. Please contact Simtars for details.

Completion 

• Upon successful attendance and completion of all assessments, you will be issued a Statement of Attainment from Simtars (RTO 45647) for the two Units of Competency - RIIUND601E - Establish and maintain ventilation management systems and RIIUND603D - Manage, operate and maintain the mine ventilation system
• You will also be issued with a Certificate of Completion for Ventsim training.

Invigilated Exam

• You will need to sit an Invigilated Exam at the completion of this training. The Invigilation Exam is scheduled by Simtars several times a year. On successful completion of this you will be issued with a separate Certificate of Recognition  
•  MSHAC Competencies No 12. Act-Section 54A(3)(b) defines the VO Metalliferous as requiring the two units of competency plus “successful completion of an assessment examination conducted by Simtars”.