About the OHS Practitioner Portfolio Report
The OHS Practitioner Portfolio is an important document in the Certified OHS Practitioner assessment and is used to assess the application of a range of knowledge and skills required for the Certified OHS Practitioner. Portfolio Reports are confidential documents for the purposes of assessment.
Operating at an OHS Practitioner level means that professional skills and OHS knowledge are used and demonstrated in work. Assessment is evaluated at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5. The length and numbers of reports completed by a person applying for Certified OHS Practitioner will depend on the duration and scope of the projects/activities that the applicant has undertaken at the practitioner level and chooses to include within the report. The applicant must provide enough information to demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge at the Certified OHS Practitioner level. The entry boxes in the Report Form are expandable and so the size of the form is not an indication of suggested length.
An important aspect of completing the Portfolio Report is to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing. It is worthwhile taking time in completing the report and ensuring the style of writing is clear and easy to understand. Consider asking a colleague or friend to read the report and provide feedback to improve the report before submitting.
The report may be submitted in MS Word or in pdf format and should be ready to upload as part of the Certified OHS Practitioner application.
Completing the OHS Practitioner Portfolio Report
The Portfolio Report has 5 main sections:
1. Summary Details
This section asks for background information for the activity or project (the title, details of when it happened, the organisation where the activity happened, nature of the workplace and workforce, objectives of the activity and people involved). A 100 word summary must also be completed.
Use this section to clearly describe the key aspects of a project / activity and set the scene and context for the following sections in the Report.
2. Competencies
Information on competencies help to demonstrate the practical application, breadth and depth across at least the core competencies in the Diploma of Work Health and Safety, which provides a general guide for describing the nature of activities against the competency. Details on the competencies are available at http://training.gov.au/Training/Details/BSB51315
Achievement of the competency from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is not required to demonstrate capability in this section. Similarly, achievement of the competency through an RTO is not evidence of the competency for the purpose of certification. This section is about how the applicant describes their competency as related to activities they undertake in the workplace.
The OHS Practitioner Portfolio Report form lists competency areas. For competencies designated by an asterix (*), competencies must be demonstrated plus at least one other area. Competencies may be demonstrated over a number of portfolio reports, which collectively demonstrate competency across the key competency areas. Depending on the nature of the activity, 50 to 100 words per competency is a guide on commenting how each competency was demonstrated.
3. Capabilities
Comments on capability must demonstrate practice at least at the AFQ Level 5. For certification to be given, capabilities must be demonstrated across all of the core capabilities. Capabilities may be demonstrated over a number of portfolio reports, which collectively demonstrate capability across AFQ Level 5 capabilities. Depending on the nature of the activity, 50 to 100 words per capability is a guide on commenting how each capability was demonstrated.
4. Declaration
Applicants are required to confirm that the information they have provided within the Portfolio Report is a true and correct description and analysis of the OHS practice undertaken. Applicants must sign the declaration. Reports that are not signed will not be processed and will be returned to the Applicant for signing.
5. Verification
Applicants are required to obtain verification of the information provided in the Portfolio Report. This should be provided by a person who is familiar with the applicant’s work in relation to the project/activity(s).
Individuals who report to, have reported to or are in a junior position to the applicant are not acceptable verifiers. Clients and Customers are acceptable as a reference for Consultants.
If verification by a person who is familiar with the applicant’s work in relation to the project/activity is not possible, a statement must be included in the report to that effect explaining why it is not possible and why an alternative Verifier has been chosen.
Skill Descriptors in the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF).
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COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES |
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COHSPract |
COHSProf |
ChOHSP |
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AQF5/6 |
AQF 7 |
AQF 8 |
AQF 9 |
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Use a range of media and strategies to communicate OHS information and knowledge to others in the workplace. Coach/train others in the workplace in OHS skills. |
Select and appropriately apply a broad range of communication skills and formats to explain technical information and concepts to workplace audiences. |
Convey technical information and theoretical concepts in a clear, concise and logical manner giving underpinning rationale. Interpret and tailor information to communicate knowledge and ideas to a range of audiences using an appropriate communication strategies. Demonstrate written, oral and non-verbal communication skills that reflect empathy for the audience. |
Interpret and tailor technical information, complex concepts and theories to communicate knowledge and ideas to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences using an appropriate range of communication strategies. Provide the evidence-base and logical reasoning to explain the risks and benefits of a range of options and justify relevant propositions and recommendations. Engage in evidence-informed reflective practice, evaluative activities and professional discussion with a view to testing ideas through peer appraisal. |
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APPLICATION CAPABILITIES |
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COHS Pract |
COHSProf |
ChOHSP |
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AQF5/6 |
AQF 7 |
AQF 8 |
AQF 9 |
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Reliable in meeting commitments in accord with agreed time lines. Apply personal responsibility, initiative and judgement to organisation of own work within some parameters. Recognise the limits of own knowledge and skills and seek advice as appropriate. Work with people from a range of backgrounds to implement OHS practices. Apply technical OHS knowledge and skills across a range of situations. |
Be accountable for the technical and conceptual underpinnings of one’s own practice. Make independent judgements regarding technical OHS. Be objective in analysing OHS issues and in OHS practice. Recognise the limits of one’s own knowledge and skills and seek specialist advice as appropriate. Recognise the implications for OHS practice of different work environments and work cultures. |
Ability to operate across a range of activities that create different demands in implementation while meeting agreed delivery time lines. Be accountable for technical and conceptual underpinning of own practice across arrange of areas of practice and diverse contexts. Make high level independent judgements regarding technical OHS issues and plan, implement and monitor OHS-related projects. Recognise the limits of one’s own knowledge and skills and seek specialist advice through both formal and structured processes. |
Be accountable for technical and conceptual underpinning of own practice at a high level including currency with recent research across arrange of areas of practice and diverse contexts. Bring an international perspective to professional practice. Make high level independent judgements regarding technical and complex OHS issues and plan, implement and monitor OHS-related projects. Recognise limits of one’s own knowledge and skills and value professional and organisational collaboration. Able to foster work environment elements that are conducive to open expression of worker concerns. Identify when disclosure/whistle blowing may be appropriate and take appropriate action. |
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Work as part of a team to address OHS problems |
Work independently and as part of a team in addressing a range of OHS problems. Recognise the value of professional, enterprise and industry collaboration |
Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. |
Work with people from many disciplines and backgrounds, across a range of work groups including at the highest decision-making levels, demonstrating leadership capacity. Operate with a high level of autonomy to conceptualise, plan, implement and evaluate major OHS related projects. |
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Apply initiative and judgement to develop and implement OHS strategies with some direction. |
Contribute to and implement an agreed problem-solving strategy. Take individual responsibility for a small project or evaluative study of OHS practice. Apply project management skills to conduct OHS projects of limited scope. |
Take a leadership role to operationalise and implement strategy. Apply project management skills to conduct projects to implement change |
Apply research principles to design projects to investigate issues within the workplace. Apply project management skills to implement significant projects in the workplace. |