Auditing

Application form administration

Proof Of Identity

POI checks are a hot topic for TfNSW. They have pinged other providers who have accepted wrong POI at an audited course. It's important you follow the POI rules to verify the student is who they say they are.

• ID documents presented are original or certified copy of an acceptable form of POI as per the Maritime brochure (No photographs of POI)
• ID documents show applicants signature and residential address (unless <16 years old)
• Trainer verifies the students name and signature on the paperwork forms are identical and match the students POI name and signature
• Type of POI document, document number and expiry date recorded on the blue and white forms.
• Application forms correctly certified, signed and dated
• Paperwork process early in course then check again later in course to correct any errors

For applicants under 16 years, POI can be a little tricky. For these students, additionally check:

• Parent declaration in section 4 of Application form completed
• Parent POI meets requirements and is recorded
• Parent documents attached to application form for submission to RMS
• Parent is verified as the actual parent as per the students birth certificate

For further reference, you can view the POI brochure, available here. All students have been sent this information upon booking, and in their course reminder messages. TfNSW have told us this is an essential part of the course. They have told us there are no exceptions.

Q: Use the above information. A 17 year old student brings a valid Australian Passport, Medicare Card and credit card. All are originals. Does this satisfy the POI requirement?

Course Timing

The minimum timeframe of the course is a hot-button issue for TfNSW. All courses must run for 4 hours before testing begins

MINIMUM timeframes for the course are as follows:

• 3 hours 15 minutes for boat licence theory
• 30 minutes for PWC licence theory
• 15 minute break

This adds up to 4 hours then testing can commence. If you start a few minutes late, you will need to add a few minutes to make up. If the break blows out, add as much time is needed. TfNSW have told us this is an essential part of the course. They have told us there are no exceptions.

Q: Use the above information. What is the minimum timeframe for the course?

Testing Materials

Preparing Equipment - Trainers responsibility

Trainers need to ensure the correct equipment has been packed prior to leaving for a course. You will need to keep the car stocked of all necessary equipment and forms. Below is a list of equipment you'll need.

Electrical equipment

• Laptop (for projecting PowerPoint)
• Laptop power cords
• Projector
• Projector power cord
• HDMI cable
• USB C charging cable (for modem and speaker)
• Speaker
• Power board
• Double/triple adaptor
• 2 x Power extension leads
• Presenting clicker

Stationery

• Stamp (if not using printed blues)
• Projector screen (if required)
• TfNSW Blue forms
• BLC white enrolment forms
• BLC certificates
• Feedback forms
• Presenters' folder
• Pens and spare paper
• Boat Handbooks
• PWC handbooks
• Boat logbooks
• Boating safety stickers

Digital testing equipment (for when it actually starts working)

• Laptop (for data entry)
• Digital testing tablets
• Wi-Fi modem
• USB C charging cable (for modem)
• USB A charging cables (for tablets)

To help you, a trainers checklist has been created and placed in all sets of equipment. The office will attempt to keep sets of equipment stocked, but you must still check before leaving.

Q: When do you check the car to make sure the above equipment is ready to go?

Applicants with special needs

Providing customer care

We use our enrolment form to query a student and to ensure the student has the ability to complete the course. If the student struggles to complete the enrolment form, it may be a sign of an LLN issue. In this instance the trainer needs to inform the student that they are welcome to still attend and learn the safe boating material. If the student requires additional support, and this is not realistically achievable on a busy night, they should be informed to contact the office and arrange specialised assistance so we can offer full customer care.

Some students are advised not to book into the public course and instead enrol in a private, individual setting course, where we will arrange for personalised care depending on their needs/abilities. When the office and trainer is aware, we can then offer full support in a private setting to assist the student. Occasionally, students with mild LLN issues are clarified and noted on your course list. We ask these students be given full care and where possible, given a top-class experience.

We advise every student that they must be able to communicate orally and in writing in English. If they have difficulties in this regard we recommend they contact the office or visit their local Service NSW so they can arrange an appointment with an interpreter prior to attending. The online enrolment and pre-course material has plenty of information regarding this, so the student shouldn’t turn up unaware.

Q: Using the above information, what should you do if a student turns up and has extremely poor English skills?

Class venues and size for testing

Venue Criteria

There are requirements outline in the TfNSW agreement that stipulate what an appropriate training venue/room is.

This includes:

• The venue is an appropriate commercial building.
• The training room is free of boating safety information material during the test.
• Testing room conforms with a good classroom situation (not in a lounge, kitchen etc).
• The room has adequate lighting (i.e., students can read paperwork easily)
• All tests are away and kept secure when not in use.
• Remove any potential safety hazards such as extension cords, bags etc. The trainer is to decide if it's safe to proceed with the course or cancel the session.

The office will always endeavour to book and arrange suitable training rooms. If you’re sent to a room that is questionable, you should contact management whom will take action.

Q: St George Leagues place your course near the bistro and gaming rooms. The noise from both adjoining rooms is leaking into your classroom. Is this an appropriate room for the course?

Trainer Qualifications

Maintaining your qualifications

Trainers are to ensure that the following qualifications are current and submitted with Sailingworld and Transport for NSW:

• Current first aid certificate
• Current Cert IV Training and Assessment
• Police check
• Working with children check
• Current self audit (within the past 6 months)
• Current video audit (within the past 12 months)
• Current boat & PWC licence

Keep the original copies of these somewhere secure at home. It is the trainers responsibility to ensure these qualifications are valid.

The role of the examiner

Delivery of the syllabus

Trainers are teach every slide of the PowerPoint according to the lesson plan in the presenters folder.

• No slides are to be skipped - each slide included covers a point in the TfNSW syllabus.
• On student task slides, stop teaching and let the students complete the task before moving on
• All tasks must be completed in the students’ coursework document – don’t skip written tasks
• Trainer’s delivery is to align with the ‘trainers folder’.
• In case of an auditor, you need to be seen utilising the ‘trainers folder’ every few slides

Q: Use the above information. When is it appropriate to skip a few slides?