Developing investigation skills in RailCorp
Customising training programs to meet client needs is a specialty of UNE Partnerships.
In late 2006, RailCorp approached UNE Partnerships to customise an investigation training program. UNE Partnerships’ previous work with RailCorp was aimed at improving basic investigation skills for Level 5 investigations. The course was delivered online, providing consistent, effective training across the state. However, the purpose behind the latest course was to develop full-time safety investigators working on complex investigations.
Safety investigation for RailCorp follows many general investigation techniques, with its own subtle nuances and idiosyncrasies. According to Bruce Weston, Acting Manager Assurance and Investigations at RailCorp, the principal motivation was to improve investigations and reporting on Level 3 investigations. “A course of this type gives us the opportunity to standardise competency levels amongst investigators” he commented. “There were also other considerations such as the general professional development of our investigators. Many of them have a wealth of experience as a result of many years in their roles as safety investigators and this course will reward them with a qualification appropriate to their skills and abilities.”
Customisation offers benefits over generic courses in its ability to meet the specific needs and objectives of the organisation. It embraces organisational systems and policies to ensure reinforced learning within the program.
After careful consideration matching the requirements of RailCorp with an appropriate nationally accredited program, the Certificate IV in Government (Investigation) was chosen. This course incorporates the regulatory environment of the government sector with the investigation process. It also provides the flexibility to choose additional modules from the project management training package, a previously identified need.
Course material was customised by aligning it to RailCorp systems and the specific requirements of the group. This provided a more practical approach to training so new skills could be directly applied within the workplace environment. The final step involved planning a series of face-to-face sessions to further develop the knowledge and skills of the participants, build their confidence and discuss adaptations within the workplace. Peter Torning, UNE Partnerships’ Academic Director for the Government Program and training facilitator for the course, explained, “A customised course supported with face-to-face training sessions allows the use of relevant, tangible scenarios and case studies and also provides a secure environment in which sensitive issues can be discussed and addressed.”
