Other Projects & Case Studies
Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology: Draft 2 Validation Open
SkillsIQ, under the direction of the Technicians Support Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC), has undertaken a project to develop a new nationally accredited Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology Qualification and seven new Cast Technology Units of Competency. This will ensure that orthopaedic technologists have access to contemporary best-practice skills and knowledge in order to meet the current and future needs of the Australian health care system, and especially the needs of patients visiting hospitals or accessing outpatient services.
SkillsIQ, under the direction of the Technicians Support Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC), has undertaken a project to develop a new nationally accredited Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology Qualification and seven new Cast Technology Units of Competency to ensure that orthopaedic technologists have access to current skills and knowledge, in order to meet the current and future needs of the Australian health care system, and especially the needs of patients visiting hospitals or accessing outpatient services.
Background
The HLT41412 Certificate IV in Cast Technology and seven associated Units of Competency were deleted in error from the HLT Health Training Package in 2015. The new Qualification, the Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology, aims to retain the required content from the previous Units of Competency and also include critical additional content as identified by industry that is required by orthopaedic technologists in order to meet current and future industry needs.
The new Qualification will provide technical and clinical specialist knowledge and acute skills to focus on patient-centred fracture care. The enhancement of skills within the orthopaedic technology workforce will result in better outcomes for those who require casting or orthopaedic services.
To inform the development of the Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology Qualification and seven new Orthopaedic Technology Units of Competency, a Cast Technology Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was initially formed and was later renamed as the Orthopaedic Technology TAC.
The Orthopaedic Technology TAC worked on developing one new Qualification and seven new Units of Competency that were released for public consultation in December 2020.
Formation of the TAC informed the identification and validation of the exact nature of the skills needs and knowledge requirements in the industry and the respective Training Package Product development requirements.
As a result, the following developments were proposed:
- A new Qualification, the Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology, which includes the following thirteen core Units of Competency:
o CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
o CHCCOM006 Establish and manage client relationships
o CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
o CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
o HLTAAP002 Confirm physical health status
o HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information
o HLTCCD003 Use medical terminology in health care
o HLTOTH001 Apply casts
o HLTOTH002 Modify casts
o HLTOTH003 Remove casts
o HLTOTH004 Apply orthopaedic devices
o HLTOTH005 Modify orthopaedic devices
o HLTOTH006 Remove orthopaedic devices.
- Elective Units of Competency comprised of the following eight Units of Competency:
o BSBOPS304 Deliver and monitor a service to customers
o CHCCCS006 Facilitate individual service planning and delivery
o CHCCCS010 Maintain a high standard of service
o CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
o CHCMGT006 Coordinate client directed services
o HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
o HLTOTH007 Apply and remove traction
o HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety.
- The Packaging Rules specify the requirement that 15 Units need to be completed, of which:
o 13 are to be core Units, and
o 2 are to be elective Units chosen from the list stated in the Qualification.
- Industry has agreed that the current job role be titled Orthopaedic Technologist, Orthopaedic Technician or Cast Technician in terms of defining the skills and knowledge that this Qualification will provide..
- The Qualification description highlights the inclusion of 400 hours of work placement as stated below:
o ‘To achieve this Qualification, the individual must have completed at least 400 hours of work in a clinical workplace environment as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the Units of Competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all Units of Competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.’
- Entry requirements are as follows:
o Entry to this Qualification is open to individuals who have completed one of the following Qualifications or their equivalent:
- HLT33015 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance; or
- HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance; or
- HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance; or
- HLT41412 Certificate IV in Cast Technology; or
- HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing; or
- HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing.
- The following seven new Orthopaedic Technology Units of Competency have been developed:
o HLTOTH001 Apply casts
o HLTOTH002 Modify casts
o HLTOTH003 Remove casts
o HLTOTH004 Apply orthopaedic devices
o HLTOTH005 Modify orthopaedic devices
o HLTOTH006 Remove orthopaedic devices
o HLTOTH007 Apply and remove traction.
To take forward Training Package Product update work, the Orthopaedic Technology TAC and the Technicians Support Services IRC have subsequently reviewed and confirmed the changes required for the development of Draft 2, based on feedback received during the first round of public consultation..
Project Governance
The Technicians Support Services IRC is comprised of a number of key expert stakeholders within the industry, as follows:
The Orthopaedic Technology TAC is comprised of a number of key subject matter expert stakeholders within the industry, as follows:
Project Status – Draft 2 Validation
Consultation on Draft 2 will start on Monday, 12 April 2021 and close at 5.00 pm on Friday, 30 April 2021.
The Draft 2 validation period will seek feedback on one new Qualification and seven new Units of Competency:
