Level 1-3 Comprehensive
Training and Certification
Course description
This training course incorporates Routine Visual, Operational, and Comprehensive inspection of playgrounds. This course will allow participants to develop with greater competence and enable them with the knowledge and skills required to conduct routine visual, operational inspections and comprehensive audit of playgrounds and identify non-conformities to the relevant Australian Standards, legislative and work health and safety requirements, as well as manufacturer’s standards.
Participants can be confident that they have been provided with the skills, knowledge and ability to carry out their duties in the best possible manner.
Who should attend?
This course is great for playground operators, supervisory, technical and maintenance personnel, risk assessor, design and safety officers, independent auditors, equipment manufacturers, landscape architects and designers, property developers, equipment installers, managers and owners of playground in public and private parks, schools, and early childhood and other recreation and leisure facilities. The delivery of this course is split into theory component, practical skills sessions and assessment at a training venue and identified park playgrounds nearby.
Read our student testimonials from individuals ranging in position roles in Council, Education Departments and play companies.
What are the different playground inspector levels?
Pre-requisites
Nil.
Registration requirements
To register for our training you must:
- Have sufficient literacy and numeracy skills: can follow training and assessment instructions and legal requirements
- Have reasonable physical agility: able to climb on, and thoroughly inspect play equipment, anchorage points and fit attachments
- Have sufficient vision: able to observe signs, wear and tear and a typical fitting situation
- Have sufficient aptitude to be able to utilise hand tools and make adjustments
- Be able to use basic computer programs such as MS word, excel and PDF
Please contact us to discuss further.
Pre-study
Not required.
Requirement
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this training course at the time of publication.
Hosting Opportunity
In-house private training at your organisation is available for this course. To host a course we require ~10 registrations from your Organisation (can open to public to accumulate numbers), a training room with IT (e.g., projector screen or TV). PSIA covers all trainer travel and accommodation costs and applies 15% discount to host registrations. Please contact us for more information, a formal quote and available dates.
Recognition prior learning
Not applicable.
Accredited
Training and assessments delivered by Playground Safety Inspectors Australia is not delivered on behalf of an RTO.
If you have previously obtained the applicable inspection of park facilities units of competency from our previous company PlayRight Australia or other, you are not required to renew these units as they are on-going (unless there are changes made to the units).
What are the requirements for playground inspectors?
The PSIA difference
Training Delivered in Response to Student Feedback
All students are encouraged to provide feedback on the course, their feedback is taken into consideration and/or implemented during course review. Our course is now structured to better suit participant needs and focuses on playgrounds rather than facilities.
Playground Equipment and Surfacing Focused
From recent feedback our training now focuses on the Australian Standards for Playground Equipment and Surfacing, specifically how to use an inspection tool kit, the AS probes for entrapment of the head, neck, shoulders and clothing and how to measure and calculate the fall zones.
Structured Course
Our course is well structured and allows us to deliver training at Level 1-2 Operational and Level 1-3 Comprehensive at the same time (both require the same content knowledge as these levels support one another).
- Allowing participants ranging in levels from the same Organisation to attend the same training dates and locations, beneficial for those who are regional and require travel and peer support during course completion
- Option to down/up-grade their enrolment level if circumstances change
- Rather than attending and paying for 2-3 separate training courses we combine our theory, practical and assessment components and can issue multiple Inspector Level competencies in one course
Expert trainer
The trainer Lynnel Crockart is a National and Internationally qualified inspector who has over 30 years experience in the industry and has conducted thousands of playground inspection audits and surface testing across Australia. They are a highly experienced professional who actively provides industry consultation and advice, and inspections for Councils and Education Department play spaces.
Participants who attend our courses will receive training and resources covering the current industry issues, practices and real life situations and how to best manage them with one of the most experienced trainers in Australia.
Our trainer is passionate about the industry and child safety both in the public and private sector along with the importance and need for risk-taking, safe developmental fun and educational play for children.
We create a community
Private inspector forum
All participants are invited to join our private forum with the trainer and other Certified Playground Safety Inspectors to have open discussions and ask questions about current
industry issues and practices.
Business directory
All participants and their companies have the opportunity to upload a listing to our business directory.
Pricelist
Please contact us for our pricelist or complete a free quote request form here. Up to 15% discount available for recertification/refresher training and group bookings.
Course duration and delivery
This course is three days of condensed training (16 hours total) and assessment (4 hours on day 3) for an assessment completed in person and two take-home assessments to be completed and submitted within 8 weeks of training completion.
The delivery of this course is split into theory component, practical skills sessions and assessment at a training venue and identified park playgrounds nearby.
Theory
Day 1 and 2 consists of a slide-show presentation from the trainer providing a detailed overview and guide of several key areas in the playground equipment and surfacing standards and best practices relating to the design, layout, management, risk control, inspections and installations of playgrounds.
Prior to training commencement, you will receive a training package which will include our ~300 pg. manual developed by our trainer with continuous review since 2000. This resource covers all lecture content presented by the trainer and topics such as (but not limited to) playground history and introduction, injury and statistics, surfacing, guide to Standards, risk management, manufacturer instructions, operator instructions, playground safety audit, signage, shade/sun protection, outdoor fitness/gym/exercise equipment, hazard identification, and information required to complete your assessments and future playground operations.
Individual and/or additional copies of our manual are available upon request. Please contact us to purchase.
Practical
Day 2 consists of a two hour on-site practical session at a playground in close proximity to the training venue accompanied by the trainer where you will conduct a detailed compliance exercise to check conformity to Australian Standards and best industry accepted practices. The trainer encourages attendees to bring their inspection kits to utilise at this session (if available) or will have the opportunity to use of the trainers tool inspection kit at the session.
We now also provide a webpage for optional student review and specifically for our online attendees who are unable to attend our face-to-face training practical session. Our trainer introduces you to a Standard inspectors kit, and demonstrates probe testing procedures such as finger, head, head and neck entrapments, swing measurement points, the height of fall and impact areas, slide and swing fall zones and toggle test, and fireman’s pole toggle test.
Assessment
Note the following is only a small description of the assessment details. Full instructions will be provided in the assessment coversheets.
You will be assessed based on:
Assessment 1 – open book exam
Provided as a hard copy on day 3 of training, you are to independently complete a written open book assessment consisting of multiple choice and short answers covering Routine Visual, Operational and Comprehensive inspector levels within ~2 hours at the venue. You are permitted to consult references (e.g. manual, current Australian Standards for playground equipment and surfacing) to answer questions. This assessment calls for organisation, analysis and judgement during completion rather than memorisation. In this assessment you are expected to obtain a score of 100% to demonstrate competency – if any questions are incorrect, the trainer will indicate for your review and reattempt. Assessment 1 results will be provided prior to your departure from the training venue on day 3.
Assessment 2 – visual routine and operational inspections and reports
Provided to you as a hardcopy in your training package and electronically after training completion, participants complete set tasks such as inspection checklists, asset registers, photographic reports and risk assessments for three playground inspections (1x routine visual, 2x operational) within 3 weeks of training completion.
Assessment 3 – comprehensive audit reports
Provided electronically after training completion, you are to complete the set tasks such as asset registers, safe work method statements and risk ratings, fall zone calculations, information management systems, and reference to the applicable AS, inspections and associated reporting on two playgrounds at comprehensive level within 8 weeks of training completion.
For this assessment you are expected to produce and utilise your own comprehensive checklist questions on a self-selected playground meeting the specified criteria outlined in the assessment task.
Assessment 2 and 3 is competency based and is assessed by the trainer against a marking guide after the specified submission date. If competency is not demonstrated, participants will be notified of the missing evidence and reattempt details.
Course completion outcomes
We are confident that after successful completion of our training and assessments participants will develop with greater competence and can be confident they have been provided with the knowledge and ability to carry out their duties in the best possible manner.
Learning outcomes
The following topics are covered in this course’s training and assessments:
- Recognition of the range of playground equipment, surrounding park facilities and services relevant to the industry
- The range, use and safety parameters of playground equipment and park facilities, their material construction and maintenance requirements
- Identify and determine the purpose of the inspection and playground equipment and
surrounding facilities to be inspected - Understanding of the principles and practices of routine visual, operational and comprehensive playground inspections
- Understanding of environmental conditions on playground equipment and surrounding facilities and inspection activities
- Practical understanding of terminology used to describe different components of playground equipment, surrounding facilities and relevant services
- Knowledge and ability to interpret the applicable Australian Standards, specifications and legal requirements
- Understanding of inspection/auditing procedures and techniques and legal enterprise reporting requirements for recommendations on maintenance, repair and replacement of playground equipment and surrounding facility’s
- Knowledge of effective maintenance and repair work to end use of the facilities and equipment and the safety of users
- Knowledge of relevant national industry standards AS 4685:2021 parts 1-6, AS 4685:11:2014, AS 4422:2016, AS 4685.0:2017
- Interpret design symbols and terminology
- Prepare and carry out routine visual, operational and comprehensive inspection of playgrounds
- Work health and safety legislative requirements and codes of practice
- Carry out pre-operational checks on tools and equipment
- Create 2D site plans
- Identification of environmental risks and impacts and non-conformity in playground equipment and surrounding facilities in reference to relevant Australian Standards and work health and safety requirements
- Hazard identification, assessment and control methods
- Determine and evaluate extent of problems, serious issues and possible workplace health and safety hazards or risks present (and implement controls)
- Rate and evaluate condition of playground equipment and surrounding facilities
- Determine age and calculate lifespan of existing playground equipment and surrounding facilities
- Estimate repair and replacement costs
- Information management systems
- Investigation and understanding of possible hazards and risks associated encountered by visitors utilising the playground and surrounding facilities and when conducting an inspection of playgrounds and the controls that can be put in place to remove or minimise
- Playground equipment installation methods, intended use and users and safety parameters
- Able to document and report requirements, procedures and materials used during playground inspection
- Determine degree of urgency and ability to report urgent situations
- Ability to proforma reporting and work procedure documents
- Ability to complete and submit inspection checklists and associated reports
Certification
Upon successful completion of training and assessments, participants will be issued a Certified Playground Safety Inspector Australia certificate demonstrating competency to Level 1 Routine Visual, Level 2 Operational and Level 3 Comprehensive Inspector.
Certification demonstrates your dedication to your profession and provides verification that you are deemed competent and trained to effectively use the tools and skills required in the industry. There is no occupational licensing, legislative or requirement for you to have certification with Playground Safety Inspectors Australia… it can be considered good practice, a nation-wide joint effort and accepted as an industry-standard benchmark and states you have been deemed competent through training and assessment.
Learn more about inspector certification here.
Inspector register
Participants inspector registration number, name and certification details will be uploaded to our inspector register for verification.
Business Directory
After course completion, participants can upload a company listing to our business directory.
Level 1-3 Comprehensive
Course description
This training course incorporates Routine Visual, Operational, and Comprehensive inspection of playgrounds. This course will allow participants to develop with greater competence and enable them with the knowledge and skills required to conduct routine visual, operational inspections and comprehensive audit of playgrounds and identify non-conformities to the relevant Australian Standards, legislative and work health and safety requirements, as well as manufacturer’s standards.
Participants can be confident that they have been provided with the skills, knowledge and ability to carry out their duties in the best possible manner.
Pre-requisites
Nil.
Registration requirements
To register for our training you must:
- Be a resident of Australia
- Have sufficient literacy and numeracy skills: can follow training and assessment instructions and legal requirements
- Have reasonable physical agility: able to climb on, and thoroughly inspect play equipment, anchorage points and fit attachments
- Have sufficient vision: able to observe signs, wear and tear and a typical fitting situation
- Have sufficient aptitude to be able to utilise hand tools and make adjustments
- Be able to use basic computer programs such as MS word, excel and PDF
Please contact us to discuss further.
Pre-study
Not required.
Requirement
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this training course at the time of publication.
Who should attend?
This course is great for playground operators, supervisory, technical and maintenance personnel, risk assessor, design and safety officers, independent auditors, equipment manufacturers, landscape architects and designers, property developers, equipment installers, managers and owners of playground in public and private parks, schools, and early childhood and other recreation and leisure facilities. The delivery of this course is split into theory component, practical skills sessions and assessment at a training venue and identified park playgrounds nearby.
Read our student testimonials from individuals ranging in position roles in Council, Education Departments and play companies.
What are the different playground inspector levels?
Hosting Opportunity
In-house private training at your organisation is available for this course. To host a course we require ~10 registrations from your Organisation (can open to public to accumulate numbers), a training room with IT (e.g., projector screen or TV). PSIA covers all trainer travel and accommodation costs and applies 15% discount to host registrations. Please contact us for more information, a formal quote and available dates.
Recognition prior learning
Not applicable.
Accredited
Training and assessments delivered by Playground Safety Inspectors Australia is not delivered on behalf of an RTO.
If you have previously obtained the applicable inspection of park facilities units of competency from our previous company PlayRight Australia or other, you are not required to renew these units as they are on-going (unless there are changes made to the units).
What are the requirements for playground inspectors?
The PSIA difference
Expert trainer
The trainer Lynnel Crockart is a National and Internationally qualified inspector who has over 30 years experience in the industry and has conducted thousands of playground inspection audits and surface testing across Australia. They are a highly experienced professional who actively provides industry consultation and advice, and inspections for Councils and Education Department play spaces.
Participants who attend our courses will receive training and resources covering the current industry issues, practices and real life situations and how to best manage them with one of the most experienced trainers in Australia.
Our trainer is passionate about the industry and child safety both in the public and private sector along with the importance and need for risk-taking, safe developmental fun and educational play for children.
We create a community
Private inspector forum
All participants are invited to join our private forum with the trainer and other Certified Playground Safety Inspectors to have
open discussions and ask questions about current
industry issues and practices.
Business directory
All participants and their companies have the opportunity to upload a listing to our business directory.
Pricelist
Please contact us for our pricelist or complete a free quote request form here. Up to 15% discount available for recertification/refresher training and group bookings.
Course duration and delivery
This course is three days of condensed training (16 hours total) and assessment (4 hours on day 3) for an assessment completed in person and two take-home assessments to be completed and submitted within 8 weeks of training completion.
The delivery of this course is split into theory component, practical skills sessions and assessment at a training venue and identified park playgrounds nearby.
Theory
Day 1 and 2 consists of a slide-show presentation from the trainer providing a detailed overview and guide of several key areas in the playground equipment and surfacing standards and best practices relating to the design, layout, management, risk control, inspections and installations of playgrounds.
Prior to training commencement, you will receive a training package which will include our ~300 pg. manual developed by our trainer with continuous review since 2000. This resource covers all lecture content presented by the trainer and topics such as (but not limited to) playground history and introduction, injury and statistics, surfacing, guide to Standards, risk management, manufacturer instructions, operator instructions, playground safety audit, signage, shade/sun protection, outdoor fitness/gym/exercise equipment, hazard identification, and information required to complete your assessments and future playground operations.
Individual and/or additional copies of our manual are available upon request. Please contact us to purchase.
Practical
Day 2 consists of a two hour on-site practical session at a playground in close proximity to the training venue accompanied by the trainer where you will conduct a detailed compliance exercise to check conformity to Australian Standards and best industry accepted practices. The trainer encourages attendees to bring their inspection kits to utilise at this session (if available) or will have the opportunity to use of the trainers tool inspection kit at the session.
We now also provide a webpage for optional student review and specifically for our online attendees who are unable to attend our face-to-face training practical session. Our trainer introduces you to a Standard inspectors kit, and demonstrates probe testing procedures such as finger, head, head and neck entrapments, swing measurement points, the height of fall and impact areas, slide and swing fall zones and toggle test, and fireman’s pole toggle test.
Assessment
Note the following is only a small description of the assessment details. Full instructions will be provided in the assessment coversheets.
You will be assessed based on:
Assessment 1 – open book exam
Provided as a hard copy on day 3 of training, you are to independently complete a written open book assessment consisting of multiple choice and short answers covering Routine Visual, Operational and Comprehensive inspector levels within ~2 hours at the venue. You are permitted to consult references (e.g. manual, current Australian Standards for playground equipment and surfacing) to answer questions. This assessment calls for organisation, analysis and judgement during completion rather than memorisation. In this assessment you are expected to obtain a score of 100% to demonstrate competency – if any questions are incorrect, the trainer will indicate for your review and reattempt. Assessment 1 results will be provided prior to your departure from the training venue on day 3.
Assessment 2 – visual routine and operational inspections and reports
Provided to you as a hardcopy in your training package and electronically after training completion, participants complete set tasks such as inspection checklists, asset registers, photographic reports and risk assessments for three playground inspections (1x routine visual, 2x operational) within 3 weeks of training completion.
Assessment 3 – comprehensive audit reports
Provided electronically after training completion, you are to complete the set tasks such as asset registers, safe work method statements and risk ratings, fall zone calculations, information management systems, and reference to the applicable AS, inspections and associated reporting on two playgrounds at comprehensive level within 8 weeks of training completion.
For this assessment you are expected to produce and utilise your own comprehensive checklist questions on a self-selected playground meeting the specified criteria outlined in the assessment task.
Assessment 2 and 3 is competency based and is assessed by the trainer against a marking guide after the specified submission date. If competency is not demonstrated, participants will be notified of the missing evidence and reattempt details.
Course completion outcomes
We are confident that after successful completion of our training and assessments participants will develop with greater competence and can be confident they have been provided with the knowledge and ability to carry out their duties in the best possible manner.
Learning outcomes
The following topics are covered in this course’s training and assessments:
- Recognition of the range of playground equipment, surrounding park facilities and services relevant to the industry
- The range, use and safety parameters of playground equipment and park facilities, their material construction and maintenance requirements
- Identify and determine the purpose of the inspection and playground equipment and
surrounding facilities to be inspected - Understanding of the principles and practices of routine visual, operational and comprehensive playground inspections
- Understanding of environmental conditions on playground equipment and surrounding facilities and inspection activities
- Practical understanding of terminology used to describe different components of playground equipment, surrounding facilities and relevant services
- Knowledge and ability to interpret the applicable Australian Standards, specifications and legal requirements
- Understanding of inspection/auditing procedures and techniques and legal enterprise reporting requirements for recommendations on maintenance, repair and replacement of playground equipment and surrounding facility’s
- Knowledge of effective maintenance and repair work to end use of the facilities and equipment and the safety of users
- Knowledge of relevant national industry standards AS 4685:2021 parts 1-6, AS 4685:11:2014, AS 4422:2016, AS 4685.0:2017
- Interpret design symbols and terminology
- Prepare and carry out routine visual, operational and comprehensive inspection of playgrounds
- Work health and safety legislative requirements and codes of practice
- Carry out pre-operational checks on tools and equipment
- Create 2D site plans
- Identification of environmental risks and impacts and non-conformity in playground equipment and surrounding facilities in reference to relevant Australian Standards and work health and safety requirements
- Hazard identification, assessment and control methods
- Determine and evaluate extent of problems, serious issues and possible workplace health and safety hazards or risks present (and implement controls)
- Rate and evaluate condition of playground equipment and surrounding facilities
- Determine age and calculate lifespan of existing playground equipment and surrounding facilities
- Estimate repair and replacement costs
- Information management systems
- Investigation and understanding of possible hazards and risks associated encountered by visitors utilising the playground and surrounding facilities and when conducting an inspection of playgrounds and the controls that can be put in place to remove or minimise
- Playground equipment installation methods, intended use and users and safety parameters
- Able to document and report requirements, procedures and materials used during playground inspection
- Determine degree of urgency and ability to report urgent situations
- Ability to proforma reporting and work procedure documents
- Ability to complete and submit inspection checklists and associated reports
Certification
Upon successful completion of training and assessments, participants will be issued a Certified Playground Safety Inspector Australia certificate demonstrating competency to Level 1 Routine Visual, Level 2 Operational and Level 3 Comprehensive Inspector.
Certification demonstrates your dedication to your profession and provides verification that you are deemed competent and trained to effectively use the tools and skills required in the industry. There is no occupational licensing, legislative or requirement for you to have certification with Playground Safety Inspectors Australia… it can be considered good practice, a nation-wide joint effort and accepted as an industry-standard benchmark and states you have been deemed competent through training and assessment.
Learn more about inspector certification here.
Inspector register
Participants inspector registration number, name and certification details will be uploaded to our inspector register for verification.
Business Directory
After course completion, participants can upload a company listing to our business directory.
