Verification of Competency (VOC)
Enquire NowWhat is a Verification of Competency?
A Verification of Competency (VOC) is a formal assessment that confirms a licensed worker can safely and competently perform high-risk work in line with the requirements of their current High Risk Work Licence (HRWL).
Holding a licence confirms that a worker met the national standard at the time of training. A VOC confirms they still do — and that they can apply that competency on your site, on your equipment, under real operating conditions.
A VOC is not a re-training session. It is a structured practical and knowledge assessment conducted by a qualified Paratus assessor, against the unit of competency that underpins the licence class being assessed.
Why employers arrange VOC assessments
The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) places a duty on persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to ensure that workers performing high-risk work are not only licensed but demonstrably competent to do so safely.
Holding a current, valid HRWL satisfies the licensing requirement. A VOC addresses the competency requirement — particularly in circumstances such as:
- Onboarding a new worker — regardless of their previous employer or licence history.
- Return to work — where a worker has been absent from the relevant equipment or task for an extended period.
- Change of equipment — where the plant, configuration, or operating environment differs materially from what the worker has previously operated.
- Post-incident review — where a safety event has raised questions about the worker’s applied competency.
- Periodic verification — where your site safety plan, contract requirements, or client specifications require documented competency checks at defined intervals.
- New site or project mobilisation — where site-specific hazards and conditions require confirmation that workers can operate safely in that context.
A licence does not expire. Competency can.
Where the gap between licence issue and current practice is significant, a VOC provides documented assurance that the worker is ready — and gives you a defensible record that you exercised your duty of care.
Qualified assessors. Real-world currency.
Paratus VOC assessments are conducted by qualified assessors who hold current TAE40122 (or equivalent) and maintain active vocational currency in every licence class they assess. These are people who have worked the equipment and understand what competency looks like in practice — not just on paper.
VOC assessments are available for High Risk Work Licence classes only. To be assessed, the worker must hold a current, valid WorkSafe WA HRWL for the specific class in question.
A VOC cannot be conducted for a licence class the worker does not hold, or where the licence has lapsed. In either case, the worker is required to complete the full training and assessment pathway before a VOC is applicable.
What happens on assessment day
What the assessment includes
Each VOC is tailored to the licence class being assessed and verified against the nationally recognised unit of competency that underpins that licence class.
Depending on the class, the assessment will include a combination of:
- Practical observation of the worker operating the relevant plant or equipment
- Knowledge questions covering WHS requirements, pre-start checks, load limits, hazard identification, and emergency procedures
- A demonstrated pre-start and inspection check for the equipment type being assessed
Assessment outcomes
Following assessment, the worker is determined as either Competent or Not Yet Competent.
A Competent result is issued as a written VOC record — your documented evidence of competency verification for WHS management and audit purposes.
Where a worker is assessed as Not Yet Competent, the assessor provides a written summary of findings and recommends next steps. This may include targeted refresher training, additional supervised practice, or full course re-enrolment. Our team will contact the person who made the booking directly to discuss the outcome and the appropriate path forward.
A VOC does not issue or renew a licence. Licences are issued by WorkSafe WA. The VOC is your documented record that competency has been verified.
A note on safety training units
VOC assessments apply to High Risk Work Licence classes only. For safety units that do not carry a WorkSafe WA licence — confined spaces, working at heights, gas testing, firefighting equipment — there is no VOC pathway. Paratus recommends periodic refresher training for these units to maintain currency and support your WHS obligations.
I f you are unsure what applies to a specific role or unit, call us on 08 6400 6000 .
What workers need to bring
Every VOC participant must present the following before assessment begins:
- Current, valid WorkSafe WA High Risk Work Licence — for the specific class being assessed.
- Photo ID.
Expired licences
If the licence has expired, the assessment cannot proceed. The worker will need to complete the full training and assessment pathway to reinstate their licence before a VOC can be arranged.
Workers who arrive without a current, valid licence for the relevant class will not be assessed and the booking will be forfeited.
PPE and clothing
Workers should arrive dressed as they would for a normal working day. The assessment is conducted under real operating conditions, and appropriate PPE is required throughout.
All participants must wear:
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Steel-capped boots
Hard hats are available to borrow on site. Bring your own if you have one.
Scaffolders must bring their tool belt for any scaffolding assessment.
If you are unsure what PPE is required for your specific licence class, call us before the day.
Paratus conducts VOC assessments across the following HRWL classes:
- Forklift Truck (LF) — TLILIC0003
- Boom type elevating work platform (WP) — TLILIC0005
- Dogging (DG) — CPCCLDG3001
- Basic Rigging (RB) — CPCCLRG3001
- Intermediate Rigging (RI) — CPCCLRG3002
- Basic Scaffolding (SB) — CPCCLSF2001
- Intermediate Scaffolding (SI) — CPCCLSF3001
- Vehicle loading crane (CV) — TLILIC0024
- Non-slewing mobile crane (CN) — TLILIC0040
- Slewing mobile crane — with a capacity up to 20 tonnes (C2) — TLILIC0022
- Slewing mobile crane — with a capacity up to 60 tonnes (C6) — TLILIC0023
- Slewing mobile crane —with a capacity up to 100 tonnes (C1) — TLILIC0021
- Slewing mobile crane — with a capacity over 100 tonnes (C0) — TLILIC0020
Call us on 08 6400 6000 and we’ll confirm the correct VOC pathway for your workforce.
If the class you’re looking for class isn’t listed above, please let us know and we’ll let you know what we can do for you.
Contact us
Frequently asked questions
A High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) is issued by WorkSafe WA and confirms a worker was assessed as competent at the time of assessment.
A VOC is a separate assessment arranged by an employer to confirm the worker is still competent now — on current equipment, in their current operating environment. The HRWL licence can be renewed evey 5 years without reassessment, but workplace expectations, equipment, and individual currency can change.
A VOC provides the documented evidence that competency has been checked by qualified third party assessor.
No. A VOC is not a re-enrolment in the original course.
It is a targeted assessment of current competency against the requirements of the licence the worker already holds.
If the worker is found not yet competent, Paratus will recommend an appropriate pathway — which may be refresher training, targeted practice, or in some cases full re-training. We will advise you directly on the outcome on the day of assessment.
If a worker is assessed as Not Yet Competent, the Paratus assessor will provide a written summary of the outcome and recommendations.
Our team will contact you directly to discuss next steps — whether that’s a refresher, additional supervised practice, or another pathway.
Yes. Paratus Training conducts VOC assessments at our Bayswater facility and on-site across Western Australia — metro and regional. On-site delivery requires access to the relevant, safe-to-operate plant equipment.
Contact us to discuss your requirements and we will confirm what is needed for your location.
No. A VOC is conducted against a licence the worker already holds. You cannot be VOC’d for a class you are not yet licensed in. If a worker needs to obtain a new licence class, they need to complete the full training and assessment pathway. Contact us and we can provide information to get them booked into the right course.
Duration varies by licence class and the complexity of the assessment. Most individual VOC assessments are completed within a half-day. Group bookings may require a full day or multiple sessions. Contact us when booking and we will give you a tailored time estimate for your specific requirements.
Yes. Paratus works with employers to schedule group VOC programs, including on-site across WA. If you have a workforce-wide requirement, for example, project mobilisation, site transition, or a scheduled competency review cycle, contact us to discuss a coordinated approach.
No. A refresher course is a training session that helps a worker rebuild or maintain their skills and knowledge.
A VOC is a formal assessment — the worker demonstrates their competency, and is determined as either Competent or Not Yet Competent. Where a worker does not yet meet the standard required to proceed to VOC, Paratus may recommend a refresher as the appropriate first step.
No. VOC assessments at Paratus apply to High Risk Work Licence classes only, as these are the units underpinned by a WorkSafe WA licence.
For safety units that do not carry a HRWL — such as confined spaces, working at heights, gas testing, or firefighting equipment — there is no formal VOC pathway. Paratus recommends periodic refresher training for these units to maintain currency. Contact us to discuss what is appropriate for your workforce.
Following a successful VOC, Paratus will issue a competency record confirming the worker was assessed as competent for the relevant licence class, on the date of assessment, by a Paratus Training assessor. This provides your organisation with documented evidence of competency verification for WHS management and audit purposes. If the outcome is Not Yet Competent, we will provide a written summary of findings and recommended next steps.