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Conditions of ADAS Certification

ADAS certification is awarded to persons who demonstrate that they meet the competencies detailed in the relevant ADAS Competence Standard. ADAS certification brings with it a number of responsibilities. The following provisions are based on the recognition that ADAS certification is conditional upon the certified person operating safely and sensibly within the law at all times, or where there is no specific legislation, in compliance with recognised standards and/or codes of practice. These measures are designed to ensure that the present high level of professional standing of ADAS and ADAS Certificate holders is maintained.

Basis of Certification

· ADAS certification is awarded on the basis that the holder of certification must operate in compliance with relevant legislation and/or standards.  Certification may be suspended or cancelled if holders of certification are proved to be operating unsafely or illegally.

· ADAS Certificates of Competency are only valid for diving if divers are certified “medically fit to dive” in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1 (2007) or approved international equivalent and are in possession of an Occupational Diving Medical Certificate issued by a medical practitioner trained in underwater medicine by an organisation acceptable to ADAS.  This condition does not apply to ADAS certification for Diving Supervisors, Life Support Supervisors, Life Support Technicians, etc, when those persons are not required to dive.

· Certification, other than Diver Medical Technician which is for 3 years, is for five years from date of issue.  After that time, persons must apply for renewal of their certification based on demonstration of continued proficiency at the level of competency for which they are certified.

· Certification will be renewed on the basis of the applicant certifying that he/she has retained their operating competency over the previous period of certification.  Applicants must be able to establish on request by ADAS (eg, by log book and/or similar evidence demonstrating current practice in diving and/or other relevant activities) how the relevant skills and knowledge identified by ADAS in the relevant ADAS Competence Standard have been maintained.

-  As a minimum, this will generally be held to be the undertaking or supervision of 20 dives within the 24 month period prior to renewal. 

-  Acceptable alternatives could be a course of training at a higher level of proficiency, a letter of verification by an appropriately qualified ADAS or IMCA supervisor attesting that the applicant continues to possess the required level of competency, or a refresher course at an appropriately accredited training establishment. Applicants who cannot fulfil any of these criteria should contact ADAS to discuss their situation prior to applying for renewal.

· The applicant is required to supply a Declaration of Applicant as attached to the renewal application form certifying that they are current in the practical and theoretical skills and knowledge relevant to their level of ADAS certification as identified in the ADAS Diving Competency Standards.

· Renewal applications will be randomly audited by ADAS by contacting relevant diving contractors for verification of the evidence of continued proficiency provided in the renewal application.

· ADAS requires applicants to apply for renewal of their ADAS licence by the date of expiry on the licence held.  Failure to do so renders the diver’s certification invalid and details are removed from the data base.  Re-issue of certification incurs a rejoining fee to cover the administrative expenses involved in reinstating divers on the database, processing late applications, and verifying continued proficiency evidence (the diver is required to provide evidence of continued proficiency at the level of the ADAS licence).

Applications received beyond the date of expiry of the ADAS licence are processed as follows:

1.  Applications received within 2 years after the date of expiry of the card will be renewed from the original date of expiry.

2.  Applications received after 2 years from the original date of expiry of the card will incur a rejoining fee of $150. This fee is additional to the licence renewal fee. Renewal will provide 5 full years of certification from the date of issue of the renewed licence.

Suspension or Cancellation of an ADAS Certificate of Competency

ADAS may suspend or cancel a Certificate of Competency if it is satisfied that the holder of the certificate:

a. obtained the certificate on the basis of false or misleading information or a failure to disclose or provide required information;

b.  has operated in a manner which endangers the health or safety of the holder or any other person;

c. is no longer capable of performing to the level of competency specified by the certificate;

d.  has failed to operate in compliance with relevant legislation, Codes and /or standards.

Appeal against Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Competency

Before suspending or cancelling a Certificate of Competency, ADAS will:

· notify the holder of the certificate in writing by registered mail, to the last known address of the Certificate holder, of the proposed suspension or cancellation; and

· give the holder of the Certificate 28 days, from the time of service by registered mail to the last known address of the Certificate holder, to make representations in writing to ADAS in relation to the proposed suspension or cancellation; and

· through the ADAS Appeal Committee, take reasonable regard of the representations made by the holder of the Certificate [the ADAS Appeals Committee is composed of representatives of the relevant diving industry, and/or union and/or the State/Territory regulators].

· The full ADAS Grievance Policy and procedures may be found on the ADAS website www.adas.org.au.  Appellants who are unsuccessful may seek redress through civil legal action.

Notification of Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Competency

If, after having regard to any representations made by the holder of the Certificate, ADAS decides to proceed with the proposed suspension or cancellation, ADAS will inform the holder of the Certificate in writing by registered mail to their last known address:

· stating that the Certificate is suspended or cancelled; and

· in the case of a suspension, stating the period for which the Certificate is suspended; and

· giving the reasons for the suspension or cancellation.

Date of Effect of Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Competency

The suspension or cancellation takes effect on the date on which notice of the suspension or cancellation is served on the holder of the Certificate by registered mail at their last known address, or on any other later date which is specified in the notice.

Notify Others of Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Competency

ADAS may inform others (the holder of the certificate’s employer, other contractors, State/Territory regulators, etc) of certificates that are cancelled or suspended.

Surrender of Cancelled Certificates of Competency

The holder of an ADAS Certificate of Competency that is cancelled must return the Certificate to ADAS within the period specified in the notice of cancellation.

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