For trainers and assessors
How to use CAQA Hydra Chemical and Refining with your students, what is included, and the mapping to the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining.
One simulated business, ready for assessment
A complete fictional employer
Public site and staff intranet for one business in the industry, with its history, services, values, locations, six departments and ten named roles. Everything is fictional and labelled as such on every page.
14 controlled documents
Policies, procedures, forms, templates, a register and a plan written in controlled-document style with document codes, owners, versions and review dates. Forms and templates are fillable on screen and print to PDF.
5 working systems
Record-keeping apps with realistic seed data: table, card and board views, add, edit, delete, search, filter, CSV export and a one-click reset. Records are stored in the student's browser, so every student starts from the same seed data.
Inbox, notices and calendar
Eight work requests from managers and colleagues that point the student at scenarios, documents and systems, a notice board, and a business calendar the student can add to.
8 assessment scenarios
Role-based workplace tasks at Entry, Intermediate and Advanced level, each with context, brief, task checklist, deliverables, linked documents and systems, assessor notes and a printable evidence summary.
Mapping to current units
Every scenario is mapped to current units of competency and qualifications on training.gov.au for this training package, so trainers can align tasks to their own assessment tools.
A typical delivery pattern
- Orient the class. Walk students through the home page, the departments and the people so the business feels real before any task begins. Ask them to read About this simulation.
- Assign roles. Students sign in as the role a scenario names (or one you choose). The choice is stored only in their browser and shapes the greeting, inbox and evidence summary.
- Issue the work request. The inbox message for a scenario reads like a real instruction from a manager. Students open it, follow the link to the scenario and read the brief.
- Work in the systems and documents. Tasks tell students which policy to apply, which form to complete and which system record to create or update. Forms print to PDF; systems export CSV.
- Collect evidence. The scenario page ticks off tasks and prints an evidence summary listing every record the student created or changed, their notes and the units mapped. Combine it with your own observation checklist and questions.
- Reset between cohorts. Each browser starts from the same seed data. A reset on the About this simulation page clears everything a student did on that device.
Scenarios mapped to current units
Codes and titles were taken from training.gov.au on 10 September 2026 (Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining, release 2.3, developed by Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance). Mapping shows which units a scenario gives evidence towards; it is not a substitute for your own assessment mapping.
| Scenario | Level | Units of competency | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample, test and adjust ferric chloride batch FC-26-0210 Laboratory and Product Quality | Entry | PMAOPS319 Adjust batchPMAOPS220 Monitor chemical reactions in the processPMAOPS101 Read dials and indicatorsPMAOPS213 Package product/material | PMA20116 Certificate II in Process Plant OperationsPMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant Operations |
| Receive a hydrochloric acid road tanker into T-105 Bulk Liquids Terminal and Logistics | Entry | PMAOPS343 Transfer bulk fluids into/out of storage facilityPMAOPS240 Store fluids in bulkPMAOPS201 Operate fluid flow equipmentPMAOPS223 Operate and monitor valve systemsPMAOPS204 Select and use utilities and services | PMA20116 Certificate II in Process Plant Operations |
| Start up the solvent recovery column after the pump repair Process Operations | Intermediate | PMAOPS310 Operate and troubleshoot distillation systemPMAOPS205 Operate heat exchangersPMAOPS315 Operate and troubleshoot process control systemsPMAOPS411 Manage plant shutdown and restartPMAOPS348 Operate safety, protection and shutdown systems | PMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant OperationsPMA40116 Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology |
| Prepare and isolate Reactor 1 for the bottom flange gasket replacement Maintenance and Asset Integrity | Intermediate | PMASUP244 Prepare and isolate plantPMAOPS347 Create and conduct isolations in the workplacePMASUP245 Break and make flanged joints using hand toolsPMAOPS311 Operate and troubleshoot reactors and reaction equipmentPMAOPS280 Interpret process plant schematics | PMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant OperationsPMA40116 Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology |
| Respond to a reactor high temperature abnormal situation Process Operations | Intermediate | PMAOPS402 Respond to abnormal process situationsPMAOPS311 Operate and troubleshoot reactors and reaction equipmentPMAOPS348 Operate safety, protection and shutdown systemsPMAOPS236 Monitor continuous process plantPMAOMIR210 Control evacuation to muster point | PMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant OperationsPMA40116 Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology |
| Investigate the T-105 high level alarm activation Process Safety and Emergency Response | Advanced | PMAWHS310 Investigate incidentsPMAWHS502 Contribute to safety casePMAOPS240 Store fluids in bulkPMASUP420 Minimise environmental impact of processPMAOPS402 Respond to abnormal process situations | PMA40116 Certificate IV in Process Plant TechnologyPMA50116 Diploma of Process Plant Technology |
| Debottleneck the solvent recovery column through management of change Technical Services and Environment | Advanced | PMAOPS601 Debottleneck plantPMAOPS600 Modify plantPMAOPS500 Optimise production systemsPMAOPS511 Determine energy transfer loadsPMASUP540 Analyse equipment performancePMAWHS502 Contribute to safety case | PMA50116 Diploma of Process Plant TechnologyPMA60116 Advanced Diploma of Process Plant Technology |
| Plan and run the October emergency exercise with emergency services Process Safety and Emergency Response | Advanced | PMAOMIR430 Conduct and assess incident exercisesPMAWHS511 Manage emergency incidentsPMAOMIR418 Coordinate incident responsePMAWHS211 Prepare equipment for emergency responsePMAOMIR322 Manage incident response information | PMA50116 Diploma of Process Plant TechnologyPMA60116 Advanced Diploma of Process Plant Technology |
All 5 current qualifications in PMA
The business is written to suit the featured qualifications; the rest can be supported by adding scenarios, which CAQA can do on request.
| Code | Title | Level | Status here |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMA20116 | Certificate II in Process Plant Operations | Certificate II | Featured here |
| PMA30120 | Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Certificate III | Featured here |
| PMA40116 | Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology | Certificate IV | Featured here |
| PMA50116 | Diploma of Process Plant Technology | Diploma | Featured here |
| PMA60116 | Advanced Diploma of Process Plant Technology | Advanced Diploma | Featured here |
Delivery and LMS compatibility
Hosted web application
Runs in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. No installation, no plug-ins, no student accounts. Each package has its own address, for example bsb.caqa.com.
LMS ready
Link to the whole site, a scenario or a single document from Moodle, Canvas, aXcelerate, Cloud Assess, Blackboard or any LMS that can open a web link. A SCORM wrapper that launches the site and records completion can be supplied on request.
Privacy by design
Student entries stay in the student's browser (local storage). Nothing is sent to CAQA or to any server, so no personal information is collected and no accounts are needed. Students print or export their evidence for submission.
Accessibility and motion
Keyboard navigable, screen-reader labels on controls, reduced-motion support and a visible Motion toggle on every page.
Licensing and usage
RTO licence
Licensed to the RTO under the CAQA Resources licence agreement for use with its enrolled students and staff across all its campuses and delivery modes. Contact CAQA for pricing and reseller terms.
Intellectual property
All content, fictional entities, documents and software remain the intellectual property of CAQA. The RTO may print and adapt documents for its own delivery within the licence.
Branding and customisation
Branding
A private copy with the RTO's own business name, colours and logo can be produced on its own address.
Content
Extra documents, scenarios, systems and staff roles can be added, and existing ones adjusted to match the RTO's assessment tools, industry partners or state requirements.
Integration
Deep links per scenario and per document, optional SCORM launch package, and evidence summaries in a format that suits the RTO's assessment records.
Questions trainers ask
How do trainers use this site with a class?
Assign a scenario, give the student the role it names and direct them to the inbox message that starts it. Students read the procedures, work in the registers and hand in the deliverables. The assessor notes describe the evidence to look for.
How do students sign in?
Students use the simulated sign in on the home page with the role they have been assigned. No personal account or password is needed and nothing entered identifies them outside the training session.
Where are the records a student creates kept?
Entries made in the five registers are stored in the student's browser session and can be exported as a file for submission. They are not shared between students unless the trainer runs a shared session and are cleared on reset.
How do I reset the plant to its starting state?
Use the Reset workplace control on the trainer page. It restores the seed records in every register and clears student entries. Export evidence first.
Can the plant, chemicals or procedures be adapted for my RTO?
Yes. The content is held in a single file that can be edited to change units, chemicals, documents, people or scenarios. Keep the unit and qualification codes current with training.gov.au and keep the site details generic.
How do the scenarios map to units of competency?
Each scenario lists the units and qualifications it supports from the current Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining Training Package. The mapping is a guide to the evidence the scenario can produce; the assessor must confirm coverage of the performance criteria in their own assessment tool.
Talk to CAQA
Pricing, reseller terms, matched assessment kits and private branded copies: info@caqa.com.au or 1800 266 160. Browse the full catalogue at caqaresources.com.au.