Simulated workplaceCAQA Department of Community Programs is a fictional business created by CAQA for training and assessment. It is not a real company and no person, client or record here is real.About this simulation
PSPCAQA Department of Community ProgramsSimulated workplace
Simulated workplace
Simulated Business Resources

For trainers and assessors

How to use CAQA Department of Community Programs with your students, what is included, and the mapping to the Public Sector Training Package.

PSP release 4.0Public Skills Australia
What is included

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.

How to use it

A typical delivery pattern

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
Unit mapping

Scenarios mapped to current units

Codes and titles were taken from training.gov.au on 10 September 2026 (Public Sector Training Package, release 4.0, developed by Public Skills Australia). Mapping shows which units a scenario gives evidence towards; it is not a substitute for your own assessment mapping.

ScenarioLevelUnits of competencyQualifications
Assess two Community Connect grant applications
Grants and Programs Branch
IntermediatePSPGEN105 Gather and analyse information
PSPGEN111 Apply government processes
PSPETH006 Uphold the values and principles of public service
PSPGEN137 Handle workplace information
PSPLEG005 Comply with legislation in the public sector
PSP40122 Certificate IV in Government
PSP30122 Certificate III in Government
Draft a briefing note on grants budget options
Policy and Strategy Branch
AdvancedPSPPCY017 Provide policy advice
PSPGEN143 Prepare high-level written communication
PSPGEN106 Conduct research and analysis
PSPGEN149 Develop and use political nous
PSPGEN142 Refine complex workplace documents
PSP50122 Diploma of Government
PSP60122 Advanced Diploma of Government
Plan and run a limited tender for interpreting services
Procurement and Contract Management Branch
AdvancedPSPPCM004 Plan procurement
PSPPCM005 Develop and distribute requests for offers
PSPPCM010 Manage procurement risk
PSPPCM013 Make procurement decisions
PSPGEN113 Exercise delegations
PSP40616 Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting
PSP50616 Diploma of Procurement and Contracting
Inspect a funded youth service and assess compliance
Regulation and Compliance Branch
IntermediatePSPREG032 Undertake routine inspections and monitoring
PSPREG034 Assess compliance
PSPREG036 Act on non-compliance
PSPREG039 Gather information through interviews
PSPLEG005 Comply with legislation in the public sector
PSP40122 Certificate IV in Government
PSP40416 Certificate IV in Government Investigations
Acknowledge and resolve a complaint about a grant delay
Community Engagement and Client Services Branch
EntryPSPGEN088 Deliver a service to clients
PSPGEN096 Use workplace communication strategies
PSPGEN144 Work in a public sector environment
PSPGEN098 Deal with conflict
PSPETH006 Uphold the values and principles of public service
PSP30122 Certificate III in Government
PSP20122 Certificate II in Government
Register correspondence and prepare a freedom of information file
Corporate Services Branch
EntryPSPGEN137 Handle workplace information
PSPGEN138 Organise workplace information
PSPSEC024 Handle sensitive information
PSPGEN144 Work in a public sector environment
PSPLEG005 Comply with legislation in the public sector
PSP20122 Certificate II in Government
PSP30122 Certificate III in Government
Conduct a fraud risk assessment of the grants acquittal process
Corporate Services Branch
AdvancedPSPFRU005 Conduct fraud risk assessments
PSPFRU007 Implement fraud control activities
PSPGEN134 Coordinate risk management
PSPFRU013 Anticipate and detect possible fraud activity
PSPGEN143 Prepare high-level written communication
PSP50716 Diploma of Fraud Control
PSP50122 Diploma of Government
Review contract performance and recommend a variation
Procurement and Contract Management Branch
IntermediatePSPPCM007 Manage contracts
PSPPCM008 Manage contract performance
PSPGEN099 Undertake negotiations
PSPGEN113 Exercise delegations
PSPGEN105 Gather and analyse information
PSP40616 Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting
PSP40122 Certificate IV in Government
Qualifications

All 28 current qualifications in PSP

The business is written to suit the featured qualifications; the rest can be supported by adding scenarios, which CAQA can do on request.

CodeTitleLevelStatus here
PSP20122Certificate II in GovernmentCertificate IIFeatured here
PSP20218Certificate II in AuslanCertificate IIAdaptable
PSP30122Certificate III in GovernmentCertificate IIIFeatured here
PSP30218Certificate III in AuslanCertificate IIIAdaptable
PSP40122Certificate IV in GovernmentCertificate IVFeatured here
PSP40216Certificate IV in Court OperationsCertificate IVAdaptable
PSP40316Certificate IV in Government SecurityCertificate IVFeatured here
PSP40416Certificate IV in Government InvestigationsCertificate IVFeatured here
PSP40522Certificate IV in Trade MeasurementCertificate IVAdaptable
PSP40616Certificate IV in Procurement and ContractingCertificate IVFeatured here
PSP40716Certificate IV in Heavy Vehicle Road ComplianceCertificate IVAdaptable
PSP40818Certificate IV in AuslanCertificate IVAdaptable
PSP40818Certificate IV in AuslanCertificate IVAdaptable
PSP50122Diploma of GovernmentDiplomaFeatured here
PSP50216Diploma of Court OperationsDiplomaAdaptable
PSP50316Diploma of Government SecurityDiplomaAdaptable
PSP50416Diploma of Government InvestigationsDiplomaFeatured here
PSP50522Diploma of Trade MeasurementDiplomaAdaptable
PSP50616Diploma of Procurement and ContractingDiplomaFeatured here
PSP50716Diploma of Fraud ControlDiplomaFeatured here
PSP50822Diploma of TranslatingDiplomaAdaptable
PSP50922Diploma of InterpretingDiplomaAdaptable
PSP51018Diploma of AuslanDiplomaAdaptable
PSP60122Advanced Diploma of GovernmentAdvanced DiplomaFeatured here
PSP60616Advanced Diploma of Procurement and ContractingAdvanced DiplomaFeatured here
PSP60822Advanced Diploma of TranslatingAdvanced DiplomaAdaptable
PSP60922Advanced Diploma of InterpretingAdvanced DiplomaAdaptable
PSP80116Graduate Certificate in Strategic ProcurementGraduate CertificateAdaptable
Delivery format

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

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.

Customisation

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.

FAQ

Questions trainers ask

How do trainers use the Department of Community Programs in a course?

Choose a scenario that matches the unit or qualification, give students the role and the inbox message and let them work through the policies, procedures, forms and registers as a public servant would. Each scenario page lists the units, the deliverables and assessor notes.

How do students sign in?

Students open the site, choose the Simulated Workplace login and enter the class code from their trainer. Everything a student records in the registers and tracker is kept under their own name for the assessor to review.

Where are the records students create kept?

Every entry a student creates or updates in the grants register, correspondence tracker, contracts register, compliance register or risk register is stored against their login. Assessors can view, export or print a student's records from the assessor dashboard.

Can I reset the department between classes?

Yes. The assessor dashboard has a reset control that restores every system to the seed records shown on this site and clears student entries, while keeping the documents, people and scenarios unchanged.

Can I adapt the department to my state or territory?

Trainers can rename the laws and integrity bodies, edit the delegations register and adjust programs, people and notices in the assessor dashboard. Edits are kept separate from the CAQA baseline so a reset can restore the original at any time.

Are the qualifications and unit codes current?

The units and qualifications on each scenario are taken from the current release of the Public Sector Training Package on training.gov.au at the time the site was built. Check training.gov.au before enrolling students and map your own assessment tools to the elements and performance criteria.

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.