Prepare your RPL portfolio/RPL evidence guides
Engineering & Manufacturing
Fabrication Trade (Boilermaker / Welder) (MEM30319) — RPL Evidence Portfolio Guide
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
Complete preparation guide for boilermakers, welders and metal fabricators assembling a decision-ready RPL evidence portfolio for MEM30319.
Last updated 8 September 2026
Who this guide is for
- Boilermakers, welders and metal fabricators without an Australian trade certificate
- Overseas-trained fabricators preparing for a TRA skills assessment or workplace registration
- Workshop staff performing fabrication, cutting and welding under supervision
1. Visual evidence guidelines (photos & videos)
To satisfy independent RTO assessment criteria, submit 20 clear workplace photos and 20 video clips (about 30 seconds each).
Capture the work as you do it during a normal working week. Spread the tasks across several days and several jobs so the portfolio reads like real output, not a staged photo session.
Category A — Structural and sheet metal fabrication
Mandatory- Marking out structural steel sections, plates or sheet metal from drawings
- Thermal cutting (oxy-acetylene, plasma) or mechanical cutting (guillotine, cropper)
- Operating shaping equipment (press brakes, rolls, section benders, notchers)
- Assembling, tack-welding and squaring structural assemblies, tanks or hoppers
Category B — Welding operations (MMAW, GMAW, GTAW)
Mandatory- Setting up welding machines (gas, wire and electrodes, voltage and wire speed)
- GMAW (MIG), MMAW (stick) or GTAW (TIG) welding in flat, vertical or overhead positions
- Pre-heating, interpass temperature checks and joint preparation
- Inspecting weld quality and preparing surfaces for finishing
Category C — Workplace safety, quality and measurement
Mandatory- Full protective gear (welding helmet, leather spats, respirator, ear protection)
- Interpreting engineering drawings, weld symbols and bills of materials
- Measuring with verniers, height gauges, squares and angle finders
- Visual weld defect inspection and non-destructive checks
These task counts are our standard preparation guidance. Your assessing RTO may set different requirements — we confirm them before you start collecting.
2. Acceptable vs unacceptable visual evidence
Acceptable evidence (do this)
Unacceptable evidence (avoid this)
3. Supporting documents checklist
- Photo identification (passport or Australian driver licence)
- Résumé setting out every relevant role, with dates and employer details
- Employment references on company letterhead listing the tasks you performed
- Payslips, PAYG summaries or tax records covering the claimed period
- Any overseas qualifications, transcripts or trade certificates, with certified translations
- Copies of job cards, invoices, quotes or work orders with your name on them
- High-risk work licence for welding or other applicable licences, if held
4. How to organise and submit your portfolio
1. Collect over several weeks
Take photos and clips as the jobs come up. Trying to capture everything in one day almost always produces evidence that looks staged.
2. Name every file clearly
Use a pattern like OptionA_Task_Site_01.jpg so the assessor can match each file to a task without guessing.
3. Sort into folders by option
One folder per option, with the photos and videos for that option inside it.
4. Add a one-line description per task
A simple list: task name, site or job, what the requirement was and what you did. This is what turns images into assessable evidence.
5. Attach your documents
Keep identification, references and pay records in a separate folder so nothing gets missed.
6. Submit and stay available
The assessor may call for a competency conversation. Be ready to talk through any task in your portfolio in detail.
5. Why portfolios get sent back
- Tasks from the mandatory option missing — the single most common reason a portfolio is returned
- The candidate is not identifiable in the images
- Evidence shows assisting or labouring rather than performing the trade task
- No supporting employment evidence to confirm the work was paid and supervised
- Videos too short, or with no explanation of what is happening
- Files duplicated across options to make up the numbers
6. Questions we get asked
What if I cannot take photos on site?
Talk to your supervisor about short, compliant records of your own work. Where photography is restricted, employer references, job cards and supervisor statements carry extra weight — but most portfolios still need some visual proof.
Can I use work from a previous employer?
Yes, provided you can evidence it: references on company letterhead, payslips or tax records, and any photos or records from that period.
How much experience do I need?
Most RPL pathways expect several years of relevant, paid work. A free skills audit compares your work history against the qualification units so you know where you stand.
Who makes the final decision?
Skills Connect prepares and reviews your evidence portfolio. Formal assessment and qualification issuance are carried out strictly by an accredited independent RTO.
Not sure your evidence is strong enough?
Take the free skills check, or book a call and we'll review what you already have before you spend weeks collecting the wrong things.
See the full Fabrication Trade (Boilermaker / Welder) pathway page for qualification, licence and visa outcomes.
Skills Connect (EDUTEK PTY LTD) prepares and reviews RPL evidence. Assessment and certification are carried out by an independent registered training organisation or assessing authority.
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