News - Rail Industry Worker

In October the RIW System will release over 90 system improvements. We have worked with industry and listened to your feedback, delivering new features or fixes to ensure the RIW System continues to provide a system fit for industry. Some of the new features include:

Enhanced RIW System user interface controls including improvements to navigation, buttons, data grids and additional personalised in-app help.
Additional system notifications via SMS and email to keep companies and cardholders up to date.
A map view of active workers swiped into site.
Better overall visitor management with the ability to define site hosts.
Updates to myRIW allowing cardholders to end their employment relationships and to access and view their competency evidence.
Improved security with multi-factor authentication for all logins.
Scheduling function for existing reports for on-time reporting.
Advanced options for recording additional medical information and drug and alcohol tests.
Multiple upgrades to kiosk functionality.

We will keep you informed about the changes and system downtime as we get closer to our release date. You can always keep up to date with what is changing in the RIW System by visiting our System Updates page.

New direct RIW card application service available to potential rail industry workers

On 1 June 2022 we launched the new Rail Industry Worker Card Application Service Request, as well as updating the RIW Knowledge Centre article on How do I get a Rail Industry Worker card? Cardholders now have two options for getting an RIW card:

You can access the link to the service request by clicking on the middle tile on the RIW website.

Benefits of direct application:

New workers to rail can get “job ready” by:
- Providing their RIW details to Registered Training Organisations so that competencies can be directly uploaded to their RIW profile.
- Providing their RIW details to an Authorised Health Professional, who can also directly upload a rail health assessment outcome to their RIW profile.
- Applying for jobs that require an RIW card.
- Meeting the minimum requirements for using an RIW card by adding an employer to manage their RIW profile at a later date. This must be done within 14 days of card issue.
Reducing the cost and administrative burden to employers; cardholders pay for their first-year subscription while MTA relieves the administrative burden of the new cardholder workflow including employment requests, ID check management and card issuance etc.

Card applications are processed on business days only and take approximately 2 days to complete. You can direct new workers to rail to apply for an RIW card here.

Power BI reporting now available

Microsoft Power BI connects to the RIW System, allowing modelling and visualisation of important RIW cardholder data. You can use Power BI to create dynamic reports that allow you to analyse, share and promote insights across your company while maintaining data accuracy, consistency and security.

If you are interested in Power BI integration, you must have your own Microsoft Power BI license and complete the E-Learning course for $25+GST. Once complete, RIW System Microsoft Power BI integration will be granted.

Find out more by visiting our instructional article on Power BI integration.

System feature: marking a cardholder as new to industry

The RIW System enables companies to mark a cardholder as new to industry. This notification/flag appears on the cardholder’s profile when swiping on to a site, which informs the Access Controller or Spot Checker that the cardholder may be new to site, inexperienced and require additional supervision.

To find out more about this feature and how to enable it, visit our article How can a company mark a cardholder as new to industry?

Revised charters for the NRIW governance structure

The National Rail Industry Worker Governance Committee (NRIWGC) was previously established to develop and manage the ongoing operations of the RIW Program. Made up of representatives from accredited rail transport operators, infrastructure organisations and principal contractor organisations, the NRIWGC has now been divided into three functioning committees with a different purpose for each:

National Rail Industry Worker Operations Committee (NRIWOC)
National Rail Industry Worker Matrices Committee (NRIWMC)
National Rail Industry Worker Advisory Committee (NRIWAC)

NRIWOC

Responsible for overseeing the performance and operations of the program in line with the RIW Services Agreement.

NRIWMC

Responsible for developing and delivering standardised national job matrices, simplifying competency requirements, and providing consistency and transportability across participating rail operators.