If you're a WA contractor chasing work with a mine site, a utility, a local government or a Tier 1 builder, you'll eventually hit the same wall: "Please complete prequalification before we can engage you." Usually that means registering on Cm3 or Avetta, or filling in the principal contractor's own prequalification questionnaire.

We've spent 50+ years combined working with contractors on exactly this. This guide explains what each scheme typically asks for, which documents you need ready, and where contractors most often get stuck. One thing up front: SHEQ Management and SHEQDocX are independent. We're not affiliated with Cm3, Avetta or any principal contractor, and only the scheme and your client decide whether you prequalify. What we can do is help you get your documents and evidence in good shape before you submit.

Why prequalification matters for WA contractors

Under WA's Work Health and Safety Act 2020, principal contractors and clients have duties to manage risks SFAIRP (so far as is reasonably practicable), including risks created by the contractors they engage. Prequalification is one of the main ways they check that a contractor can manage the risks of the work before anyone sets foot on site.

For you, that means prequalification isn't just paperwork. It's often the gate between quoting and getting the work. A rejected or stalled submission can mean missing a tender window entirely.

What Cm3 typically asks for

Cm3 is an Australian contractor prequalification and compliance platform. Based on Cm3's own public pages, here's how it generally works:

  • Business Risk Profile (BRP): When you register, you build a profile of the types of work you do. Your BRP, together with your client's requirements, determines which "Risk Reviews" you need to complete.
  • Insurances: Typically a public liability Certificate of Currency, and professional indemnity if you provide advice or design work. Cm3 says it checks policy name, type and sum insured against your clients' minimums.
  • Licences and qualifications relevant to your work.
  • General Risk Review: Cm3 lists items such as risk assessments for work on site, a WHS policy or WHS procedures, business induction records and content, WHS communication with employees, employee WHS monitoring, first aid kit inspections and an electrical test and tag register.
  • Activity-specific Risk Reviews: for example work at height, confined spaces, electrical work, powered mobile plant, hazardous chemicals, excavation, mining, silica and more, depending on your BRP.

The key point Cm3 makes publicly is that it looks for evidence that your safety processes are implemented, not empty templates or self-declarations. In practice, that means completed SWMS, signed induction records, inspection records and toolbox talk records, not just a blank form. Cm3 also notes that annual renewals need fresh evidence of things like worker communication, training and plant inspections.

What Avetta typically asks for

Avetta is a global supply chain risk management platform used by a number of Australian organisations, including some operating in WA. Requirements vary by client, but client help pages published on Avetta's site commonly describe:

  • Prequalification Forms (PQFs) and client-specific questionnaires covering health, safety, environment and quality.
  • Insurances: typically workers' compensation, public and product liability, and depending on the work, professional indemnity, motor vehicle and plant and equipment cover.
  • Company and trade licences, and an ABN that matches your registered company name.
  • Manual audit / safety management system review (if required): depending on the risk of your work, Avetta may complete a desktop review of documents such as your WHS policy, safety management system, SWMS / JSAs / safe work procedures, risk register, training matrix or training needs analysis, emergency management, fitness for work, and incident management processes.
  • Corrective actions: if the auditor finds gaps, you'll be asked to fix them before you're shown as compliant for that client.
  • Worker registration: some clients also require individual workers' IDs, inductions, high risk licences and qualifications.

As Avetta's own client pages note, prequalification isn't a promise of work. It simply makes you eligible to be considered.

What Tier 1 contractors and principal contractors typically ask for

Many Tier 1 builders, miners and major contractors run their own prequalification process, either alongside Cm3 / Avetta or instead of them. Each one is different, but in our experience the questionnaires usually cover:

  • A signed, current WHS policy (and often environmental and quality policies)
  • A documented WHS management system or manual, and how it's kept up to date
  • Hazard identification and risk management processes, plus a risk register
  • SWMS for high risk construction work, and safe work procedures
  • Contractor and subcontractor management (how you check your subcontractors)
  • Training, competency and licence records, often as a training matrix
  • Induction, consultation and toolbox talk records
  • Incident reporting and investigation processes, and sometimes lagging and leading safety statistics
  • Emergency preparedness and response
  • Insurances, licences and, for some projects, a project-specific WHS management plan
  • For some clients, evidence of third-party certified management systems (e.g. ISO 45001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001). Where it's required, we help you work towards certification; it's not something you can simply download.

The core document set most contractors need

Across all three, the same core documents keep coming up. If you're building from scratch, start here:

  1. WHS policy, signed and dated by the business owner or director
  2. WHS management system / manual describing how you manage safety
  3. Risk management procedure and risk register
  4. SWMS and safe work procedures for your actual high risk tasks
  5. Contractor and procurement management procedure and an approved contractor register
  6. Training and competency procedure and a training matrix
  7. Induction, consultation and toolbox talk records
  8. Incident reporting and investigation procedure
  9. Emergency management plan
  10. Insurances and licences, current and in the correct entity name and ABN

Then, the part most contractors underestimate: evidence of use. Completed forms, signed records, inspection checklists and meeting minutes from your real jobs.

Common reasons submissions get knocked back

From what we see working with WA contractors:

  • Generic templates that don't match the work. A SWMS that doesn't describe your actual task, site or controls.
  • No evidence of implementation. Policies and procedures, but no completed records.
  • Out-of-date documents. Unsigned policies, expired insurances, references to repealed legislation.
  • Entity mismatches. Insurance or licences in a different name or ABN from the registration.
  • Not answering the question asked. Uploading a whole manual when the assessor wanted one specific record.
  • Leaving it until the tender closes. Assessments and corrective actions take time.

Option 1: Do it yourself with SHEQDocX

If you have someone in the business who can tailor documents and keep records going, SHEQDocX gives you editable, Australian-written templates to build your document set.

  • Industry Core Bundle – a suite of essential SHEQ documentation for small businesses and operators. Now $699 (was $999).
  • Trades Core Bundle – resources to plan, record, review, communicate and manage safe work across general workplace activities.
  • Emergency Preparedness Bundle – emergency management documentation. Now $299 (was $399).

Individual templates that map to common prequalification questions:

Until 31 October 2026, use code SAFEWORK20 for 20% off at sheqdocx.com.au.

Templates are a starting point. You'll still need to tailor them to your business and keep the records that show they're in use.

Browse the SHEQDocX bundles and start building your prequalification document set today.

Option 2: Get help from SHEQ Management

If you're short on time, facing a tight tender deadline, or you've already had a submission knocked back, our Perth-based consultants can help. We can review your existing documents against what the scheme or client is asking for, fill the gaps, help you collect the right evidence, and help you respond to assessor feedback or corrective actions. See our pre-qualification support and tender assistance services.

Book your free SHEQ strategy call, or call us on (08) 9419 2005. We're at U4/16 Hammond Road, Cockburn Central WA 6164.

Quick checklist before you submit

  • Insurances current, in the right entity name and ABN, and meeting the client's minimums
  • Licences and high risk work licences current
  • WHS policy signed and dated within the last 12 months
  • SWMS written for your real tasks, signed by workers
  • At least a few months of completed records (inductions, toolbox talks, inspections)
  • Training matrix up to date
  • Subcontractor checks documented
  • Every answer points to a specific document or record

This guide is general information only, based on publicly available information at the time of writing. Cm3 and Avetta requirements are set by those platforms and your client, and can change; always check the requirements in your own portal. SHEQ Management and SHEQDocX are not affiliated with Cm3, Avetta or any principal contractor.