Assessment Policy Purpose The policy sets the standard for assessment under the AQTF guidelines Scope All operational levels of Life Saving Victoria Policy Assessment Model Assessment may be defined as: "The process of collecting evidence and making judgements on the nature and extent of progress towards the performance requirements set out in a standard, or a learning outcome, and at the appropriate point making the judgement as to whether competency has been achieved". Assessment is about collecting evidence, and interpreting that evidence, in order to make a decision about competency. Competency based assessment is: (iii) (iv) (v) a system of collecting evidence about a person s performance to a preset competency standard places the emphasis on what a person can do (outcome), rather than comparing a person s achievement to others. There is no concept of pass or fail, ONLY competent or not yet competent is learner focused and allows for far greater participation of the learner in the assessment process. There are two levels of assessment: Formative assessment is on going during a course. It measures skill formation and learning progress. Formative assessment is informal and normally done by trainer. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 1
Summative assessment occurs at the end of a course. Summative assessments are formal and must be conducted (or validated) by a qualified assessor who was not involved in conducting the course. The results of assessment are recorded as: competent, or not yet competent. Assessment can take place in many different ways: on-the-job, as part of training, (iii) in exercises, (iv) as part of community activities, or (v) as part of recognition of current competency or prior learning. Assessment must be carried out by a qualified assessor who was not involved with the delivery of the training and is preferably from another club. Exceptions to this requirement (which will be unusual) must be authorised by the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment. Coverage of the Policy This assessment policy is designed to cover: (iii) Accredited training provided internally by LSV Members Accredited training provided externally of Life Saving Victoria Recognition of Prior Learning assessments conducted by Life Saving Victoria Relationship to Corporate Plan The assessment policy relates to a key objectives of the corporate plan; to develop, deliver and maintain world s best practice in Water Safety education Key Principles of the Assessment Policy This policy aims to ensure all members and staff have the opportunity to have their competencies assessed in a non-threatening and accessible environment. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 2
The principles underpinning assessment are: Validity assessments will cover the range of skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency assessments are made against performance criteria and/ or learning outcomes Reliability assessors are competent in the national competency standards for assessors assessment practices are consistent Flexibility (iii) assessment should cover both on and off the job competencies assessment procedures should recognise competencies regardless of how or where they have been acquired assessment will meet the needs of members and staff of the organisation Fairness (iii) (iv) assessment practices and methods must be equitable to all members assessment criteria must be clearly understood by all members and published for each course assessment must involve members through a participatory approach pathways must exist for assessments to be appealed and an allowance for reassessments to be made if necessary Objectives of the Assessment Policy Meet the needs of the members and staff of Life Saving Victoria. Provide guidelines for assessors within Life Saving. Meet the LSV s obligations to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), the Australian Recognition Framework (ARF), the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB), the Australian National Training Authority LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 3
(ANTA) and the various Industry Training Accreditation Boards (ITAB) who regulate the organisations training. Meet the Organisations commitment and obligations to Access & Equity and Antidiscrimination policies and legislation in relation to training. Standardise assessment procedures. The Role of the Assessor The primary role of the assessor is to objectively assess and judge a candidate s knowledge and evidence of competence against a set of standards. In essence, an assessor must: Ensure the safety of the personnel involved in the assessment activity is maintained at all times; Interpret and understand the performance criteria and evidence guides; Select appropriate assessment methods; Select and/or develop appropriate assessment materials; Ensure that evidence meets the standards; Ensure that the evidence is valid, authentic, consistent, current and sufficient; Make fair and objective judgements. Assessor Requirements This policy is intended to be a guide to all assessors within Life Saving Victoria. In order to initiate assessment of learning outcomes, occupational competencies and recognition of prior learning, assessors must have: Accredited Workplace Assessor Qualifications Knowledge of the subject under assessment Relevant Life Saving experience Qualified assessors must have demonstrated competency in the following Units from the Training Package for Assessment and Workplace Training (or equivalent): BSZ401A Plan Assessment BSZ412A Conduct Assessment BSZ403A Review Assessment LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 4
Additional qualifications are required to assess particular units as follows: Units to be assessed BSZ404A, Train Small Groups BSZ401-3A, Assessor training Additional assessor requirement IV in Assessment and Workplace Training plus specific endorsement by the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment IV in Assessment and Workplace Training plus specific endorsement from the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment Assessor Award Pre-Requisite Endorsed to Award Assess Assessor (Radio) TOC (Radio) Radio Operator s Radio Controller s Assessor (IRB Drivers) TOC (IRB) IRB Crew IRB Drivers Assessor (RWV) TOC (RWV) Rescue Water Vehicle Operator s Assessor (JRB) TOC (JRB Driver) JRB Driver s JRB Crew Assessor (ORB) ORB Skipper s ORB Crew ORB Specialist Crew ORB Driver s ORB Skipper s Assessor (Defib) Facilitator (Defib) Defibrillation ARC, Snr First Aid LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 5
Assessor Award Pre-Requisite Endorsed to Award Assess Assessor (Bronze) TOC (Bronze) Emergency Care Basic Life Support Basic Resuscitation Resuscitation Lifesaving Star Lifesaving Bronze Gold Medallion Radio Operator s Recording Assessment Outcomes The public Safety industry recognises that all RTO s will have responsibility for recording assessment outcomes and for maintaining and securing assessment records in a permanent and accessible system. The industry endorses the following requirements: Assessment data will be recorded at the competency standards unit level; Records will give equal recognition to assessment data based on either direct assessment of workplace performance or the validation of workplace recording of assessment outcomes; Where RTOs are utilising holistic assessment methods, there is no requirement to record assessment outcomes until the conclusion of the assessment process. Privacy and access to the information kept about LSV members is an important issue. LSV is committed to maintaining member s privacy and restricting access to information (including training information) on a need to know basis. The LSV privacy policy will provide more information on this area. Training information is to be treated as staff-in-confidence and not made generally available. Results of assessments are not public information. Key points to note are: Keep all personal information in a locked room or cabinet. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 6
So not disclose information on files to any unauthorised personnel. Collect only necessary information. Members are guaranteed access to information about them held by State Centre. Assessment Flow Chart INTERNAL TRAINING EXTERNAL RPL OCCUPATIONAL BY LSV OR TRAINING OR OR COMPETENCIES ASSESSMENT MEMBER NOTIFIED OF RESULTS. COMPETENCY ACHIEVED (CA) OR NOT YET COMPETENT (NYC). RPL GRANTED OR NOT ASSESSES RECORDS UPDATED; INFORMATION OR APPEALS PROCESS FILED, OR FURTHER TRAINING ORGANISED INSTIGATED Appeals Process All members who undergo RPL, internal or external training assessments or occupational competency assessments, have the right to appeal an assessment decision. All appeals must be lodged, in writing, within 21 days of the date of the assessment to the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment. The internal appeal mechanisms must be exhausted prior to filing an appeal with the external review body. The following diagram summaries the way in which the appellant proceeds through the appeals process. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 7
The appeal procedure could be viewed in this manner: Assessment conducted, finding of NYC Assessment appealed, alternate assessment panel (including benchmark specialist, if required) appointed and decision reviewed Agreement reached No agreement reached Assessment evidence forwarded to State Agreement reached No agreement reached Assessment evidence forwarded to SLSA Agreement reached No agreement reached Assessment to external body VETAB Determination reached Appeals Process Step by Step For an appeal to be processed the applicant must submit an appeal, in writing, within twenty-one days of the date of the assessment. When the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment receives the appeal letter, the alternative assessor panel (made up of one or more IV in Assessment and Workplace Training assessors who were not involved with the initial assessment) will reexamine the evidence and come to a decision. The alternative assessor panel may request further evidence, contact the appellant for further clarification or seek advice from a benchmark specialist. If necessary, the alternative assessor panel will arrange a second interview with the appellant, within fourteen working days, being sure to inform them a support person may be present. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 8
All the relevant information from the first assessment is to be available at this interview. If the appellant does not accept the decision, the alternative assessor panel will notify the next highest authority who then takes charge of the process. The next highest authority will review the appeal on its merits and consider any further and relevant information that the appellant may have and made a final assessment. Once all internal process have been conducted and the appellant does not accept the assessment decision then they may appeal to VETAB. Access and Equity Guarantees Some assesses may require additional support throughout the assessment process. To ensure access and equity to the assessment process all assesses have the right to an interpreter, the presence of a work colleague, a friend or relative who may help the applicant to identify their skills, work / life experiences and competencies. Assessors and assesses both have the responsibility to ensure that where the need for extra support has been identified the necessary LSV policies are accessed and followed, for example, Limiting and Permanent Disability Policy Special Needs Considerations In the Public Safety Industry there is, due to the nature of the work to be performed, a requirement for the majority of people to be ablebodied. However, to encourage participation in the industry by all members of the community, special needs may be addressed in relation to those units, which can accommodate special needs. For further information refer to the Limiting and Permanent Disability Policy. Recognition of Prior Learning Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) are two common terms used in competency based systems to refer to the recognition of relevant competencies a person has gained outside their normal employment. RPL may refer to formal qualifications or learning in other ways (including life LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 9
experience), while RCC is often used to refer to a person s current competencies, regardless of any training they may have had. Since learning can fade if it is not practiced regularly, RCC is more important that RPL. This is in line with the Public Safety Training Package Assessment Guidelines. For simplicity, the terms RPL and RCC will be combined as recognition. Who can apply for recognition? All members can apply for recognition where they believe they have a relevant qualifications or current competency. If approved, the member will be exempted form formal training in the recognised competency, and will have their skill records appropriately updated. Types of recognition Recognition of current competency can be for: performance criteria within competencies whole competencies, or groups of competencies Each case is handled on its merits. The most common reason for applying for recognition is to avoid having to repeat training that has already been done elsewhere or having to train in something a member can already do. The result of a recognition application will be one of the following: exemption from part or parts of a course (eg: First Aid for a paramedic) exemption from a whole course (eg, Train Small Groups for a IV in A&WPT) In all cases the applicant will receive an acknowledgement from the State stating the outcome of the assessment and providing a copy of the applicants updated competency record (transcript). The database will be updated to reflect the recognition where exemptions are granted for whole courses. LSV statements or certificates will not be issued unless the applicant completes the entire LSV assessment process. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 10
Recognition applications will be assessed by the State Committee of Lifesaving Training and Assessment or their nominee. All applications for recognition must be assessed by, at least two IV in Assessment and Workplace Training qualification holders. International Recognition Members who hold an international lifesaving qualification will need to undertake recognition prior to being granted the Australian equivalent. A register will be kept at SLSA of qualifications that have been mapped to SLSA qualifications. Assessors Code of Conduct Assessment specialists have developed an international code of ethics and practice (The National Council for Measurement in Education (NCME)). The Code of Practice below is based on the international standards. The differing needs and requirements of the person(s) being assessed, the local enterprise(s) and/or industry are identified and handled with sensitivity. Potential forms of conflict of interest in the assessment process and/or outcomes are identified and appropriate referrals are made, if necessary. All forms of harassment are avoided throughout the planning, conduct, reviewing and reporting of the assessment outcomes. The rights of the candidate(s) are protected during and after the assessment. Personal or interpersonal factors that are not relevant to the assessment of competency must not influence the assessment outcomes. The candidate(s) is made aware of rights and processes of appeal. Evidence that is gathered during the assessment is verified for validity, reliability, authenticity sufficiency and currency. Assessment decisions are based on available evidence that can be produced and verified by another assessor. Assessments are conducted within the boundaries of the assessment system policies and procedures. Formal agreement is obtained from both the candidate(s) and the assessor that the assessment was carried out in accordance with agreed procedures. Assessment tools, systems, and procedures are consistent with equal opportunity legislation. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 11
The candidate(s) is informed of all assessment reporting processes prior to the assessment. The candidate(s) is informed of all known potential consequences of decisions arising from an assessment, prior to the assessment. Confidentiality is maintained regarding assessment results. Results are only released with the written permission of the candidate(s). The assessment results are used consistently with the purpose explained to the candidate. Self assessments are periodically conducted to ensure current competencies against the Assessment and Workplace Training Competency Standards. Professional development opportunities are identified and sought. Opportunities for networking amongst assessors are created and maintained. LSV POL 1.9 Assessment Policy Page 12