ASSESSMENT
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
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| Benchmarks for Assessment |
Assessment within the Australian Quality Training Framework
is the process of collecting evidence and making judgements
about whether competency has been achieved. As such the purpose
of assessment is to confirm that an individual can perform to
the standards expected in the workplace, as expressed in the
competency standards contained in this training package.
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When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they
are familiar with the full text of the unit(s) of competency
being assessed. In particular assessors must ensure that the
assessment arrangements:
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- cover all elements of the unit of competency being assessed
- address the four dimensions of competency, namely: task
skills, task management skills, contingency management skills
and job/role environment skills
- are consistent with the Evidence Guide for the relevant
unit of competency as this specifies the context of assessment,
the critical aspects of competency, the required underpinning
knowledge and skills and the identification of Key Competencies
and their performance level. In some cases there may be
a reference to having access to real workplace conditions
and infrastructure.
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| Role of Registered Training Organisations
(RTOs) |
Assessment for national recognition purposes under this training
package must be conducted or auspiced by a Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) acting in accordance with the Australian
Quality Training Framework and the quality assurance arrangements
approved by the State or Territory Recognition Authority under
which the RTO is registered.
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RTOs must ensure that the units of competency or qualifications
identified in this training package are included in their scope
of registration in order to issue nationally recognised qualifications
under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Where RTOs do
not deliver a complete qualification, the scope of registration
is to reflect this, and only the units of competency for which
they are registered are to appear in their scope. In that situation
RTOs would issue a Statement of Attainment to candidates indicating
those units for which the RTO is registered and which have been
successfully completed and assessed. Organisations are registered
on the basis that they can demonstrate the capacity to meet
the requirements of registration for the scope they are seeking,
as defined by the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)
standards for RTOs. Continuing registration is based on demonstration
of compliance with these standards.
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RTOs may be public or private organisations and may provide
both on and off the job training and/or assessment for the industry.
The role of the RTO is to:
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- conduct assessment against the performance criteria, range
of variables and evidence guides within the units of competency
in the training package. This includes provision for recognition
of prior learning or current competencies
- involve assessors in the assessment process which meet
the minimum qualification requirements detailed in Section
Two of this document
- ensure these Assessment Guidelines are adhered to with
criteria described in the units of competency being used
as the basis for assessment and qualifications in this training
package
- develop and maintain quality assurance mechanisms, including
assessment validation processes, to ensure assessment is
valid, reliable, fair and flexible.
- ensure that assessment policies and procedures include
provision for reasonable adjustments to be made to meet
special needs of individual candidates i.e., physical disability,
intellectual disability, etc.
- ensure that assessment policies and procedures are applied
in a non discriminatory manner accounting for cultural and
gender differences
- provide an appeals and re-assessments process consistent
with the AQTF and State/Territory Recognition Authorities’
requirements
- maintain secure records of assessment outcomes or arrange
a reliable outsourced record keeping process. Records to
be maintained as stipulated in the Australian Quality Training
Framework standards for Registered Training Organisations
- provide for access by the State Training Authority to
the recording system for reporting and certification of
personal records of assessment on an ongoing basis
- issue the relevant Statement of Attainment or qualifications
identified in this training package in line with the current
Australian Qualifications Framework Implementation Handbook
- participate in audit arrangements conducted by the relevant
State/Territory Training Authority and strategic evaluations
initiated by the National Training Quality Council.
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| Mutual recognition |
The outcomes of assessments conducted for national recognition
purposes against the units of competency and qualifications
in this Training Package are subject to the mutual recognition
provisions of the Australian Quality Training Framework. As
such, all Registered Training Organisations throughout Australia
must ensure that they recognise and offer credit for the assessment
outcomes of all other Registered Training Organisations. This
is regardless of whether assessment was conducted through a
training and assessment pathway or an assessment only pathway.
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| Partnership Arrangements |
Under the Australian Quality Training Framework, Registered
Training Organisations may enter into arrangements with non-registered
organisations, such as schools, industry organisations and enterprises,
for the purpose of conducting assessments against qualifications
within the RTOs scope of registration. There are two broad types
of arrangements that may be established. These are where:
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- assessment is managed and conducted by the RTO on behalf
of the non registered organisation, such as an enterprise,
school or industry organisation
- assessment is managed by the RTO and may be conducted
by competent and appropriately qualified staff from the
non registered organisation, such as an enterprise, school
or industry organisation, under quality assurance arrangements
established by the RTO. It should be noted that staff from
a non registered organisation who are involved in conducting
assessments under auspiced or partnership arrangements must
comply with the AQTF and assessor requirements detailed
in Section Two of these Assessment Guidelines.
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Organisations registered for skill recognition [assessment
only] services, may establish partnership arrangements with
non registered organisations for the purposes of conducting
assessments however such arrangements do not extend to the provision
of training.
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| Recording Assessment Outcomes |
The RTO that issues the Qualification or Statement of Attainment
is responsible for the recording, storing, retrieval and accessibility
of the assessment outcomes for the duration specified by the
AQTF standards for RTOs. This responsibility applies to all
assessments undertaken for national recognition purposes.
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Where the RTO has a formal agreement with another organisation
to provide training and/or assessment under the name of the
RTO, that agreement will specify how the RTO will discharge
its responsibility for ensuring the quality of the training
and/or assessment conducted on its behalf. The RTO maintains
a register of all such agreements.
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| Reporting Assessment Outcomes |
Statements of Attainment and Qualifications issued under the
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) must comply with the
relevant provisions in the current Australian Qualifications
Framework Implementation Handbook.
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The RTO will issue an AQF qualification once the full package
of competencies specified for the relevant AQF qualification
has been achieved. If the individual leaves the training or
skills recognition process before completing the full complement
of competencies required to attain the qualification, he/she
will receive a Statement of Attainment for work completed and
assessed to date.
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| Quality Assurance Mechanisms |
Registered Training Organisations involved in the assessment
of the Units of Competency and Qualifications within this training
package are required to develop and maintain a quality assurance
framework for assessment. All quality assurance mechanisms should
be in line with the requirements for the registration of RTOs
and other relevant arrangements approved by the State/Territory
Recognition Authority under which the RTO is registered. However
it is recommended that RTOs include the following procedures
within a quality assurance framework:
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- establishment of a standard procedure for the selection
of assessors
- conduct of regular professional development for assessors
- ongoing recording, monitoring and review of the assessment
process including the assessment plan, assessment outcomes
and participant feedback
- development of a comprehensive bank of resources for participants
and assessors including:
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- information about the assessment process
- assessment instruments where appropriate
- standardised reporting and recording forms for participants,
assessors, trainers and employers
- guidelines for assessors on the preparation of the
assessment plan, conduct of the assessment process and
review of the assessment process.
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| Assessment Pathways |
Assessment of an individual’s competence against this
training package leads to the issuance of a nationally recognised
Qualification or a Statement of Attainment under the Australian
Qualifications Framework (AQF). The training package incorporates
a number of assessment pathways that lead to the recognition
of competencies and the issuing of a Qualification or Statement
of Attainment. These pathways are illustrated in the diagram
below:
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As indicated above the training package incorporates three
broad pathways to nationally recognised Qualifications
and Statements of Attainment. These are:
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Training and Assessment Pathways
– these are situations in which the candidate undertakes
a structured program of training and assessment in an on the
job environment, an off the job environment or in a combination
of on and off the job environments. These pathways are particularly
suited to new workers in an industry, as trainees may be provided
with an appropriate mix of formal training and structured workplace
experience. It should be noted that this type of pathway is
most suited when formative (ongoing) approaches to assessment
are to be used. In this situation training and assessment are
integrated and assessment evidence is collected and feedback
is provided to the candidate on an ongoing basis. It is through
this combination of training and assessment that the candidate
acquires and demonstrates in practise the skills and knowledge
identified in the relevant competency standards.
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Assessment Only Pathways –
these are situations in which there is no structured training
and the candidate is required to provide current, quality evidence
of their attainment in the relevant Units of Competency. This
type of pathway may operate in both on and off the job environments.
This pathway is likely to be most appropriate for groups such
as: existing workers with relevant qualifications and those
without formal qualifications wanting recognition for prior
learning or current competencies. In such cases it may be appropriate
for assessors to use summative approaches to assessment. In
this situation, the candidate presents evidence that he or she
possesses the required skills and the assessor makes a judgement
on whether the candidate is competent. Summative approaches
to assessment may be directed by the candidate such as in the
compilation of portfolios or by the assessor such as observation
of workplace performance, demonstrations of skills and oral
and written testing.
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Combination of “Training and
Assessment” and “Assessment Only” Pathways
– In these situations a combination of pathways
is used. Such arrangements are particularly useful when candidates
have already gained competencies through work and life experience
but also require access to training in new areas of competence.
In such situations, the candidate may undertake an initial assessment
to determine their current competence using an “assessment
only pathway”. Having identified the candidate’s
current competence, a structured training and assessment program
may then be established to ensure that the candidate acquires
the required additional competencies – this would be achieved
through a “training and assessment pathway”.
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It is important to note that each of these assessment pathways
lead to full recognition under the Australian Qualifications
Framework. An individual’s access to the assessment process
should not be adversely affected by placing restrictions on
the location or context of assessment which go beyond the requirements
specified specified in this Training Package.
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| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Recognition
of Current Competency (RCC) |
| Under this training package, competencies may be attained
in a number of ways, including: |
- formal or informal training and education
- work experience
- general life experience
- any combination of the above
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All assessment pathways must provide for the recognition of
competencies previously attained. This means that competencies
achieved and currently held by individuals can be formally assessed
against the Units of Competency and Qualifications in this training
package. In this process, the assessment of current competencies
of individuals should be recognised regardless of how, when
or where they were achieved.
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In assessing the competency of individual candidates, assessors
must ensure that assessment processes takes into account the
skills and knowledge that candidates already possess. This may
be achieved through conducting a pre-assessment in which the
candidate is able to provide evidence of prior learning. In
order to gain recognition for prior learning, the assessor must
be confident that the candidate can present evidence that he
or she is currently competent against the endorsed industry
or enterprise competency standards. Such evidence may take a
variety of forms and could include certification, references
from past employers, testimonials from clients and work samples.
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| Whilst the evidence may take a variety of forms, the onus
is on the candidate to provide sufficient evidence that they
currently hold the relevant competencies. In determining whether
a candidate has presented sufficient evidence, the assessor
must ensure that the evidence is: |
- authentic – this means that evidence of prior learning
presented by the candidate is his or her own work
- valid – this means that the evidence of prior learning
is directly related to the current version of the relevant
endorsed competency standards
- reliable – this means that the evidence of prior
learning shows that the candidate consistently meets the
standards
- current – this means that the evidence of prior
learning reflects the candidate’s current capacity
to perform the aspect of the work covered by the standards
- sufficient – this means that the evidence of prior
learning covers the full range of elements in the relevant
unit of competency and addresses the four dimensions of
competency, namely:
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- task skills
- task management skills
- contingency management skills
- job/role environment skills
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Under this training package, candidates who are able to present
sufficient evidence of prior learning must be given recognition
for the relevant units of competency by the RTO.
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| Review and Maintenance of the Assessment
System |
The proponent of this training package (World Vision International)
is responsible for the ongoing monitoring and review of the
Assessment Guidelines detailed in this document. This process
will be incorporated in the general review and maintenance of
this training package.
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| Any review will ensure that these Assessment Guidelines: |
- continue to meet the requirements of the industry
- are consistent with the AQTF standards for RTOs and relevant
policy and procedures of appropriate State and Territory
Training/Recognition Authorities
- promote confidence in the system and the assessment outcomes
on the part of industry, employers, enterprises, unions,
employees, trainees, assessors and trainers
- ensure assessment processes and outcomes are valid, reliable,
fair and flexible
- support RTOs to effectively carry out their responsibilities
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