Assessment Governance

Assessors

Each of the consortium members has appointed an institutional lead, lead assessors, and assessors.

Institutional Lead

The institutional lead is responsible to the Paramedicine Board for the overall competency assessment process as well as the quality of assessments at their institution.

The institutional lead is responsible for lead assessors and assessors at their institution, and ensuring that all required reports are completed for the Board in line with this proposal response.  Institutional leads will ensure their institution engages with the consortium and contributes in a positive manner to continuous improvement in the competency assessment process.

 Lead Assessor

The role of the lead assessor is to oversee individual assessment set-up, ensure quality and be available to answer candidate queries or concerns. The lead assessor may not be physically present for all assessments but be available ‘on site’. The lead assessor will, if required, be the arbiter should an assessor require discussion on a candidates level of competence as part of their OSCE or scenarios.

 Assessor(s)

The role of the assessor is to facilitate candidates and assess them against the documented assessment rubrics. Assessors are appointed in line with the agreed qualifications and experience approved by the Board.

Fees and Refunds

Assessment Fee

Assessment fees are $2,000 + GST. Payments are processed by each consortium member from the link provided on the booking page.

Note that the candidate must bear all travel and incidental costs to attend their chosen examination centre. All equipment for the assessment is provided.

Candidates who sit one assessment at one provider, then choose to sit a subsequent assessment at another provider must pay the full fee.

 Refunds

Refunds are available to candidates who cancel at least 30 days prior to their assessment. Within 30-days no refunds will be available (except on the basis of medical condition supported by a medical practitioners medical certificate (pharmacy certificates are not acceptable)).

The fee payable for assessments or resits is non-refundable should a candidate fail an assessment.

Quality Improvement

At the end of the assessment day, each candidate will be invited to complete a feedback ‘survey’. Completed online, each consortium member will have access to the results and will be able to compare feedback from candidates across all consortium members.

Further Attempts (Second and Subsequent Attempts)

The Assessment Centre and its assessors does not determine, or make a recommendation on, candidate registration. Registration takes into account a number of factors, only one of which may be the competency assessment.

Should a candidate fail one or two of the assessments (as advised by AHPRA to the candidate subsequent to the assessment day), they will be entitled to undertake further attempts at that particular assessment centre within 3-months for a reduced price (subject to availability). Should the candidate fail all three assessments they will be required to pay the full-price.

A candidate undertaking a second (or subsequent) attempt at one or more assessments is required to undertake all components of that assessment again. ie. If the candidate passed 2 out of 5 OSCEs they are required to complete all the OSCEs again, not just the 3 there were deemed not competent in. If the candidate fails 1 scenario but passes the other, they are required to undertake both scenarios again. If they failed only 1 section of the written examination, they are required to undertake the entire written examination again.

Should a candidate receive a ‘not competent’ in a further attempt, they would be required to undergo the full assessment at the full price should they wish to attempt a third time or subsequent.

Appeals

Any candidate who, once notified of their results, wishes to lodge an appeal they will be required to notify AHPRA. If AHPRA accepts the appeal then the candidate will complete an appeals form, and email the Institutional Lead, having paid the required fee for an alternate assessor to review their assessment.

Candidates should note that OSCEs and scenarios may be video-taped. If a candidate is deemed not competent this is confirmed by a second assessor prior to notification to AHPRA.

There are limited reasons for appeal. These are:

  • Faulty equipment which is not corrected during the assessment or which materially affected the result (and which was not taken into consideration by the assessor)

  • Material unfamiliarity with equipment which impacted the candidates ability to perform in the scenario/OSCE (material unfamiliarity is equipment which is very new or experimental; or that which a paramedic could not reasonably be expected to be familiar)

  • Incorrect advice from the assessor in relation to the assessment which affected the outcome / result

Grounds which are not accepted for appeal include (but are not necessarily limited to):

  • The standard of competence as evaluated by assessors (ie. Assessor judgement)

  • Marking rubric disagreement

  • Perceived level of experience of the assessor

  • Insufficient equipment familiarisation time

  • Assessment centre location or rooms used for assessment

  • Illness on the day of assessment

Once the appeal form is received, and the fee paid, an alternate assessor will review the candidate’s written examination, or OSCE/scenario results and make a determination. The outcome of the appeal will be either that the appeal is upheld, or the appeal is rejected. In an extreme circumstance, such as no notes being available, a candidate may be recommended for reassessment (resit) at no cost to them. The consortium will not be liable for any personal costs (such as travel/accommodation) incurred by the candidate in that instance.

Appeals must be lodged within 7-days of AHPRA notifying the Instututional Lead that a candidate wishes to appeal, and the fee for review applies per assessment section. ie. If a candidate failed two out of five OSCEs, the fee applies to have all OSCEs reviewed. If they failed OSCEs and Scenarios then the higher fee would have to be paid to review both. Fees are outlined on the Consortium’s website.

Should a candidate wish to appeal, all sections of the assessment in question will be reviewed and all may be subject to amendment upon such review.

Complaints

In the first instance complaints should be brought to the attention of an assessor or the lead assessor. If the complaint remains unresolved then the candidate may lodge a complaint with AHPRA. If a candidate wishes they have the right to put in a formal complaint to AHPRA as per the requirements for any healthcare professional.

Record Keeping

Records of individual assessments will be kept by each consortium member for 12-months post assessment day. This timing is in line with the standard University process for assessment record keeping. Security of assessment material, and individual candidate information will be secured in line with relavent Privacy Legislation.

Illness or Injury

Should a candidate become ill or be injured during their assessment, their assessment will cease in order for them to seek medical attention. Each Consortium member has clear internal procedures for such circumstances. Pathways for candidate illness may include referral to an on-site medical practitioner, or in severe circumstances the attendance of emergency services.

Should the candidate fall ill during an examination (and be supported later by a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner) they will be invited to attend the entire assessment at a later date, but no more than 12-weeks after their initial selected date of assessment. They will be required to complete those elements of the assessment not already completed.

As part of the booking process, you confirm that you are fit enough to participate fully in the assessment, including lifting and moving, working at ground level and performing commonly accepted paramedic procedures.

Should a candidate have specific needs (for example large print) you should identify this at the booking stage with medical evidence of the need. Should a candidate identify physical injury or limitations at booking, they will be required to provide medical evidence of their fitness to undertake the assessment. This will minimise the risk of injury to the candidate and ensure that there is documented evidence of their fitness to practice.

Relationship to the Paramedicine Board

It is important to note that the Consortium members are reporting to the Board on an individual’s level of competency for each of the areas assessed. Candidates will not be informed of their assessed level of competency on the day of assessment, and the level of competency is reported directly to the Board. Undertaking a competency assessment is not a guarantee of registration.

Conflict of Interest

Should a candidate know or believe they have a conflict of interest with one of the assessors on the day they must bring this to the attention of the lead assessor in a timely manner. Any conflicts identified and managed on an assessment day will be reported to the Board.

Health and Safety

All consortium members have comprehensive health and safety plans, approved by their institutions. Candidates must abide by all reasonable requests of the assessment centre and assessors in order to minimise risk. All consortium members hold comprehensive insurance.

Clothing and Footwear

Candidates should dress with long trousers and enclosed boots/shoes. Steel capped boots are not required. Uniform (if used by the candidate) should not be worn. Ideally, clothing should not be branded with the candidates employer. No offensive slogans or graphics should be worn.

Fitness to Practice

Candidates confirm, by attending the assessment, that they are fit to undertake the competency assesment. These standards include, but are not limted to:

·         Knowledge of, and enaging in ethical behaviour in practice.

·         Emotional maturity and behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and uncontrolled, stressful, multi-professional clinical environment.

·         Knowledge of and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.

·         Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English.

·         Effective non-verbal communication needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental.

·         Effective written communication.

·         Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills.

·         Competent literacy skills.

·         Competent and accurate numeracy skills.

·         Adequate visual acuity.

·         Adequate auditory ability.

·         Sufficient tactile ability.

·         Physical demands and requirement for fine and gross motor function and strength.

·         Manual dexterity

·         Physical, mental and emotional performance at a consistent and sustained level over time.

Disclosure of Information

By participating in a competency assessment candidatres authorise the administering University to disclose information contained in assessment reports to regulatory authorities. Candidates acknowledge:

“I understand that my personal information will be collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the Contract with AHPRA. My personal information may during the course of my competency assessment and subsequently:

-          be provided to the Commonwealth as required under Commonwealth funding agreements and that Commonwealth officers may disclose this information to other agencies, organisations, bodies or associations for the purposes of improving the provision of higher education or VET and research relating to the provision of higher education or VET, including through surveys;

-          be disclosed to regulatory authorities, registration boards, or similar third parties, where this is necessary to facilitate competency assessment or other related activities; and

-          be disclosed to third parties, including third parties overseas, where this is necessary for the provision of information technology services to me.”

In acknowledging the requirements to disclose information, candidates also acknowledge that they have read the Fitness to Practice requirements as outlined above.

The competency assessment process may include elements which may not be readily achievable or appropriate for persons with certain disabilities or medical conditions. Whilst the assessment centre will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments, all candidates must be able to meet the fitness to practice requirements as outlined in this document.

Candidates are encouraged to discuss any concerns these matters may create with the relevant assessment centre prior to booking.