Login to Moodle

Assessment Policy

Conduct of Assessment

Assessment is conducted in accordance with the Health industry Training Package HLT and meets the requirements of the 2015 Standards for Training Packages and the Pathology Specimen Collection Assessment Guidelines and Standard 1.

Assessment is competency based against the standards outlined in the units of competency in HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection and standalone/individual units. It includes:

  • online assessment Multiple choice questions
  • assessment during the training to judge how you are progressing
  • assessment of performance which is recorded in the practical skills booklet
  • A record of your skills development recorded in the Skills Journal
  • recognition of prior learning or recognition of current competency.

Assessment is conducted in a simulated workplace and involves the collection of sufficient evidence to demonstrate you are competent. This may include:

  • Measurement of services you deliver
  • Observation of processes / procedures you carry out
  • Measurement of your knowledge and understanding
  • Observation of the attitudes you demonstrate.

Assessment methods may involve you in:

  • Demonstrating your skills
  • Providing a service
  • Answering written and/or oral questions
  • Participating in group discussion or problem solving
  • Making oral presentations to the group
  • Role play activities.

Your Student Practical skills Booklet provides self-assessment checklists and records of competence for each unit of competency. We encourage you to check the development of your skills and knowledge and indicate to your trainer when you are ready for assessment.

The outcomes of assessment are Competent or Not Yet Competent. If you are assessed as Not Yet Competent you will be given the opportunity to have further coaching by a trainer and practice time. Once you are confident that you are ready for a practical assessment you may be reassessed.

During the course your individual assessment records are held by your trainer, but are available for your access and review during training sessions. This will provide you with the outcomes of the assessment and guidance on future options.

If a student has a “not yet competent” on assessment the student can request that the reassessment is performed by another assessor after the student has been given the option of additional study, coaching and practice. The re-assessment will be held at a time agreeable by both the student and the assessor.

Assessment Policy

Southern.IML Pathology is committed to an assessment system that ensures that assessment both complies with the assessment requirements of the training package; and is conducted in accordance with the Principles of Assessment – Fairness, Flexibility, Validity and Reliability, and the Rules of Evidence –Validity, Sufficiency, Authenticity and Currency. These are fully explained in Training and Assessment Strategies.

To achieve these principles, Southern.IML Pathology’s assessment system aims to demonstrate:
– The standards, assessment processes and all associated information are straight forward and understandable
– The characteristics of potential candidates are identified, to enable all potential assessment issues to be identified and catered for
– The chosen processes and materials within the system of assessment do not disadvantage candidates
– An appropriate and effective review and dispute resolution mechanism is in place to investigate, examine and redress any issue of unfairness or disadvantage identified, involving access, assessment, certification or any other related issue; and Where potential disadvantages are identified, the system is amended to avoid or counter them, or appropriate steps taken to overcome them including reassessment if required.

A variety of evidence gathering techniques are used to assess each unit of competency. Each Training and Assessment Strategy details which techniques or tools assessors will use to gather sufficient evidence, in a range of contexts, to meet the requirements of the training package and make a decision regarding competence.

Where evidence is gathered over a number of assessments, successful completion of the unit of competency will only be judged after successfully completing each individual assessment.

Assessment in most courses will be on satisfactory completion. Assessment may include written, verbal, class presentation, demonstration of practical skills, tests or other methods as indicated in Training and Assessment Strategies.

Students will only gain a competency in any given unit upon obtaining a competent result for all assessments associated with that unit.

The following grading categories used for assessments are: S –Satisfactory -For students who have achieved a satisfactory result in assessment; or NYS -Not Yet Satisfactory -For students who have achieved a non-satisfactory result in assessment.

The grading categories will be used in units: C -Competency Achieved -For students who have achieved all of the learning outcomes specified for that unit; NYC -Not Yet Competent -For students who have not achieved all of the learning outcomes specified for that unit; or W –Withdrawn –For students who have officially withdrawn and lodged a completed withdrawal form.

Online assessment tasks are graded automatically by the computer. All subjects have a pass mark of 80%. Because of its high risk rating HLTAID011 Provide First aid online pass mark is 100%.

Each student has three opportunities to achieve pass. If you need extra attempts it is strongly advised that you receive coaching from a trainer before a fourth attempt.

Reassessment Policy

In the event of a ‘not yet satisfactory’ outcome of an assessment, a student will have an opportunity to re-do the assessments for that unit at no cost.

Before the assessment is re-attempted, the trainer/assessor will provide feedback in writing and via a one on one discussion with the student to assist in achieving the required performance standard on reassessment.

If the result of the re-sit is an outcome of ‘not yet satisfactory’ one further re-sit is allowed free of charge.

Again, the trainer/assessor will provide feedback in writing and via a one on one discussion with the student before the assessment is redone, as well as refer the situation to the Training Team Leader. Some additional support may be provided on a case by case basis. Students are encouraged to explain their difficulties and ask for any support they may find helpful. Where possible, Southern.IML Pathology will accommodate reasonable requests.

Timeframes for resubmitting and reassessing assessment are negotiable between the trainer/assessor and Training Team Leader where appropriate. However, as a guide, each stage of the process should be completed within one week.

If, after re-doing the assessment(s), a student still does not meet the necessary criteria for competency, the case will be referred to the Training Team Leader via email. The Training Team Leader will organise a meeting with the student and assessor to investigate further options which may include private tutoring, translation services et cetera, which may come at an additional cost to the student. Such actions will be mutually agreed in writing by all parties before they are set in motion.

Confirming Authenticity Policy

Students must assure Southern.IML Pathology of the authenticity and authorship of their assessment.

Students must sign declaration stating the work is their own on the cover sheet submitted with their assessment. Online assessment tasks require the student to make an online declaration that all work is their own.

Every month the Program and Quality Manager will also randomly select at least five recently completed assessments, the content of which will be subjected to online searches and anti -plagiarism tools such asduplichecker.com, sourceforge.net/projects/antiplagiarismc/, and paperrater.com.

If plagiarism is detected it will be dealt with under the Cheating, Plagiarism and Referencing Policy below.

Trainers/assessors are also required to be vigilant when marking work to identify any potential plagiarism.

Cheating, Plagiarism and Referencing Policy

Trainers/ assessors will closely supervise all assessment conducted in class time in an effort to detect cheating. If the trainer/assessor feels additional supervision is required due to issues such as class size or repeat offending, a request should be put to the CEO verbally or in writing. The CEO will then assign the necessary resources.

Plagiarism is the presentation of somebody else’s work as your own. This includes copying of somebody else’s work without giving credit to the author or submitting someone else’s work as your own.

Activities which a participant can be accused of plagiarism include:

  • Presenting any work by another individual as one’s own unintentionally;
  • Handing in assessments markedly similar to or copied from another student;
  • Presenting the work of another individual or group as their own;
  • Handing up assessments without the adequate acknowledgement of resources used, including assessments taken totally or in part from the internet.

A student’s enrolment can be suspended if Southern.IML Pathology has reason to believe that the act of plagiarism or cheating has been committed. These are serious academic offences.

All suspected cases must be immediately referred to the CEO with as much evidence as possible. The claims will be investigated by the CEO, who will also confront the offender to obtain their side of the story. If the claims are substantiated, penalties will be determined by the CEO on a case by case and can result in a student receiving a NYC for their unit and/or being suspended from training.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/ Recognition of Current Competency (RCC)

If you believe you already have the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency you can request RPL/RCC. It does not matter whether you acquired your skills and knowledge through informal learning, work experience and/or life experiences.

To request RPL/RCC you will need to:

  • Read your Student Handbook and talk to the Trainer if there is anything you need explained.
  • Check your skills and knowledge for each unit of competency. These are available upon request from the Training Team Leader at Southern IML Pathology.
  • Collect your evidence to show your competence. Your evidence must be valid (as described in the unit of competency), sufficient (enough), current (up-to-date) and authentic (your own work).
  • List the types of evidence you have for each unit of competency

Present your evidence and the list of evidence to the Trainer for assessment.

The assessor may ask you to undergo a challenge test. You must pay a fee for RPL – $250 per unit price.

Mutual Recognition

Southern IML Pathology recognises relevant AQF qualifications and / or Statements of Attainment issued by any other RTO. We require certified copies of qualifications and transcripts and reserve the right to verify the authenticity of such documents.

Issuance of Qualifications

On successful completion of all units of competency you will be issued with a qualification. If you do not complete the entire course of study a Statement of Attainment will be issued for successful completion of individual units of competency