Assessment Services Information

Industry Consultation

Industry means the bodies that have a stake in the training, assessment and client services provided by RTOs. Allens Training Pty Ltd liaises with industry representatives in an effort to confirm that the currency of all course material and to ensure training reflects industry needs. This consultation is essential so that training outcomes meet the knowledge and skill demands of industry and to ensure proposed courses are reflective of future industry and employment growth. Consultation also ensures assessment strategies cover significant points and provide results that are useful to prospective employers

Validation and Moderation

Allens Training Pty Ltd ensures that our business model moderates all assessment tasks to ensure that the tasks, and hence the results, are reliable, valid and fair and to ensure that the marking procedures are also fair and valid.

Validating an assessment tool involves checking that the assessment task produces valid, reliable, sufficient, current and authentic evidence to enable reasonable judgments to be made as to whether the requirements of the relevant aspects of the Training Package or accredited course have been met. It includes reviewing and making recommendations for future improvements to the assessment tool, process and/or outcomes.
Assessment tasks and course results are moderated (results and assessments made are reviewed to determine whether the tool is providing consistency and reliable outcomes) by course advisory committees at bi-annual meetings.
 

Trainer Competencies

 All assessment will be undertaken by assessors who meet the requirements stated to apply under the Australian Quality Training Framework in effect at the time at which assessment is conducted. (This includes the necessary assessment competencies determined by the National Quality Council or its successors in effect at the time of delivery and assessment or the requirements stated to apply under the Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations.)

We will ensure that all of our Trainers and assessors will have as a minimum, the following combination of: 
  • The necessary training and assessment competencies as determined by the National Skills Standards Council
  • Relevant vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
  • Demonstrated current industry, training and VET knowledge and skills;
  • Familiarity with Equal Employment Opportunity and Workplace Health and Safety principles. 
  • Current working with Children Check.

Assessment Processes

 All delivered units will be assessed at the time of delivery by the trainer/assessor. All assessment tasks are competency based and cover the entire scope of the units covered in the training program. Assessments are then subjected to checking by Allens Training prior to the issue of statements of attainment or course certificates

Assessment tasks are designed to evaluate evidence that a student can demonstrate competency in all relevant subject competencies. 
Students are provided with every opportunity, within their course duration, to obtain and show competency. Students not able to show competency after the completion of their course will have the opportunity to redo the aspects of the assessment that require evidence of the student’s competence. This must be achieved within one month of completing the course, alternately, it may be decided that the student will need to re-enroll in the course and complete the outstanding assessment activity as part of the course. The trainer/assessor will indicate the requirements to demonstrate competencies required. 
 
Students are able to discuss the structure of the course delivery in order to meet their own schedules.
 

Competency Based-Training and Assessment 

All assessments completed by Allens Training with align with the following rules of assessment:
  • Validity - Assessment methods will be valid; they will assess the skills and knowledge as stated in the training package 
  • Reliability - Assessment procedures must be reliable, that is, they must result in consistent interpretation of evidence from the learner and from context to context, 
  • Fairness - Assessment procedures will be fair, so as not to disadvantage any learners. Assessment procedures will: 
  • be equitable, culturally and linguistically appropriate, 
  • involve procedures in which criteria for judging performance are made clear to all participants, 
  • employ a participatory approach, 
  • provide for students to undertake assessments at appropriate times and where required in appropriate locations. 
  • Flexibility - Assessment procedures must be flexible, that is, they should involve a variety of methods that depend on the circumstances surrounding the assessment, 

Recognition of Prior Learning - Individuals seeking RPL will be able to access an RPL process as described in our Recognition of Prior Learning Application Forms

Assessment Criteria 

Assessments should provide opportunity for applicants to be informed of the context and purpose of the assessment and the assessment process. 
 
This will include but will not be limited to information regarding assessment methods and alternative assessment methods if required to accommodate special needs or circumstances. 
 

Assessment Methods 

Three methods of assessment will be conducted for each competency. Some of the methods may include:

Observation: where the student will be observed performing a series of tasks a number of times to determine their competency. 

Verbal question and answers: when the student will be questioned to determine the depth of their understanding of the process to ensure that they are competent.

Written assessment: In this instance the student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their competency through multiple choice questions, short answer questions, written reports etc. 

Other methods include case studies, projects, essays etc. 

All assessment tasks must consider any language and literacy issues or cultural issues related to the task. 

Once competency is achieved in all the performance criteria for a unit the candidate will be marked C for Competent; if not they will be marked NYC for Not Yet Competent.


Assessment Completion Timeframes

You have two years from the date of enrolment to complete all required units of study within a qualification. For example an enrolment confirmed on the 1st January 2013 would need to be completed by January 1st 2015. 

Applications for extension to completion timeframes must be made in writing to Allens Training for review. Please email courses@allenstraining.com.au and detail the circumstances surrounding your request for an extension. You will receive a response in writing within 7 days of your request.

More information on suggested timeframes for individual units and for the volume of learning within a qualification, please refer to the ‘Student Information’ for that particular course.

 

Assessment Appeals Process

 All appeals should in the first instance be discussed with your trainer to allow you to see if it is possible to be re-assessed. Re-assessment should occur within one month of the original attempt; otherwise re-enrolment in the course will be required.

Students wishing to make an appeal should first make an appointment with the trainer/assessor. If the matter is not resolved an appointment (or telephone/email) should be made for an interview with the General Manager. Allens Training Pty Ltd Head Office on 1300 559 064, or email jim@allenstraining.com.au
 
If this cannot be resolved, then the student’s appeals are eligible to be heard by an independent party. Unresolved appeals will be heard by a Solicitor of Johnson and Sendall of Goulburn NSW 2580