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The January 2023 issue of REAL Assessor News covers moderation in 2023, our new Staff Assessors and Learning Engagement Advisors, useful resources on clear communication, ‘assessor spotlight’ with Anna Gerretzen and more…
Once you have submitted your first assessment results for 2023, we’ll be contacting you to help you get your 2023 Moderation Plan in progress. The earlier you submit your moderation, the better it is for ensuring that your assessor registration does not go on hold, or your learners’ results.
You’ll receive an email from Rick Woodward, Team Leader Assessment Operations, once we see that you’ve been active.
We are reviewing and expanding on our Assessment Procedures and Moderation Procedures Manuals, and you will be alerted to the publication of these revised documents. In the meantime, the current manuals are found here:
We have added more guidance around good assessment practice, what happens during moderation, and we have recently updated the way you can submit your samples. These manuals are found on our website under Assessment and Moderation.
Our Assessor and Moderation Hubs are back for 2023. These face-to-face sessions provide an opportunity for you to network with other assessors, while ensuring you are performing your role at the same high standard and assessing with confidence.
See the schedule and sign up here.
Careerforce Learning Engagement team with Loma (left) and Aldo (3rd from left).
We’ve had some recent newcomers to our Staff Assessor and Learning Engagement teams. We wanted to introduce them to you with some quickfire questions!
This quarter, we shine a light on the excellent resources from Immigration NZ – Keeping It Clear.
This is a comprehensive set of modules, for managers and workplace trainers, on effective communication with staff whose first language may not be English.
The modules provide tips on keeping written and oral communication clear, short and simple. They give hints on writing in the active voice, and avoiding idioms, metaphors, and clichés.
There is a whole section on typography and formatting workplace documents to ensure clarity and understanding for a new-to-New Zealand audience.
Check out the Keeping It Clear resources.
Meet registered assessor Anna Gerretzen, who manages a team of rock star cleaners and assesses Cleaning Levels 2 and 3.
Where do you work and what do you do? I work for Palmerston North City Council as a cleaning team leader, leading a team of eight amazing staff.
How long have you been at Palmerston North City Council? Five years in total. I started as a depot cleaner and was promoted to Cleaning Coordinator after one year. Just over a year ago, I became the team leader.
How long have you been a registered Careerforce assessor, and which programmes do you assess? About four years. I’m an assessor for the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning Levels 2 and 3.
How many colleagues have you supported to achieving their qualifications? I’ve supported ten colleagues to achieve Cleaning Level 2, and I have five colleagues still in the middle of their on-the-job cleaning assessment for their Cleaning Level 3 qualification. I’ve also just received four new cleaners to be assessed from another company.
What do you think makes a positive difference to learners doing their programmes? Recognition for the work that they do in this type of industry, and how it’s now being recognised as skilled labour establishing a higher level of pay and credibility amongst the workforce.
You’re also doing the Careerforce Diploma in Business (Level 5) Leadership & Management. How do you think the Diploma is assisting you with your assessment practice? It has been food for thought and, at times, it has been a combination of challenging and easy. It does make me think about what it is I’m doing, how this is helping, and what the benefits are for my team and myself both professionally and personally. This will be a fantastic result with a recognised NZQA qualification that acknowledges the work I have done. It has helped me break down barriers about tertiary study and I’ve surprised myself as to my own capabilities and am an inspired learner.
What keeps you busy outside of work? I try and practise yoga up to three times a week and I do leisure marching once a week. I enjoy cycling (no electric bike).
Want to feature in the next assessor spotlight, or know someone who should? Send us an email!
When a qualification is reviewed, it is listed with NZQA as a new version. The previous version has a last date for completion and any learners that have not yet completed by then will be transitioned to the new version of the qualification.
There are a number of updates to various Health & Wellbeing programmes, including the following upcoming new releases:
Health & Wellbeing (Level 3) Orderly Services Strand
Enrolments for the latest version of the Orderly Services Strand open on Thursday 9 February 2023. The last day for enrolling in the current version is 3 February 2023. You can read our communications about these changes here.
Health & Wellbeing (Level 3) Newborn Hearing Screening Strand
Version 2 of the Newborn Hearing screening stand will now be released in late March 2023.
NZ Apprenticeship in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support (Level 4)
As of 16 December 2022, any training agreements we receive for this programme are now being enrolled into version 2. There are some changes to the programme’s modules and you can read our communications about these changes here.
Last year, Careerforce launched virtual sessions to help provide assessors with mārama (clarity) or support with any assessment practice questions.
Hono mai (connect with me) is a virtual assessor forum open every Wednesday from 1– 2pm. A Careerforce moderator is available during each session to answer any of your burning questions and help you find clarity in your role as a Careerforce assessor.
You can join the meeting link by logging into iportal. Just click on the ‘Hono Mai meeting for assessors’ menu option. If you get stuck, please email moderation@careerforce.org.nz
The Careerforce Resource Library is accessible via a secure login on the Careerforce iportal site. While the Library contains downloadable paper-based learning resources, learners are also able to use their iportal login to access their own training progress reports. This gives learners a greater sense of empowerment and self-responsibility through their training journey, so we ask you to encourage your learners to register/use iportal for their benefit.
We do appreciate all the support and guidance you give to your learners. As usual, if have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
REAL Assessor News is a quarterly update sent to all Careerforce registered assessors. Archived copies of REAL Assessor News can be found under Assessor Toolkit.