Confirmation resources for assessors

Vacancies

For confirmation, the number of QCAA assessors required for each subject is based on student enrolments in the subject and sampling patterns and requirements. The maintenance of adequate staffing levels is monitored and managed by the QCAA. Assessors remain appointed to their position until advised otherwise and are not required to re-apply prior to each event or when a vacancy is open.

In each subject, reserve lead confirmers are identified after participating in the appropriate training. Reserve lead confirmers will work, when required, as an acting lead confirmer for events and fill vacant lead confirmer positions.

Recruitment processes occur throughout the year to ensure the confirmation process is adequately staffed.

Temporary vacancies

Temporary vacancies arise when assessors take leave or are absent due to unforeseen circumstances and are unable to carry out their duties. These vacancies are filled on a temporary basis depending on the circumstances. Where possible, chief confirmers will be replaced by lead confirmers, and lead confirmers will be replaced by confirmers. If reserves are available for the subject, these reserves will be appointed to a position first. If not, then the advertising and application processes will be conducted.

Training

QCAA assessors for confirmation are required to attend training related to their assessor position. Training provides assessors with advice and support with processes, quality assurance and assessment design, and aims to:

• work in partnership with school communities to support external moderation processes
• provide support and clarification of the assessor position, scope and processes associated with the assessor’s position.

Lead and chief confirmers may be invited to attend an annual lead and chief assessor conference, which provides role-specific training and is an opportunity for calibration across the state.

For more training information go to the link on this page (link: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/assessment/quality-assurance/confirmation/resources/current-training)

Leave

While on leave from their school, QCAA assessors for confirmation may choose to continue to perform their duties provided the period of leave from the school does not exceed 12 months. If an assessor is on unpaid leave from their school, they can be paid by the QCAA.

Assessors can take leave from their confirmation position for a maximum of 12 months (missing no more than three consecutive confirmation events). Excessive leave from the assessor position may result in being ceased.

Notification must be made in writing to the QCAA, or via the RSVP response, if an assessor will be on leave during a confirmation event. Notification must be made at least two weeks before the start of the confirmation process.

Transfer

QCAA assessors for confirmation can transfer between schools if they continue to teach the subject or will be scheduled to teach it again within the next 12 months. It is the assessor’s responsibility to ensure they have their principal’s support to continue with their QCAA duties.

Assessors transferring schools should refer to Eligibility to continue in appointed position below.

Resignation

QCAA assessors for confirmation who are resigning from their appointment should forward written notification of their resignation to the QCAA via email to confirmation_assessors@qcaa.qld.edu.au.

The QCAA will send an official acknowledgment of the resignation to the QCAA assessor for confirmation and to their principal.

Reporting relationships

The Quality Assurance Unit is responsible for overseeing the quality assurance process of confirmation and works with subject PEOs and LAMs to appoint, supervise and monitor the performance of confirmation assessors. Subject PEOs and LAMs work with chief confirmers to provide support and advice to lead confirmers and confirmers as required during confirmation events.

Eligibility to continue in appointed position

To remain eligible to continue in the appointed position as a QCAA assessor for confirmation, assessors must:

• be currently teaching the subject or are scheduled to teach it in the next 12 months
• participate in confirmation activities, including training and events.

Assessors who have not taught the subject for 12 months may be ceased from their confirmation position. Assessors with regular absences from confirmation activities, and in particular an absence from three consecutive events, may be ceased from their confirmation position.

All QCAA assessors are subject to the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service, available at www.forgov.qld.gov.au/employment-policy-career-and-wellbeing/public-servicevalues-and-conduct.

Assessor appointment may be subject to periodic review.

All subjects will have initial samples reviewed between Tuesday 6 to Monday 12 May 2025. Reviews will be performed outside school hours during this period.

All assessors will complete reviews remotely, working at an appropriate location and time of their choice.

We anticipate that most reviews will be completed within the first one or two days after the review period opens. Last year, majority of reviews were completed within one day. As a result, the number of reviews available throughout the week will depend on how many samples are reviewed each morning and afternoon.

Confirmers, lead confirmers and chief confirmers may be required to complete review work outside the scheduled review period to support the confirmation event. This includes review of additional samples (supplementary or extraordinary) and for some roles, to assist with review of a confirmed result. Assessors are notified when samples or submissions are assigned for review.

Online briefing and calibration activity

The QCAA will be conducting an online briefing and calibration activity for all assessors before the confirmation event to assist you with your reviews during the confirmation review period.

You are required to participate in the online briefing calibration activity for your subject.

The briefing’s agenda includes:

• Enhancements to the Confirmation app (application) and workflow updates
• Roles and responsibilities
• Resources
• Unpacking the main IA for Event 1
• Completion of initial calibration sample activities

Participation in this briefing and completion of the calibration activity is compulsory to begin reviewing for the event.

RSVP

All assessors are required to complete the online RSVP form to advise if you are participating or not participating in both the online briefing and calibration activity, and the confirmation event. Assessors will be emailed the details.

To support the Chief confirmer in selecting appropriate samples for the subject report, Lead confirmers are asked to identify high level responses during the course of the confirmation review meeting. This is not mandatory but rather a request for assistance. If you have the capacity during the review meeting/s, please save a copy of the below word document template to complete as you identify appropriate review samples.

• Template to record samples that may be used in the subject report: Lead confirmer resource (DOCX, 242.7 KB)

Information to note about appropriate samples:

• from high level responses but should demonstrate a particular criterion effectively
• excerpts from responses may be used in the Subject Report not a whole response. Please provide a clear indication of where the excerpt is and how it may be used
• add additional information in the Optional comments column if you would like to clarify anything
• add or delete rows as required
• save the table as Responses_for_Subject_Report_Syllabus_23_your initials e.g. Responses_for_Subject_Report_English_23_ka
• return the saved document by email to subjectreport@qcaa.qld.edu.au

Assessors working remotely will need a workspace that allows you to connect to the QCAA Portal for the duration of the meeting. Cable internet may be more reliable than Wi-Fi. Please choose a location that allows you to work confidentially and without interruption. It is not appropriate to complete confirmation review work where others can view your work. If working at school, please ensure your colleagues cannot see any of the samples you are reviewing.

Please ensure that your workspace is comfortable and ergonomically appropriate for the work required. You will need to complete the following working from home checklist. You are required to save the completed checklist for your records, but you do not need to submit it to the QCAA.

• Workplace health and safety: Assessor telecommuting self-assessment audit (PDF, 308.5 KB)

Prior to your scheduled confirmation review meeting day or training day, please:

• check your QCAA Portal access
• ensure that you know your QCAA Portal login and password details.
• ensure that you have a fully charged device and power cable. Other accessories such as a keyboard or mouse are optional.

iPads and other tablet devices are not recommended for use for the confirmation review process.

You may need headphones for listening to spoken or performance assessment responses.

Before your review day, please also ensure you have:

• installed a supported browser on your device to access the Confirmation app. Google Chrome is recommended for use in all Confirmation activities. Internet Explorer is not supported.
• installed Adobe Acrobat Reader as the PDF viewer on your device
• run any system updates on your device.

Assessors will complete a timesheet to record participation during a review meeting, participation in training, and other activities as advised.

The timesheet is accessed via the QCAA Portal > My Details > Employment profile (tab) > Timesheets.

Please be aware of the following details when you complete your timesheet.

• The timesheet should align with the specified start and cease times.
• A lunch break must be recorded after 5 hours of work. The minimum lunch break is 30 minutes. It is a requirement that assessors take a lunch break when working or training beyond 5 hours.
• Time must be recorded to the nearest 15 minutes. Please round up or down as appropriate, e.g. if you start at 08:10 record it as 08:15. We advise that you start your day at the start of a 15-minute increment.
• The timesheet covers a full week from Monday to Sunday. Submit your completed timesheet when the timesheet week has ended, or when you are sure you will not be required to complete further work in that week
• If you are on leave, or are a part-time teacher not rostered to work on the review meeting day, or during training, you must first enter this information into the My Details section of the QCAA portal to ensure you are paid correctly – see instructions below under My Details – QCAA Portal.

Refer to the Help section in the top right corner of the My Details application for more information on submitting a timesheet.

Your details must be kept up to date in the QCAA Portal > My Details > see all tabs across the top. In particular, review and edit your contact details and school employment details in the My details tab.

Ensure the following contact details are provided:

• name – including preferred name
• physical address – see drop down selection to change from postal if necessary. A physical address is essential if a travel booking or claim is to be submitted
• mobile phone number (selected as preferred) – if available. A mobile phone number is preferred to enable contact during review meetings on non-school days and use of the text messaging function, should it be necessary to send a message to assessors
• email address – provide a preferred email address to receive QCAA communication.

Ensure your school employment details are current, including:

• school currently employed at
• employment status, such as; full time; part-time; on leave - it is essential this section is current to ensure you are paid correctly.

Refer to the Help section in the top right corner of the My Details application for more information on editing details.

Assessors invited to participate in review meetings or training in person, who live more than 80km from the venue (one way), are entitled to travel provided by the QCAA. Travel bookings and Travel claims are submitted via the QCAA Portal > Travel Bookings and Claims app.

Please see the travel policy for further information.

This document establishes the protocol for QCAA employees whom engage with social media.

• QCAA appropriate use of social media protocol (PDF, 149.4 KB)