Assessor training: Confidentiality

Shauna Bouel
Principal Project Officer, Quality Assurance Unit

Welcome to training for Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority assessors.

The purpose of the training is to ensure that assessors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to quality assure summative internal assessment.

For endorsement, this involves evaluating assessment instruments, and for confirmation, reviewing sample assessment responses and communicating decisions. This short video will highlight the importance of privacy and confidentiality related to the work of an assessor.

Endorsement and confirmation both have protocols and procedures to protect the privacy of individuals and schools and maintain the integrity of the processes.

Assessors are employed to perform a particular role to a high standard and within stated timelines as part of endorsement or confirmation work. As employees of the QCAA, they must demonstrate the characteristics of effective assessors, including:

• during endorsement and confirmation events
• when using social media
• when dealing with stakeholders
• in social settings
• when reviewing assessment instruments and responses and communicating decisions.

Participation in quality assurance processes provides privileged access to confidential material. During endorsement and confirmation events, assessors must use common sense when reviewing material that belongs to a school. For example, assessors do not use devices to capture any part of a school submission. This would be a serious breach of confidentiality and undermine public confidence in the process.

Assessors are required to communicate about quality assurance work as appropriate to their role within endorsement or confirmation. The QCAA makes it clear in assessor training when, and why communication should occur. Any communication outside of their role in the quality assurance workflow may be a breach of confidentiality.

Assessors will complete quality assurance work using their own device, or a device provided by their school. The device will be connected to the internet. Assessors must ensure that privacy is not jeopardised. They should be mindful of:

• the security of their device, and
• where they complete work that occurs outside of a QCAA-organised location so that others cannot view or read information related to endorsement or confirmation.

For example, they ensure the internet connection is secure or no-one else accesses the device while they complete endorsement or confirmation work.

Assessors will not use social media accounts when engaged in the quality assurance workflow. Posting any information to social media obtained during endorsement or confirmation is a breach of confidentiality.

At the conclusion of training, or during endorsement or confirmation, a check of the device should be completed to ensure that there is no work saved or downloaded to it. Assessors check their desktop and the downloads folder and must delete any relevant files.

Any breach may result in the termination of an assessor’s appointment with the QCAA.

If assessors are unsure about any matters related to confidentiality, they can ask a QCAA officer.

Thank you for participating in this training, which shows a commitment to quality assessment practice and positive outcomes for senior students in Queensland.