Assessment Policy

This policy describes how TalentMed assesses your learning. It covers the principles we apply, the rules your evidence must meet, the methods we use, and how we review the quality of our own assessment.

It applies to every TalentMed course, every assessment we conduct (including recognition of prior learning), and every assessor who assesses on our behalf.

Assessment is not a gate at the end of your course. It is part of how you learn. We design assessments to check that you can apply what you have learned to realistic workplace situations, and we use the outcome to give you meaningful feedback.

Every assessment is conducted in line with the training product on our scope, the Standards for RTOs 2025, and the specific assessment requirements of the unit being assessed.

Every assessment is designed to be:

• Fair. You understand what is required. Assessment accommodates your needs, allows reasonable adjustments, and permits reassessment where you are not yet competent.
• Flexible. Assessment is appropriate to the context, the training product, and you as an individual. It assesses the skills and knowledge set by the training product, no matter how you acquired them.
• Valid. Assessment focuses on the performance criteria and knowledge evidence of the unit. Where practical skill is required, assessment includes practical application.
• Reliable. Evidence is interpreted consistently. Different assessors reach the same judgement on comparable evidence.

Your evidence is judged against four rules:

• Valid. It relates to the unit and directly addresses the performance and knowledge requirements.
• Sufficient. There is enough of it, and it is detailed enough, for the assessor to make a confident judgement.
• Authentic. It is your own work. We use plagiarism and AI-content detection as part of our review.
• Current. It reflects your present skills and knowledge. For competencies that change with industry practice, recent evidence matters.

Our courses are online and self-paced, so most assessments are written or electronic. Typical methods include:

• Knowledge questions. Short-answer and extended-response questions that test understanding.
• Case studies and scenarios. Realistic workplace situations where you apply your knowledge to make decisions and produce workplace documents.
• Practical tasks. Activities that produce tangible evidence (for example, coding a set of patient records in clinical coding, or producing a compliance audit report in quality auditing).
• Projects. Longer pieces of work across multiple units of competency.
• Portfolios. Collections of evidence drawn from study, workplace documents, or both.
• Oral or video submissions. Used where verbal explanation is the natural evidence.

The specific methods for your course and each unit are set out in the assessment plan provided to you before you start.

1. Before you start. You receive an assessment plan with the schedule, methods, rules, and any reasonable adjustments.
2. Submission. You submit through our learning platform.
3. Marking. A qualified assessor reviews your evidence against the unit requirements.
4. Outcome. You are marked Competent or Not Yet Competent. VET does not use grades or percentages. Assessors provide written feedback either way.
5. If not yet competent. You have the opportunity to resubmit or undertake a different piece of evidence. We will explain what is needed to reach competency.

If you are judged “not yet competent”, we offer you a reassessment opportunity. Standard practice at TalentMed is up to two reassessment attempts per unit, at no additional cost. Beyond that, the unit can be attempted again under a new enrolment, with fees as published in the Fees and Charges Policy.

Reassessment focuses on the specific requirements that were not demonstrated the first time, not the entire unit. Your assessor will tell you exactly what to address.

Where disability, chronic illness, a mental health condition, or comparable circumstances affect how you engage with assessment, we make reasonable adjustments. Adjustments change how you produce evidence, not what counts as competent performance. See our Reasonable Adjustment Policy.

Assessment is not the only way to demonstrate competence. You can apply for:

• Recognition of prior learning where you have already gained the skills and knowledge through work or informal learning.
• Credit transfer where you have completed the equivalent unit with another RTO.

Both options produce the same outcome on your academic record as completing the unit through assessment.

Every submission must be your own original work. We check submissions for plagiarism, collusion, AI-generated content, and evidence of contract cheating. Breaches are treated seriously and investigated under the Academic Integrity Policy.

Every TalentMed assessor:

• Holds the TAE credentials required under the Standards for RTOs 2025 and the Credential Policy
• Holds industry competencies in the field at least to the level being assessed
• Maintains current understanding of industry practice through continuing professional development

Where a subject-matter expert supports assessment, they work under the direction of a credentialled assessor, who retains responsibility for the final competency judgement.

Validation is how we check that our assessment tools and judgements are consistent with the training product and produce reliable outcomes. We validate every unit on our scope at least once every five years, and more frequently where risks or changes arise.

Validation is conducted by a team that collectively holds the required industry competencies, current industry understanding, and a validation credential. At least one validator is independent of the design and delivery of the unit being validated.

Outcomes of validation feed back into our assessment tools. Where we identify improvements, we make them before the next assessment cycle.

We keep records of every assessment, including your evidence, the assessor judgement, and the feedback provided. Assessment records are retained for a minimum of two years after you complete the course, in line with Compliance Requirements Clause 10. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle these records.

You can request access to your assessment records at any time.

You can appeal an assessment decision through our complaints and appeals process. Appeals must be lodged within 20 business days of the decision and specify the grounds. Grounds include procedural error, new evidence, bias or conflict of interest, or a decision not supported by the evidence.

During an appeal, an independent assessor reviews the evidence. If the appeal is upheld, the outcome is updated. Either way, you receive the decision in writing with reasons.

Every assessment cycle generates feedback. We review assessment outcomes, validation findings, student feedback, and appeals data at least annually. Where we identify patterns or one-off issues, we update the tools, training, or procedures as appropriate.

• Academic Integrity Policy
• Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
• Credit Transfer Policy
• Reasonable Adjustment Policy
• Complaints and Appeals Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Student Handbook

View the complete list of policies that apply to your enrolment.

Assessment queries: support@talentmed.edu.au or 1300 737 781

Appeals against assessment decisions: appeals@talentmed.edu.au

This policy is reviewed annually and sooner whenever validation, training package changes, or the regulatory framework require it.

TalentMed Pty Ltd · RTO 22151 · ABN 29 125 458 808

The specific policies referenced throughout are the authoritative source.

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