Commercial Education Society of Australia

CESA Code of Practice

The Society, as a voluntary association of appropriately qualified persons, incorporated under the provisions of the Corporations Law of the Commonwealth, in accordance with its objects:

• functions democratically within the scope of all relevant federal, state, and territorial legislation, local government requirements, and its own Memorandum and Articles of Association
• is committed to high standards of vocational education and training and the application of that training
• promotes the interests of teachers, trainers, and practitioners of vocational knowledge and skills, and works to improve their qualifications and status
• encourages other organizations and individuals involved in training to engender an esprit de corps among the teachers and practitioners of such subjects
• offers independent external assessments in office administration subjects at both student and teacher level to reinforce testing integrity
• awards certificates of competence as instructors and practitioners subject to the proviso that every certificate issued on the face of it showed that it was merely a certificate granted on an examination by the Society and did not take effect under any statutory public power
• encourages the pursuit of excellence by recognising merit in examination results, and makes awards to outstanding candidates
• does not offer courses of training, and does not engage in activities that are in conflict with the interests of its members who are trainers
• behaves ethically in its dealings with and on behalf of members and students, and is motivated by the ideals of:

  ~ serving the community

  ~ meeting the special needs and circumstances of its candidates, and

  ~ providing low-cost educational opportunity for all, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, religious and political belief, social and educational background, or any other discriminatory consideration

• keeps abreast of relevant legislative, industry and educational standards, including those concerned with occupational health and safety, flexible delivery, recognition of prior learning, and equality of access
• has and maintains:

  ~ a business management structure

  ~ a business plan

  ~ a code of practice

  ~ adequate insurance cover

  ~ a marketing and advertising policy

  ~ a privacy policy

  ~ an examinations management structure

  ~ a grievance and appeal procedure

  ~ a fees refund policy

  ~ a staff training and procedures manual

  ~ a system of document control, covering statutory documents, membership and assessment records, and archiving

  ~ a system for internal monitoring and reviewing procedures, including contact with members of the Society and clients to obtain input and feedback

CESA Assessment Procedure

CESA assessments are competency based and are designed to determine whether a candidate can demonstrate the target competencies.

The Society is examining in accordance with the requirements of the Business Services Training Package (BSB01) covering skills specified in the Society's syllabuses. CESA syllabuses identify the competencies from that Package and the skills and knowledge required to meet those competencies. The Society's examiners select a representative range of skills and knowledge from the national documents when composing CESA examinations. In addition, the Society conducts examinations in other skills, the possession of which is implied by but not included specifically in the standards. Those skills also are identified in CESA syllabuses.

The Society's examiners are aware of and follow nationally approved assessment procedures. The Society is a member of the Vocational Education and Assessment Centre.

The Society reviews, evaluates, and adjusts its assessment methods and requirements to ensure the validity, reliability, flexibility and fairness of its assessments.

Assessment Information

The Society, in its syllabus documents, newsletters, and related documents, provides clients with detailed, accurate, relevant, and up-to-date assessment information.

Appointment of Examiners, Assessors and Markers

Assessors must possess higher level competencies than the competencies they assess, and must have the skills and experience that would be acquired in five years of quality industry experience relevant to the module being assessed.

Assessors must maintain and upgrade their professional competencies to keep abreast of developments in the industry.

Client Input and Feedback

This information is gathered formally or informally from members of the Society, or from the Advisory Committees of associated colleges, or from representations made by candidates, teachers and trainers. It is used to evaluate past and current programs and to plan future programs.

The Society also provides feedback to clients through Examiners' Reports on groups of students, through Examinations Administration Board rulings given in the appeal procedure, and through CESA newsletters and fact sheets.

Grievance and Appeal Procedure

CESA has a formal procedure for reviewing assessments by appeal to the Examinations Administration Board (EAB), which is a committee of the General Council. The EAB has power to co-opt. Members of the Examinations Administration Board who are also examiners, assessors or markers may not participate on reassessments in any subject in which they are involved.

In the event of a grievance, initially a teacher, trainer or candidate may seek advice by contacting the Society's office.

If the grievance involves an assessment or any matter related to the Society's assessment procedure, the client is entitled to appeal to the Examinations Administration Board (EAB).

If the appeal is against an assessment result, the EAB calls on the examiner or marker involved to reassess the paper or papers in question and provide the Board with a written report. The EAB has authority to call for the production of all or any papers and to require the examiner or assessor to defend the original assessment.

If the EAB confirms the original assessment, it will issue a confirmation notice. If the EAB amends or reverses the original assessment, it will issue an amended assessment result. The EAB gives reasons for its decisions.

Clients who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their appeal to the EAB may apply to the General Council for a review of the decision.

Refund Policy

For student-grade assessments, if a candidate does not present for examination or is otherwise unable to be assessed on the scheduled date, the Society does not customarily refund the small entry fee charged, but considers applications on a case-by-case basis.

For teaching certificate examinations, if a candidate does not present for examination or withdraws after the closing date for applications, the Society may refund the entry fee in part or in full, depending on the circumstances.

Meeting Industry Requirements

The Society keeps up to date with industry requirements mainly through its association with client Registered Training Organisations and their Advisory Committees. It also seeks guidance from the appropriate Industry Training Advisory Board.

Copyright

The use of copyright or licensed materials is acknowledged and recorded, and the Society will pay fees to copyright holders as required. Information regarding copyright approvals is shown on relevant CESA documents, and the Society's examiners are reminded in the document Information for Examiners, Assessors and Markers of their obligation to observe copyright law. The staff Procedures Manual contains instructions on the detail of copyright requirements.

Document Control

Document control involves the use of both hard copy and electronic media. The Society maintains master copies of all financial and management documents and publishes its audited financial statements annually to members. In addition, documents bearing on Society policy, management and procedures are given version numbers, registered and filed appropriately.

Insurances

The Society maintains up-to-date and adequate insurance cover. Applicants for registration as CESA examination centres are required to certify that they have adequate insurance cover.

Internal Monitoring and Review

The Society regularly reviews all of its functions, processes and procedures for effectiveness and efficiency.

Marketing and Advertising

The Society does not advertise in the customary sense of that word. It distributes circulars about its activities to client schools, and publishes its syllabuses, examination schedules, lists of annual award winners and relevant extracts from the President's annual report to members on the internet at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~cesa. The content of its publications is conservative and appropriate to an organisation with the Society's special history and associations.