Rhetoric or reality : the role of the peer assessor in user choice traineeships in the Queensland Government

Competency based traineeships have been part of industry for some years. The format for these traineeships has changed to "user choice" and now employers can elect to have the trainee complete all their training and assessment on-the-job. If an employer elects to have on-the-job traineeships there are conditions such as the provision of good support, a workplace assessor, working with a registered training organisation and ensuring that relevant work experience is completed. This paper relates to the case study being undertaken with a group of peer assessors and trainees in a Queensland public service agency. The case study focuses on the roles and responsibilities of peer assessors who support trainees completing on-the-job traineeships. The peer assessor is expected to carry out training and assessment for the trainees on-the-job. Many of the peer assessors do not possess any qualifications, and in some cases have minimal work experience. Under the guidelines of the Queensland Department of Employment, Training and Industrial Relations, 1998 User Choice Contract, the registered training organisation must ensure that the employer has the capability to train and assess in the workplace, in line with both state and national competency standards. This paper outlines the reality that the case study (through interviews and questionnaires) has found regarding workplace training and assessment - a reality strongly at variance from the rhetoric of the guidelines.