Here are the main items of advice you should give your candidate prior to the assessment event.

1. Purpose of assessment

Candidates need to know why they're being assessed. For example:

• do they need a WorkCover licence to operate a particular machine?
  
  
• will they need to be assessed as 'competent' before they're allowed to work unsupervised when doing certain activities?
  
  
• is the competency part of a broader training program, or being counted towards a qualification they're undertaking?

2. Conditions under which assessment will take place

Candidates should know what machines, processes or activities are going to be involved, so they can make any preparations required. These may include:

• revising the safe operating procedures for the task involved
  
  
• making sure they bring all necessary personal protective equipment on the day
  
  
• checking that they are familiar with all of the performance criteria they will be assessed against
  
  
• allowing them to practise particular aspects of their performance that might need improving.

3. The appeals process

If a candidate is unhappy with the assessment decision, or they believe that they could have done better under other circumstances, they need to know how to lodge an appeal against the outcome they've been given. The appeals process is described in more detail below.

4. Assessment arrangements

Candidates need to know the proposed time, date and location of the assessment event, of course, so they can show up in the right place at the right time.

Their supervisor also needs to know these details, so they can organise their work team around the assessment event, and make sure that the materials and equipment required are available and ready when needed.

Putting the candidate at ease

Some candidates get nervous before an assessment event, especially if they don't know the assessor. Below are some tips on how to put the candidate at ease, and help them to mentally prepare for the event.

• If you're in the workplace during a normal production shift, make sure that the immediate area is as clear as possible of other work activities, and that there will be minimal interruptions from others.
  
  
• Greet the candidate and have a brief informal chat about what you will be doing.
  
  
• Describe the process that you'll be following step by step, and ask them if they have any questions.
  
  
• Advise them how long the process is likely to take.