UPDATE: REVIEW OF
NATIONAL PATHOLOGY
QUALIFICATIONS
OCTOBER 2014
STATUS OF REVIEW
 Two rounds of public consultation complete
 CS&HISC and Subject Matter Expert Group currently finalising
content (expected by end of year)
 New qualification will be submitted for endorsement in June 2015
after external quality assurance and editing processes
 Key changes:
• Single benchmark qualification at Certificate III
• Improved clarity and much stronger assessment requirements – work
placement of 35 minimum number of clients (20 for venous blood
collections with 5 to be directly observed by assessor); specification of
range of skills, techniques and equipment required to show evidence of
competency
• Removal of duplication
CS&HISC THANKS MEMBERS OF OUR SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERT GROUP FROM THE FOLLOWING
ORGANISATIONS
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Australian Pre-analytical Network
Dorevitch Pathology
Douglas Hanly Moir
Healthscope
Melbourne Pathology
Pathology Australia
Pathology Queensland
Pathwest
CERTIFICATE III AS SINGLE BENCHMARK
QUALIFICATION
A key focus in stakeholder discussions in Pathology has been the
importance of having a single qualification that becomes the benchmark
for quality pathology collection work in Australia. The major focus was
quality. After much discussion, the proposal is that this qualification be the
Certificate III, with significantly increased assessment requirements in units
of competency. This perspective is in line with the findings of the recent
DoHA Best Practice Pathology Collection report, which also focuses on
Certificate III as the main qualification that applies to work in the area.
Note: the question of whether the collection qualification should stand alone
or be combined with a Pathology Assistant outcome is still to be finalised.
CERTIFICATE III AS SINGLE BENCHMARK
QUALIFICATION (contd)
CS&HISC acknowledges that some stakeholders would prefer the single
qualification to be Certificate IV. However, in evaluating the alignment of the
qualification, CS&HISC and the Subject Matter Expert Group also referred
to the specifications for Certificate III in the Australian Qualifications
Framework that seemed to better reflect the work of collectors (excerpt
below, full details at www.aqf.edu.au):
Graduates of a Certificate III will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:
With discretion and judgment in the selection of equipment, services or contingency measures
To adapt and transfer skills and knowledge within known routines, methods, procedures and time
constraints
In contexts that include taking responsibility for own outputs in work and learning, including
participation in teams and taking limited responsibility for the output of others within established
parameters
Allied to the point above is the view that career pathways into supervision
or training required individuals to undertake training in areas other than
Pathology, rather than different clinical pathology skills. Hence qualifications
in frontline management or training were required, rather than a Certificate
IV in Pathology.
Current qualification
https://training.gov.au/TrainingComponentFiles/
HLT07/HLT32612_R1.pdf
PROPOSED UNITS
Pathology units:
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HLTPAT001
HLTPAT002
HLTPAT003
HLTPAT004
HLTPAT005
HLTPAT006
HLTPAT007
Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection
Perform venous blood collections
Perform capillary blood collections
Collect pathology specimens other than blood
Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing
Collect arterial blood samples
Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens
Broader units :
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BSBCUS201B
BSBMED301B
CHCCOM005
CHCDIV001
HLTINF001
HLTWHS001
Deliver a service to customers
Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
Communicate and work in the health and community sector
Work with diverse people
Comply with infection control policies and procedures
Participate in safe work practices
STAY
IN TOUCH
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What will APaN be looking to do?
• Have some 1 day workshops bringing RTOs
and employers together
• Allow discussion about the implementation of new quall
• Allow some benchmarking
• Discuss how work placement arrangements might work