The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is seeking applications from qualified people who wish to be considered for appointment as markers for the 2023 NAPLAN writing assessment.

Applicants must have a sound knowledge of literacy and English grammar. Experience in teaching literacy is desirable.

Selection of markers is based on:

• relevant qualifications and teaching experience
• previous marking performance (NAPLAN)
• other relevant marking experience e.g., OLNA, ATAR.

As a marker of the NAPLAN writing task, you will:

• gain an in-depth understanding of the NAPLAN writing task and marking rubric, and the processes and stages of writing development
• accrue professional development hours
• receive comprehensive training
• be paid for training and marking.

All test responses are be scanned prior to marking and marking will be completed on screen.

Marking is undertaken at the metropolitan marking centre, based at the Belmont Park Racecourse, or remotely, with day and after school arrangements available.

Markers work in small groups under the guidance of a team leader, who will monitor marking using national reliability and comparability measures.

Markers working at the metropolitan marking centre can work during the day session (8.30am to 3pm) or the evening session (4:15 pm to 9 pm).

The marking centre will be open on Saturdays from 8am to 6pm with some flexibility of hours. The times for weekend sessions and options will be discussed closer to the commencement of marking.

New metropolitan-based markers are expected to work at the marking centre and attend all sessions, Monday to Saturday.

New country teachers may mark at home and are strongly encouraged to attend face-to-face training in Perth.

Returning markers are encouraged to apply for home marking.

Team leaders are expected to work at the marking centre.

Marking will commence on Wednesday, 22 March and will run for four and a half weeks, with an expected finish time of Saturday, 22 April.

There will be no marking over the Easter long weekend (Friday, 7 April to Monday, 10 April).

Markers may nominate an earlier finishing date should they wish to take time off during the school holidays.

The duration of the marking period depends on the number of markers, speed and accuracy of marking, and the number of scripts that need to be marked. Markers will be informed of progress and early notification will be given if marking is likely to finish earlier or extend beyond this date.

Marking will continue remotely by home-based markers if it is not completed by Saturday, 22 April.

Training

All markers in Australia are required to complete all components of training, as determined by ACARA.

Face-to-face training will be at the SCSA offices, 303 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington.

Marking guides will be provided at the face-to-face training day or can be collected from the SCSA offices from Wednesday, 15 March. A PDF version will be available to download from the online training module.

New markers

The training consists of:

1. A self-paced online criteria training module (expected to take approximately 8 hours). This module will be available from Wednesday, 15 March and must be completed before attending face-to-face training.
2. Face-to-face training on Saturday, 18 March from 8.30am to 3pm

Returning markers

The training consists of:

1. A self-paced online criteria training module (expected to take 6 to 8 hours). This module will be available from Wednesday, 15 March and must be completed before attending face-to-face training.
2. Face-to-face training on either:

Friday, 17 March from 9am to 3pm

or

Monday, 20 March from 4.15pm to 9.15pm

Country markers

New country markers are strongly encouraged to attend the face-to-face new marker training on Saturday, 18 March. Returning country-based teachers have the option of completing the training scripts online and attending a TEAMS meeting instead of face-to-face training. The TEAMS meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 21 March from 4.30pm to 7pm.

Team leaders

Team leaders are required to attend Team leader training on Thursday, 16 March, 8.30am to 3pm. Team leaders will attend either the new marker training or one of the returning markers training sessions. This will be decided closer to the training dates depending on the composition of the teams.

Table 1: NAPLAN Marker training components and dates

Team leaders and Centre leaders play a vital role in the NAPLAN marking operation, by ensuring all students receive a fair and consistent scoring of their writing scripts.

Team leaders are required to:

• consult with markers completing the online training modules
• provide advice to their team throughout the marking operation
• checkmark at least 10% of their team members’ marking and provide feedback
• re-train team members when required.

Some benefits of being a Team leader include: a higher hourly rate, leadership and professional development experience, the opportunity to mentor and train markers, and collaborate with other leaders.

Markers interested in applying for Team leader positions are required to tick the box on the application and in no more than 100 words, demonstrate their ability to undertake the role.

The 2022 payment rates are currently under review by the Authority and may be increased prior to the marking period commencing in 2023.

The 2022 payment rates are:

• Markers: $45 per hour for training and centre marking, including a compulsory 45-minute break.
• Team leaders: $50 per hour, including a compulsory 45-minute break.
• Home marking: $5 per script.

Markers will submit a project payment form at the conclusion of the marking.

If a marker withdraws from marking before the end of the marking period, training will be paid on a pro-rata basis. For example, if a marker completes the training but does not complete any marking, no money will be paid for training. If a marker withdraws after five days of marking and was expected to mark for 20 days (the first two weeks plus one week of the school holidays), 25% of the training will be paid.

• Applicants complete an online application form.
• All markers require a current Department of Education Screening Clearance Number. Please read the section below Requirement for a current police check.

• You are not eligible to be a marker if you have taken a Western Australian Government voluntary redundancy in the past 12 months.
• You are not eligible to mark if you are on long service leave from the Department of Education.
• Receipt of applications will be acknowledged via email. This email will include a reference number. Submission of an application does not guarantee appointment.

• Marker applications close Monday, 6 February 2023.
• Applicants will be advised by email regarding selection no later than Friday, 17 February 2023.

Apply Online

All prospective Department employees must be in possession of a current Screening Clearance Number (SCN) that has been issued by the Department’s Screening Unit before commencement of employment. The Department has a strict ‘No Screen, No Start’ policy. A Screening Clearance Number is obtained by undertaking a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, which is processed by the Department’s Screening Unit

If you are a current employee of the Department (an active employee or have undertaken paid work with the Department in the past six months), you will already have a Screening Clearance Number (SCN) and no action is required by you. If you are unsure whether you have a current Screening Clearance Number, please email screening@education.wa.edu.au.

If you do not have a current Screening Clearance Number, you must obtain one before we can employ you.

1. Access the online application form at www.education.wa.edu.au/screening and click on the Apply Now icon.
2. Once you have completed the application, you will need to print and sign your Summary Sheet.
3. You are required to provide 100 points of certified identification. This must be attached to your signed Summary Sheet.
4. Lodge the signed Summary Sheet, together with certified copies of your identification to the following address:

Screening Unit

Department of Education

Locked Bag 2

EAST PERTH WA 6892

For enquiries regarding the screening process, please email: screening@education.wa.edu.au.

The checks are comprehensive and bring to the Department’s attention all adult criminal convictions, including those that have been declared spent. Minor convictions are not the focus of this screening process. Serious offences which have resulted in a prison term, were of a serious or violent nature, involved children, or drug trafficking and/or dealing, will require further consideration on a case-by-case basis. If this does occur, you will be given the opportunity to provide additional information and/or character references which will be considered to determine if any action is warranted. The Department appreciates the sensitive nature of this exercise, and you can be assured that the screening process is strictly confidential.

Once an employee starts working for the Department, their screening status remains valid unless they have a break-in-service. For teaching staff this is twelve months or more. This also applies to Casual/Relief teachers. Casual employees are required to renew their screening every three years regardless of continued service.

For further information about the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, please visit https://www.education.wa.edu.au/ncchc.