Free Range Refreshers
Free Range Refreshers are offered for all NZOIA qualifications where revalidation is required.
A Free Range Refresher is when the candidate/s liaise directly with a NZOIA Assessor. The candidate negotiates the fee, time and location with the assessor. This provides the candidate with flexibility to have a Refresher at a convenient time and place. It can significantly reduce the costs of the candidate travelling to an NZOIA calendared course.
What is the difference between a Refresher Workshop and an Assessor Sign-Off?
The purpose of a Refresher Workshop is to get a group of people together from a variety of work environments to exchange knowledge and ideas, learn new skills and techniques and be updated in terms of current good practice under the scope of the qualification. Refresher Workshops must be attended every second revalidation cycle (i.e. every eight years for most qualifications).
An Assessor sign-off can be on a one to one basis and can occur in the work place or during a shared recreational event. It is an informal check by an assessor that the qualification holder is working at the current standard. There may or may not be a payment negotiated with the Assessor.
The Technical Sub Committee sees the benefit of Assessors being able to run Free Range Refresher Workshops as well as Assessor sign-offs. This provides more opportunity for members to complete their revalidation requirements and can bring the cost down if there are enough attendees.
To make it a Refresher Workshop there needs to be a minimum of three people attending, and they must be from at least two different workplaces.
Free Range Refresher Workshops come with a NZOIA fee of $50 per person to cover administration and Assessor training and moderation costs.
The Process
- Get some people together There needs to be a minimum of three people attending, and they must be from at least two different workplaces for Refresher Workshop.
- Decide on dates and location Have a couple of back-up options in case that doesn’t work for the Assessor. Keep in mind that NZOIA needs at least one month notice that a Refresher Workshop is taking place.
- Contact an Assessor to negotiate date, location and fee.
- Inform NZOIA Get the Assessor to send in a Course Request letting NZOIA know the Assessor, workshop attendees, date and location. Send us a quick email to confirm.
- Prerequisites Upload a current First Aid certificate on to your NZOIA profile. The Assessor will need to view your logbook.
- Attend the workshop
- Reporting The Assessor will complete the reporting requirements and then NZOIA will process the results.
Assessor Search
A list of our Assessors’ can be found on our website under Find Assessor. Click on their name for further details.