Selection into Basic Training can be competitive, with numerous applicants for training positions. The College is working on several initiatives to assist local selection committees in ensuring the most suited applicants proceed in the selection and recruitment process for physician training.
We're collaborating with the settings and networks below and an external provider (Altus Assessments) to pilot an online pre interview screening assessment and evaluate whether it could add value to the selection process for both applicants and local selection committees. We expect the assessment will add value for applicants by allowing them to demonstrate their strengths beyond medical or clinical knowledge and experience. Similarly, we expect the assessment will add value to local selection panels, by providing them with more information about applicants to make fair and unbiased decisions about which are best suited to proceed to the interview stage.
Participating networks
- NSW Paediatric Training Networks - Northern, Eastern, and Western
- Queensland Basic Paediatric Training Network
- South Australian Paediatric Network (Coordinated out of Women's & Children's Hospital.)
- The Victorian Paediatric Training Program (coordinated out of the Royal Children's Hospital)
- Western Australian Basic Paediatric Training Network
The Pilot Assessment
During the selection process for the 2022 BPT Training Networks, applicants to first year basic paediatric training at the participating networks will complete participate in an online assessment pilot called "Casper". Casper assesses personal and professional attributes included in the RACP selection criteria and the RACP Professional Practice Framework. The criteria include communication skills, cultural safety, ethics, professional behaviour and leadership, management and teamwork. Medical expertise is not assessed.
The Casper assessment comprises 15 sections that begin with either a video or written scenario. Your task is to respond to the scenario and a set of probing questions within a time limit. You will provide a typed response for 10 sections (5 minutes per section) and a video recording for 5 sections (approximately 3 minutes per section). Each section is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. Typically, the test takes between 75-90 minutes to complete.
Learn more about Casper
Casper results
In the 2022 pilot context, the applicant's Casper scores will be used only by the research and evaluation team in de-identified form to examine the value of adding the assessment information to the selection process. Casper scores will not be used in the selection process in any way. Casper scores from the pilot will not be returned to applicants or Network settings due to the conditions of the pilot context, these are:
a) the structure and timing of score calculation within the pilot context
b) the independence of the assessment to actual selection process.
An aggregated report of pilot outcomes incorporating Casper data will be available in the evaluation report. At the conclusion of the pilot participants will be able to access de-identified performance data as part of the evaluation report.