Peer Evaluators
The role of Peer Evaluators
The external evaluation part of the accreditation process is conducted by an evaluation team. Each evaluation team will comprise a core of two evaluators: a Coordinating Evaluator and a Peer Evaluator from the community housing sector. The evaluation team may also include a trainee Peer Evaluator.
Peer Evaluators contribute their skills, knowledge and experience of the community housing sector to an external evaluation. They assist in the preparation of the draft Accreditation Evaluation Report and provide feedback to the Coordinating Evaluator on their experience throughout the evaluation process. Peer Evaluators can be tenants, employees or committee members of a community housing provider who have satisfactorily completed competency-based training provided by the Queensland Community Housing Standards and Accreditation Unit.
Trainee Peer Evaluators participate in external evaluations as an observer until such time as they are assessed as being competent to become a Peer Evaluator. Trainees assist in the process of writing up the Draft Evaluation Report and provide feedback to the Coordinating Evaluator on their experience throughout the evaluation process. They will also complete a report which will form part of their assessment portfolio. Following observation of an external evaluation, a trainee will be debriefed and the Coordinating Evaluator will report to the Standards and Accreditation Unit on any training issues that should be followed up as part of the trainee's training plan.
Recruitment and selection of trainee Peer Evaluators
The Standards and Accreditation Unit is responsible for the recruitment and selection of Peer Evaluators. Those interested in becoming a trainee Peer Evaluator must meet the minimum requirements listed below:
- A minimum of one year experience in the provision of community housing or audit/evaluator experience in an accreditation or quality audit system, and be currently engaged as a staff or governing body member of a registered housing provider in Queensland.
- Authorisation from organisation to participate in Peer Evaluator Program (if employee).
- Agreement to sign and adhere to the Department of Housing Code of Conduct.
- Commitment to completion of the competency-based Peer Evaluator Training Course, provided by the Standards and Accreditation Unit.
An application package will be provided to people who meet the minimum requirements. Details of the application process can be found below. Applicants, who successfully complete the application and selection process, will be invited to participate in the next round of Peer Evaluator Training. A training plan will be developed for each participant and training will include one training session of three (3) days duration, and at least one (1) observation of an external evaluation. A Statement of Recognition will be awarded to participants who successfully complete the training.
Appointment to an evaluation team
The Senior Accreditation officer appoints Peer Evaluators to an evaluation team on behalf of the Queensland Community Housing Standards and Accreditation Council. The aim of each appointment is to achieve a good match between a Peer Evaluator and the community housing provider seeking accreditation. This is achieved by considering the skills and experience of a Peer Evaluator and referencing this to the characteristics of the organisation seeking accreditation. The Standards and Accreditation Unit will give Peer Evaluators at least one month's notice of an evaluation, and will endeavour to provide a longer notice period wherever possible.
All reasonable travel costs incurred by Peer Evaluators arising from their participation in both training and external evaluations will be met. Additionally, Peer Evaluators appointed to an evaluation team will also receive a fixed fee (currently $258) in recognition of their contribution to the accreditation process. Where a Peer Evaluator has been released from employment to participate in an evaluation, the employing organisation will receive the fee to allow for the Peer Evaluator's usual position to be back-filled during the Peer Evaluator’s absence.
Why become a Peer Evaluator?
Some of the benefits of being a Peer Evaluator include:
- access to on-going training and the opportunity to practice and refine a broad range of communication and analytical skills
- access to professional supervision from the Standards and Accreditation Unit whilst participating in an external evaluation as part of an evaluation team
- developing a framework for recognising and building good practice in community housing
- an understanding of how the accreditation process can be used as a quality improvement tool for community housing providers
- the chance to share knowledge about good practice gained through participating in an evaluation. A Peer Evaluator is able to assist their own organisation with its quality improvement process, and
- payment of a fixed fee in recognition of the Peer Evaluators contribution to the accreditation process, along with reimbursement of reasonable expenses related to participation in an evaluation.
Want to be a Peer Evaluator?
If you meet the minimum requirements outlined above and are interested in applying to become a Peer Evaluator, please complete a 
Peer Evaluator Expression of Interest (20Kb) and return it to the Standards and Accreditation unit. You will then receive an application pack and any other relevant information. If you have any questions or would like to know more about what being a Peer Evaluator involves, contact us.
Last updated 22 October 2008
Other languages