Australian Society of CytologyBoard of Examiners
Members of the Society are invited to participate on this Board as per the Terms of Reference established in 1993. The current President is always the Chair and the Chief Examiner is chosen from the standing Members of the Board.
The Board meets twice a year. At the meeting in March applications are reviewed and the content of the examination is agreed upon. Two Members of the Board accept the major responsibility for at least one component of the exam. The microscopy examinations are the most time consuming and demanding component to prepare, as five or six matching sets of slides are required. All Board Members are asked to assist with providing slides.
Venue
The Examination is always held over two days on the last weekend in June. The venues rotate east and west between Adelaide and Perth and on the eastern seaboard between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, thus allowing potential candidates to be able to plan to sit the exam as close to their home base as possible and therefore minimize any travel and accommodation costs.
The Councillor and the Branch Committee (or their nominated representatives) are required to organize the venue, facilities and supervision of the examination in each state over the two day period. The Executive Secretary (Bev James) and the Examination Board provide support as required.
Marking
Five pairs of markers perform the marking of the examination. Each Board Member works with an invited marker from their State. Where possible the pair consists of one cytologist and one cytopathologist. Each pair is required to mark one theory question, and two questions from both the gynaecological and non-gynaecological microscopy papers. Pairs have one month to finalise their marking.
The Multiple Choice answers are sent to RMIT (Victoria) for marking electronically.
All marked papers are then returned to the National Office. All data is entered on a spreadsheet. The Chief Examiner then spends at least two days reviewing the results.
Results are sent by the Executive Secretary (Bev James) to all candidates at the end of August. Successful candidates are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting at the Annual Scientific and Business Meeting to receive their Certificates.
The Board also meets again in October at the time of the Annual General Meeting and Annual Scientific and Business Meeting. The results of the past examination are discussed and analysed and plans for the next examination are put in place.
This Board provides a written Annual Report to Council each year.
Currently Members of the Board of Examiners are:
Chairperson: |
Dr Felicity Frost |
|---|---|
Chief Examiner: |
Ms Jo Cosier |
Board Members: |
Dr Annabelle Farnsworth |
| Ms Penny Athanasatos | |
| Ms Meike Schoolland | |
| Mr Walter Nespolon | |
| Ms Grace Tan |
