In an announcement posted to the FASEA website on Friday, exam administrator ACER said it was “actively responding” to the risks of COVID-19, which had so far infected over 150,000 people worldwide according to World Health Organisation statistics, and that it was taking action “guided by publicly available information from the Australian government’s Department of Health”.
“The outbreak is an evolving situation and advice to candidates will be regularly updated in the coming days and weeks,” ACER said.
“As a pandemic has now been declared by the WHO, the Australian government may require large gatherings to be cancelled. If this is the case and ACER is required to cancel a test, participant fees for cancelled events will be refunded and/or the event will be offered at an alternative time, as may be appropriate.”
A spokesperson for FASEA told ifa the authority was currently in daily contact with ACER to determine the most appropriate course of action, but as no exam session had so far had more than 150 people attend, the scheduled sessions did not fall under the government’s new ban on gatherings above 500 people.
The statement said at this point FASEA exams scheduled from 2 April to 7 April would be going ahead, but that this could change at the last minute. The spokesperson said further communications could be expected from the authority this week due to evolving government guidelines and recommendations.
“If there is a need for any change to the scheduled exam we will advise directly by email – please ensure the email listed on your candidate account is up to date,” the statement said.
However, ACER said it had added hygiene restrictions to exam attendance, including the exclusion of candidates who had been overseas, had had a confirmed COVID case in their household, had flu symptoms or were undergoing mandatory self-isolation. Supervisory staff in these situations were also being told not to work.
“If you do not wish to attend, the exam team will provide you with a refund or deferral to a future exam cycle. [However] if you present on the exam day and complete the registration process but decide to leave the exam venue you are not entitled to apply for a refund,” the statement said.
Candidates could also wear protective masks during the exam but would need to remove these during registration for ID purposes.
Apparently one education provider is running exams for their ‘ethics and professionalism in financial advice’ course next week. It has been put to them to examine whether it is ethical to allow groups of advisers to gather during a pandemic, that can be deadly for over 70’s, given the demographic of the average adviser’s client base. Very interesting to see how they interpret the term ‘ethical’.
When are they going to admit that this is well past if you have travelled overseas. It’s here and you don’t need to travel to have a chance of exposure.
I trust they will give notice at least a few days out, some of us have a good days drive to brisvegas
The legislation has not passed to extend the timeline for the exam. Given the government is scrambling with Covid etc what will happen if the adjusting legislation is not passed in time?
Nothing FASEA does appears particularly ethical to me.
Putting adviser’s health at risk is abhorrent.
One would think writing an article like this they’d take the opportunity to update us on the deadline for the exam – is it end of this year as before or has it been successfully moved you to end of 2021. Pretty important point I’d have thought a lot more coverage given to . . .
The extension is due to be tabled in the senate 23 March.
It would be irresponsible to proceed with them in the current environment. 100-150 in close contact for over 3 hours.
Yes but it’s only financial planners at risk and we,are,already an endangered species.
If our local club (which does not have the same level of close contact as the exam room) cancelled all events, then it beggars belief that the exam 2-3 weeks from now is still scheduled. Sounds to me like FASEA want the money and don’t want the headaches of having to defer exams till next year due to the outbreak. .
Nah it’s just an easier way to get rid of the old advisers, haha