Affiliations: Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health, University of
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Carole James, Occupational Therapy,
Hunter Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW
2308, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 49 216632; Fax: +61 2 49 216998; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Pre-employment assessments must accurately simulate job tasks and
demands and select appropriate personnel to be considered effective. This study
focussed on the perception of NSW fire-fighters in relation to the validity of
the NSW Fire Brigade's pre-employment assessment, the Physical Aptitude Test. A
qualitative method was used to gain a precise understanding of fire fighters'
opinions of the accuracy of the Physical Aptitude Test. Information letters and
consent forms were sent to an urban fire station with interested participants
replying via the university. Six participants, who met the inclusion criteria
were randomly selected for the study and in-depth, ethnographic,
semi-structured interviews were conducted. The fire fighters believed in order
for the Physical Aptitude Test to accurately simulate job demands and select
the most capable fire fighters', it needed to be more physically demanding.
However, participants believed that the "work-simulating" nature of the
Physical Aptitude Test provided an accurate indication of the job tasks.
