Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is a process where skills and knowledge that you have gained through work and life experience and other unrecognised training can be formally recognised. You need to let us know that you want to apply for RPL at the time of application by indicating this on the application for enrolment form in the relevant section. There is a charge for RPL. RPL can also reduce your course duration and fees.

We will inform you in writing of any reduced course duration and fees due to credit transfer and RPL and issue your CoE for the reduced duration of the course.

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is a formal recognition of previous studies and can help to reduce the duration of your course, as well as fees. You may apply for a credit transfer for a complete unit or modules within a unit. There is no charge to apply for a credit transfer but you need to let us know that you want to apply for this on your application for enrolment form in the relevant section. You will need to provide a certified copy of your certificate either issued by another education provider or an authenticated VET transcript issued by the USI Registrar.

National Recognition

National recognition is the recognition and acceptance by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) of Australian Qualifications Framework Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by another RTO in Australia.

Training Organisation will accept Australian Qualifications Framework Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other RTOs. There are no fees for national recognition.

Student Enrolment

When an enrolment form is completed client will be acknowledging that they have been provided with the information contained in this brochure. Candidates are requested to ensure they fill in all sections of the form so that we may support any specific study requirements. This assistance will enable us to ensure clients are enrolled in the correct course of study.

Clients are encouraged to identify on the enrolment form if they have a disability and require support so that we can make the necessary arrangements to meet those needs.

Fees

We want to make sure you understand all fees and charges associated with your course so please carefully read this section.

You can find out about the fees for a course on the Course Brochure and in addition all fees associated with your course are included in the Student Agreement. The Student Agreement also includes a detailed payment schedule and payment options, as well as your rights.  

We will also tell you about the potential for fees and charges to change over the duration of their course, although it is unlikely that fees and charges will change.

Refund

Please carefully read the following information about refunds. Please carefully read the following information about refunds. This applies whether you paid the fees or an education agent paid the fees and non-tuition fees on your behalf.  

All application fees are non-refundable except where we cancel a course before it has started.

If we cancel a course either before or after it starts, you will receive an automatic refund and do not need to completion the Refund Application Form.  The refund will be provided within 10 working days of the default.

In all other circumstances, you should complete and submit a Refund Application Form which can be accessed from our office This form must be submitted within 10 working days of the event that led to the request for the refund. The outcome of the refund assessment will be forwarded to you within 20 working days, as well as any applicable refund.

Refunds will be paid to you or to the person or organisation who paid the course fees and will be paid in Australian Dollars.

The refund policy does not remove your right to take further action under Australian Consumer Law.

Feedback

Your feedback is important to us! Like all businesses, we strive to improve and use feedback to make changes in line with continuous improvement. We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of current and future students so please let us know if something isn’t right or you have a feedback suggestion by emailing or calling us.

You will also be provided with a Quality   Indicator Survey which is issued by the National Centre for Vocation Education and Research (NCVER). You may also receive surveys from your trainer or the office from time to time. Please complete these and return as advised.

Privacy and access to records

Why we collect your personal information

As a registered training organisation (RTO), we collect your personal information so we can process and manage your enrolment in a vocational education and training (VET) course with us. If you do not provide this information, we will be unable to process your enrolment.

How we use your personal information

We use your personal information to enable us to deliver VET courses to you, and otherwise, as needed, to comply with our obligations as an RTO.

How we disclose your personal information

We are required by law (under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth) (NVETR Act)) to disclose the personal information we collect about you to the National VET Data Collection kept by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER). The NCVER is responsible for collecting, managing, analysing and communicating research and statistics about the Australian VET sector.

We are also authorised by law (under the NVETR Act) to disclose your personal information to the relevant state or territory training authority.

How the NCVER and other bodies handle your personal information

The NCVER will collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the law, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the NVETR Act. Your personal information may be used and disclosed by NCVER for purposes that include populating authenticated VET transcripts; administration of VET; facilitation of statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage; and understanding the VET market.

The NCVER is authorised to disclose information to the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE), Commonwealth authorities, State and Territory authorities (other than registered training organisations) that deal with matters relating to VET and VET regulators for the purposes of those bodies, including to enable:

• - administration of VET, including program administration, regulation, monitoring and evaluation
• - facilitation of statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage
• - understanding how the VET market operates, for policy, workforce planning and consumer
• - information.

The NCVER may also disclose personal information to persons engaged by NCVER to conduct research on NCVER’s behalf.

The NCVER does not intend to disclose your personal information to any overseas recipients.
For more information about how the NCVER will handle your personal information please refer to the NCVER’s Privacy Policy at www.ncver.edu.au/privacy 

If you would like to seek access to or correct your information, in the first instance, please contact us using the contact details listed below.

DESE is authorised by law, including the Privacy Act and the NVETR Act, to collect, use and disclose your personal information to fulfil specified functions and activities. For more information about how DESE will handle your personal information, please refer to the DESE VET Privacy Notice at https://www.dese.gov.au/national-vet-data/vet-privacy-notice  

Students' responsibilities

Policies and procedures

You are expected to:

• - read and follow our policies as documented in this handbook

• - respond to our communications promptly

• - advise us within 7 days of any change of contact details including current residential address, mobile number, email address and who to contact in the event of an emergency.

Learning and assessment

You are expected to:

• - attend scheduled classes

• - actively participate in learning

• - complete all homework given to you

• - complete and submit all assessments on time

• - refrain from plagiarism, cheating and collusion

• - pay all fees due

• - ask for support if needed.

Classroom conduct

You are expected to:

• - arrive on time for your class

• - be prepared for class

• - dress appropriately

• - only use handheld devices in class when relevant to the activity

• - communicate in English.

Respect and ethics

Students are expected to:

• - respect others’ values and beliefs

• - interact with others in a collaborative, professional manner

• - use our resources for the purpose for which they are intended

• - refrain from harassment and discrimination of any kind

• - resolve any conflicts calmly

• - respect ours and other people’s property.

Your rights

Policies and procedures

You can expect to:

• - be informed of our policies and associated procedures

• - receive regular and relevant communications

• - learn in a safe environment

• - have your personal details kept confidential and secure

• - access the information that we hold about you.

• - have the opportunity to provide feedback on services received.

Learning and assessment

You can expect to:

• - be provided with high quality training, assessment and support services

• - receive the support you need

• - have your assessments marked and returned within 10 working days of submission.

• - receive feedback on assessments where the result is not satisfactory.

Classroom conduct

You can expect your trainer and assessor to:

• - be on time for classes

• - be prepared for class

• - be knowledgeable and engaging

• - dress appropriately

• - only use handheld devices in class when they are relevant to the activity

• - communicate in English.

Respect and ethics

You can expect:

• - to have your values and beliefs respected

• - to be treated fairly and equitably by staff and students

• - interact with others in a collaborative, professional manner

• - respect for yourself and your property.

Complaints and appeals

We sincerely hope not, but from time to time you may be unhappy with the services we provide or want to appeal a decision we have made. We take your complaints and appeals seriously and will ensure in assessing them that we look at the causes and action that we can take to ensure it does not happen again/reduce the likelihood of it happening again.

Complaints can be made against us, our trainers and assessors and other staff, another learner of AFWE as well as any third party that provides services on our behalf such as education agents.

Complaints can be in relation to any aspect of our services.

Appeals can be made in respect of any decision made by RTO. An appeal is a request for AFWE’s decision to be reviewed in relation to a matter, including assessment appeals.

In managing complaints, we will ensure that the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness are adopted at every stage of the complaint process. This means that we will review each complaint or appeal in an objective and consistent manner and give everyone the opportunity to present their point of view.

Our internal complaints and appeals process can be accessed at no cost.

We do encourage you to firstly seek to address the issue informally by discussing it with the person involved.

However, if you do not feel comfortable with this or you have tried this and did not get the outcome you wished you can access the formal complaints and appeals process.

If you want to make a complaint or appeal, you must:

• - Submit your complaint or appeal in writing using the complaints and appeals form. The complaints and appeals form outlines the information that should be provided and can be accessed from reception.

• - Submit your complaint within 30 calendar days of the incident or in the case of an appeal within 30 calendar days of the decision being made.

We will acknowledge your complaint or appeal will be acknowledged in writing within 3 working days of receipt.

We will review your complaint or appeal will commence within 5 working days of receiving the complaints.

Complaints and appeals will be finalised as soon as practicable or within 30 calendar days. However, where the complaint or appeal is expected to take more than 60 calendar days to process, AFWE will write to inform the complainant or appellant of this including the reasons for such.  Following this update, regular updates will be provided of progress.

For assessment appeals, we will appoint an independent assessor to conduct a review of an assessment decision that is being appealed.

We will communicate the result of the complaints and appeals process to you in writing and this will include the reasons for the decision.

If you do need to come in for a meeting, you can have a support person of your choice present to assist you to resolve the complaint or appeal.

Generally, your enrolment will be maintained throughout any internal appeals process that concerns a decision to report you.

Additionally, If the appeal is against our decision to report you for unsatisfactory course progress or attendance, your enrolment will be maintained until the external process is completed and has supported or not our decision to report you.

If the appeal is against our decision to suspend or cancel your enrolment due to misbehaviour, this will not take effect until after the outcome of the internal appeals process.

Enquiries - Further Information

Please contact us at admission@afwe.edu.au or call us on 07 5532 7112