PROFESSIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE

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SANCTION

The organisation is committed to high standards in the provision of education and training. The following Code of Practice describes the minimum standard of the organisation’s education and training. The policies set out in this Code of Practice underpin the operations of the organisation. The organisation recognises that registration as a Registered Training Organisation may be withdrawn if the organisation does not honour the obligations of the Code of Practice.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

The organisation complies with all the legislative requirements of State and Federal Government, in particular Occupational Health and Safety, Workplace Relations, Anti Discrimination and Equal Opportunity and mutual recognition of accredited qualification issued from another RTO.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOCUS

The organisation has a commitment to providing a quality service with a focus on continuous improvement. The organisation values feedback from students, tutors and other industry representatives. Where possible, the organisation designs diagnostic assessment tools specific to student needs.

LANGUAGE LITERACY AND NUMERACY

All students have the option to be assessed in order to ascertain if their Literacy and Numeracy skills are sufficient to successfully undertake the training program. This is usually via interview or completion of an exercise contained in the proposed training program. Those who require further assessments will be out-sourced to a qualified expert. Any cost incurred will be the responsibility of the student.

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

The organisation markets training products with integrity, accuracy and professionalism, avoiding vague and ambiguous statements. In the provision of information, no false or misleading comparisons are drawn with any other Training Provider, thus insuring that the Organisation’s market strategies will not contravene legislation.

ACCESS AND EQUITY

The organisation will meet the needs of the individuals and the community through the integration of access and equity guidelines. The organisation will ensure that equity principals for all people are applied through the fair allocation of resources and the right to equality of opportunity without discrimination. The organisation will increase opportunities for people to participate in the vocational education and training system, and in associated decisions, which affect their lives. The organisation prohibits discrimination towards any group or individuals in any form, inclusive of:

* Gender
* Pregnancy
* Race, Colour, nationality, ethnic or ethno-religious background.
* Marital status
* Homosexuality male or female, actual or presumed)
* Age (in relation to compulsory retirement)

Access and equity issues are considered during training package/product development. Access and equity issues are considered in training delivery and assessment.

TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT STANDARDS

The organisation has personnel with appropriate qualification and experience to deliver the training and facilitate the assessment relevant to the training products offered. Assessment will meet the National Assessment Principals including recognition of prior learning and credit transfer. Adequate training materials and physical resources will be utilised to ensure the learning outcomes of the training product can be achieved. Appeals procedures are in place for students who are not satisfied with assessment or training. All assessment process will be valid, reliable, flexible and fair. Students will be advised on assessment requirements before training commences.

ADMISSIONS / ENROLMENT

Students will be recruited responsibly and ethically at all times and recruitment will be consistent with any training package/product requirements. The organisation is committed to non-discrimination in any form and when recruiting and selecting always complies with equal opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation. There may be prerequisites before commencing a program due to health requirements or the nature of the program.

FEES AND CHARGES

Refer to individual brochure/course information.

COMPLAINT AND APPEAL POLICY

The organisation seeks to prevent appeals by ensuring that students are satisfied with their training product and its outcomes. Personnel are expected to be fair, courteous and helpful in all dealings with students. Any complaint about any Assessment will be treated seriously, investigated thoroughly, and dealt with according to the merit of the complaint. The circumstances and results of any appeal are analysed by Student Support Officer. All records of any appeal will be kept on file.

Customer Complaint and Appeal Procedure:

The complaints procedure requires a complainant to agree to:

Discussion with the relevant trainer about the grievance in an attempt to resolve the issue.

If the matter is unable to be resolved at this level, the complainant can formalise the complaint and the written complaint/appeal can be lodged with the PEO. At this level the complainantshould be given an opportunity to present his or her views in person to the PEO, in support of the appeal. The outcome is to be reported and forwarded in writing to the complainant within seven days of the hearing.

If the grievance is still unresolved, it may be referred to the Principal and an external mediator arranged.

All complaints that are substantiated must be dealt with within the Risk Management Policy as a means to correct and improve the processes giving rise to complaints.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)

Applicants who consider that they have completed appropriate training or have through prior learning and experience gained the required skills/competences stipulated for the units of the course may be granted credit upon substantiation of that claim. The assessment will be professionally conducted and will be valid, reliable, flexible and fair.

Procedure

The Genera Manager (VET) is to ensure that all student information and marketing material contains advice that NIT will recognise AQF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by other registered training organisations prior to authorising distribution of the material.

Students seeking mutual recognition for AQF qualifications and/or statements of attainment awarded by another Registered Training Organisation must present the original documents for copying or appropriately verified copies of original documents. The copies are to be kept on the individual student's file.

The General Administration Manager is to validate the AQF qualification and/or statement of attainment presented for mutual recognition by contacting the issuing Registered Training Organisation.

Verified AQF qualifications and statements of attainment are to be fully recognised and appropriately recorded on NIT student database.

AQF qualifications and statements of attainment unable to be verified will not be recognised and the student will be asked to provide further verifiable evidence if possible. If not, the student may be counseled with respect to the making of false claims.

Non-verified claims for mutual recognition are to be recorded on the individual student's file, together with details of any requests for further information and/or counseling undertaken.

CREDIT TRANSFER

Students may be entitled to a credit transfer in the following circumstances:

Successful RPL application.

Completed units of competency from a National Training Package.

Approved units of competency from National Training Product.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The objective is for the student to show that they have achieved the unit’s competencies. Students may be assessed by one or more of the following methods:

Observation – the completion of the specified task or set of procedures, normally performed under close supervision, using a detailed checklist.

Oral questioning – a response is provided to a series of questions presented in order to demonstrate understanding of the principles or reasoning behind the action taken.
Case Study – an opportunity to display problem solving and decision making skills is provided in a simulated context.

Multiple choice – a question or incomplete statement followed by several options (usually 4-5) from which the trainee selects the appropriate answer/s.

Written short answer – a written response item consisting of a question/s with answer of a single word, a few words, a sentence or a paragraph.

Project – an exercise or investigation based on a real life situation, generally requiring a significant part of the work being carried out without supervision, and involving the completion of a project report.

Students will be advised of the assessment methodology before training commences.

ISSUE OF CERTIFICATION

Qualifications (Diplomas, Certificates and Statement of Attainment) will be issued within 21 working days of successful completion of the program. Qualification will meet the requirements of the training package/product and legislation.

STUDENT SERVICES, WELFARE AND GUIDANCE

The organisation has sound management practices to ensure effective student services. The organisation has operational standards to ensure timely issuance of training, assessments, results and qualifications. These will be appropriate to competence achieved and issued with accordance with the National guidelines. All student records and documentation will be recorded, kept confidential and securely archived. Students can access their file by request, in writing allowing 14 days notice. All relevant organisational documentation will carry a version number and date. Records of updated version numbers are kept on file. The organisation has student welfare and guidance services relevant to the training products. Where necessary, arrangements will be made for students requiring Literacy and/or Numeracy support. This will be out-sourced to the relevant qualified experts. Any fees incurred are responsibility of the student. The organisations student information will ensure that, all fees and charges are known to students prior to enrolment. Students are advised of Course Content, outcomes and Assessment procedures before training commences. The organisations quality focus includes – access and equity, recognition of prior learning, fair and equitable refund policy, appeal policy and complaint procedure. For any matter outside the organisation’s expertise or control, the organisation will make every attempt to refer the student to the relevant agency or expert.

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