Trade Academy Version 1.7 Student Handbook User Guide

: May 15, 2024
: Trade Academy

Table of Contents

WELCOME
BEFORE YOU ENROL
Fees for specific student groups/courses Concessions on course fees
Progress
Educational Guarantee
STUDENT SELECTION, NEEDS IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLMENT
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
- QUALIFICATION ISSUING
Revocation of Qualification
- RECOGNITION
- OPINIONS, ISSUES AND IMPROVEMENTS
Complaints and Appeals
INFORMATION FOR APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES
The Apprenticeship Community

Trade Academy Version 1.7 Student Handbook User Guide

WELCOME

Thank you for choosing Trade Academy Western Australia (TAWA) as your Registered Training Organisation (RTO). (RTO# 52719). By deciding to undertake training with us you are taking a positive step towards building a better future for yourself.
We offer a diverse range of qualifications and short courses. We have a strong reputation for providing quality outcomes in apprenticeships, traineeships and all levels of training from custom developed corporate to short course training.
We are committed to ensuring that our training is delivered in a professional manner to meet the needs of business and students. Once again, welcome to Trade Academy Western Australia and I wish you every success with your studies and career journey.

James MacGuire
Chief Executive Officer
ABOUT TRADE ACADEMY WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TAWA is a highly respected Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and is currently scoped to provide the following AQF qualifications/units of competency (UOC):

CPC33020 Certificate III Bricklaying and Blocklaying
CPC30220 Certificate III Carpentry
CPC30920 Certificate III Scaffolding
CPC20120 Certificate II Construction
CPC20220 Certificate II Construction Pathways
52893WA Certificate II Building and Construction (Pathway – Trades)
CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (UOC)

Trade Academy Western Australian is registered with the Training Accreditation Council
(TAC) of WA. As an RTO, TAWA is bound to comply with the Standards for Registered
Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.
This handbook is designed to help you understand the policies that TAWA follows in ensuring that you receive quality training services and outlines your rights and obligations as a student with TAWA.
Standard hours of operations are Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 4.30pm.

TAWA will only enrol students who

have made an informed decision about their course of learning through information provided via TAWA staff, this Student Handbook, or the website, and
agree to abide by TAWA’s policies and procedures, code of conduct and OHS/ WHS obligations.

BEFORE YOU ENROL

Training And Assessment – What’s It All About?
As a registered training organisation, training and assessment services provided by TAWA are developed to meet the requirements of the VET Quality Framework.

Nationally recognised training programs such as Certificates and Diplomas are competency based which means that training and assessment activities or recognition of your skills and knowledge focuses on your ability to apply relevant knowledge and skills to actually demonstrate your performance of workplace tasks to a standard specified by that industry.

The specific skills and knowledge required for workplace application are detailed in what we call Units of Competency and these may be delivered on their own, or ‘packaged’ together by TAWA to make up a short course or a nationally recognised qualification, based on TAWA’s consultation with that industry area and the requirements specified in the Training Packages.

To be considered competent in any Unit of Competency you must be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge to complete work tasks in a range of situations and environments. This will include demonstrating your skills in real work situations or in simulated applications, over a period of time.

Your trainer will collect evidence to be confident that you have the required knowledge and are able to perform the specified competency or task/s to the required standard over a period of time.

Your evidence (assessment) must demonstrate the following:

That you can do the job or task to the required standard
That you understand why the job should be done in a particular way
That you can handle unexpected issues or problems
That you can work with others ‘in a team’
That you can do more than one thing at a time, e.g. perform the task and be aware of the occupational health and safety requirements
That you know the industry or workplace legislation, rules and procedures

Competency based training and assessment is all about providing you with every opportunity to develop competencies. If your evidence (assessment) does not satisfy the assessment requirements (criteria, benchmarks) your trainer will provide feedback and possibly additional support (such as allowing you the opportunity to provide additional evidence, do more research or practice skills before you demonstrate them again) and may negotiate additional or alternative assessment for resubmission or re-assessment.

As part of our enrolment process, you should discuss your training and assessment program with TAWA’s staff to ensure you understand the course or qualification and the training and assessment requirements prior to enrolling.
The staff member will give you the opportunity to discuss:

any questions you may have about the course in detail including
- the course duration
- participation or progress requirements
- assessment requirements
- industry or workplace requirements, if applicable
- learning resources
whether you have any existing qualifications or training, or skills that could be recognised in this program

Assessment at Trade Academy Western Australia
It is your responsibility to retain a copy of any assessment submitted. TAWA staff shall ensure that all student assessments submitted are maintained in an accurate manner providing for the safekeeping of all student assessment results for a term no less than 30 years.

Re-assessment

If you are assessed as “Not Satisfactory” in any assessment activity (whether it is a practical demonstration, theory exam, assignment, etc) you will be able to undertake a re-assessment within a maximum of two (2) weeks of the date of notification of the outcome. If the assessment item is not re- attempted or at least arranged to be reattempted during this timeframe, you may be required to attend classes for that unit again and may be charged accordingly.

Missed Assessments
You are required to undertake all assessments as scheduled. If you miss an assessment you will be required to present a doctor’s certificate and will be required to reschedule the assessment within two (2) weeks of the original assessment.

Special Consideration and Deferred Assessment

On occasion, circumstances may prevent you from participating in or undertaking an assessment or handing in an assignment as scheduled. In these cases you are asked to put your circumstances in writing and submit them for consideration. Applications to defer assessments must be received at least three working days prior to the examination or assessment date. All considerations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

FEES and CHARGES

A minimum deposit of 50% of the total course fees or $1,000.00 whichever is the lesser is payable when booking your course (except general Safety Induction, white card course where payment must be made in full).

The balance of the course fees are to be paid in full on commencement of the course, unless other arrangements have been made in writing with the pre- approval of the Chief Executive Officer (such as payment made upon receipt of an invoice or expenditure voucher/authority).

As well as providing ‘fee for service’ training, TAWA is an approved panel supplier with the Government of Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) to offer government funded training in:

Jobs and Skills WA – Trainee and apprenticeship funding
Jobs and Skills WA – Priority Industry Training (PIT)
Jobs and Skills WA – Pre-Apprenticeship funding

Eligibility conditions apply. More information is available at: www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/jswa

Jobs and Skills WA – 2024

TAWA is required by the Department of Training and Workforce Development to charge course fees as per their VET Fees and Charges Policy 2024. A copy of the fees and charges policy can be viewed and downloaded from www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/sites/default/ files/uploads/dtwd-ppr-vet-fees-and-charges-policy-2024-v1.pdf

As per the VET Fees and Charges Policy 2024 we are to charge non-concession students undertaking a traineeship or apprenticeship a course fee of $3.25 per nominal hour for each unit of competency at 1st January 2024, which is calculated according to the individual units undertaken. However if the course is eligible for Targeted Fee Relief a non-concession course fee of $1.62 per nominal hour will be charged in lieu of the $3.25 per nominal hour for each unit of competency. These course fees along with additional resources fees are provided at enrolment and are available on our website prior to and after enrolment. Payment of the compulsory student course and resource fees is at the discretion of the employer, meaning these fees can be paid by the employer or passed onto the student. Under the VET Fees and Charges Policy 2024 student fees are payable by the student. However this can be negotiated with your employer. ‘Regardless of who is responsible for these fees – the student course and resource fees will be invoiced prior to or on commencement of each training cluster. Payment in full for each training cluster is required on or before commencement of the corresponding cluster. If payment is not made in full prior to or on commencement of each training cluster a deferred payment arrangement will be needed. In the case of severe financial hardship the student can apply for an assessment to be undertaken. If the assessment complies with DTWD’s set criteria then a waiver of course and resource fees will be provided.

Fee caps are also applicable to Targeted Fee Relief courses.

Courses that we are currently contracted to deliver that are eligible for Targeted Fee Relief are as follows:-

CPC33020 Certificate III Bricklaying and Blocklaying
CPC30220 Certificate III Carpentry
CPC20120 Certificate II Construction
CPC20220 Certificate II Construction Pathways
52893WA Certificate II Building and Construction (Pathway – Trades)

Fees for specific student groups/courses Concessions on course fees

The following students are entitled to the concession rate on course fees of $0.97 per nominal hour of each unit of competency as at 1st January 2024. However if the course is eligible for Targeted Fee Relief a concession course fee of $0.48 per nominal hour will be charged in lieu of the $0.97 per nominal hour for each unit of competency.:

a) Persons and dependants of persons holding:
i) A Pensioner Concession Card.
ii) A Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
iii) A Health Care Card.
b) Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of services from the following Commonwealth support or employment services programs:
i) Workforce Australia; or
ii) ParentsNext.
c) Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
d) Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of Youth Allowance.
e) Persons and dependants of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution.
f) Secondary school-aged persons, not enrolled at school.

Fee caps are also applicable to concession course fees and Targeted Fee Relief courses.

If the concession is valid for the full enrolment period, then all eligible units commenced within that period attract the concession rate. If the concession is valid for part of the enrolment period, then only eligible units commenced on or after the start date and prior to the expiry of the concession attract the concession rate. This does not apply to students who fall under the special arrangements for Targeted Fee Relief courses.
Fee caps are also applicable to concession course fees and Targeted Fee Relief courses.
VET in Schools
Secondary school students are exempt from course and resource fees if they:
a) are enrolled at school, as defined in the School Education Act 1999; and
b) are undertaking a VET course.

Students in State Government Care
Students not enrolled at school are exempt from course and resource fees if they:

a) are under the care of the Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support; and
b) are a secondary school-aged person; or
c) are under 18 years of age.

Students in State Government care who are enrolled at school are eligible for a fee exemption under section 6.3.5 of VET Fees and Charges Policy 2024.

Interstate Students

Students residing in other Australian States or Territories are charged at fee-for-service rates, with no specified maximum.

Apprentices and trainees may be eligible for publicly funded training if the:

training contract is registered in Western Australia; and
workplace is in Western Australia; and
training occurs in Western Australia, unless the training is only available in another state or territory.

Temporary Residents

Persons holding one of the following visa types are to be treated as Australian residents for fee charging purposes and are also eligible for fee waivers and concessions:

holders of sub-class 309, 444, 785, 790 or 820 visa;
secondary holders of a temporary visa of sub-class 457 or 482 visa;
holders of a Bridging Visa E (subclasses 050 and 051) where the visa holder has made a valid application for visa of subclass 785 or 790;
Ukraine citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449 or 786;
Afghan citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449; and
holders of a bridging visa who are eligible to work, and who made a valid application for a sub-class 866.

Charge for Specific Services

White Card reissue – $35
Duplicate Certificate posted – $20
Duplicate Certificate re-emailed – Powerpro $15
Urgent certificate processing fee – $25
Remote assessment supervision – $50

REFUNDS

Fee For ServiceTAWA will not refund fees paid in advance unless training cancellation INCLUDES more than 14 days notice in writing.The following percentage of refund will apply to all training cancellations:

Where 20% or less of the course has been provided to the student a 100% refund less $200.00 administration fee will
Where less than 50%of the course has been provided to the student a 50% refund less $200.00 admin fee will
Where 50% or more of the course has been provided to the student no refund will

Funded Programs – Jobs & Skills WA 2024 – Traineeship, Apprenticeship, PIT, PE & PRE-APP

Full RefundsStudents who withdraw are entitled to a full refund of the applicable course fee, resource fee and other fees where:

a unit is cancelled or re-scheduled to a time unsuitable to the student; or
a student is not given a place due to maximum number of places being

TAWA administration will approve a full refund of fees at any time during delivery if a class is cancelled because of declining student numbers, no available lecturer, or due to other circumstances caused by the RTO.Part RefundTAWA has set a census/withdrawal date for each unit at 20% of the way through the period during which that unit is undertaken. Students who withdraw for reasons other than those outlined in section full refunds and who lodge a withdrawal form before the census/ withdrawal date for a unit will be eligible for a full refund of the course fee for the unit; and

a full refund of the resource fee if the course is a Diploma or Advanced Diploma course; or
50% of the resource fee if the course is below Diploma

Pro Rata Refunds TAWA administration can approve a pro rata refund of fees and charges at any time during the course of delivery if a student withdraws for reasons of personal circumstances beyond their control.For example:

serious illness resulting in extended absence from classes;
injury or disability that prevents the student from completing their program of study; or
other exceptional reasons at the discretion of TAWA

In all cases, relevant documentary evidence (for example, medical certificate) will need to provided for assessment.

PRIVACY AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

TAWA complies with the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) and with the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, which specifies the way organisations must collect, manage, use, secure, disclose and dispose of personal and sensitive information. All TAWA employees are required to comply with the Act.

As a registered training organisation, TAWA is required to collect personal information for collecting statistical data as prescribed by government regulators and the Australian Government.

As part of the enrolment process, TAWA will collect personal information that is required for the purposes of delivering the program to you, or in meeting government reporting requirements and it will only be used for the specific purposes for which it is collected.
Personal information will include:

Contact information such as name, organisation, position, address, telephone, and email, emergency contact, employment and educational histories, referee reports, date of birth and marital

Sometimes information collected may be regarded as sensitive such as

Disability’ and ‘long-term impairment status’ (health); and ‘indigenous status’, ‘language spoken at home’, ‘proficiency in spoken English’, ‘country of birth’ (implies ethnic/racial origin).

This information is specified in NCVER statistical data elements and is collected for national data reporting requirements.

TAWA strongly encourages you to identify in your enrolment form or advise TAWA staff or trainers directly if you do have any issues (such as literacy, language or numeracy, physical or learning issues) that may impact on your training or assessment. By knowing this information, TAWA will be able to support you with appropriate resources, or

make reasonable adjustments to the program to assist you. They will not disclose this information except for the purpose of assisting your learning.

If you choose not to provide this information during enrolment, TAWA may not be able to provide the necessary services to you.

Disclosure of Personal Information

TAWA will not disclose the information to a person, body or agency (other than the individual concerned) unless:

the individual concerned is reasonably likely to have been aware that information of that kind is usually passed to that person, body or agency;
the individual concerned has consented to the disclosure;
the RTO believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of the student or of another person;
the disclosure is required or authorised by or under law; or
the disclosure is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of the criminal law or of a law imposing a pecuniary penalty, or for the protection of the public

Unique Student Identifier

TAWA is only allowed to issue qualifications or a statement of attainment to students who provide their Unique Student Identifier (USI). A USI is effectively an individual’s account or reference number that allows you to access all of your training records, entered in the national vocational education and training (VET) data collection.

The USI will make it easier for you to find, collate and authenticate your VET achievements into a single transcript and:

link information about your VET achievements, regardless of where you studied
enable you to easily access secure digital transcripts of your achievements
give you access to, and more control over, your educational information
ensure that your VET records are not lost

You will be able to conveniently obtain a complete record of your VET enrolments (from January 2015) and achievements from a single online source. Training organisations will be able to verify your identity via your USI and confirm your achievements to determine pre-requisites, credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you have a USI you will need to provide TAWA (and other RTOs you may study with) with your USI on enrolment (or prior to results being finalised). To obtain a USI visit http://usi.gov.au/Students/Pages/steps-to-create-your- USI.aspx

The USI is available online and at no cost to you.

As long as you have provided TAWA with your USI, you will receive your qualification or statement of attainment directly.

Managing Your Information

TAWA commits to taking all reasonable care to ensure that information we hold, use and where appropriate disclose to others about you is correct and current.

The accuracy of this information depends largely upon you providing us with details (within 7 days of any changes) such as:

Your current address;
Current telephone numbers;
A current email

You may access your information, including records of your learning progress at any time. If you find any errors in the records please advise us immediately so that the corrections can be made.

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION

As a registered Training Organisation, and an Australian business, TAWA has a legal obligation to:

a. Maintain adequate, current and appropriate insurance.
b. All enrolled students are provided with legislative and regulatory advice that may impact on their participation in vocational education and training through course orientation information and scheduled orientation events.
c. All enrolled students are provided with advice concerning the procedures required to access relevant commonwealth state and territory legislation and regulatory requirements during the enrolment process

During your day-to-day work practices and when participating in training with TAWA, you need to be aware of the relevant legislation (Acts of Parliament) that may impact on you, both about your industry and the training outcomes.

While TAWA and your employer have to meet certain requirements of these Acts, the onus is on you, the student, to make yourself familiar with this legislation.

Copies of State and Commonwealth (Cth) legislation can be found at your local library or on the Internet at:

https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au (State) and
http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ (Commonwealth)

Legislation that may be relevant to you includes:

Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth)
Vocational Education & Training Act 1996 (WA)
Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth)
Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Cth)
Privacy Act 1988 & Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (Cth)
Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)
Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
Disability Services Act 1993 (WA)
Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA)

You will be advised of legislative and regulatory requirements specific to individual units of competency.

LEARNER ENGAGEMENT

Access and Equity TAWA is committed to providing and promoting non- discriminatory and inclusive practices and processes to provide equal opportunities for everyone to achieve their learning outcomes.

All staff and contractors employed or engaged by TAWA are obliged to comply with this policy.

To ensure that the learning environment is free from harassment, discrimination and victimisation, TAWA will ensure that it:

uses the same recruitment and admission process for all applicants;
bases admission to courses and programs solely on availability of places and the applicant satisfying course/qualification and payment requirements (if applicable);
provides all applicants with adequate information and support to enable them to select the most suitable program for their
considers issues relating to access and equity when specifying course entry requirements and prerequisites;
offers flexible course design including recognition of qualifications and statements of attainment from other RTOs and recognition of prior learning
takes into account the requirements of students with a disability when designing courses
provides inclusive and non-discriminatory learning materials
ensures language, literacy and numeracy requirements are consistent with the vocational level of the qualification
adapts assessment where necessary and possible to meet student needs
provides students with the right to appeal an assessment or recognition decision
gives all students an equal opportunity to demonstrate competence including through making reasonable adjustments for learners with a disability or special need according to individual This may mean providing the appropriate services and/or facilities for student learning and assessment including:
- the use of adaptive/assistive technology
- educational support
- alternative assessment methods
- extra time to complete a course or assessment
- learning support for basic literacy or numeracy difficulties

TAWA is committed to ensuring that all students have a reasonable chance of achieving an outcome, whether a unit of competency or a qualification. For this reason, they may advise applicants to consider alternative career or course choices if there is reasonable doubt about an applicant’s aptitude to manage the course work (with reasonable additional support), attitude to meet industry requirements or a genuine interest in pursuing a career in this field.

All students will be required to complete an enrolment form once the pre- course information has been received and the course selection has been made. If you are training on site at the TAWA facility, you will be given a site specific induction where appropriate. Students enrolled with TAWA but training at their own workplace will be aware of their own workplace requirements.

Induction and Enrolment Procedure – Apprentices/Trainees Only

TAWA will meet with the employer and discuss potential training courses and opportunities that are offered by the company. Once the employer has decided what training they want to do TAWA will then finalise the training requirements with the employer and trainee. This process will include details of the proposed course duration, content, cost, any other associated fees including government incentive payments, qualification achieved, probationary period, registration process and time frames. The enrolment procedure includes discussing certain roles and responsibilities with you and your employer (the induction) and filling out the following forms:

Training Contract – this is a legally binding document that forms an agreement between you, your employer and the WA Government for you to participate in a recognised training program.
TAWA Enrolment Form – for our
TAWA Training Plan – this sets out the detail of the training you will undertake and an approximate timetable for completing the
TAWA Terms & Conditions Contract

Once the above forms are completed, the Training Contract will be lodged with the Department of Education Training and Workforce Development Apprenticeship Office within 30 days of your commencement date.

DTWD Apprenticeship Office will then advise you whether or not you have been successfully registered.

Once registered, DTWD Apprenticeship Office will send you a copy of the Training Contract along with a letter that will show your registration number. It is extremely important for you to advise your trainer and/or TAWA of this as soon as possible so that training can then commence.

Once you have informed your trainer of your successful registration they will arrange a date to commence induction and training.

Induction will involve discussion of all topics in the Student Induction Handbook, as well as sharing information with the trainer about your workplace and tasks, vocational

intentions etc. Teaching/learning methods will be discussed and assessment procedures.

TAWA endeavours to make training visits at a minimum of one-month intervals in the metropolitan areas. This may extend to two-month intervals in country areas.

Progress

TAWA wants you to achieve the best outcomes in your training.

At times you may have difficulty in keeping up with your learning activities, completing assignments, or demonstrating competence in assessment activities. There can be very good reasons for this which are sometimes beyond your control. TAWA continuously monitors your engagement and will provide regular contact and support to ensure you have every opportunity to complete your studies.

However, you are also expected to ensure you make satisfactory progress in your If you are having difficulties in the progress of your study, you are expected to take all possible steps to improve your performance and follow the guidelines below:
If you are having difficulty maintaining acceptable progress, you must discuss the situation with your trainer and/or TAWA administration as soon as

(In certain circumstances, for example if you are a carer, fall ill or have a disability, you may need to negotiate a reduced study load over a more extended period of time or make application to defer your studies for period of time)

Approval for requests for extensions for any assessment is at the discretion of TAWA and should be made in Requests for extensions will only be considered if they are received prior to the scheduled end date of the enrolled unit, and if all fees have been paid.
If you are not intending or not able to continue the program, you should advise us as soon as possible.

Support Services

TAWA is committed to ensuring that all students receive adequate learning support to ensure their full potential is reached. Therefore, TAWA ensures that:

The learning and support needs of all students is assessed upon entry into a
All students are aware of how to access the services they require to successfully complete their training and assessment
Feedback is collected about TAWA’s provision of support services and the feedback is systematically collated, analysed and used to improve training

CODE OF PRACTICE & STUDENT SERVICE CHARTER

TAWA’s Code of Practice outlines our commitment to you in the provision of high quality education and support services and your rights and responsibilities as a student at TAWA including standards of acceptable behaviour required by all students.

Our Commitment to You

TAWA is focused on meeting your needs. We promise to:

Educational Guarantee

TAWA is committed to providing excellence in training and education and commits to:

TAWA is focused on meeting your needs. We promise to:
a. Understand the needs of our students, staff and the industries in which we operate or do business with.
b. Understand your specific needs and be flexible in our approach to serving you.
c. Operate professionally and always conduct business in a sound, ethical and fair manner.
d. Employ staff who are knowledgeable, qualified, and objective, experienced and always act with integrity.
e. Treat your information confidentially, protect your rights to privacy and ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information we hold about you.
f. Respond to student and industry needs and remain competitive within our market.
Educational Guarantee
TAWA is committed to providing excellence in training and education and commits to:
a. Providing quality training and education services in the Vocational Education and Training sector in Australia.
b. Meeting and striving to exceed the requirements of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.
c. Delivering training, assessment and support services that are flexible to the needs of our students.
d. Producing professional graduates who are appropriately trained, job- ready and have the employability skills expected by industry.
e. Developing courses and assessment processes that meet industry demands, catering for a range of learning styles, and which are flexible for a diverse range of student needs.
f. Engaging with industry by participating in and/or facilitating relevant professional associations, networks, focus groups and steering committees.
g. Maintaining a supportive learning environment that is conducive to the success of our students, clients and staff.

Your Responsibilities

As members of a learning environment you are expected to:

Treat all others with respect and courtesy
Treat others equitably irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, medical condition, cultural background, religion, marital status, age, or political conviction
Respect the opinions and views of others
Avoid any conduct that might reasonably be perceived as sexual, racial, or gender- based harassment or otherwise intimidating
Participate in learning, maintain consistent levels of study, and submit assessments on time
Take personal responsibility for your own learning, and maintain reasonable study progress, including proactively seeking additional assistance if required or notifying us of any difficulties;
Familiarise yourself with, and abide by TAWA’s policies and procedures as detailed in this Student Handbook
Ensure that all work submitted is your own
Prepare appropriately for all assessment tasks
Adhere to Work Health and Safety Legislation and report any perceived safety risks as they become known
Notify TAWA if your personal information or contact details change

Student Rights and Expectations As individuals, students enrolled with TAWA can expect:

To be treated with courtesy and respect
To be treated equitably irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, medical condition, cultural background, religion, marital status, age, or political conviction
To be able to freely communicate and voice alternative points of view in rational debate
To participate in a learning environment free from sexual, racial, gender-based, or other forms of harassment
To rely on the protection of personal information
To be able to access your personal records
To be provided with timely and accurate information about your course(s), enrolment, and all administrative matters
That assessment with in course(s) will be equitably and appropriately implemented
That the facilities and equipment you use are safe, and comply with workplace health and safety guidelines.
To provide honest and constructive feedback to us on the quality of our training and assessment, support and other services

If you are unsure about what is the right thing to do in any circumstance, you are encouraged to ask advice from staff. They are here to help and assist where possible.

Behaviour contrary to the code of conduct, including academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism (see below re copyright) will not be tolerated and sanctions (penalties) may be imposed on people who breach this code of conduct including:

Suspension or exclusion from TAWA courses, or withholding of results.

Disciplinary actions, other than those requiring recommendations for suspension or expulsion, are intended to be remedial rather than punitive and will be implemented only after all other good teaching techniques and strategies have been exhausted (such as supporting students towards positive behaviour, following up concerns with students etc)

As much as possible and wherever appropriate, informal resolution and or mediation will be used to resolve issues of individual behaviour before recourse to formal disciplinary procedures.

You should appreciate that serious offences such as sexual harassment, racism, assault (including verbal), attending a course under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or unlawful activities are highly likely to attract a suspension or exclusion. Such suspensions may be applied immediately, obviously impacting on your ability to continue or complete your course. Please be aware that external authorities, such as the police, will be alerted where a student’s conduct breaks the law.

For minor breaches of the code of conduct you will receive a warning asking you to rectify your behaviour. This may be a verbal reminder of the expected behaviour or an official written warning. Sanctions may be applied however, including suspension, for consistent minor breaches of the code of conduct.

Behaviour Management In accordance with the Student Code of Practice and as part of a student’s personal commitment to student rights and responsibilities, TAWA endorses and expects high standards of behaviour and decorum from all students.

A display of any of the following behaviours is regarded as conflicting with TAWA code of practice and may lead to disciplinary action:

Disobeying a reasonable trainer or staff member request
Rude or derogatory behaviour or action
Disruptive behaviour
Non-attendance or non-participation

Failure to heed verbal and written warnings, in ongoing situations of non- compliance and misconduct, will result in further disciplinary action at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.

Copyright and Academic Integrity

In accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), for study and research purposes, you are allowed to copy:

One chapter or 10% of a book; or
One chapter, or 10% of the number of words of text materials in electronic form; or
One article per issue of a journal, magazine or newspaper – or more than one article if each article relates to the same subject matter. Internet material, artist, dramatic, film, and musical works are also covered by copyright legislation.

You should remember to reference carefully the copyright works you use in order to avoid plagiarism, which is considered to be ‘academic misconduct’.

When producing an assessment item, such as an assignment or report, you are required to acknowledge the sources of information that you have used:

to prove that your work has a substantial, factual basis
to show the research you’ve done to reach your conclusions
to allow readers to identify and retrieve the references for their own use If you do not acknowledge these sources, then you are plagiarising their

You must also comply with licences for the use of intellectual property, including software. All software on TAWA computers or provided to you as part of your learning resources is licensed and there is no permission to copy software unless permitted by licence.

TAWA is absolutely committed to upholding high standards of training and assessment and therefore implements the following academic integrity policy. You must at all times in the course of your studies:

Participate in learning and training and conduct research with honesty and integrity
Where necessary, acknowledge and seek permission to use the work of another
Understand that all work submitted for assessment must be your own work and in no way falsified or completed by another person
Always protect your work to ensure other students are not able to copy or misuse your work

Cheating

Cheating is student behaviour that sets out to defeat the purpose of any item of an individual assessment. Any student who cheats, attempts to cheat, or incites or assists another student to cheat in any assessment activity will face academic penalties.

Equipment

Appropriate equipment is provided for the effective delivery of all units of competency in all TAWA courses. Individual student users are responsible for ensuring that the equipment that they use is used and maintained in accordance with health and safety standards and returned to the appropriate location as indicated by the class trainer.

Students are responsible for testing equipment at the start of an activity and for reporting any malfunctioning or damaged equipment immediately. Any student found removing TAWA property or that of any visitor or staff member, from the premises may be subject to instant dismissal and may be reported to law enforcement.

Work Health and Safety

TAWA is committed to promoting a safe and healthy work and study environment and recognises its obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) to, so far as practicable, provide and maintain a working environment where its employees and students are not exposed to hazards.

The WHS Acts requires individuals, including TAWA students and campus visitors to take responsibility for contributing to their own safety in all circumstances. Training venue specific information about evacuation procedures, first aid, hazards and critical incidences and other necessary WHS requirements will be discussed at the induction session.

Injury and Incident Reporting

All students, and visitors must report all incidences which have the potential to cause an injury or illness and/or damage to equipment, buildings, or the natural environment as soon as possible to the supervising staff member. Incidences may range from near-miss to serious accidents and emergencies.

Medical Attention

A student with any medical condition/s is required to make TAWA aware of the situation at time of enrolment. If the condition requires continuing medical attention or treatment, this must also be declared at the time of enrolment. TAWA must be informed of the required treatment, including any medication.

STUDENT SELECTION, NEEDS IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLMENT

**** Enrolment Policy

TAWA’s Management and staff are committed to determining client needs through initial contact and interview and providing services to meet those needs. TAWA’s staff will provide timely and accurate advice to all potential and enrolling Learners. TAWA’s staff and management will at all times respond in a responsible manner to all reasonable requests for information about TAWA’s Training and Assessment services.

Enrolment Procedures

Pre-Enrolment Information On receiving initial contact by a potential or enrolling Learner, TAWA’s staff shall enquire concerning any specific needs (LL&N) and ensure that the Learner is provided with all mandatory course information which includes:

a. Course Information and/or training proposal which contains the following information:–
i. Code and Title of the qualification and/or Unit of Competency
ii. Course costs including funding options
iii. Course duration
iv. Course locations
v. Required volume of learning
vi. Program structure including any requirements to participate in work placements
vii. Entry requirements
b. The Student Handbook which contains the following information:–
i. The complaints and appeals process
ii. RPL and credit transfer
iii. Legislation
iv. RTO’s obligations
v. Learner’s obligations
TAWA’s Trainers and Assessors determines the amount of training they provide to each learner with regard to:
a) the existing skills, knowledge and the experience of the learner;
b) the mode of delivery; and
c) where a full qualification is not being delivered, the number of units and/or modules being delivered as a proportion of the full qualification.

On receiving a request for information concerning RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) TAWA’s staff shall ensure that enquirers are handed or sent the ‘RPL Application Kit’ and provided with information about the process of RPL.

On receiving a request for information concerning Credit transfer TAWA’s staff shall ensure that enquirers are handed or sent the ‘Credit Transfer Application form and provided with information about the process of Credit Transfer. The Enrolling officer must ensure that TAWA’s terms and conditions of enrolment are understood and agreed to by the Learner prior to enrolment and entering into an agreement with TAWA.

TAWA’s enrolment process must include the sourcing and validation of Unique Student Identifier from the USI Registrar in accordance with the requirements of the Student Identifiers Act 2014.The procedures for the sourcing and verification of a Unique Student Identifier (USI) will include:

verifying with the Registrar, a Student Identifier provided to TAWA by an individual before using that Student Identifier for any purpose;
ensuring that TAWA will not issue AQF certification documentation to an individual without being in receipt of a verified Student Identifier for that individual, unless an exemption applies under the Student Identifiers Act 2014;
ensuring that where an exemption described in Clause 6 (b) applies, the Enrolment officer will inform the student prior to either the completion of the enrolment or commencement of training and assessment, whichever occurs first, that the results of the training will not be accessible through the Commonwealth and will not appear on any authenticated VET transcript prepared by the Registrar; and
ensuring the security of Student Identifiers and all related documentation under its control, including information stored in TAWA’s student management systems

Enrolment Application Process

Once a prospective learner has made an informed decision about undertaking a specific qualification/course, and are interested in enrolling, the enrolling officer will:

a. Provide the prospective student/learner with enrolment forms
b. Provide the prospective student/learner with all relevant fee information including:
i) fees that must be paid to TAWA; and
i) payment terms and conditions including deposits and refunds
c. The learner’s rights as a consumer, including but not limited to any statutory cooling-off period, if one applies;
d. The learner’s right to obtain a refund for services not provided by TAWA in the event the:
i. arrangement is terminated early; or
ii. TAWA fails to provide the Services.
And
e. Conduct a Quality Assurance (QA) conversation with the prospective learner to ensure that the learner:
i. is not an overseas student
ii. has photographic identification
iii. understands the full the requirements for the training product that they have selected (including any pre-requisites, or entry requirements)
iv. is informed about any government training entitlements and eligibility requirements
v. has a copy of the Student Handbook (or access to it, either in print, or electronically)
And
f. Provide the prospective learner with a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Skills Indicator test (if applicable) and ensure that it is marked and result forwarded onto the students assigned trainer or Training Manager for appropriate action.

```
* Enrolling Learners will be required to undertake an LL&N (please refer to the Learner support policy)
```
- LL&N test results must be provided to the students assigned trainer or training manager for appropriate action and apply the required procedures TAWA’s Learner support policy.
- All Learners enrolled at TAWA have access to their own records that relate to their current progress or past training and assessment Learners may contact reception during office hours and may request a copy of their Learner records.
- All acceptances of enrolment will be accompanied with details of the relevant Course commencement details and notification of scheduled Orientation/ Learner

Student Commencement – TAWA Initial Contact

Following the confirmation of enrolment the student allocated Trainer and assessor will make contact within 8 working days to schedule 1st visit/training session
During the initial contact the Learner will be interviewed by their TAWA to determine suitability for enrolment to their chosen At this stage any areas that may require extra support such as language barriers, ethnicity will be addressed.
Learner Information provided to the Learner during the Interview shall be in support of the information provided in the Enrolment forms and should feature topics included in the Student Handbook (Please refer to the Student Handbook)
Workplace Training and Assessment agreements should be further explained and scheduled Learner progress established along with the timing for TAWA’s Training and Assessment staff

Learning Support

All students are provided with a range of learning support options and resources to help them achieve competency. This includes:

Mentoring from appropriately qualified trainers including provision of phone and email contact details.
Notification of tutorials and trainer availability sessions times if applicable
Referral to external support services as necessary

Other Support Services

TAWA recognises that all people learn differently and acknowledges that some students may require additional support. Additional support will be provided for any students experiencing:

disability and access issues;
language barriers;
language, literacy and numeracy issues;
any other issues that may affect their ability to achieve their training

Provision of additional support services will be provided where necessary to enable students to participate in the same way as any other person regardless of whether support services have been required.

Where there is perceived difficulty in achieving learning goals, the trainer will discuss these issues with the student. The student will be provided with information about possible alternative pathways, additional tools and resources available, and options and choices for accessing a supportive network. The information provided will vary depending on the individual needs of the student.

Should you feel that you are not coping with your training either because of difficulties at work or as a result of personal issues, you should seek advice and/or assistance from your trainer or TAWA. TAWA will make every effort to assist you to manage issues that could have an impact on the successful completion of training. Some issues, such as workplace industrial relations matters, may need to be referred to DTWD or another government department.

Although TAWA does not actively recruit and place trainees as part of our core business, we may be able to assist out-of-trade students with sourcing new employment positions. Pathways for continuing students may also be identified through this process.

TAWA has links with additional agencies that may provide further support. These include:

Language, Literacy and Numeracy

Discuss with us your options for further language, literacy and numeracy development.

Support Services

Alcohol and Drug Support Line

Free Call: 1800 198 024
Website: https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/alcoholanddrugsupportline
Lifeline
Phone: 131 114
Website: www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue
Phone: 1300 22 4636
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au
Mission Australia
Phone: (08) 9225 0400
Website: www.missionaustralia.com.au
Centrelink
Phone: 132 850
Website: www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/centrelink
Train & Retain
Phone: (08) 9305 0073
Website: www.trainandretain.com.au
Mates In Construction
Phone: 1300 642 111
Website: www.mates.org.au

QUALIFICATION ISSUING

TAWA will issue an AQF Qualification or Statement of Attainment (for units of competency achieved) within 30 working days of a student completing or withdrawing from the

course provided all agreed fees have been paid. TAWA aims for a 10 day turn around on Statement of Attainment for short courses and 15 days for Qualifications.

Revocation of Qualification

The RTO’s Management reserves the right to revoke AQF qualifications or statements of attainment that it is has issued in the following instances:

Where incorrect information has been included in its testamurs
Where acts of plagiarism by a student have been proven
The RTO’s Management will contact all students who have had their testamurs revoked and inform them of the revocation action in writing
The RTO’s Management will immediately reissue a revoked testamur where incorrect information has been used.

RECOGNITION

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) All students enrolled with TAWA who consider that they have, and can demonstrate current skills and knowledge in the qualifications or individual units of competency in the program, whether achieved through prior training (formal or informal) or through relevant work history and (work or life) experience may apply to have their knowledge and skills ‘assessed’ via an RPL process.

The RPL process at TAWA may vary depending on individuals’ specific circumstances but will generally include:

The provision of preliminary information about the RPL process to consider your suitability
Conversation between assessor and you to discuss evidence requirements for individual units, make a preliminary assessment, advise you accordingly and review the RPL assessment tool(s);
You will supply evidence of your capability (prior learning, work history, personal skills etc) specifically related to the units of competency

Examples of evidence might include (but of course is not limited to): º licences or tickets

```
*  _resume/CV or detailed work history_
```
- certificates (accredited, non accredited, higher education degrees or training programs.
- Refer Recognition re ‘credit’)
- __performance appraisals
- indentures or trade papers
- statements of attendance/certificates – vendor training courses, in-house courses, workshops, seminars, symposiums, club courses e.g. first aid, officials, surf lifesaving etc.
- __photographic evidence of work
- diaries/task sheets/job sheets/log books
- memberships of relevant professional associations º hobbies/interests/special skills outside work
- __references/letters from previous employers/supervisors º industry awards
- letters from employers, records of professional development.

__ An assessor may conduct a review/verification of the evidence supplied against the units of competency.

The assessor may facilitate a on-on-one professional conversation. Depending on your experience and/or evidence, the assessor may need more than 1 occasion and/or to assess your skills in your workplace or a simulated environment.

If you consider you may have prior knowledge and skills that could demonstrate your current competence in accredited training, you are encouraged to discuss with TAWA at enrolment.

Credit

TAWA recognises qualifications and/or Statements of Attainment issued by other RTOs.

TAWA defines the recognition of skills achieved through formal learning and assessment as credit transfer.

Credit transfer allows a student to be awarded a unit of competency towards completion of a qualification, based on successful completion of the unit previously completed with another RTO.

To apply for credit transfer, you should obtain an application form from TAWA administration, which you will need to provide along with the original statement(s) of attainment or qualification(s) or certified copies for examination by TAWA. TAWA will verify these qualifications and determine credit eligibility. Prior qualifications in another name must be accompanied by evidence of a name change (marriage certificate, deed poll etc).

Credit Transfer Guidelines

The following guidelines are to be followed when an application for credit transfer is received:

Whilst students may apply for credit transfer at any time, they are encouraged to apply before commencing a training program or within three (3) weeks of the program This will reduce unnecessary training and guide the student down a more efficient path to competence.
The student does not incur any fees for credit transfer and TAWA do not receive any funding when credit transfer is granted.
Credit transfer may only be awarded for whole units of competence. Where a mapping guide identifies a partial credit, this will not be considered for credit transfer and the applicant will be advised to seek
TAWA will verify all certification submitted for consideration as true and genuine
Completed credit transfer applications are signed by the student and TAWA representative and retained on the student’s file at TAWA with accompanying
Students are notified in writing of the outcome of their All credit transfer approved will be recorded on the training plan issued to the student.

OPINIONS, ISSUES AND IMPROVEMENTS

Complaints and Appeals

TAWA is fully committed to constantly improving how its business is conducted and maintaining its continuous compliance with the VET Quality Framework. Your feedback about your experiences with TAWA is very important in enabling us to do this effectively.

Students, prospective students and other clients are invited to provide their feedback on any aspect of our services at any time. Feedback can be provided in person, over the phone or in writing. All feedback received will be used in TAWA’s feedback and continuous improvement cycle.

TAWA considers all experiences an opportunity to learn, reflect and improve. Self- reflection and evaluation plays a key role in the organisation’s continuous improvement and all managers and staff are actively encouraged to participate in continuous improvement processes.

We will regularly ask for your opinion in the form of formal (surveys) and informal (conversations) feedback.

As an RTO, TAWA is also required to collect Learner Engagement feedback (via a survey) about your experience with us, and report the outcomes to the national regulator

annually. We would request your participation in this process, as it is a valuable source of information for us to identify areas for improvement.

It is also important that if you have an issue or a problem (with the training or with our services), including if you are dissatisfied with the outcomes of assessment and other decisions, that we know about it and have an opportunity to work with you to resolve it.

TAWA’s full Complaint and Appeal Policy and Procedure is available from our administration team.

In brief, if you have a complaint, please discuss it first with the relevant person, or another TAWA staff member. If this discussion is unable to resolve the issue, or you are unable to discuss it directly, you may submit a ‘formal’ complaint (an appointment, email, letter or via the website) to TAWA who will commit to investigating the issue and working with you to resolve.

If you are lodging an appeal about a decision, whether the decision is about the result of an assessment or a decision about an issue, it must be done within 14 days of

notification of the result or decision. Each student has an opportunity to formally present his or her case and is given a written statement of the appeal outcomes including reasons for the decision.

Whilst TAWA would prefer the opportunity to work with you to satisfactorily resolve issues, the commonwealth government also provides students with access to a National Training Complaints Hotline (13 38 73 or skilling@education.gov.au ) which is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (AEST).

INFORMATION FOR APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES

Important Contacts This list has been compiled to help you determine where your queries should be directed to. Queries about starting an apprenticeship/traineeship or finding an employer for an apprenticeship/traineeship should be directed to an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider. Queries relating to the training contract once an apprenticeship has been established should be directed to the DTWD Apprenticeship Office on 13 19 54.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers in Western Australia. For general enquiries, call the AASN info line.

Apprenticeship Support Australia (Powered by: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia)

The Apprenticeship Community

(The Busy Group Ltd)
MEGT (Australia) Ltd
T: 13 38 73
W: www.apprenticeships.gov.au
T: 1300 363 831
E: appr enticeshipsupport@cciwa.com.au
W: www.apprenticeshipsupport.com.au
T: 13 28 79 or 08 6165 3362
E: mail@apprenticeshipcommunity.com.au
W: www.apprenticeshipcommunity.com.au
T: 13 63 48
E: aacinfo@megt.com.au
W: www.megt.com.au

For wages, award conditions and other training and/or work related matters

Fair Work Ombudsman

(if employed under a Federal award)

Wageline (if employed under a State award)
Group training organisations Group training is an employment arrangement where organisations

employ apprentices and trainees under a training contract and place them with host employers for completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

T: 13 13 94
www.fairwork.gov.au www.commerce.wa.gov.au/labourrelations
T: 1300 655 266
W: dtwd.wa.gov.au/group-training- organisation
Superannuation
For enquiries relating to superannuation, please contact the Australian Taxation Office.
T: 13 10 20
W: http://ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super
Travel and accommodation allowance For general enquiries relating to TAA contact the TAA team.
For further information please visit W: https://dtwd.wa.gov.au/policies- guidelines-reporting/travel-and-accommodation-allowance
T: 08 6551 5494.
If you are an apprentice/trainee or employer, email taa@dtwd.wa.gov.au for all queries regarding the TAA.
If you are a training provider, email taarto@dtwd.wa.gov.au for all queries regarding the TAA.
Workplace Health and Safety
Worksafe WA
T: 1300 307 877
W: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe
Lodging a Complaint

An employer, apprentice/trainee, parent/guardian and other persons with sufficient interest may lodge a complaint with the Department of Training of Workforce Development (DTWD) – Apprenticeship office regarding:

training delivered to the apprentice or trainee under the training plan
adequacy of the facilities, range of work and supervision provided by the employer
circumstances in which the contract was signed or amended or cancelled
general apprenticeship or traineeship arrangements
certain services provided by training organisations who deliver training to apprentices and trainees.

Complaints may be lodged using their online feedback form or phone the DTWD – Apprenticeship Office direct on 13 19 54.
Travel and Accommodation Subsidy Information

Financial assistance may be available to trainees and apprentices to help meet the costs of travelling to and from their off-the-job training and to assist those who are required to live away from home during this attendance.

Further information, copies of the claim form and details of the current subsidy rates are available from the DTWD website at https://dtwd.wa.gov.au /about-us/legislative- framework-policies-and- guidelines/policy

YOU’RE GOOD TO GO!

TAWA encourages you to maintain this Student Handbook for the duration of your study with us and refer to it as needed. Remember, if you have any questions at all, please ask any TAWA staff (email or phone us). We want your learning experience with us to be rewarding.

Privacy Notice and Student Declaration

Privacy Notice

Under the Data Provision Requirements 2012 , Trade Academy Western Australia is required to collect personal information about you and to disclose that personal information to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER).

Your personal information (including the personal information contained on this enrolment form), may be used or disclosed by Trade Academy Western Australia for statistical, administrative, regulatory and research purposes. Trade Academy Western Australia may disclose your personal information for these purposes to:

Commonwealth and State or Territory government departments and authorised agencies; and

Personal information that has been disclosed to NCVER may be used or disclosed by NCVER for the following purposes:

populating authenticated VET transcripts;
facilitating statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage;
pre-populating RTO student enrolment forms;
understanding how the VET market operates, for policy, workforce planning and consumer information; and
administering VET, including program administration, regulation, monitoring and

You may receive a student survey which may be administered by a government department or NCVER employee, agent or third party contractor or other authorised agencies. Please note you may opt out of the survey at the time of being contacted.

NCVER will collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the National VET Data Policy and all NCVER policies and protocols (including those published on NCVER’s website at www.ncver.edu.au )).

Contact Us
TAWA Trade Training Centre
14 Wright Street
BAYSWATER WA 6053
Phone: (08)
6225 2502

Email: info@tradeacademywa.com.au
Web: www.tradeacademywa.com.au

www.tradeacademywa.com.au

References

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