student handbookrto 31679 connect training student handbook v9.5jan2020 page 5 of 14 the connect...

Student Handbook

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Connect Training Student Handbook V9.5Jan2020 of 14

Welcome to Connect Training and Education!

Thank you for choosing Connect Training and Education for your professional

development.

We are a family-owned Australian Registered Training Organisation who are proud to

employ Australian-based trainers, assessors and student support specialists.

Our vision is to enable learners to achieve their chosen career goals by providing flexibility

in their access to training, as well as offering excellence in the training and support

provided to assist them on their path to career satisfaction.

Our goals are as follows:

• To provide training in a way that is accessible for everyone;

• To provide first-class, industry best-practice course materials;

• To allow learners to choose their learning pathway and method of assessment to best prove their competence;

• To make learning fun and supportive so that that it encourages a continued search for knowledge and upskilling.

This Student Handbook will provide you with information about Connect Training and

Education, including the services we provide and how to enrol with us.

In conjunction with this handbook you should also read our policies and procedures on our

website at https://www.connect.edu.au/policies/.

If at any time you need further information, please contact us on 1300 737 434, or at

[email protected].

https://www.connect.edu.au/policies/

mailto:[email protected]

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WELCOME TO CONNECT TRAINING AND EDUCATION! ................................................................................. 2

THE CONNECT PROMISE ............................................................................................................................... 5

OUR COURSES .............................................................................................................................................. 5

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 5

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 5

INITIAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................................... 6

TRAINING DELIVERY ..................................................................................................................................... 6

ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................................ 6

TRAINERS AND ASSESSORS .......................................................................................................................... 7

ATTENDANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 7

COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS ......................................................................................................................... 7

COURSE EXTENSION ..................................................................................................................................... 8

EARLY WITHDRAWAL ................................................................................................................................... 8

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ................................................................................................................... 8

FEEDBACK AND COMMUNICATION .............................................................................................................. 8

FEES ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

NO-FEE SERVICES ......................................................................................................................................... 9

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 9

CHANGES TO OUR BUSINESS ........................................................................................................................ 9

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS................................................................................................... 10

BEHAVIOUR AND DRESS ............................................................................................................................. 11

OUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................................................................................... 11

PRIVACY ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)/CURRENT COMPETENCIES (RCC) ............................................... 12

COURSE CREDIT .......................................................................................................................................... 12

RECORDS MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 12

ACCESSING YOUR PERSONAL RECORD ....................................................................................................... 12

THIRD-PARTY ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. 13

TRAINING DELIVERY ................................................................................................................................... 13

ISSUING OF CERTIFICATES AND STATEMENTS/TRANSCRIPTS ..................................................................... 13

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES ............................................................................................................................. 13

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES..................................................................................................................... 13

STUDENT HANDBOOK VERIFICATION ......................................................................................................... 14

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Contact Details

Web address: connect.edu.au

Phone: 1300 737 434

Email: [email protected]

Address: Suite 47/30 Denison Street

Bondi Junction NSW 2022

Unit 21B / 1631 Wynnum Road

Tingalpa QLD 4173

Office hours: Mon–Fri, 0900–1700

Trainer support: Mon–Fri, 0900–1700

https://www.connect.edu.au/

mailto:[email protected]

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The Connect Promise

At Connect it’s our top priority that you successfully finish your course and graduate with

real skills and the confidence to use them. Everything we do is aimed at helping you meet

these goals.

When you study with Connect you will

• learn using highest-quality materials delivered through our highly interactive easy-to-use online learning system and designed by the industry skills service organisation Innovation & Business Skills Australia;

• receive timely support from Australian-based trainers, assessors and student support specialists;

• undertake assessments that have been designed with industry consultation to ensure you gain the relevant skills that are customisable to your particular industry.

Our Courses

Your enrolment is an important step in developing and/or formally recognising your skills

and knowledge to assist in your career aspirations. We offer courses in the following:

• Training and assessment

• Business

• Translating and Interpreting

For information on all our courses, visit www.connect.edu.au/courses/.

Entry Requirements

Each of our courses has different entry requirements. These consist of the training

package requirements and our RTO requirements. For info on the entry requirements for a

particular course, click on the course you are interested in from this page:

www.connect.edu.au/courses/.

Licensing Requirements

If a course is subject to licensing requirements, you will find that information by clicking on

the course you are interested in on this page www.connect.edu.au/courses/.

http://www.connect.edu.au/courses/



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Initial Skills Assessment

Our enrolment process requires you to complete an enrolment form and provide relevant

information to ensure that we provide training suitable to your needs. This includes taking

an LLN test to ensure that you have the necessary LLN skills to complete the course. All

information collected is kept confidential and is subject to our Privacy Policy.

Training Delivery

The structured training component of all our courses is delivered 100% online through our

easy-to-use online learning management system. Delivery may also include online

interactive classes with your trainer and fellow students.

Additional training is to be completed through the student selecting appropriate non-structured activities, which may include any or all of the following:

• Private study, preparation and follow-up

• Self-initiated learning

• Research

• Undertaking practice in the industry skillsets in the qualification

• Attending industry trade events

• Reading industry magazines

• Engaging with industry networks, including LinkedIn

• Participating in conferences and technical seminars.

We will ensure that students are given every reasonable opportunity to complete their

training.

The delivery approach is to be adjusted based on each student’s

• level of Language, Literacy and Numeracy;

• personal circumstances;

• previous education and training; and

• experience.

For more information relevant to particular courses, visit our website at

www.connect.edu.au/courses/ and look for the heading “Delivery Mode”.

Assessment

The assessment component of our courses is mainly completed online, although some

courses will also require you to complete assessments in a workplace or simulated

workplace. Assessment may also include online interactive sessions with your trainer and

fellow students.


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Our assessments are designed to prepare you to use your new skills and knowledge in the

workplace. We use a wide range of assessment methods, including RPL, and our

assessments are designed to be contextualised to each individual student’s industry,

workplace, and interests. There is frequent interaction with your assessor during

assessment tasks, and if you need guidance, your assessor is always on hand.

For more information relevant to particular courses, visit our website at

www.connect.edu.au/courses/ and look for the heading “Delivery Mode”.

Please read our assessment policy at www.connect.edu.au/policies/ to familiarise yourself

with how you will be assessed.

Trainers and Assessors

As per the requirements of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 (“the

Standards”), we provide all of the training services you have purchased through the

employment of person who

• holds the required training and assessment credentials;

• holds the qualification you are being trained in or a higher level qualification, depending on the training package requirements;

• has recent and relevant workplace/industry experience; and

• is considered a subject-matter expert in their respective field.

Note: We do not engage any person or training organisation to deliver our training and

assessment services on our behalf.

Attendance

In order to demonstrate good academic progress, we expect all students to successfully

complete, or demonstrate competency in, at least one unit per month for our 12-month

courses completed through a training and assessment pathway, and one unit per fortnight

for our 6-month RPL programs. For more information, please read our assessment policy

at www.connect.edu.au/policies/.

Complaints and Appeals

In keeping with the National VET Regulator Act 2011, Standards 2015, we have a

Complaints and Appeals process to assist you when the need arises.

In making your decision to enrol in this process, you need to be aware that

• a complaint relates to any matter not related to your training outcomes, and

• an appeal only relates to your training outcomes.


http://www.connect.edu.au/policies/


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You may complain or appeal in the following ways:

• Informally – a brief discussion with your trainer, where the trainer’s explanation is sufficient to resolve the matter, or

• Formally – in writing, where an investigation is required to resolve the matter.

Our full Complaints and Appeals procedure must be read in conjunction with this

document, which can be found at www.connect.edu.au/policies/.

Course Extension

We are not obligated to extend the period of your enrolment if you have not completed

your course on time, but every effort will be made to assist you to complete your training,

and course extensions may be considered depending on individual circumstances.

Early Withdrawal

Students who leave their course prior to completion will only receive a statement of

attainment for the units in which they have been assessed as competent.

Employment Opportunities

Upon successful completion of your training, you may be able to gain employment in the

areas for which you have been trained and prepared. We are not able to guarantee that

you will be employed at the successful conclusion of your training. The onus is on you to

seek out the available employment opportunities and to successfully complete your

training.

Feedback and Communication

We embrace an ongoing policy of open communication, and we encourage feedback and

dialogue with all students to assist with meeting student needs and concerns as well as for

ongoing improvement of our services.

We would appreciate feedback in regard to your opinions, satisfaction level, or other views

about our operations, policies, procedures, and training delivery and assessment.

Feedback will be sought through the completion of a Student Satisfaction Survey provided

by us at the conclusion of your training. You may also be called upon by the regulating

body ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) to complete a survey on our services.


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Fees

As a Nationally Registered Training Organisation, we are able to collect fees from

students, and must provide or direct each student to information specifying the following:

• Fees that must be paid to us;

• Payment terms and conditions, including deposits and refunds;

• Students’ rights as consumers, including but not limited to any statutory cooling-off period, if one applies;

• Students’ right to obtain a refund for services not provided by us in the event that

o the arrangement is terminated early; or

o we fail to provide the services.

As such, we direct your attention to the course you are seeking on our Courses page

www.connect.edu.au/courses/, and our Fee Management policy, which can be found at

www.connect.edu.au/policies/, for full and frank information on our fees, charges and

refund policy.

No-Fee Services

Any services provided to assist the learner to complete their training successfully are

provided free of charge to the student accessing such services, including referrals to

external services. Where possible, such external services will be a not-for-profit or

international student services-specific organisation.

Any investigation into a complaint or appeal is at no cost to the student.

Industry Engagement

We have engaged with industry employers to ensure that our training and assessment

services are being delivered to meet the needs of the industry and that your training is

relevant to industry.

This engagement ensures that you are able to fulfil an industry need.

Changes To Our Business

In the event that we make any changes to any or all of the following:

• Ownership and control of the legal entity

• Name of the legal entity or trading name

• Chief executive officer or accountable officer

• Location of head office or permanent training venue

• Contact details of the organisation,

we shall notify students via email as soon as is reasonably practicable and also advise how these changes will affect their training.



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Student Responsibilities and Rights

When you elect to participate in training with us, you have a responsibility to

• adhere to our policies and procedures;

• treat others with respect, fairness and courtesy;

• not plagiarise, collude, or cheat in any assessment activity;

• attend class and be available on time for any online classes;

• notify your trainer if you will be absent or late;

• participate in the course;

• submit assessments on time and in the required manner;

• provide written notice of any changes to your enrolment status.

You have a right to

• be treated fairly with respect from others and without discrimination or harassment, regardless of religious, cultural, racial or sexual differences, age, disability or socio-economic status;

• remain free from all forms of intimidation;

• work in a safe, clean, orderly and cooperative environment;

• have your personal property protected from damage and other misuse;

• learn in an environment that is conducive to success;

• work and learn in a supportive environment without interference from others;

• apply to have existing skills and knowledge recognised;

• have privacy concerning records containing personal information (subject to other statutory requirement and other agreed uses);

• be given information about assessment procedures at the beginning of the unit, and progressive results as they occur;

• lodge a complaint when necessary and have it investigated effectively without fear of retaliation or victimisation; and

• express and share ideas and to ask questions.

Consequences of inappropriate and discriminatory communication, plagiarism,

cheating, or collusion may result in your enrolment being terminated and a

statement of attainment issued for any units completed to date.

Any person who has had their enrolment suspended or terminated has the right of appeal

through our appeals process. You will find further information on this on our website at

www.connect.edu.au/policies/.


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Behaviour and Dress

You will behave in all interactions with your trainer, assessor and our staff in a manner that

reflects the professional status of the industry that you are training for, and shall respect

the rights of others with regard to equal opportunities, harassment, bullying, and

discrimination.

Unacceptable behaviour includes the following:

• Inappropriate clothing, including thongs, ripped or torn clothing, unnecessary exposed flesh, offensive prints or words;

• Inappropriate language, meaning no swearing or abusive language;

• Disrespectful behaviour;

• Misuse of our computer system;

• Engaging in behaviour that may offend, embarrass, threaten or harm other students, staff or the general public, including via electronic means.

Our Rights and Responsibilities

We will maintain and deliver high-quality training courses, complying with the VET Quality

Framework (VQF) accreditation requirements as a Registered Training Organisation.

We will maintain Workplace, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Harassment, Bullying

and Discrimination Policies and comply with relevant legislation.

We will

• have suitably qualified staff;

• provide all training services for which we are registered to provide

o student resources, and

o effective assessment tools.

As per our obligations to our learners we are responsible for the quality of the training and assessment in compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015, and for the issuance of AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) certification documentation.

Privacy

All personal information provided to us is protected by the requirements of the

Commonwealth Privacy Act and is securely stored. It will not be accessed by any

unauthorised person without prior written consent from the student.

A full copy of our privacy policy is available at www.connect.edu.au/policies/.


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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/Current Competencies (RCC)

You may be eligible to gain credit for previous industry experience, studies in other

courses, or from other training providers.

If you fit into this category, enquire about RPL/RCC or credit transfers, which could

significantly shorten your study requirements.

To do this, speak with Administration/Student Support at the time of enrolling or during the

course if you find that a unit you are studying seems appropriate for you to use RPL.

Course Credit

All students are made aware of the ability to apply for course credit via an RPL, CR or CT

application throughout the enrolment process of the course. To read more about this, see

our Assessment Policy at www.connect.edu.au/policies/.

Records Management

Administrative records management specifications are determined by regulatory

requirements; the business functions; technologies; risks; evidence requirements; retention

and archiving; and compliance requirements for external and internal reporting, security,

storage and retrieval of information.

We maintain records of program development, program delivery, student details, human

and physical resources, and financial and management activities.

Records we will collect for each student include the following:

• Student personal details – recorded and entered at the time of enrolment

• Course details – recorded and entered at the time of enrolment

• Course units of competency or modules – recorded at the time of enrolment

• Progress – recorded on our online learning system and RTO management system

• Attendance – recorded by our online learning system

• Completed assessments – retained for a minimum of 12 months.

Student records must be maintained for 30 years.

Accessing Your Personal Record

To access your personal record, you need to contact the Training Manager by phoning or

emailing us.



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Third-Party Arrangements

We do not engage with any third party to provide any training and assessment services on

our behalf.

From time to time, we may enter into an agreement with an education agent to provide

marketing and recruitment services on our behalf.

Engagement with third parties to provide student support services will only be on a case-

by-case basis, and only when such services are outside the scope and ability of our staff.

Training Delivery

All training and assessment services are delivered and assessed in English.

Issuing of Certificates and Statements/Transcripts

Within 30 days of successful completion of your course or unit/s of competency, you will be

issued with a certificate or statement of attainment by email providing that

• all fees have been paid;

• you have provided all relevant information, including your USI number.

You can request a printed copy of the certificate to be sent by post at no extra charge.

The issuance of a certificate is included in the course fees. An administrative fee of $50

applies if a student requires an interim statement of attainment or a re-issuance of a

certificate.

For more information about USI numbers, please visit https://www.usi.gov.au/students.

Learning Difficulties

If you have any learning difficulties, we encourage you to identify them either directly or in

confidence to your Trainer or Director prior to course commencement.

Student Support Services

As we offer training courses to all members of the community, we have established a

number of vocational barrier supports, which include special assistance with

• assessment tasks, and

• language, literacy, and numeracy.

Assistance will depend on the needs of the student and may include referral to any of the

following, singularly or in combination:

• Reading and writing hotline;

• Access to a dictionary or interpreting device;

• Foundation Skills program at a Community College or TAFE.

https://www.usi.gov.au/students

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Student Handbook Verification

It is a requirement of your enrolment that you have accessed, read, and understood the

information provided within this Student Handbook and in the policies on our website at

www.connect.edu.au/policies/ before you commence your enrolment with Connect

Training and Education. If there are any issues or areas that you are unsure of, you must

contact Connect Training and Education to discuss these before your enrolment takes

place.

At the time of enrolment you need to declare that

• the information you have provided is accurate; and

• you have accessed and read this Student Handbook and have understood all Connect Training and Education’s policies, which are available at www.connect.edu.au/policies/.

Your online enrolment consists of you confirming that you have read and understand all of

the roles and responsibilities of all parties regarding these policies and procedures within

the Student Handbook. This confirmation is considered to be your electronic signature to

reading and understanding these policies as well as your consenting to adhere to these

policies, which also includes, but is not limited to, the collection, use, and disclosure of

your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Policy.



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