CODE OF PRACTICE

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that management strategies are adopted which will maintain a high professional standard in the marketing and delivery of vocational education training and which will protect the educational advancement and welfare of students.

1.         Marketing/Promotion

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will market/promote its training courses/competencies and training services with accuracy and professionalism. This will be achieved by ongoing development of management strategies to respond to WA Local Government/Construction and associated industry sectors industry vocational training requirements.

Where information on students/employers are included in any advertising, marketing and/or promotional material, Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that appropriate prior written consent is obtained from those individuals or organisations.

2.         Course Information

Down to Earth Training & Assessingwill provide accurate and timely information to students on the content and location of vocational training courses, together with all costs/fees, course objectives, assessment methods, competency standards employed and any articulation arrangements.

3.        Recognition of qualifications issued by other RTOs

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will recognise the AQF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by any other RTO. This includes any and all competencies within nationally endorsed Training Packages, together with Short Courses and/or Training Programs endorsed by State Training Accreditation Bodies.

4.       Education/Training Standards

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that quality vocational training is provided to students and that such vocational training will have sufficient flexibility in the mode of delivery to ensure no learning outcome bias to any cultural group or gender.

5.       Access and Equity

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that government policy, principles of access and equity are complied with. To achieve this aim, Down to Earth Training & Assessing will:-

1. improve access to and participation in all programs and services
2. work towards removing barriers
3. ensure that vocational training courses/programs are responsive to the needs of both individuals and groups
4. provide advice on bridging and access programs for those students with special needs.

Information regarding any pre-requisites to any competency or course training will be supplied to all students at the time of student application.  Should these pre-requisites not be held by the student, the student is to be referred to an appropriate training/licensing authority in order to obtain sufficient proof of evidence of compliance.

Client/Student requests for access to any and all pertinent records is/are to be approved in line with Freedom of Information and Privacy Act 1988.  Appropriate identification and/or authorising letter are to be verified prior to releasing such information.

Release of student and/or training details will be consistent with federal and WA government policy including Freedom of Information (FOI), Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health & Safety, Anti-Discrimination, Privacy Act and the Department of Training Acts and Regulations.

1. selection, enrolment and induction/orientation procedures;
2. course information, including content and vocational outcomes;
3. fees and charges, including refund policy and exemptions (where applicable);
4. provision of guidance for language, literacy and numeracy assessment;
5. client support, including any external support Down To Earth Training & Assessing has arranged for clients/students;
6. flexible learning and assessment procedures;
7. access to welfare and guidance services;
8. appeals and complaints procedures;
9. disciplinary procedures;
10. staff responsibilities for access and equity; and
11. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) arrangements.

6.         Recruitment

Recruitment of students will at all times be conducted in an equitable and responsible manner.  Recruitment policy will be managed on the stated principles of access and equity and will also take into account the student’s abilities and aspirations.  Relevant selection criteria, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/Recognition of Current Competencies and workplace assessment will also form part of the recruitment policy.

7.       Complaint/Appeal Mechanisms
                                                                
Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that students have access to appeal mechanisms covering:-

1. Recruitment selection, enrolment procedures, RPL/RCC, assessment, and placement
2. Other complaints.

These will be consistent with federal and WA government policy including Freedom of Information (FOI), Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety, Privacy Act, and the Department of Training Acts and Regulations.

8.       Refund Policy

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that a fair and equitable refund policy is implemented with guidelines for the refund of fees when courses are cancelled, discontinued or where students have adequate reason to withdraw from the vocational training offered.

Down to Earth Training & Assessing will ensure that sufficient monies are retained in their banking account to cover refunds for cancellation of courses due to illness of trainers, as well as cancellation by students from any course due to student illness.