TABLE OF CONTENTS

Recruitment

Refund Policy

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC Insurance)

All international students studying in Australia must have Health Insurance Cover whilst they reside in Australia as part of their visa requirements. The cost of Health insurance in Australia will vary according to provider and the level of cover.

Once accepted into your course and provided with your Confirmation of Enrolment, you can speak with our staff members who will be able to provide you with the details of insurance companies that we regularly deal with who will help organise cover. If organised through our Strategix, the fees for this insurance cover can be added to your course fees, alternatively, you could investigate options yourself. A useful website that may help you is www.oshcaustralia.com.au. If you organise the insurance cover yourself then you will be responsible for the payments and you will be required to provide us with a certificate demonstrating cover prior to commencement of your studies.

OSHC insurance is designed to cover you for up to 100% of the fees for most medical services in Australian Hospitals and for an ambulance. Students may wish to take out additional insurance coverage for dental services, Chinese medicines or alternative therapies.

Visa Requirements

As an international student studying in Australia you must satisfy the requirements of your student visa.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Maintaining your overseas health insurance cover

• Payment of all course fees as they become due and maintaining your financial viability

• Maintaining satisfactory course progress

• Informing Strategix of any change of address or contact details whilst you are studying with the college

• Maintaining attendance in line with Strategix’ Student Attendance Policy

• Not working more than 40 hours per fortnight whilst study is in session and full time during semester breaks.

Should Strategix become aware of a breaches in visa requirements, we are required to notify the Department of Home Affairs of the breach. This may/can lead to the cancellation of your visa.

English Language Proficiency

You must have sufficient English language proficiency, educational qualifications or work experience to enrol in the course with Strategix. The full details surrounding English Language Proficiency are outlined in Strategix’ English Language Proficiency Policy and Procedure.

Learner Support Services

Strategix Trainers and Support Officers provide students with real time assistance for any learner support needs. Students are required to disclose all needs that may impact their learning and participating prior to commencement of training.

Our staff are always happy to help you whenever possible. If you are facing problems of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact a support officer or your Trainer. We encourage you to take advantage of the support facilities available before any problems become an issue. These services are designed to help resolve issues which may stand in the way of you successfully completing your course, these services include free access to our trained and experienced Counselling advisors.

Student Support Services can be reached on (07) 3207 9950 and include:

• Counselling, which is confidential and appropriate, carried out by a qualified, trained professional

• Academic support

• Emergency and health related support

• An orientation program and induction program to help you acclimatise to your new location

• Career and further education pathway advice and support

• Internal systems and technical support

• Administration support

• Cultural support and education including language and communication

• Employment seeking advice and support.

As well as Strategix support services being available to you, in Brisbane there is a dedicated non-Government support agency for international students based in South Bank. The Brisbane Student Hub is a free, welcoming support service for international students offering independent advice on healthcare, employment, budget management, legal services and more as well as linking students to events and activities. Check out more details on their website.

Support/Emergency Contacts

This table contains a list of important contacts that may be useful during your time in Australia.

The Training and Assessment Process

At Strategix we ensure the training and assessment of all students is fair and non-discriminatory. We ensure the Principles of Assessment (including: fairness, flexibility, validity and reliability) and the Rules of Evidence (including; validity, sufficiency, currency and authenticity) are part of our assessment system and followed at all times.

There are four main steps in the process:

1. Enrolment, Induction and Orientation

2. Develop Training Plan

3. Training and Assessment Activities

4. Completion and Qualification

Enrolment, Induction and Orientation

A representative from Strategix or an education agent can assist you with your enrolment. You will be provided with information about Strategix and your training options. In order to commence the enrolment process you must complete an enrolment form and return it to Strategix.

The first step in your assessment journey with Strategix happens during your enrolment. These enrolment form provides Strategix with the necessary details to determine:

• Suitability for the course of study

• Your personal details, including contact information

• Credit Transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning that may be awarded

• Required learner support services.

After you have submitted your enrolment application:

1. Strategix makes a decision to accept you into the course

2. You will receive a Letter of Offer and Acceptance Agreement

3. You will need to complete/return the Letter of Offer and Acceptance agreement, pay any due fees and include any additional documents

4. Strategix will provide you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

5. You can then apply for your Student Visa (use the provide the CoE as evidence of your spot in the course)

6. You need to provide Strategix with a copy of your Student Visa

7. You then show up for your Induction and Orientation day with Strategix.

See the International Student Enrolment Procedure for more details.

Develop Training Plan

A training plan is a formal document which outlines how, when and where training and assessment will occur. It can be used as a guide to monitor your progress towards achievement of the qualification. Once developed, the training plan is signed off by your trainer/assessor, your supervisor/employer (if applicable), and yourself.

Training plans are reviewed on a regular basis throughout the course of study to ensure effectiveness and validity of the subject selection and monitor the progress of your qualification. The reviews are generally completed every 2 – 4 months dependant on the funding source, contract requirements, client requirements and student progress.

Training and Assessment Activities

Training (Delivery)

The most important part of your time spent with us is your participation in training and education, without it, you will not be prepared for or able to, undertake your assessments. Prior to and in preparation for assessment, Strategix will provide you with all required learning materials and training.

As a learner you will have a Training Plan (AKA course schedule) which outlines how, when and where training and assessment will occur during your course. Your Training Plan includes the minimum learning you require to be ready to participate in your assessment/s. During your course, the training you will participate in may include:

• Scheduled contact hours:

  • Face to face classes,

  • Course-related information sessions,

  • Supervised study sessions,

  • Mandatory and supervised work-based training (Vocational Placement),

  • Assessment sessions

  • Online tutorials (domestic students).

• Self-paced study.

You must prepare yourself for your assessment by attending any education facilities (if applicable) and accessing the learner guides, resources and equipment.

Where applicable, Strategix ensures all resources, items, locations and facilities are available to you and/or are ready for your use during the assessment period. Please Note: If Vocational Placement is part of your course, it is your responsibility to organise your own placement host. Prior to assessment, your trainer will inform you of assessment requirements and expectations and provide you with your assessment materials.

We will ensure that an effective learning environment is maintained at all times. The environment will be characterised by:

• An effective training-learning relationship and rapport between workplace trainer/assessors and students

• Teamwork, communication, feedback and cooperation between all involved

• Openness, honesty, trust, respect and supportiveness

• Sufficient time (to practice and understand the content of the course)

• Quality training and assessment materials

• Appropriate facilities, equipment and resources

• Flexibility in training and assessment methods to meet your needs

• Ensuring all trainers have the requisite training and technical skills, experience and attitudes

• Consultation with industry regularly to ensure that:

  • Our training and assessment continues to meet industry needs and standards

  • Materials and strategies are aligned with industry through consultation with companies, industry associations and government

  • Our trainers’ experience is current through participation in industry release programs.

Assessment

In line with competency-based training methodology, assessment will be progressive, with an emphasis on demonstrating competence and practical application of skills and knowledge.

How you will be assessed and what the assessor will be looking for will be made clear to you at the beginning of each subject. Assessment due dates are communicated by the trainer/facilitator where required. You must ensure you keep copies of all assessment tasks; you may be required to resubmit at a future date.

When it comes time to complete your assessments, you must demonstrate competence through successfully meeting the requirements of each assessment to an acceptable level. You may encounter a range of assessment methods from the following table:

When formulating your responses and/or participating in your assessment activities, you need to be sure that you respond in a way that matches the level of the course you are undertaking. For example, if you are undertaking a Diploma level qualification, your responses to questions would require more detail and be held to a higher standard than responses to questions in a Certificate III qualification. Your learning and assessment material will drive your responses and if you do not quite meet response requirements, the assessor will provide feedback and allow you to attempt the question again.

Many elements of your training and assessment with Strategix will be through the use of electronic means (enrolment form, learning materials and assessment materials/methods inclusive), therefore it is important for students to have sound computer skills. In the campus and at schools, students will have access to devices in order to complete their assessment. When studying online, students must have a suitable device to complete their course.

Marking Assessments

Before an assessor will mark your assessment/s you must have, where applicable:

• Completed all assessment parts

• Provided all required evidence (attachments, templates, vocational placement record books, etc.)

• Securely attached any paper attachments to the assessment tool and labelled with at least your name and the subject code and name

• Recorded all responses (including verbal responses recorded by assessor where applicable)

• For observations, recorded assessment conditions

• Signed all areas requiring signatures (yours or your mentor/supervisor)

• Correctly recorded any dates.

When marking your assessments, the assessor will follow a marking guide which contains a range of model answers and set requirements for student responses to questions. This ensures your assessment is marked fairly and consistently.

Assessment may take up to 14 days to be marked.

Assessment Outcome

You can only gain competence (or pass) a subject once all assessment parts for that subject are marked as satisfactory. You can see your course progress through the assessment platform (electronic) or through your Record Book (paper based).

If you withdraw, or your enrolment is cancelled, you cannot be awarded a final outcome for any subject which has outstanding assessment parts or failed attempts.

Working with Children Check and Police Check

Some courses require students to perform a Working with Children Check (Blue Card in Qld) or a National Police Check in order to complete the Vocational Placement component of the course requirements.

Please note that by signing the Blue Card Application form you are consenting to the screening process. It is an offense for a ‘disqualified person’ to sign a blue card application form or renewal form.

In order to assist the student, applications may be submitted on the student’s behalf, all results and outcomes of the checks will remain confidential.

Completion and Qualification

Once you have been deemed competent in all relevant competencies and your Training Record Book or Assessment Book has been signed off, you have completed the qualification. You will receive your certificate from Strategix within 30 days of completion and finalisation of payment.

Deferrals

A Deferral is a student initiated request to delay the commencement/start date of the course or to put on hold a course which is in progress. Students can apply for a deferral based on compassionate and compelling circumstances. These are circumstances which are beyond the control of the student and will have an adverse impact on their well-being and course progress. Where practical a student must apply at least 14 days prior to the requested deferral start date. See Deferral Policy and Procedure.

A visa may be affected for students where their enrolment is deferred, suspended or cancelled. Strategix will notify the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of any change to the conditions of a student’s enrolment as required under the ESOS Act 2000.

Re-assessments

Student course fees include an initial assessment plus one resubmission of assessment tasks. If a student is still assessed as “not yet competent” for a particular subject/s then subsequent re-sits or resubmissions of assessments may incur a fee. The cost must be paid prior to the re-assessment being undertaken.

Withdrawals, Cancellations and Discontinuations

A student must advise Strategix through the Withdrawal Form if they wish to withdraw, stating the date they wish to withdraw and providing Strategix with feedback as to why they are withdrawing and include applicable evidence. Refer to the Student Withdrawal Policy and Procedure.

Before the withdrawal can be finalised, all outstanding assessments need to be assessed and outcomes applied where due. Withdrawing students may be issued with a Statement of Attainment (where applicable) for their completed subject/s within 21 days of the withdrawal date.

If there has been a breach of policies and procedures set out by Strategix, a student may be required to withdraw from a course/qualification with Strategix due to disciplinary actions taken against a student.

Strategix reserves the right to withdraw a student’s enrolment in the event that a student does not adhere to the assessment submission deadlines provided to the student as part of their training and assessment schedules. Strategix will provide a student with sufficient written warnings regarding their assessment submissions and a student’s failure to respond to, and act on, these written assessment submission warnings will trigger Strategix to cancel and/or withdraw a student’s enrolment.

Strategix reserves the right to withdraw a student when a student becomes disengaged. Strategix attempts to contact disengaged students multiple times in various ways prior to cancelling their enrolment. The ways used to attempt contact are by phone, email, text, a letter and through the emergency contact etc.

In the event a student’s enrolment is withdrawn, cancelled or discontinued with Strategix for whatever reason, Strategix will document the reasons and also advise the student and relevant regulating and funding bodies as per their requirements.

A student can obtain a formal Statement of Attainment at no additional cost if their enrolment is withdrawn, cancelled or discontinued prior to completing their qualification, provided they have paid any fees related to the subject/s included in their Statement of Attainment.

Transfer Requests

A student should only apply to transfer to another registered training provider after completing six calendar months of their *principal course. Students who meet specific conditions outlined in the STG 3.026 - International Student Transfer Policy may be able to transfer while still within their restriction period. Requests to transfer providers is to be completed in the international section of the Withdrawal Form (with accompanying letter documents). If approved the student will be issued with a Letter of Release.

*The principal course is the main course of study to be undertaken by a student where the student visa has been issued for multiple courses, and is usually the final course of study. The first six months is calculated as six calendar months from the date a student commences their principal course of study.

Grievances and Complaints

Strategix encourages students to informally resolve complaints/appeals as the majority of situations can be addressed and resolved at this level. In the event that a complaint/appeal arises, Strategix requests that students first speak to their Trainer/Assessor or administrative assistant.

If the issue cannot be resolved informally, a more formal Grievance Procedure can be undertaken. Please refer to Strategix’ Student Complaints and Appeals policy and procedure for further details.

If a student wishes to make an external appeal, they can do so but they must consider that in most cases, the purpose of the external appeals process is to consider whether Strategix has followed its policies and procedures, rather than make a decision in place of Strategix’.

Critical Incidents

A critical incident is ‘a traumatic event, or the threat of such (within or outside Australia), which causes extreme stress, fear or injury’. This does not include serious academic misconduct. Strategix will immediately take the steps required to action and resolve or address a critical incident.

Critical incidents are not limited to, but could include:

• Serious physical injury or any threat of these

• Missing students

• Natural disaster

• Death

• Abuse issues such as domestic violence, physical, sexual or other

• Severe verbal or psychological aggression

Strategix will meet all legislative requirements of State and Federal Government. Workplace Health and Safety and Workplace Relations standards will be met at all times.