Student Declaration

Purpose

This policy is designed to ensure Australian Training Company (ATC) collects fees from participants and actions refunds appropriately and that students and staff are fully aware of the way in which participant fees and refunds are to be handled.

ACT Trainee Fees

All training that takes place under an ACT Australian Apprenticeships training contract is subject to a fee set by Training and Tertiary Education ACT Education and Training Directorate.

This fee is $350 per qualification which is charged upon enrolment. Students can negotiate the payment of fees across multiple instalments. If an employer chooses to pay this fee on behalf of its AA it must do so in one (1) instalment.

ATC may offer a fee exemption or concession to and eligible students in particular circumstances. This includes:

Student holds a current Health Care Card or Pension Card;
Can provide genuine financial hardship; and
Is an ASBA and their school is the RTO.

To apply for an exemption or concession, contact our office for appropriate documentation.

Payments for fees can be made by direct debit, EFT or Credit Card facility. Note; credit card payments will incur a processing fee of 1.5% of the individual payment amount.

If a student has set up a regular direct debit payment, an administration charge of $20 will be levied against a student’s account where a direct debit instalment is returned unpaid from the payer’s bank. Individual financial institutions may also charge for each failed direct debit.

Access to learning support, assessment and applicable learning management platforms may be suspended where a student fails to pay applicable fees.

Smart and Skilled Students (NSW)

All students participating in training via a Traineeship or the Entitlement model applicable to the Smart and Skilled program are required to pay the mandatory student fees as set out by the NSW Government.

Upon enrolment, an enrolment fee will be charged. This fee will be collected prior to the student being provided course equipment, access to learning materials and/or online content.

The balance of the student fee will be collected on a fortnightly basis after commencement of the program.

The duration of the payments will depend on the term of the training program, with the expectation that all program fees are paid in full at least 10 weeks prior to the scheduled Program completion.

Payments for fees can be made by direct debit, EFT or Credit Card facility. Note; credit card payments will incur a processing fee of 1.5% of the individual payment amount.

An administration charge of $20 will be levied against a student’s account where a direct debit instalment is returned unpaid from the payer’s bank. Individual financial institutions may also charge for each failed direct debit.

Access to learning support, assessment and applicable learning management platforms will be suspended where a student fall into arrears of more than 2 payments.

Priority for places within courses will be given to those who have made the required payment.

Employers of trainees may choose to pay fees on behalf of the student. Payment arrangements will be negotiated with the employer at time of the student’s enrolment and an individual agreement entered into detailing the payment of fees.

QLD Trainee Fees

Alltraining that takes place under a QLD Australian Apprenticeships training contract is subject to a fee set by Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.

Student contribution Fees are a Participant’s contribution to the cost of tuition.

Fees are calculated as Full fee – calculated at $1.60 per nominal hour for unit of competency for the qualification you are enrolled. Student can negotiate the payment of fees across multiple instalments.

ATC may offer a partial fee exemption or full exemption to and eligible students in particular circumstances. 40 per cent of the Student Contribution Fee where the Participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:

The Participant was or will be under 17 at the end of February in the year in which the
PQS provides training, and the Participant is not at school and has not completed year 12
The Participant holds a health care card or pensioner card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a health care card or pensioner concession card, and is named on the card;
The Participant issues the PQS with an official form under Commonwealth law confirming that the Participant, his or her partner or the person of whom the Participant is a dependent, is entitled to concessions under a health care card or pensioner
concession card; or
The Participant is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

ATC may apply full exemption from the Student Contribution Fee where the Participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:

Where payment of the student contribution fee would cause the Participant extreme financial hardship,
Where the State, advises in writing that fees are optional.
The participant commences apprenticeship / Traineeship within twelve months of completing Year 12
Is an School Based Trainee

To apply for an exemption, contact our office for appropriate documentation.

Payments for fees can be made by direct debit, EFT or Credit Card facility. Note; credit card payments will incur a processing fee of 1.5% of the individual payment amount.

Access to learning support, assessment and applicable learning management platforms will be suspended where a student fall into.

Fee for Service Students

All students participating in training with ATC through fee for service arrangements will have negotiated qualification costs. An individual payment/service agreement will be drafted for each student prior to commencing the program. Fee for Service students will be issued course resources progressively at payment stages.

ATC will not collect more than $1000.00 from individual students prior to the commencement of a training course with the total amount not exceeding $1500 for fees paid in advance following commencement. It is a requirement that all course fees are paid 10 weeks prior to the scheduled program completion as outlined in individual student agreements. No exemptions or discounts apply under a fee for service arrangement.

Fees for Certificate and Statement issue;

An original certificate issue at completion of a program will incur no cost to a student.

In the event that a student requires their qualification re-issued because the original copy was either lost or damaged, a replacement qualification is $35.00 per record. Proof of identification will be required when requesting replacement qualifications.

USI’s

It is a requirement that all students participating in Vocational Education and Training have a Unique Student Identifier. Information on the USI can be found on our website or at www.usi.gov.au.

Alternatively, ATC can apply for your USI on your behalf. You will need to confirm that you give us permission and provide your identification documentation. Ask your Education Team representative for the documentation to complete.

Students must provide ATC with their USI within 30 days of commencing training. Failure to provide the USI to ATC will mean you will not receive your qualification.

REFUNDS

Refunds of fees will only be made in the following circumstances:

Where a student has overpaid fees the whole overpayment will be refunded;
ATC cancels the training and cannot make arrangements to conduct the course at a later date, a full refund shall apply upon return of all learning resources and equipment;
If a student withdraws prior to the program induction, providing at least fourteen (14) days’ notice from the proposed commencement date, there will be no penalty and a full refund will apply if the student returns all issued material;
In circumstances beyond the students control, such as corroborated injury, ill health, bereavement or other appropriate reasons subject to the acceptance of the General Manager. The initial enrolment component of the course will be held by ATC and the refund portion will apply to the remainder of payments made. Pro-rata refunds will be provided [Total Agreed Payments multiplied by the percentage of units completed];
In the case of a fee for service participant where all course fees have been paid and they wish to terminate their program after commencement. The initial enrolment component of the course will be held by ATC and the refund portion will apply to the remainder of payments made. Pro-rata refunds will be provided [Total Agreed Payments multiplied by the percentage of units completed];
The General Manager is of the opinion that the student would be unreasonably disadvantaged if a refund was not granted, for example if a student met with a serious misadventure and was unable to continue with the enrolment.

Where refunds have been approved for reimbursement, a cheque is raised by the ATC Finance Manager and issued to the student or employer within 21 days of the refund request.

Fees for resubmission and reassessment of assignments;

Where a student submits assessment and is assessed as Not Yet Competent, ATC will allow for resubmission. The deadline for resubmission will not exceed two weeks.

If the resubmitted assessment is again assessed as Not Yet Competent, a fee of $85.00 will be charged for this second and third resubmission. The resubmissions will not be assessed until proof of payment of the fee is presented.

If the fourth resubmission is still assessed as Not Yet Competent the student will be deemed Not Yet Competent for the unit of competency and no further attempt permitted and an alternative study unit offered.

Where a student believes an assessment has been assessed inaccurately or unfairly, the assessor and student will go through the reasons for the assessment.

Aggrieved students may raise a complaint at any time by following the Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedures.

Payment receipts

ATC will provide the student or employer with statements at the end of each month reflecting the owing balance and payments received throughout the period. Receipts for all money collected applicable to incidental expenses and additional resources will be provided at the time of payment.

For further information on Fees and Refunds, please see ATC’s full policy on our website.

DEFERRAL/SUSPENSION/ CANCEL

Deferral

Students may defer prior to commencement of a course in the following limited circumstances:

On the grounds of compassionate or compelling circumstances (at the discretion of the General Manger);
Students must request a deferral of the commencement of their course prior to the course commencing. The request must be made in writing to the Education Coordinator;
The length of time a student may have their enrolment deferred is at the discretion of the Education Coordinator but may not exceed 3 months. Deferral does not entitle the student to a refund.

ATC initiated Suspension or Cancellation;

Suspensions;

ATC can suspend a student’s enrolment in the following instances:

Student misbehaviour as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct;
As part of an intervention strategy for unsatisfactory course progress;
In compassionate and compelling circumstances

The length of time a student can have their enrolment suspended at the initiation of ATC is at the discretion of the General Manager. A student’s enrolment cannot be suspended for more than one term (10 weeks) without re-assessing the circumstances that led to the suspension to determine if they are still applicable.

Cancellations;

ATC may cancel a student’s enrolment in the following instances:

Student demonstrates serious misconduct as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct;
Erratic course progress, for example, consistent unsatisfactory course progress or continuous absence from scheduled course hours;
Failure to show ongoing monthly engagement in units of study;
Non-payment of outstanding fees
Failure to return to study after the end of an approved suspension period.