HEALTH SKILLS AUSTRALIA: Specializing in healthcare training

Outlined below is information that you may require for your training. If you have any queries, please contact our helpful staff.

Code of Practice

Course Accreditation

All Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd qualifications are fully accredited. At the successful completion of training, students are issued with a statement of attainment detailing the unit(s) of competence that have been achieved. The units of competence and qualifications delivered by Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd come from the Nationally Endorsed Training Packages.

Entry Requirements

Some qualifications and courses may have entry requirements. Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd can advise on these requirements at the time of enrolment. Payment or a schedule of payment must be received with the enrolment form in order to be accepted into the course.

Provision for language, literacy and numeracy assessment

Prior to selection to any qualification/course/unit or prior to commencement of delivery, a client or potential client’s language, literacy and numeracy skills will be assessed.

Assessment may include

Recognition of completion of any other English language formal educational programs, including a Year 11 and Year 12 qualification
VTAC Pi (personal information) form
Completion of pre-training review questionnaires
Pre-training review interview & one-on-one discussions
Documentation of language, literacy, numeracy or learning problems on individual training plans
Participation in class discussions, activities, team work and group work exercises
Any written assessment tasks

Although language, literacy and numeracy skills may not be directly included in the elements or performance criteria of units, language, literacy and numeracy skills will be assessed on all written work. Assessment of language, literacy and numeracy skills will not contribute to the competency grade of the written work (unless documented as a direct outcome of the unit), however, feedback will be provided on language, literacy and numeracy skills in an effort to develop the student�s proficiency in these areas.

RPL, RCC, Credit Transfer

Recognition of Prior Learning, (RPL), and Recognition of Current Competence, (RCC), are ways of reducing your course workload by getting credit for relevant skills and knowledge you already have. It does not matter where, how or when you learned these things. The RPL application process identifies what you have already learned from life experience and work experience, and measures these experiences against the learning outcomes of the course you are doing or want to do. With RCC, if you can demonstrate what you know or what you can do, you can be assessed for competency and you may not need to do some parts of the course. Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd provides for RPL/RCC applications in most courses. The difference between RPL and Credit Transfers are Credit Transfer is based on successful completion of equivalent modules or units in another course or at another training organisation. Transfers are a way of gaining credit for identical modules or units you have completed in another course or at another training organisation.

Why apply for RPL?…

What's in it for me?

The advantages of applying for RPL/RCC are:

You can establish whether your experience is similar to that required by the course.
If you have already achieved some of the learning outcomes of the course this could mean a reduced course load and / or finishing your course earlier.
RPL/RCC recognises that you are entering a course with many life experiences / skills.

How does it work? … what happens?

If you think you might be eligible, you should talk to your trainer about:

how the process works
how your experiences may support your application.

You need to:

Enrol in the Unit/s
Pay the Enrolment Fee.
Pay the RPL/RCC Application Fee of $50.00, (GST inclusive) per unit of competency
Fill in the application form provided with this information.
Applications will be accepted at all times, but it is advisable to apply 4 weeks prior to the commencement of a unit. This will allow for the option that, if the application is unsuccessful, you can then choose to either participate in the unit or withdraw.
On the form you record the details of your experiences and match them up with the learning outcomes. (The course trainer canprovide you with a copy of these). Ask a person who knows of your experiences to help you work through your application. See if you can find any material to support the details you have given in your application. Suggested materials are noted on the application form. Eg. You might find some references from previous employers, or some samples of your work.
Make you own copy of the completed form and any supporting documents then give the original documents to your trainer.

Getting the Results

After your application has been assessed, you will be notified within 3 days of the decision. If your application has been successful, you will not be required to do those units in your course.

Evidence Checklist

Listed below is a range of evidence that may be used in support of your application for RPL/RCC. This list should be used as a guide only:

Certificate of achievement
Reference/letters of support - Work/social
Evidence of committee work
Demonstration of skill
Record of academic results
Samples of work (folio)
Materials/tools worked with
Referee/industry representatives
Video
Audio cassettes
Photos ' Published works Eg. operational manuals
Reading lists
Letters/memos written at work
Speeches written
Scrap books
Budgets
Magazine/newspaper articles about work
Rosters/timesheets
Duty statements/job specifications
Curriculum Vitae
Community Industry Awards

Assessment

A variety of methods are utilized to assess students. There is an on-the-job component to most of our training, to be assessed by a workplace supervisor. Students may be required to attend formal assessment of practical and theoretical skills. This is detailed in the course information.

Should a student be assessed not yet competent a notation will be made on the training plan and an opportunity made to be re-assessed at the earliest time that is mutually convenient.

Vocational Outcomes

Completion of VET qualification improves the full-time employment outcomes of graduates compared to individuals who do not undertake post-school qualifications.

Completion of a VET qualification effectively provides a two-tiered benefit to individuals. It increases the likelihood that they will work full time. Then, among those working full time, it increases their wage, occupation and permanent employment outcomes.

The full-time employment outcomes achieved by individuals who complete a VET qualification are significantly higher than their relevant comparison groups immediately after the groups enter the labour market. The VET qualifications appear to smooth the transition to full-time employment for graduates. Over time, differences between the employment outcomes of VET graduates and the comparison groups narrow, as the outcomes of the comparison groups improve.� - Longer-term outcomes for individuals completing vocational education and training qualifications, Chris Ryan, Report to NCVER, 15 March 2002

Refunds

Short Courses

Refunds will not be issued once training has commenced. Should a student fail to notify Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd of their inability to attend (no less than three working days prior to the commencement of the course) the full fee shall apply. If Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd has received three working days notice an administration fee of $25 per course shall apply. The student is entitled to the remainder either in refund, or is able to transfer to another date at no additional fee.

Studentships

If the student withdraws before commencement of training, the enrolment fee shall be refunded less an administration charge of $51.00.

Once training has commenced, the enrolment fee will not be refunded but there may be a pro-rata refund of any fees paid in advance.

Where a student withdraws while fees are in arrears, the balance due to Health Skills Australia will be payable within 7 days of the date of withdrawal.

Protection of Fees

Fees received are banked on a regular basis and are secured.

Complaints or Appeals

Steps to take in lodging a complaint or appeals:

Try and speak directly to the person with whom you have an issue and sort out the issue informally. It is understood this may not always be possible or desirable, if so proceed to step 2
Request a complaint form from the Managing Director
Fill out the Complaint form in as much detail as possible. It is important to have as much information as possible
Submit the form to the Managing Director.
The Managing Director will contact you with 2 working days of receipt of the form to arrange an interview with you
The Managing Director will attempt to resolve the complaint and will recommend appropriate action.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the resolution process you may take your complaint (if appropriate) to an independent arbitrator or Apprenticeship Hot Line.

Apprenticeship Hot Line:

ph: 1300 722 603
fax: (03) 9637 3564
email: appshotline@edumail.vic.gov.au

The independent arbitrator is a person experienced in the VET sector and in training and assessment issues. He or she will review your complaint or appeal and come to a judgment which will be binding on both yourself and Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd. Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd. has chosen Jean-Paul Barallon of Trainedge as the independent arbitrator.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

The student has the right to:

experience quality training
question and have their questions answered
a clean, friendly and supportive environment
enter into discussions enthusiastically
adequate breaks from training
give freely of their experience
the appropriate aids for learning

The student has the responsibility to:

be prompt and regular in attendance
behave in an appropriate manner
dress in a manner appropriate to the training being undertaken
be patient with other students / candidates
have an appropriate attitude towards their training
avoid private conversations while someone is speaking.

RTOs Rights and Responsibilities

The RTO has the responsibility to:

maintain information on assessment
obtain qualified assessors
produce assessment resources
maintain all RTO assessment records

Establish procedures to:

Conduct program training assessments
Appeal assessment or RPL outcomes
Conduct on the job assessments
Issue Statements of Attainment to successful trainees
Provide RPL
Provide copies of policy and procedure upon request

The RTO has the right to:

Enforce all RTO policies and procedures

Termination of Training

The RTO has the right to terminate training under the following circumstances.

The student / candidate arrives more the one hour late. All courses are competency based short courses. If a student is more than one hour late, attaining competency without disruption to the other students will prove difficult.
The student / candidate is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Where the student puts him or herself, and others, at risk while training is being conducted.
The student's behavior is inappropriate and disrupts the ability of others to learn.

Student / Candidate Support Services

Health Skills Australia Pty Ltd recognises that people learn in different ways and at different rates. In accordance with this the Managing Director is on call for the Trainers. If a Trainer recognises that a student is having difficulty the Managing Director will provide support. Additional training staff will be supplied, if required, at no cost to the client. Any person who wishes to undertake a course who has a non English speaking background is encouraged to bring an English-speaking friend or relative at no extra cost. Translation services are available. All further enquires on this matter should be directed to the Director of Training.

Access and Equity

Health Skills Australia encourages people who consider themselves to have a disability or who consider themselves from any disadvantaged group in society to apply for entry to any course offered.

Prospective students who consider themselves to be in this group are advised to contact the Training Manager on 03 8804 2437 or email on tammy@healthskills.com.au to discuss their enrolment and any special requirements and issues.

Smoking

Health Skills Australia is dedicated to improving health outcomes for all, including our students. Smoking contributes to many diseases and passive smoking can cause disease in non-smokers. Therefore, smoking is not permitted in any classroom or HSA facility and is not permitted within 10 metres of any HSA facility.

Intellectual Property

Teaching materials and other documentation are the property of HSA or the copyright owner. Students are not permitted to use, distribute, copy or disseminate in any form any HSA intellectual property without the express permission of HSA via the Managing Director.

Privacy Policy

Student information is collected on the Enrolment Form for the purpose of collecting data for training registration, assessment results, certification and other related matters.

Students are asked to approve the use of this information by contracted trainers and assessors by signing the registration form.

Access to records

Upon application in writing, students have access to:

View marked assessment workbooks;
Summary of all their own results.

Students requiring access to their records or information are required to email their request to tammy@healthskills.com.au

Copyright, Academic Acknowledgement and Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the reproduction without acknowledgement of another person’s words, work or expressed* thoughts from any source. The definition of words, works and thoughts includes such representations as diagrams, drawings, sketches, pictures, objects, text, lecture handouts, artistic works and other such expressions of ideas, but hereafter the term ‘work’ is used to embrace all of these.
Plagiarism comprises not only direct copying of aspects of another person’s work but also the reproduction, even if slightly rewritten or adapted, of someone else’s ideas. In both cases, someone else’s work is presented as the student’s own.

Students requiring access to their records or information are required to email their request to tammy@healthskills.com.au

* see the Copyright Act

It is a fundamental principle of academic endeavour to acknowledge the academic work of others when developing material for assessment or publication, in order that:

the precedence of others’ work is acknowledged,
the work is linked with other groups of authors, and other intellectual and research traditions, and
the reader may become aware of omissions in the work referred to by the author.

In all academic work submitted for assessment, students must:

comply with the appropriate acknowledgement and referencing standards of their course, as detailed in the course outline or assignment specification
submit for assessment their own individual and unassisted work, except as otherwise permitted.

Plagiarism is not acceptable and disciplinary action may result.

Alcohol Policy

Alcohol is not permitted at HSA facilities unless express permission is obtained from the Training Manager or Managing Director. Students who are suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to attend class.

Pets

Pets are not permitted in any HSA facility. The only exception is registered guide dogs.

Access to computers

It is a condition of enrolment that students have access to a computer to access the internet. The internet provides a gateway to valuable learning resources, government agencies and to students and teachers. Some mandatory functions can only be done online eg in Victoria a Police Check can only by applied for by the student and can only be applied for online, however in New South Wales it is a still a paper based process.