TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2015

Welcome to Safe First Training

Safe First Training is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) – provider number: 52241. We offer a wide range of nationally recognised training as well as professional development.

Our Vision

To be the First Choice in providing Safety in the Workplace.

Our Mission

“We train people to be Safe, Happy and Healthy @ Work, meeting or exceeding customer
expectation.”

Our Values

1) Safety

2) Continuous Improvement

3) Communication

4) Integrity

Safe First Training has a wealth of experience in workplace safety and health. We acknowledge and appreciate the growing trend and expansion in the construction and mining areas, and provide continuous improvement for workplaces in all areas of legislation and business requirements.

Terminology

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is the process of collecting evidence and making judgments as to whether competency
has been achieved.

AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (AQF)

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) provides a national framework for all education and training qualifications in Australia. The AQF aims to provide consistency of qualifications across Australia. Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) have national recognition irrespective of whether the training and/or assessment has taken place on the job or off the job.

AUSTRALIAN QUALITY TRAINING FRAMEWORK (AQTF)

The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is a set of nationally agreed standards addressing quality assurance and national recognition arrangements in the Vocational Educational and Training (VET) system.

COMPETENCY

Being able to perform and demonstrate the required knowledge and skill in the workplace. The required knowledge and skill are usually specified as required Standards of Performance.

COMPETENCY STANDARDS

Define the competencies required for effective performance in the workplace. All nationally endorsed competency standards are expressed in outcome terms and have a standard format comprising of Unit Title, Unit Descriptor, and Elements of Competency, Performance Criteria, Range of Variable and Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT OF COMPETENCY

This is the basic building blocks of the units of competency. Elements describe the tasks which make up the broader function or job as described by the unit.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Employability Skills Summaries for Training Package qualifications can be downloaded from http://employabilityskills.training.com.au

EVIDENCE

Information gathered which, when matched against the performance criteria, provides proof of competency.

EVIDENCE GUIDE

Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit of competency in the workplace and/or training environment. The Evidence Guide specifies the context of assessment, the critical aspects of evidence and the underpinning knowledge and skills. The Evidence Guide relates directly to the Performance Criteria and Range of Variables defined in the Unit of Competency.

FAIRNESS

A fair assessment will not disadvantage any person and will take into account the characteristics of the person being assessed, such as candidates of Non English Speaking Backgrounds.

FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility in assessment allows for assessment either on or off the job at mutually convenient times and situations

KEY COMPETENCY

Employment related general competencies that are essential for effective participation in the workplace.

MODERATION

Moderation is the process which ensures that assessment procedures, tools or judgments are valid and reliable.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

A planned and systematic process of ensuring that the requirements of the assessment system, competency standards and any other criteria are applied in a consistent manner. Quality assurance mechanisms are an integral part of a well designed assessment system.

RANGE OF VARIABLES

Part of a competency standard, which sets out a range of contexts in which performance can take place. The range helps the assessor to identify the specific industry or enterprise application of the unit of competency.

REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS

Training Organisations that have been registered in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework to provide vocational education and training (VET) services.

TRAINING PACKAGE

Training packages are a set of learning and assessment resources, which provide a basis for the achievement of national qualifications as a result of assessment against competency standards. Training packages have endorsed components: national competency standards, national qualifications, national assessment guidelines and also include non-endorsed components, learning strategies, assessment materials and professional development materials.

UNIT OF COMPETENCY

A unit of competency describes a discrete job or function and is written in terms of workplace Outcomes. Further developed through elements and performance criteria.

Safe First Training Policies

COURSE FEES AND REFUND POLICY

Should Safe First Training cancel any course, participants are entitled to a full refund or transfer of funds to a future course. We will refund in full any deposits received for any course that is cancelled. Safe First Training will not be liable for any claims arising from course cancellation. Full payment for all courses is required before commencement of course (unless prior arrangements are made with training Manager).

All cancellations to course bookings must be received in writing. If you advise us in writing more than 5 full working days before the commencement of a public course we will provide a full refund. If you do not advise us in writing more than 5 full working days before the commencement of a public course no refund will be paid. If you withdraw after the training is commenced no refund is payable.

If you are enrolled in a course which has been specifically scheduled for you or your organisation, the conditions for refund may differ to the above, please refer to your quote or other correspondence from SFT.

CERTIFICATES AND STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENTS

Certificates and Statements of Attainment will not be issued until all accounts are paid in full. Students should verify fees for all courses at enrolment as fees are subject to change without notice.

PROCESS FOR ONLINE WHITECARD

The online white card exam is for Western Australian residents or those with a Western Australian address, to comply with ASQA regulations.

As part of Safe First Training quality assurance procedures, we conduct a validation process whereby we determine whether or not the person who is to receive the White card is the person who actually completed the course. Where it has been identified that a false declaration has been made, the fee is not refunded and the person (candidate) in question shall receive a result that they are not yet competent. A letter explaining the process and outcome is posted along with a receipt. Where the person is un-contactable, a letter is sent, out lining the process and that they need to contact us within 7 days to go through the verification process or they will receive a result that they are not yet competent which will be sent with their receipt.

RE-ENROLMENTS

You must complete and submit your work within the timeframe as agreed with your training Manager.

If you have not applied for and received a formal extension (see REQUEST FOR EXTENSION FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENT WORK) and decide to continue your studies at a later date you will need to re-enrol. This will incur an administration fee.

COURSE CONTENT

Despite SFT best efforts to ensure the accuracy of course content, you accept that course content may be incorrect and release SFT from any liability arising from the application of course content to any circumstance, situation and/or activity. Before applying information and knowledge gained from the course, you should always consult the relevant legal, professional and/or regulatory agency or publication and any workplace policies, procedures, work instructions and standards as appropriate. LANGUAGE LITERACY AND NUMERACY

SUPPORT

Staff can offer extra support on enrolment if this is required and you are encouraged to approach Safe First Training if you need extra help. Alternatively we can refer you to the appropriate external assistance.

FUNDED TRAINING

SFT offer a range of fee free and subsidised training to eligible jobseekers and existing workers through programs which may become available throughout the year.

Call us to find out if we can offer your fee free, or subsidised training.

TEXT BOOKS

Most courses will require you to purchase text books and learning guides. These will be charged to you at recommended retail prices. Postage and handling charges will be incurred for distance learners. A full breakdown of text book and learning resource costs will be provided before commencement of any course.

REPRINT OF CERTIFICATE/STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT

Should you require a reprint of your Qualification or Statement of Attainment, a fee will be raised to cover the postage, handling, printing and administration before the replacement is sent to you.

SUBMISSION OF WORK

When you submit your work, no matter how much or how little or by what method (mail or email to your training manager) please include a signed cover sheet clearly identifying who you are and exactly what you are submitting. Work may not be accepted without this cover sheet which is available for download from the Safe First Training website. It is also a good idea to include your name in the footer of each page. If you are sending your work by mail, please keep a photo copy of your work. Safe First Training cannot take any responsibility for lost mail.

COPYRIGHT
Students must comply with copyright protection provided by the Copyright Act 1968. More information on copyright can be obtained from the Australian Copyright Council and the Australasian Legal Information Institute. Work submitted by students must be original and their own work. If work is used from another source this must be acknowledged and referenced appropriately. If students have worked together on an assessment this should be clearly noted and information provided on the contribution made by each student.

RECOGNITION OF CURRENT COMPETENCY

An initial non refundable enrolment fee of $150 (GST free) is charged for our skills recognition service for a full or partial qualification. This fee covers enrolment, initial contact and administration and issue of Statements of Attainment or certificate on successful completion.

Once enrolled a cost is charged (GST free) for assessment. These costs do not include travel, travel time or accommodation if this is required. A time frame of 3 months applies to all RCC enrolments. If you would like your work returned please advise us on the submission of work and it will be returned via registered post, a postage and handling fee will be charged for this.

RETURN OF WORK SUBMITTED FOR ASSESSMENT

Generally work is not returned. Please do not send in original documents, certificates etc. Once your work is assessed hard copy student work is shredded once assessment is complete. Should you wish to have your work returned after assessment you must notify us in writing at the time you submit it. If you require us to return your work via post a minimum postage and handling fee of $16.50 (GST Inc) will be incurred, payable before work is returned. We will advise you before posting if the cost will be greater than this. Source evidence from each student is kept in electronic form for audit purposes.

REASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

Clients will be given the opportunity to be reassessed where competency is not achieved within a reasonable timeframe. Wherever possible reassessment will take place at nominal cost to the client. Consultation will be undertaken between the student and the assessor to determine a suitable time and place for reassessment.

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENT WORK

Candidates may request an extension of due date for the submission of work due for assessment if their studies have been interrupted by circumstances beyond their control. Applications for an extension must be made in writing.

If circumstances have changed that will predict an extension being required in the future, please do not hesitate to discuss this with you training manager before the due date where ever possible.

ISSUANCE OF QUALIFICATIONS

Safe First Training issues qualifications and Statement of Attainment which meet the required outcomes of a qualification or unit of competency, in accordance with the AQF Implementation Handbook and the Australian Quality Training Framework. Certificates and Statements of Attainment will not be issued until all fees have been paid.

RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS ISSUED BY OTHER RTO’S

We recognise the AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other Registered Training Organisations.

GRIEVANCES, COMPLAINTS, APPEALS, DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

We will respond to complaints promptly with minimum distress and maximum protection to all parties.
We are committed to ethical and responsible management and an accessible and fair complaints process. All complaints will be handled with regard to confidentiality, impartiality, protection from victimisation and procedural fairness. All complaints will be recorded in writing. You will receive written advice of outcomes, including reasons for decision. If you are still not satisfied with the outcomes, you can contact the Training Accreditation Council who can provide additional advice. If you believe your grievance is a legal or criminal matter, the matter will be referred to the police or appropriate legal agents. If the appeal or complaint is substantiated, Safe First Training will take prompt action to rectify the problem immediately and any action will be documented.

Students are expected to behave honestly and fairly. This means for example that they should not cheat, collaborate when not authorized, or copy another students work. All outside sources used should be referenced appropriately. If an assessor believes a student has behaved dishonestly in an assessment, for example copied someone else’s work without appropriately acknowledging the source, the assessor will investigate the matter to the extent they believe is necessary. This will include making reasonable efforts to contact the student to discuss the alleged misconduct. Should the matter be minor or unintentional the assessor may dismiss the matter. Should the matter be serious it will be referred on to the Chief Executive Officer for further investigation. Disciplinary action will be taken for serious misconduct. Action could include asking for work to be resubmitted, providing a written warning or cancelling a student’s enrolment.

APPEALS AGAINST ASSESSMENT

Where an appeal against an assessment decision is made, Safe First Training will ensure that all details surrounding the decision are fully explained to the complainant and, where possible, the appeal is settled internally.

If required, Safe First Training will ensure an external RTO hears the appeal and issues a judgment accordingly. The complainant will be provided with feedback about the outcomes of the assessment process and will be provided with guidance on future options in relation to those outcomes.

In the event of an appeal not being settled, Safe First Training will ensure the complainant has all the necessary contact details for other avenues of appeal, including the State Registering body – the Training Accreditation Council. A record will be kept in the Appeals and Complaints file by the manager.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Client information and results will be treated in confidence. Information will not be released to a third party without the written permission of the client. Clients will be asked to sign the consent form for the disclosure of information. Students may access their personal records by lodging a request in writing using the form (Student Request to Access Personal Information).

EVALUATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Evaluation and feedback is welcomed from all our clients to help us to continually improve our services. An evaluation form will be provided after every training course.

ACCESS / EQUITY

Safe First Training policy will treat all students equally with fair and equal opportunities with no discrimination.

EQUITY

A person from an equity group has the same right to study at an educational institution as any other student. To ensure this can happen, Registered Training Organisations must address equity issues to comply with the Australian Quality Framework Standards for Registered Training Organisations by addressing equity issues.

Equity refers to the capacity for all learners to achieve results in training and to receive training in an inclusive environment. Inclusive environments acknowledge and value the differences between people and cultures; they include rather than exclude. Registered Training Organisations must also comply with the anti-discrimination legislation that applies within their state or territory. For more information visit the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission website at www.hreoc.gov.au.

DUTY OF CARE

Safe First Training has Duty of Care Procedures in place to protect the best interests of students and staff.

HIGH RISK WORK

All participants enrolled in courses that require work site visits to high risk areas are required to have the following minimum standards of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

. Boots
. Safety glasses
. Hard hats (communal hats are available or bring your own)
. Long sleeve shirt (industrial)
. Long trousers
. Any other equipment required for specific sites

Please contact SFT if you require clarification on PPE requirements. If you do not have the correct PPE you may not be permitted to participate in your course.

WHAT SAFE FIRST TRAINING EXPECTS OF YOU

That you work and interact in ways that demonstrate Safe First Training Values
That you are punctual when attending training sessions
At the completion of each unit, that you submit your assessment to your Training Manager
That you attempt to meet all criteria in order to be deemed competent
You ensure that you are familiar with the Learning Outcomes relevant to the qualification
for which you are completing.
That you maintain a level of commitment to completing the qualification.
That you endeavour to ensure you submit all assessment material to your Training
Manager by the due dates.
That you contact your Training Manager if you have any worries or problems with the
course so that they can be resolved as quickly as possible.
That if you feel your needs are not being met or you are dissatisfied with the assistance or
service that is being provided to you please contact our CEO Manager on 0447111103.

Unique Student Identifier

From the 1st January 2015, all students undertaking nationally recognised training will be required to provide their Unique Student Identifier (USI). The USI will make it easier for students to find and collate their VET achievements into a single authenticated transcript. The USI will be available online and at no cost. This USI will stay with the student for life and be recorded with any nationally recognised VET course that is completed from when the USI comes into effect on 1 January 2015. In 2015 Safe First Training will not be permitted to issue any qualifications or Statements of Attainment to a student who has not supplied their USI or given permission to Safe First Training to apply on their behalf.

Please contact us if you need assistance applying for your USI.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy Support

Staff can offer extra support on enrolment if this is required and you are encouraged to approach Safe First Training at any time if you need extra help. Alternatively we can refer you to the appropriate external assistance. Assistance available includes career planning, individual coaching, identifying best options for study and referral to external agencies if appropriate.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

If you think you have the skills and knowledge to perform a job to workplace standards you may wish to apply for formal recognition of those skills. Safe First Training

acknowledges that skills can be gained in many different ways, for example life experience, work experience, hobbies etc.

Contact us

Postal Address

P.O. Box 696

Australind WA 6233

Telephone

0447111103

Email

admin@safefirsttraining.com.au

Terms And Conditions