Australian Centre for Advanced Studies

Standard 5. Each learner is properly informed and protected.

Standard Comments

5.1. Prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, the RTO provides advice to the prospective learner about the training product appropriate to meeting the learner’s needs, taking into account the individual’s existing skills and competencies.

How will you advise student about the training before they start?

It must have a written record, even if it is only a tickbox form for a group.

It is easiest to put it in the advertising document.

If you choose to give advice in oral interviews, then you will need to document it anyway.

5.2. Prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, the RTO provides, in print or through referral to an electronic copy, current and accurate information that enables the learner to make informed decisions about undertaking training with the RTO and at a minimum includes the following content: Information must be enough for the student to decide whether or not to take the training. Other than the other information below, explain the specific purpose of the course and what it will enable students to do.

a) the code, title and currency of the training product to which the learner is to be enrolled, as published on the National Register; When giving the qualification title, include the code , the hyphen and the full title.
Advertise only current qualifications

b) the training and assessment, and related educational and support services the RTO will provide to the learner including the: What kinds of support will you provide students? (e.g. ask the instructor, referalls, etc.) See the ACAS policy.

i) estimated duration; How long will the course take?

ii) expected locations at which it will be provided; Where will students do it?

iii) expected modes of delivery; How will the training and assessment will be done, e.g. classroom, on-line, on-job, correspondence, mixture?

iv) name and contact details of any third party that will provide training and/or assessment, and related educational and support services to the learner on the RTO’s behalf; and Name and contact details of Program Director

v) any work placement arrangements. What work placement will you require of students? Who arranges it? Is it paid? What are the rules? Where is it written down?
N.B. Work placement must ethically be predominantly a learning experience. (It is unethical if it is no more than a "work for free" program.

c) the RTO’s obligations to the learner, including that the RTO is responsible for the quality of the training and assessment in compliance with these Standards, and for the issuance of the AQF certification documentation. What will you/ACAS do for the student?
Mention that ACAS is obliged to comply with SRTO2015 and issue AQF qualifications

d) the learner’s rights, including: See ACAS's student handbook

i) details of the RTO’s complaints and appeals process required by Standard 6; and Refer to the ACAS student handdbook for the complaints and appeals process

ii) if the RTO, or a third party delivering training and assessment on its behalf, closes or ceases to deliver any part of the training product that the learner is enrolled in;
Refer to the ACAS website for the policy

e) the learner’s obligations:
Refer to the ACAS student handdbook

i) in relation to the repayment of any debt to be incurred under the VET FEE-HELP scheme arising from the provision of services;
N/a (ACAS doesn’t have VET FEE-HELP)

ii) any requirements the RTO requires the learner to meet to enter and successfully complete their chosen training product; and Are the any other requirements? (e.g. age, physical fitness, enrolled in MNO High School, employed by XYZ Corp.)

iii) any materials and equipment that the learner must provide; and
What materials and equipment must the student provide?

f) information on the implications for the learner of government training entitlements and subsidy arrangements in relation to the delivery of the services. N/a (ACAS students don’t get government training entitlements and subsidy arrangements)

5.3. Where the RTO collects fees from the individual learner, either directly or through a third party, the RTO provides or directs the learner to information prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, specifying: The main risk of noncompliance here is requiring pre-payment of fees of more than $1500. ACAS doesn’t allow you to accept more than that, because it requires a separate trust fund, and compliance would be messy.

a) all relevant fee information including: Obvious

i) fees that must be paid to the RTO; and What are the fees? (In some cases, the employer pays all fees.)

ii) payment terms and conditions including deposits and refunds; What are the terms of payment? (e.g. How much in advance? What are the rules for periodical payments?
N.b. You may not require students to pay more than $1500 in advance.
(If a student voluntarily wishes to pay more in advance, you should not accept it, although the SRTO does not cover such a situation.)
Refer to the ACAS website for the refund policy.

b) the learner’s rights as a consumer, including but not limited to any statutory cooling-off period, if one applies;
The refund policy is in the ACAS Student Handbook.

c) the learner’s right to obtain a refund for services not provided by the RTO in the event the:

i) arrangement is terminated early; or
See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.

ii) the RTO fails to provide the agreed services. See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.

5.4. Where there are any changes to agreed services, the RTO advises the learner as soon as practicable, including in relation to any new third party arrangements or a change in ownership or changes to existing third party arrangements. See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.

Standard	Comments
5.1. Prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, the RTO provides advice to the prospective learner about the training product appropriate to meeting the learner’s needs, taking into account the individual’s existing skills and competencies.	How will you advise student about the training before they start? It must have a written record, even if it is only a tickbox form for a group. It is easiest to put it in the advertising document. If you choose to give advice in oral interviews, then you will need to document it anyway.
5.2. Prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, the RTO provides, in print or through referral to an electronic copy, current and accurate information that enables the learner to make informed decisions about undertaking training with the RTO and at a minimum includes the following content:	Information must be enough for the student to decide whether or not to take the training. Other than the other information below, explain the specific purpose of the course and what it will enable students to do.
a) the code, title and currency of the training product to which the learner is to be enrolled, as published on the National Register;	When giving the qualification title, include the code , the hyphen and the full title. Advertise only current qualifications
b) the training and assessment, and related educational and support services the RTO will provide to the learner including the:	What kinds of support will you provide students? (e.g. ask the instructor, referalls, etc.) See the ACAS policy.
i) estimated duration;	How long will the course take?
ii) expected locations at which it will be provided;	Where will students do it?
iii) expected modes of delivery;	How will the training and assessment will be done, e.g. classroom, on-line, on-job, correspondence, mixture?
iv) name and contact details of any third party that will provide training and/or assessment, and related educational and support services to the learner on the RTO’s behalf; and	Name and contact details of Program Director
v) any work placement arrangements.	What work placement will you require of students? Who arranges it? Is it paid? What are the rules? Where is it written down? N.B. Work placement must ethically be predominantly a learning experience. (It is unethical if it is no more than a "work for free" program.
c) the RTO’s obligations to the learner, including that the RTO is responsible for the quality of the training and assessment in compliance with these Standards, and for the issuance of the AQF certification documentation.	What will you/ACAS do for the student? Mention that ACAS is obliged to comply with SRTO2015 and issue AQF qualifications
d) the learner’s rights, including:	See ACAS's student handbook
i) details of the RTO’s complaints and appeals process required by Standard 6; and	Refer to the ACAS student handdbook for the complaints and appeals process
ii) if the RTO, or a third party delivering training and assessment on its behalf, closes or ceases to deliver any part of the training product that the learner is enrolled in;	Refer to the ACAS website for the policy
e) the learner’s obligations:	Refer to the ACAS student handdbook
i) in relation to the repayment of any debt to be incurred under the VET FEE-HELP scheme arising from the provision of services;	N/a (ACAS doesn’t have VET FEE-HELP)
ii) any requirements the RTO requires the learner to meet to enter and successfully complete their chosen training product; and	Are the any other requirements? (e.g. age, physical fitness, enrolled in MNO High School, employed by XYZ Corp.)
iii) any materials and equipment that the learner must provide; and	What materials and equipment must the student provide?
f) information on the implications for the learner of government training entitlements and subsidy arrangements in relation to the delivery of the services.	N/a (ACAS students don’t get government training entitlements and subsidy arrangements)
5.3. Where the RTO collects fees from the individual learner, either directly or through a third party, the RTO provides or directs the learner to information prior to enrolment or the commencement of training and assessment, whichever comes first, specifying:	The main risk of noncompliance here is requiring pre-payment of fees of more than $1500. ACAS doesn’t allow you to accept more than that, because it requires a separate trust fund, and compliance would be messy.
a) all relevant fee information including:	Obvious
i) fees that must be paid to the RTO; and	What are the fees? (In some cases, the employer pays all fees.)
ii) payment terms and conditions including deposits and refunds;	What are the terms of payment? (e.g. How much in advance? What are the rules for periodical payments? N.b. You may not require students to pay more than $1500 in advance. (If a student voluntarily wishes to pay more in advance, you should not accept it, although the SRTO does not cover such a situation.) Refer to the ACAS website for the refund policy.
b) the learner’s rights as a consumer, including but not limited to any statutory cooling-off period, if one applies;	The refund policy is in the ACAS Student Handbook.
c) the learner’s right to obtain a refund for services not provided by the RTO in the event the:
i) arrangement is terminated early; or	See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.
ii) the RTO fails to provide the agreed services.	See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.
5.4. Where there are any changes to agreed services, the RTO advises the learner as soon as practicable, including in relation to any new third party arrangements or a change in ownership or changes to existing third party arrangements.	See the ACAS student handbook for the refund policy.