- Assessment Policy
- Complaints and Appeals Policy - International Students
- Course Progress Policy - International Students
- Critical Incidence Policy
- Deferment & Suspension or Cancellation Policy
- Education Agents Policy
- Entry Requirements and Selection Policy - International Students
- Fees & Charges and Refund Policy - International Students
- Health & Wellbeing and Safety Policy
- Industry Engagement Policy
- Informing and Protecting Learners Policy
- Marketing Policy - International Students
- Notice of Unsatisfactory Course Progress - Risk Intervention
- Overseas Student Transfer Policy
- Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct Policy
- Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy
- Student Support Services Policy - International Students
- Training and Assessment Strategies Policy
- Validation Policy
- Volume of Learning Policy
INTRODUCTION
In accordance with The National Code (Standard 6: Student Supports Services) Insight Institute of Further Studies (IIFS) must provide support to the overseas student in adjusting to study and life in Australia.
In accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 – Support learners Clause 1.7, IIFS is required to determine the support needs of individual learners; and as a result provide access to educational and support services (such as, but not limited to Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support and assistive technology) that is necessary for students to meet the requirements of the training product as specified in relevant Training Packages or VET accredited course on its Scope of Registration. The aim of this support is to maximise the chances of students successfully completing their training within their period of enrolment.
POLICY
This policy has been designed to ensure that IIFS will:
• give overseas students information on, or access to, an orientation program about living and studying in Australia, including information about safety on campus and while living in Australia;
• offer reasonable support to overseas students, irrespective of their place or mode of study, at no additional cost to the overseas student;
• have a critical incident management policy; and
• ensure there are sufficient staff, in addition to academic staff, to support and advise overseas students who request assistance.
• identify any support individual students need prior to their enrolment or commencement (whichever is the earliest); and
• provide access to that support throughout their training
1. Identifying support requirements
Enrolment Form
The Enrolment Form is used to determine if a student has identified themselves as having a disability (physical or learning disability). This will be used to determine any support requirements for the student including reasonable adjustments to me made in the Training and Assessment strategies and materials.
Pre Training Review
Prior to enrolment or Course commencement IIFS will conduct a Pre-Training Review and LLN Assessment for each student which will:
• Identify any competencies previously acquired (Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) or Credit Transfer);
• Assess the student’s Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) to determine the student’s learning needs and any additional support required so that the student is in the best possible position to complete their course.
• Ascertain the most appropriate qualification for the student to be enrolled in, including taking into consideration the likely job outcome(s) from the development of their new competencies and skills; and
• Ascertain that the proposed learning strategies and teaching and assessment materials are appropriate for that student.
2. Providing Support
This policy has been designed to ensure that appropriate support services are available International students to ease their transition into life and study in Australia and to assist them as needed. These services will be provided at no additional cost to the student.
English Language Support
IIFS understands that English is a second language for our international students and is an area where more support is required to achieve success for our students.
IIFS will provide are several formal and informal support services and programs which provide international students with the opportunity to practice, and build confidence in, their English language skills.
The Student Support Services organise regular workshops on:
• Grammar and pronunciation
• Speaking and listening
• Reading and writing
Student Support Services Staff can also provide assistance with finding the right online English Language Improving tools that best suit the individual needs of the student.
LLN Support
All students participate in aLLN Assessment which is designed to map with appropriate ACSF levels of the course they are enrolling in. This is assessed by a qualified Assessor.
• A qualified assessor will determine whether or not additional LLN support needs to be provided.
• The student will also be notified of the outcome of the Assessment.
• Where additional support is required the Assessor will discuss the extent and timing of the support with the Student Support Services Officer and notify the student.
• The outcome of this assessment will be recorded on the LLN Form and will be attached to the students file.
•If additional LLN support is to be provided it will be brought to the attention of the student’s course Trainer/Assessor so that it can be addressed throughout the delivery and assessment processes.
• A Student Support Services Officer will also visit each classroom or simulated workplace environment on a planned basis to provide any additional support as well.
• Where a student wishes to discuss any LLN issue they can do this by arranging a meeting with Student Support Services Officer.
Orientation Program
Before the commencement of the course, IIFS will provide an age and culturally appropriate Orientation Program for all students which will provide them with information about:
• Emergency Management plan including evacuation procedures
•StudentSupportServicesavailableto assist overseas students to help them adjust to study and life in Australia.
• StudentSupportServices Contact person
• All facilitiesandresources
• Staff Contact for different departments
• English Language Support
• Academic Support
• LLN Support
• Technology Support
• Student Welfare Services
• Other Support Services offered
• Referral Services to external agencies
• Course progress requirements
•Complaintsandappealsprocesses
• Critical Incidents
• Student Safety Information
• Legal Services for international Students
• Emergency and Health services
• Student Rights
• Services students can access for information on their employment rights and conditions, and how to resolve workplace issues, such as through the Fair work Ombudsman.
• General information about living in Australia.
Student Handbook
All students are provided with a hardcopy / website link to the Student Handbook prior to their course commencement. The Student Handbook provides information related to:
• IIFS Introduction
• Courses
• Selection and enrolment
• Unique student identifier (USI)
• Credits
• Recognition of prior learning
• Course locations
• Course orientation
• Student code of conduct
• Course expectations and requirements
• Attendance requirements
• Course progress requirements
• Assessment arrangements
• Student plagiarism, cheating and collusion
• Support services
• External support services
• Your feedback
• Access to your records
• Notifying you if things change
• Legislation and you
• Privacy policy
• Fees, charges and refunds
• Deferment, Suspension or Cancellation
• Complaints and appeals
• Critical Incidence Policy
• Issuing of certification documents
Academic Support
IIFS will offer reasonable support to overseas students to enable them to achieve expected learning outcomes regardless of their place of study or mode of study, at no additional cost to the student. Academic support is the responsibility of the trainers. Students are advised to approach their trainers, Course Coordinator, Student Support Officer if they need assistance in meeting course requirements. The academic support could arise from identifying the special learning needs (Pre-Training Review), or the disabilities student might have prior to enrolment or during the course of their enrolment into a course. The Trainers and Student Support Services Officer must assist with the following:
• Study Skills
• Timetables
• Learning Support Strategies
• Academic issues
• Reasonable Adjustment in conducting assessments
• Understanding course content
• Preparing for tests
• Workshops and training sessions with industry representatives.
Technology Support
Assistive Technology will be provided in each classroom or simulated workplace environment as specified in the relevant Training Package or VET Accredited Course. If requested by a student, IIFS will provide them with technology support in the classroom. Students should initially make contact their trainer with any issues relating to technology support and if their trainer cannot address the matter they will then raise the issue with IIFS’s IT Services for resolution.
Other Student Support Services offered
Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a range of student support and social activities organized by IIFS.
• Accommodation & Housing Advice
• Study and Meeting Course Requirements
• Childcare
• Counselling, mental health
• Disability Support
• Financial Advice
• Health Advice
• Legal Issues
• Welfare Services.
Accessibility to Student Support Services staff
• Whilst all staff employed by IIFS are responsible in providing education and support services to students, IIFS will nominate ‘Student Support Service Officers’ who will be available to all students, on an appointment basis, during standard hours of business (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).
• IIFS will have sufficient student support personnel to meet the needs of the students.
• IIFS will ensure that student support staff are aware of their obligations under the ESOS Framework
• If students require access outside these hours, an appointment will need to be made with the Student Support Services Manager to arrange suitable time.
• Students can access the Student Support Officers directly or via email or phone contact.
• In cases of emergency (non-life threatening), the person to be contacted is the CEO (available 24 hours / 7 days per week).
Student Safety
• IIFS will take all reasonable steps to provide a safe environment on campus and advise students and staff on actions they can take to enhance their personal security and safety
• IIFS will provide information to overseas students about how to seek assistance for and report an incident that significantly impacts on their wellbeing, including critical incidents
IIFS will provide students general information on safety and awareness relevant to life in Australia.