Code of Practice

NATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety adheres to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) standards.

COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety complies with all relevant local, state and federal government legislation, including:

· Occupational Health and Safety, including the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 and subordinate legislation relating to workplace harassment, victimisation and bullying

· Anti-discrimination Act 1991

· Disability Discrimination Act 1992

· Sexual Discrimination Act 1984

· Racial Discrimination Act 1975, including racial vilification

· Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999

· Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 1991

Copies of all legislation are available through the Australian Government website (www.gov.au).

ACCESS AND EQUITY POLICY

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety supports the principles of access and equity. We will ensure that equity principles for all people are implemented through the fair allocation of resources and the right to equality of opportunity without discrimination.

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety prohibits discrimination towards any group or individual in any form. Safe Work College will meet the needs of individuals and the community as a whole through the integration of access and equity guidelines. We will increase opportunities for people to participate in the vocational education and training system and in associated decisions that affect their lives.

Safe Work will endeavour to ensure full participation of people who could otherwise be limited in their ability to take part in the course program.

Safe Work provides support for any prospective participants who have any concerns that they will not be able to participate fully and effectively in the course. Reasons that people may believe they have limited access include medical conditions, disability, literacy or numeracy concerns, cultural reasons.

This policy is underpinned by the principles of access and equity outlined in our Code of Practice and integrated into the Safe Work organisational procedures.

REFUND POLICY

A full refund of enrolment fees will be made if a course is cancelled by Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety for any reason.

Where a fee-paying student or an organisation acting on behalf of a student or group of students enrols for a training course and subsequently cancels that enrolment the following policy applies.

· If cancellation notice is given one full working week prior to the start of the course, fees will be refunded minus a $50 administration charge. Alternatively, a student may nominate to transfer into a future course, should a space be available. This credit must be used within 12 months.

· If cancellation notice is given less than one full working week prior to the start of the course, no refund will be given. The full fee will be credited towards a future course. This credit must be used within 12 months.

· When no cancellation notice is given (i.e. non-attendance), no refund or transfer is applicable, except in such circumstances judged to be exceptional by the Director.

· Where an organisation has booked on behalf or a student or group of students, the organisation may substitute another student or group of students where the original participant/s is/are unable to attend.

· All fees paid to Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will be kept in a separate account and accessed only when the training is rendered.

DIRECT CREDIT TRANSFER POLICY

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will allow students to apply for Direct Credit Transfer under Mutual Recognition principles.

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will recognise a qualification provided by another training organisation that is the same as a qualification that can be obtained through completion of a course offered by Safe Work.

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will ensure that

· the person seeking the recognition has obtained the qualification; and

· the qualification is the same as a qualification that can be obtained through completion of a course offered by Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety.

ASSESSMENT POLICY

Safe Work will apply principles of competency based assessment to assessment systems.

Purpose and Scope

This policy details the principles of competency based assessment to be applied within assessment systems by Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety. The application of these principles will result in the valid, reliable and fair assessment of persons enrolled in training programs.

This policy applies to assessment activities (including RPL) carried out with respect to all training programs delivered, whether directly by, or on our behalf.

Assessment Directives

Assessment conducted by Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will observe the directives required for nationally recognised courses. Assessments will meet requirements for:

· Competency Based Assessments

· Validity

· Reliability

· Fairness

· Flexibility

· Recognition of Prior Learning

· Cost Effectiveness

· Comparability

STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT POLICY

On successful completion of a VET accredited Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety short course, participants will be awarded a Statement of Attainment within 21 Days.

GRIEVANCE POLICY

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will provide a fair process for course participants who bring a grievance to the notice of Safe Work personnel.

· In the event of a grievance, steps will be taken to resolve the matter through internal processes.

· If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, an independent external review of the matter will be sought.

· The Grievance Procedure outlines the process for course participants to lodge a notice of grievance.

APPEALS POLICY

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety has a procedure to enable course participants to appeal against an academic decision or other procedural matter. Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will ensure that students have access to a fair and equitable appeals process.

Course participants will have the right to an external review if the internal appeal is not successful.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Candidates in all Safe Work Courses are advised that they must adhere to a reasonable standard of behaviour at all times when attending or participating in Safe Work courses (including site visits) or on Safe Work premises.

A reasonable standard of behaviour is defined as a standard of behaviour which, in the opinion of the Training Officer:

1. allows all candidates to participate fully in the training course without undue distraction or discomfort

2. conforms to legislative and community standards in respect to OHS, anti-discrimination and racial vilification

3. does not involve criminal actions or activities

4. does not harass, intimidate, humiliate or mock the Training Officer, other candidates or staff of Safe Work.

In general, Training Officers will attempt to give candidates reasonable warning prior to undertaking disciplinary action that leads to a candidate's exclusion from the course. Reasonable warning may be understood to be three warnings, however Training Officers reserve the right to exclude candidates without warning where serious breaches of standards occur.

WELFARE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Safe Work recognises that literacy, numeracy or disability issues may impact upon a candidate's ability to progress through the training course. Please inform the training or administrative staff as soon as possible if you believe that your performance may be impaired and they will discuss appropriate support services available to you. Please note that this also applies to any circumstance that may limit your ability to complete the course or assessment within the required time frame.

Safe Work develops all training courses to be suitable for a large variety of candidates from a range of educational, cultural and language backgrounds. All training courses are written in plain English and are designed to assess candidates using practical rather than theoretical assessment. However, you should check the prerequisites for your course to determine if you meet the minimum language, literacy and numeracy requirements. If in doubt, you should contact a training or administrative officer to discuss the options available to you.

Where Safe Work is unable to meet the needs of candidates, we will refer you to organisations which can assist.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING POLICY

Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety has a commitment to recognising the prior learning of individuals, and promotes acknowledgment of "non-traditional" forms of learning as valid pathways for recognition of competency during the RPL assessment process.

People who believe they have the range of skills and knowledge to meet the competencies outlined in a course will be asked to complete the Recognition of Prior Learning Application Form. You should use the RPL template relevant to your course.

A fee of 50% of the cost of the current course will be levied upon any student who undertakes the RPL process. Please note that this charge is payable whether or not the student successfully achieves RPL.

Principles of RPL Assessment

As a registered vocational education and training provider, Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety will conduct the RPL process within the framework of the key principles of Australian Recognition Framework (ARF) which includes:

1. Safe Work will use assessment processes that provide for the recognition of prior learning regardless of where the learning has been acquired.

2. Safe Work recognises that recognition of prior learning focuses on identifying the competencies currently held by individuals as a result of formal and informal training, not how, when or where the learning occurred.

3. Safe Work recognises that prior learning underpins any system of competency-based training, and has a commitment to recognising the prior learning of potential and actual course participants.

4. Safe Work will make recognition of prior learning available to all potential applicants.

5. Safe Work will have processes for the recognition of prior learning that are fair to all parties involved.

6. Safe Work will provide adequate support with regard to precognition of prior learning to all potential applicants.

RPL Objectives

A variety of RPL assessment options will be available for potential applicants to identify whether they have achieved the necessary competencies/learning outcomes to the required standard in the relevant training course or program. All assessment mechanisms used are valid, reliable, flexible and fair and conducted in an ethical manner.

The key objectives of the Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety RPL assessment process are to:

minimise duplication of learning, training or skill acquisition;

· allow the completion of courses in the shortest possible time;

· provide quality advice and support to potential and current applicants;

· conduct the RPL process only in respect to courses for which Safe Work College of Workplace Health and Safety is registered to assess;

· ensure that only fully qualified staff are involved in the RPL process;

· ensure RPL processes are monitored, evaluated and updated where appropriate;

· advise RPL applicants of their right of appeal through the formal process;

· ensure fees and charges are fair and competitive with the industry standard;

· ensure the RPL process is completed in a reasonable time