CODES OF PRACTICE
Each of the key areas of best practice is outlined in more detail in the following pages.
Ensuring learner’s rights as a consumer are protected and that each receives the services detailed in their agreement with BTA.
1.1 Marketing of training and assessment services
BTA markets and advertises its products and services in an ethical manner. BTA accurately represents recognised training products and services to prospective learners and clients. BTA promotes only what it has on scope and is able to deliver and does so in a manner which is designed to support the training needs of the Boarding and Community Services industry. BTA gains written permission from a learner or residential organisation before using information about that individual or organisation in any marketing materials.
BTA ensures learners and clients are provided with full details of conditions in any contract arrangements with the organisation. This includes any costs or charges that a learner or their site may incur as a direct result of their engagement the delivery and assessment of their course. No false or misleading comparisons are drawn with any other training organisation or qualification.
1.2 Financial standards
BTA has measures in place to ensure that learners and clients receive a refund of fees for services not provided, including services not provided as a result of the financial failure of the organisation. Where necessary; alternative provision will be made for learners to access services not provided to the learner.
BTA ensures that the contractual and financial relationship between the learner/client and the organisation is fully and properly documented, and that copies of the documentation are made available to the learner/client.
Documentation includes:
the rights and responsibilities of learners,
costs of training and assessment services, and issuance of qualifications,
payment arrangements and refund conditions,
any other matters that place obligations on learners or clients.
BTA has a refund policy that is fair and equitable and this policy is made available to all learners and clients prior to enrolment.
1.3 Issuance of qualifications
BTA issues qualifications and Statements of Attainment to learners who meet the required outcomes of a qualification or unit of competency, in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015, Standard three, schedules four and five.
1.4 Provision of information
BTA supplies accurate, relevant and up-to-date information to prospective learners and employers regarding course offerings, content, availability, policies and procedures, funding/costs and assessment as a part of ongoing commitment to transparency and equity. BTA supplies this information to learners and clients prior to enrolment and regularly reviews all information provided to ensure its accuracy and relevance.
BTA fully cooperates with the VET regulator ASQA by;
providing accurate and truthful responses to information requests from the VET Regulator relevant to BTA’s registration,
by providing quality/performance indicator data (AVETMIS and Student and employer satisfaction surveys),
by providing information about substantial changes to its operations or any event that would significantly affect BTA’s ability to comply with the 2015 standards within 90 calendar days of the change occurring
by providing information about significant changes to its ownership within 90 calendar days of the change occurring,
providing notification to ASQA of any written agreement entered into under Clause 2.3 for the delivery of services on its behalf, within 30 calendar days of that agreement being entered into or prior to the obligations under the agreement taking effect, whichever occurs first, and within 30 calendar days of the agreement coming to an end.
1.5 Record keeping
BTA keeps complete and accurate records of the attendance and progress of learners, as well as financial records that reflect all payments and charges and the balance due, and provides copies of these records to learners on request.
BTA ensures that all records pertaining to individuals including academic, financial and other records maintained by the Registered Training Organisation are complete and accurate. The records are managed confidentially and are not divulged to third parties unless authorised by the learner or as required under law. Learners may view their own records to confirm their accuracy and completeness.
BTA has the following arrangements in place for secure handling of student data and all training resources;
Current student records;
- in locked filing cabinet,
- on cloud based database
- backed up to external hard drive.
Past student records
- Archived in locked storage room
- On cloud based database
- Hard copy of certificate in file
- Digital copy of certificate in cloud based dropbox
- Digital copy of certificate backed up to external hard drive.
Training resources
- Hard copy files
- Digital copies on dropbox
- Digital copies backed up to external hard drive.
1.6 State and Commonwealth legislation
BTA complies with Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation and regulatory requirements relevant to its operations.
BTA ensures staff, current learners and employers are informed of any changes to legislative and regulatory requirements that affect the services delivered.
That as a Registered Training Organisation, BTA adheres to the principles of access and equity and meets its legal obligations whilst maximising learner outcomes
2.1 Access and Equity
BTA aims to ensure ample opportunity to complete training and assessments regardless of any perceived disability or disadvantage and regardless of gender, socioeconomic background, disability, ethnic origin, age or race, and will:
Deliver training in a non‐discriminatory, open and respectful manner;
Ensure personnel are appropriately skilled in access and equity issues, including cultural awareness and sensitivity to the requirements of Learners with special needs;
Ensure facilities provide reasonable access to Learners of all levels of mobility, and physical and intellectual capacity;
Conduct Learner selection for training opportunities in a manner that includes and reflects the diverse Learner population;
Learners are responsible for behaving in a courteous, sensitive and non- discriminatory manner when dealing with staff, clients, consultants, learners or the broader community.
BTA endeavours to meet everyone’s diverse learning needs. To assist the RTO in this process, learners are invited to inform trainers and assessors involved with training programs of any special considerations or requirements they may have (e.g. disabilities and/or special learning difficulties), or of any Access and Equity issues arise during participation in training.
2.2 Child protection
BTA staff, maintains current knowledge and practice in relation to child protection, child safety and mandatory notification practices for each State and Territory. Although the staff does not generally work with learners under the age of 18, we recognise that the working context within which we are situated, student residential organisations (BTA), has a direct focus in this area, and that from time to time staff may be in contact with younger students. As such BTA personnel put in place the required practices and processes in working with children and fully undertake their legal obligation in regard to child safety and child protection.
2.3 Recruitment / enrolment
BTA
conducts recruitment of learners in a non-discriminatory and responsible manner at all times.
ensures that the educational and experiential background of intending learners is assessed by suitably qualified staff and/or agents and provides for the training of such staff and agents, as appropriate.
provides offers of program placement to applicants based on an assessment of the extent to which the qualifications, proficiency and aspirations of the applicant are matched by the training opportunity offered.
NOTE: Two of the qualifications offered by BTA are contextualised qualifications. To achieve competency in these qualifications learners must be working in the student residential industry or be able to access significant work placement hours in the student residential industry.
2.4 Support services
BTA provides adequate protection for the health, safety and welfare of learners.
2.5 Grievance mechanism (complaints and appeals)
BTA ensures that learners and clients have access to a fair and equitable process for dealing with grievances and provides an avenue for learners to appeal against decisions, which affect the learners’ progress. Every effort is made by BTA to effectively resolve learners’/clients’ grievances.
For this purpose, the BTA grievance policy clearly provides a mechanism for concerns and complaints to be dealt with in a fair and constructive manner in accordance with BTA Policy and practice.
Where a grievance cannot be resolved internally, BTA advises learners and clients of the appropriate body as to where they can seek further assistance. This will be the ASQA complaints team.
Where a complaint or appeal has been made, BTA undertake to securely maintains records of the complaint or appeals and the outcomes, and to maintain a complaints and appeals log.
BTA will seek to identify potential causes of complaints and appeals and takes appropriate corrective action to eliminate or mitigate the likelihood of reoccurrence.
As an organisation BTA staff and management engage the industry in the operations of the RTO so that learners and the industry sector can be confident that the qualifications issues by BTA: RTO are recognised and valued by the industry.
3.1 Quality Control
BTA seeks feedback from learners and clients on their satisfaction with services they have received, and seeks to improve its services in accordance with their expectations.
BTA seeks feedback in compliance with AQTF Standards requirements though validation, moderation and audit processes.
3.2 Industry engagement
BTA is committed to the provision of contextualised and recognised training programs which reflect and include the values, policies, perspectives and practices current to the industry sector. BTA engage regularly with relevant industry representatives to evaluate our training and assessment services. This ensures that BTA graduates hold the required skills and knowledge to undertake the standard of performance required in student residential care worksites.
BTA training and assessment strategies are developed in consultation with the student residential care industry to ensure that training is consistent with current industry practice.. Where training and assessment occurs in the workplace, evidence of performance will contribute to the assessment process.
Assuring the quality of the training and assessment provided across all of the program areas within the RTO
4.1 Provision of Training and Assessment Services
BTA has policies and management practices which maintain high professional standards in the delivery of training and assessment services, and which safeguard the interests and welfare of learners and/or clients.
BTA is committed to the principle and practice of continuous improvement of the service it offers and will seek both learner and industry feedback on the training and assessment services received.
BTA has the capacity to deliver and assess the vocational qualifications for which it has been registered, provides adequate facilities, and use methods and materials appropriate to the learning and assessment needs of learners.
BTA monitors and assesses the performance and progress of its learners.
BTA ensures that training staff are not only suitably qualified but are also sensitive to the cultural and learning needs of learners. Training is provided for BTA staff as required.
BTA ensures that assessments are conducted in a manner, which meets the endorsed components of the relevant Training Package(s) and/or accredited programs. It also offers learning and assessment processes that as far as practicable meet the individual learning needs of learners.
BTA as a Registered Training Organisation ensures that its operations comply with Standards for NVR Registered Training organisations 2012.
Meeting individual learner needs by assessing their current skills and knowledge prior to the commencement of training.
5.1 RPL
BTA recognises that many of the student residential care industry supervisors have many years of experience, and have skills and knowledge relevant to work roles and responsibilities that are also relevant to course outcomes.
BTA will where possible assist each learner to gain recognition for these existing skills, abilities and knowledge through a process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
5.2 Recognition of qualifications issued by other RTOs and educational institutions.
BTA recognises the AQF Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other RTO’s and educational institutions recognised in the AQF. National recognition obligations are reflected in our organisation’s policies and procedures and information to staff and clients. Credit for units of competency (that are current) with another RTO will automatically be granted towards the completion of the qualification being undertaken with BTA
Signed
Steven J Florisson
Training Manager
October 2019