Please note, throughout the frequently asked questions Stones &
Muirden Business College & Training Centre is abbreviated as SMBCTC.
For further information please contact our friendly staff on 08 8212
7070 or send an email to
enquiries@stonescollege.com.au
Click on the
question or section below to go to the appropriate place in the
document:
1.
Definitions
2. About
SMBCTC
3. Refund
Policy
4.
Apprenticeship / Traineeships
-
Definitions:
A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is a training provider
that is approved by the State or Territory Training Authority to
provide training and assessment services and has been registered
in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework
(AQTF). In South Australia RTOs are approved and registered by
the Department of Further, Education, Employment, Science and
Technology (DFEEST) through the Quality Directorate.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is a national system
designed to skill employees to work in particular industries.
VET is underpinned by a National Training Framework which
comprises two components: National Training Packages and The
Australian Quality Training Framework. VET works on a nationwide
level, covering four levels of Certificate, Diplomas and
Advanced Diplomas within the Australian Qualifications
Framework.
Vocational education and training is ‘education and training for
work’. It exists to develop and recognise the competencies or
skills of learners.
It has traditionally been seen as post-secondary, non-university
education and training, focusing on apprenticeships. But reforms
in the past decade now see vocational education and training
programs offered in secondary schools, stronger links with
university study options and six levels of qualifications
offered in most industries, including high growth, new economy
industries.
Industry -
Vocational Education and Training in Australia is an
industry-led system, through the leadership of DEST and through
the development of industry-recognised training packages by
representative bodies.
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments
- the ANTA Agreement brings together Commonwealth, State and
Territory governments to provide the policy and regulatory
frameworks for the VET system. Governments implement the
National Training Framework (which includes Training Packages
and the National Quality Training Framework) to enable
consistency, quality and national recognition of provider
services. Governments also provide approximately half the funds
for the system - the other half being provided by enterprises
and learners themselves.
Links to websites where you can find more information on the
VET sector:
www.det.gov.au
www.training.sa.gov.au
www.ntis.gov.au
The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is the
nationally agreed quality arrangements for the vocational
education and training system. The AQTF consists of three
components, Essential standards for Registration, Standards for
State and Territory Registering Bodies and Voluntary Excellence
Criteria. The AQTF standards are the legislated responsibility
of the state and territory training and accreditation
authorities.
The
Standards for Registered Training
Organisations requires RTOs to:
-
Have documented systems for quality training
and assessment
-
Conduct an internal audit at least annually
-
Have documented agreements with other
organisations when they provide training or assessment in
partnership
-
Have written procedures for recruitment,
induction and professional development of staff
-
Use facilitators and assessors with specified
competencies
-
Follow explicit requirements for quality
assurance in assessment
-
Have a recognition of prior learning process in
place and offer to recognise the prior learning of all
learners on enrolment
-
Follow specific requirements for developing,
validating and implementing learning and assessment
strategies.
The standards
provide the common foundation for ensuring the quality and
integrity of training and assessment services of RTOs.
National recognition
is the cornerstone of the AQTF. The principle of national
recognition features in both sets of the AQTF standards and its
implementation is critical to the operation of a nationally
consistent vocational education and training system.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single,
coherent framework for qualifications from Senior Secondary
Certificates through to Doctoral Degrees. The Framework links
together all these qualifications and is a highly visible,
quality-assured national system of educational recognition,
which promotes lifelong learning through a seamless and diverse
education and training system. It covers qualifications issued
by secondary schools, vocational education and training
providers and higher education institutions.
The system of vocational education and training which applies
nationally (the National Training Framework) consists generally
of three elements. These include, Training Packages, assuring
nationally endorsed competency standards and qualifications,
Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), assuring the
quality of training and assessment services by training
organisations and the quality of accredited courses and the
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), assuring the quality
and probability of the outcomes of the system for its clients.
Nationally recognised training ensures a Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) has demonstrated the training they facilitate
meets national standards. This would guarantee your
qualification is part of the Australian Qualifications Framework
(AQF). You can be confident about the quality of your training
as your qualification is recognised throughout Australia
regardless of the State or Territory in which it was obtained.
By undertaking a nationally recognised qualification through an
RTO allows students to acquire skills to meet the needs of
industry and employers.
Australian Apprenticeship Centres are contracted by the
Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and
Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to provide a FREE service to
employers and apprentices/ trainees. Australian Apprenticeships
Centres are required to personally visit employers and
apprentices/ trainees to assist in the completion of the
Training Contract and related State/ Territory Training
Authority documentation.
Only an officially contracted Australian Apprenticeships Centre
is authorised to provide advice on the eligibility and payment
of Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives.
A Training Package is a consistent and reliable set of
nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising
and assessing people’s skills. A training package describes what
skills and knowledge are required to perform effectively in the
workplace and allows trainers/ teachers to develop learning
strategies which meet a students/ clients needs, abilities and
circumstances.
Training Packages specify the competencies that must result from
the provision of learning services, industry requirements for
assessment, and the qualifications that result from competence.
In industry areas where there are not yet Training Packages,
accredited courses are used instead.
A Training Package is the specifications of workplace competency
standards for a particular industry or industry functions, which
have to be obtained to gain vocational qualifications.
The package has two components:
1.
The endorsed component, officially endorsed by the
Australian National Training Authority, includes:
* Competency standards;
* Assessment guidelines; and
* National qualifications aligned to the
Australian Qualifications Training Framework.
2.
Non-endorsed components, which are optional resources to
support the endorsed components, include:
* Learning strategies/resources;
* Assessment materials; and
* Professional development strategies and
resources.
Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre expects that
all its facilitators are conversant with relevant areas of the
training package endorsed components that they are teaching and
those non-endorsed components being used to deliver training or
assessment.
Accreditation is the official process of recognition for a
course by the State Recognition Authority. Accreditation is only
achievable if the course does not duplicate existing training
package qualification outcomes. An accredited course must
conform to the requirements of the approved model, and have
industry/ community support.
Competency comprises the specification of the knowledge and
skill and the application of that knowledge and skill within an
occupation or industry to the standard of performance required
in employment.
Competency is a broad concept that describes a person’s ability
in a range of areas.
It covers:
§
Performance of individual tasks. (Task skills)
§
Managing a number of different tasks within the job. (Task
management skills)
§
Responding to problems, breakdowns and changes in routine.
(Contingency management skills)
§
Dealing with the responsibilities and expectations of the
workplace.
(Job or role environment skills)
It also results in the ability to transfer the competency to new
situations.
A way of approaching vocational training that places primary
emphasis on what a person can do as a result of training (the
outcome), and as such represents a shift away from an emphasis
on the processes involved in training (the inputs). It is
concerned with training to industry-specific standards rather
than an individual’s achievement relative to others in a group.
Self-paced methodology
Several factors need to be taken into account in looking at the
measurement of competency and proficiency.
1
Some people learn much more quickly than others and have
the capacity to develop higher levels of skill. Take any sport,
for example. The differences between two people, even where they
all perform to a satisfactory level, will appear at work as they
do in other areas of activity.
2
Practice is a fundamental part of achieving competency in
any activity.
What are the features of competency assessment?
A.
Assessment is to the standards required in work.
B.
Candidates know beforehand what they must do to pass.
C.
As far as possible, overall performance is assessed.
D.
Everyone has the right to be assessed.
E.
Candidates will receive a certificate/ statement of
attainment stating competency.
How are your results indicated?
CAM: Competency Achieved with Merit (your work needs
to be 100% to achieve this. The following is taken in to
consideration when awarding this grade – spelling, grammar,
presentation, and assistance required).
R: Resubmit
(seek help from the facilitator).
NGP: Non Graded Pass.
CR: Credit Transfer.
NYC: Not Yet Competent.
CAN: Competency Not Achieved.
Credit Transfer (CT) is a process which allows a learner to have
previously completed study counted or credited towards a course
which they are undertaking or plan to undertake.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) involves recognition of
knowledge and skills obtained from life or work experience and
any training the learner may have previously undertaken.
Self-paced or individualised learning is defined as learning
directed by the individual in order to meet personal learning
objectives. Although self-paced learning and individualised
learning have essentially the same meaning, there are some
subtle differences.
In self-paced learning, the learner controls the pace of the
learning process. For example, in a self-paced computer-based
course, two students might begin the course on the same day but
one may finish days ahead of the other.
By contrast, in individualised learning, there may be some time
parameters. For example, a structured on-the-job/ off-the-job
training course may require the individual to reach specific
points in the course at specific times. The learning is still
targeted to the individual, but the pace of learning may be
partially controlled by the trainer or facilitator.
At SMBCTC, the term self-paced learning is used to describe both
approaches.
-
About
SMBCTC:
Yes. Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre is a
Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that has been approved
and registered by the Department of Further, Education,
Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) to provide training
and assessment services and has been registered in accordance
with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).
Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre is listed on
the official national register NTIS (National Training
Information Service) which details the nationally recognised
qualifications and courses Stones & Muirden Business College &
Training Centre is approved to deliver. You can view the NTIS
website at
http://www.ntis.gov.au
Yes. SMBCTC is registered under the Australian Quality Training
Framework (AQTF) and delivers nationally recognised training
and/ or assessment and issues Australian Qualifications
Framework (AQF) qualifications or statements of attainment. Look
for the Nationally Recognised Training logo on the SMBCTC course
materials and website.
National recognition means that
each State and Territory has agreed to recognise nationally
endorsed qualifications issued by other RTOs. This enables
individuals to have national portability of the qualifications
and statements of attainment they undertake.
Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre agrees to
recognise Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)
qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other
Registered Training Organisations.
Courses offered by Stones & Muirden Business College & Training
Centre are accredited with the State Accreditation and
Registration Council, and are placed on the National and State
Training Registers. The credential is therefore portable across
Australia and will articulate with other courses conducted by
other institutions containing these units.
Where the units in a course change, transition arrangements will
be published. This will state the superseded units that will be
accepted as equivalent for the granting of the award up until a
set date.
College student contact hours are between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm
Monday to Friday*.
Average course contact hours per week are 30.
Facilities and equipment are available during this time.
*
Trainees contact hours are between 9.00am and 4.30pm Monday to
Friday.
Office hours are 8.30 am to 4.45 pm Monday to Friday.
All equipment and facilities are available to students during
this time.
- Session times for Business students are:
Morning 9.00 am - 12.00 pm
(including a 15 minute morning tea break)
Lunch 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm
Afternoon 1.00
pm - *4.00 pm
*trainees afternoon session will continue until 4.30 pm.
- Session times for Aged Care students are:
Morning
9.30 am - 12.30 pm (including a 15 minute morning tea break)
Lunch 12.30 pm - 1.15 pm
Afternoon 1.15
pm – 3.00 pm
A record of your attendance is kept. If you are late to class or
leave a class early this will be recorded on your attendance
record. Trainees’ employers will be notified.
If you will be arriving late to a class or leaving early then
you are required to sign in/out in the Attendance Book in the
reception area. This is used as a fire safety record.
On arrival to class short course students will need to sign the
booking sheet located on the front desk of the classroom and
re-book their session/s for the following week.
The general procedure for enrolment into a course at Stones &
Muirden Business College & Training Centre is detailed below.
If you require assistance, please telephone the College for
further information.
Step 1 - Read through this document on the terms and conditions
of enrolment.
Step 2 – Complete the SMBCTC enrolment form, including the
sections on personal details, student profile information,
details of course and payment options. Please make sure
all declarations on the form are signed.
Step 3 – Once the enrolment form is completed it will need to be
submitted to the college either online or via mail if the
enrolment form is sent via mail you must enclose the appropriate
deposit, course fees, or letter of authorisation. If the
enrolment form is sent online please contact the college to
discuss your preferred payment method.
Step 4 - A letter confirming your course enrolment and starting
dates will be sent once your application has been received and
processed.
Please Note - SMBCTC will not disclose information about
students to people outside the College (unless required by legal
or academic obligations), or to staff who have no need for the
information, unless the student gives written permission for the
College to do so. This restriction on access to information
applies to parents, spouses or other relatives of the student,
unless the relative is the person responsible for fees as listed
on the enrolment form.
Flexible Learning
Flexible learning is an approach to education and training that
caters for you as an individual. At Stones & Muirden Business
College & Training Centre you work through a series of carefully
designed learning guides to achieve the competencies needed to
obtain your learning goals. Qualified facilitators are available
to assist you when you need them and your progress is monitored
throughout your course.
Being flexible means you may study at your own pace, work at
College or from your own home and choose when you want to be
assessed, BUT you must ensure that you inform the College of:
3.
If you are working from home you will need to submit work
on a regular basis, either in person, post or via email so that
your progress can be monitored.
Classroom
Training
Training is delivered 'face to face' by qualified trainers and
you are required to attend each scheduled class. The trainer
will moderate the learning pace, method and sequence appropriate
to the learning needs.
Learning methods will vary and can include case study scenarios,
field trips, 'hands on' practical classes, role play techniques,
discussions, presentations and assignments.
Assessment tasks and strategies cover a wide range of methods
and may include the creation of specific written documents,
projects or reports, formal questions (multiple choice, short
and long answer), practical demonstrations, small or large group
tasks, oral presentations, problem solving tasks, case studies
and discussions. Broadly, classroom assessments have two
or three assessment tasks for each unit of competency or module.
As a general rule for major assessments, you will be provided
with task assessment instructions including the date the task is
due for completion.
Continuous Assessment
Assessments are conducted at various stages of each unit. Some
assessments are completed at the end of the unit, and others are
applied after each chapter or stage of the course work.
Assessment tasks and how they will be conducted are explained in
the student unit guides supplied with the self paced workbooks.
In a Competency Based Training Program, assessments are
undertaken when the student feels fully prepared. The nominal
hours and stages of the course will be an accurate guide to
determine when assessments need to be undertaken.
Types of Assessment
There is a wide range of assessment tools used in the study
program. They range from the traditional essay or short answer
written format to a verbal or observation checklist.
The following list may assist you to prepare for assessments.
|
·
Case Study |
·
Essay (extended response) |
|
·
Group Assessment |
·
Simulation |
|
·
Group Discussion |
·
Structured Question |
|
·
Integrated Activity |
·
Written Short Answer |
|
·
Journal |
·
Portfolio |
|
·
Multiple Choice |
·
Observation |
|
·
Practical Display |
·
Project |
|
·
Oral Presentation |
·
Role Play |
Assessment Results
Your assessment tasks are marked according to the performance
criteria outlined under each element in the student unit guide.
You will receive one of the following grades:
CAM:
Competency Achieved with Merit
R:
Resubmit – non-competency
CR
:
Credit Transfer
CNA:
Competency Not Achieved
A re-submit opportunity will be given for those students who
fail to achieve competency at the first attempt. Assessments
must be re-submitted at a date advised by the facilitator.
Resubmitted work cannot obtain a CAM grading.
If the student is still not deemed competent at the second
attempt additional course work will need to be completed and a
new assessment task undertaken. The student will have one
further opportunity to re-submit.
If the student is still not deemed competent after the second
attempt at the second assessment task then the student will need
to redo the unit at an additional cost of $50.00 to cover
resources.
Realistic due dates for assessment tasks have been set and need
to be adhered to. Extensions will be granted only in exceptional
circumstances and only on written application to the
facilitator.
In order to gain a Merit grading, certain criteria must be met
in addition to the standard required for competency. This
judgement is made after careful consideration of certain aspects
of your performance and is based on the following criteria.
Merit Criteria
A student who is awarded a Merit result will have achieved all
the criteria for Competency Achieved that is expected for a
unit.
To achieve a Merit grading the student must meet all of the
following criteria:
Efficiency
§
Achieve competency on first submission.
§
Submit work within designated timelines.
§
Display a consistent level of productivity.
§
Require minimal supervision.
Presentation
§
Present original work.
§
Show evidence of further research.
§
Present work in an appropriate manner including legibility,
neatness, accuracy and complies with standard business layout
conventions.
Personal Skills
§
Display outstanding attitude toward work including motivation.
§
Plan and organise own work.
§
Monitor own progress.
§
Use effective teamwork including responsibility and equal
workload.
§
Display adaptability and good problem solving skills.
§
Display an ability to consider different points of view and
transfer information to a range of contexts.
SMBCTC provides adequate protection for the health, safety and
welfare of trainees and students, without limiting the ordinary
meaning of such expression, this includes adequate and
appropriate support services in terms of academic and personal
counselling.
For further information regarding SMBCTC Support Services please
contact our helpful and supportive staff on 08 8212 7070.
Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre agrees to
recognise the AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment
issued by other Registered Training Organisations. Courses
offered by Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre
are accredited with the State Accreditation and Registration
Council, and are placed on the National and State Training
Registers. The credential is therefore portable across
Australia and will articulate with other courses conducted by
other institutions containing these units of competency.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) acknowledges the current
skills and knowledge that a person possesses. These may be
obtained through:
·
Formal training (including formal training for which there is a
direct status/transfer of credit arrangement with Stones &
Muirden Business College & Training Centre)
·
Informal training (such as experience gained on-the-job in paid
employment)
·
Voluntary work
·
Life/community work experiences
In order to gain full recognition, you need to accurately
document your claim for competency, matching evidence of your
knowledge and skills to the specific elements of competency of
the relevant unit. Required evidence and methods of collecting
it will be fully explained to you by SMBCTC staff, but it is
your responsibility to gather the evidence and organise it
appropriately.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is given when you can
supply evidence by drawing on your experiences gained in paid
employment, voluntary employment, further studies or community
work.
A fee is charged for RPL applications. For further information
about the application process, please contact the College.
-
Refund Policy:
Withdrawal before Course Commencement
In the event of failure by a student to commence their study for
whatever reason, Stones & Muirden Business College & Training
Centre will refund all pre-paid fees. If a student is
withdrawing from a certificate or diploma course, the refund
excludes the initial deposit. Refunds will be paid within
four weeks of written notice given by the student.
Withdrawal after Course Commencement
In the event of withdrawal from a course after commencement,
appropriate documentation must accompany the written
notification of withdrawal.
If the participant withdraws from the course after commencement
due to:
·
Medical illness (evidenced by a
doctor’s certificate stating that the illness will prevent the
participant from completing the course)
·
Family bereavement
·
Interstate relocation
Stones & Muirden Business College & training Centre will refund 40% of fees
of the remaining weeks of the current 10 week term. Any
fees paid in excess of the current 10 week term will be refunded
in full. Refunds will be paid within four weeks of written
notice given by the student.
Stones & Muirden Business College & Training Centre will not refund fees for
the current term if withdrawal from the course after course
commencement is for any other reason. Any fees paid in
excess of the current term will be refunded in full.
If the term’s fees have not been paid at the time of withdrawal,
the balance of the fees becomes payable and due at the date of
withdrawal.
In the event of withdrawal from the course after commencement of
a term, students are assisted to complete their studies by
distance education mode for non-computer based units. All
work must be completed and finalised within the current term.
Work submitted or completed after this time will incur further
fees.
-
Apprenticeship/
Traineeships:
Almost any current employee can become an Australian Apprentice/
Trainee but the government may not always fund the cost of
training delivery or provide employer incentives for these
Australian Apprentices/ Trainees. Upon completion of the
Apprenticeship/ Traineeship the apprentice/ trainee will have a
nationally recognised qualification and will have obtained the
skills required to complete relevant tasks on the job within
their industry.
For further information, or to see if you/ or your employee is
eligible for an apprenticeship/ traineeship contact an
Australian Apprenticeships Centre.
An Australian Apprentice/ Trainee can be employed full-time or
part-time dependent on the appropriate industrial relations
arrangements being in place.
Anyone from 15 years of age to 64 years of age can become an
Australian Apprentice/ Trainee.
An Australian Apprentice/ Trainee will receive a training wage
stipulated by the Australian Workplace relations systems or your
State/ territory government equivalent.
The conditions of employment for Australian Apprentices/
trainees are covered by these systems. The conditions will
include but is not limited to work hours, leave entitlements,
superannuation and more.
Australian Apprentices/ Trainees will also be paid for the time
they dedicate to off-the-job training. Wages can vary between
types of Australian Apprenticeships/ Traineeships and during
training. For more information visit the Australian federal
wages and conditions of employment website:
http://www.wagenet.gov.au
When a person commences an apprenticeship or traineeship they
need to sign a training contract. A training contract forms a
legally binding agreement between the apprentice/ trainee and
their employer, arranged through an Australian Apprenticeship
Centre (AAC). The agreement is created to ensure both parties
are dedicated to achieving the qualification documented in the
training contract.
The training contract defines your rights and obligations and
will contain a trainee/ apprentice’s hours of work, the
agreement/ award they will be paid under and a training plan
that specifies what training will be received.
If an apprentice/ trainee has any questions about their training
or employment they should be discussed with your employer before
the training contract is signed.
Visit the Australian Apprenticeships website
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au or phone the Australian
Apprenticeships Hotline on 13 38 73 (local call cost within
Australia) to locate an Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC)
that is contracted in your region.
