Information for International Students

1. PAYMENT OF FEES

a. The Application Fee and, if required, the Airport Pickup and Accommodation Assistance Fees are payable upon enrolment and are non-refundable.

b. Full fees of the student’s first semester of all courses must be received before the course commences and will be held by Trade Institute of Victoria (TIV) in accordance with the Education Services for Overseas students Act (2000).

c. For on-going students, fees must be paid for at least one semester in advance of the stage currently being studied.

d. Fees are subject to change. However, fees detailed in a letter of offer before the date of change will be honoured by TIV for the period/course stated on the letter of offer.

e. Students repeating units will be required to pay $650 per unit repeated.

It is the student’s responsibility:

• To make payment by the required due date as per invoices supplied by TIV
• If unable to make payment by the due date then arrange a payment plan with TIV and ensure that payments are made by the revised dates.

If payments are not made by the required due dates TIV will take appropriate action including legal action to recover any outstanding monies

 

2. APPEALS & COMPLAINTS

TIV supports the right of every student to lodge an appeal or make a complaint and have that appeal or complaint dealt with in a manner that is both respectful and fair.

a) Complaints

• The complainant takes the complaint to the TIV officer able to resolve the complaint;
• Where the issue is resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant no further action is required;
• Where the issue remains unresolved the complainant may initiate appeals action.

b) Appeals arising from complaints

• Appeals (with supporting evidence) must be in writing and directed to the TIV manager who is directly senior to the TIV officer who handled the original complaint. In most cases this will be either the Business Manager, the Principal Executive Officer, or the Managing Director;
• The relevant TIV officer will notify the student in writing of the receipt of their appeal within 7 days and will offer the appellant a suitable time and place for them to present their case.
• Students may bring along a support person to the meeting;
• The outcome of the appeal must be issued in writing to the student within 10 days of the interview and include any reasons why the appeal has been declined;

• Assistance in this appeal can be sought from the Counsellor;
• If an international student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal appeal process, he/she can contact the Overseas Students Ombudsman.  The Overseas Student Ombudsman offers a free and independent service for overseas students who have a complaint or want to lodge an external appeal about a decision made by TIV.  See the Overseas Students Ombudsman website www.oso.gov.au or phone 1300 362 072 for more information;
• The student must continue to attend classes during the course of a complaint and/or appeal process.

 

c) Attendance & Academic Appeals

• In the event that an internal or external appeal is successful the student’s enrolment will be maintained and the student will be notified of the outcome including notification of TIV’s intention to reimburse the student for any ACPET appeals fees paid;
• If the student does not take up the opportunity for an external appeal within 20 working days, TIV will cancel the enrolment and CoE;
• In the event that an external appeal is unsuccessful, the student’s enrolment and CoE will be cancelled within 7 days;
• The Training Administration manager is responsible for monitoring the effective administration of all implementation and outcome processes of appeals cases.

 

3. PROVIDER DEFAULT, CANCELLATION, AND REFUND POLICY

a. All fees are refundable in full (except those noted in 1.a), in the event that:

• The Course does not commence on the agreed start day.
• The Course is cancelled.
• The Course is not provided in full to the student.
• The Student’s visa application is denied.

b. The refund will be made within 2 weeks after the date of cancellation or default.

c. TIV will issue the student with a statement to explain how the amount has been calculated

d. The refund will be made in the same currency in which the fees were paid unless payment in that currency is impractical or the person who has entered into the contact advises TIV in writing to make the payment in the local currency.

 

4. STUDENT DEFAULT AND REFUND POLICY

a. If the student withdraws from a course after payment of all fees, refunds will be made within 4 weeks of the written notification of default from the student subject to the following circumstances:

• If the student gives at least 10 weeks’ notice of withdrawal from a course before commencement date, a refund of fees, minus:
  • The fees noted under section 1.a

 

• If the student gives between 4 and 10 week’s notice of withdrawal from a course before commencement date, a refund of fees minus:
  • The fees noted under section 1.a
  • 50% of the course  fees

 

• If the student gives less than 4 week’s notice of withdrawal from a course before commencement date:
  • No refund

 

• All other withdrawals either on the day of commencement or later, including a transfer to another RTO:
  • No refund.

5. PROCESSES FOR CLAIMING A REFUND

• The student must complete and submit a Refund Request Form to the Accounts Department;
• If the request is approved in full or in part, the Accounts Officer actions the funds transfer within 2 weeks and advises the applicant of the outcome;
• If the request is declined in full or in part, the applicant will be advised in writing of the reasons;
• Applicants who are dissatisfied with the outcome may activate the appeals process;

6. DEFERRING, SUSPENDING OR CANCELLING AN ENROLMENT

• A student enrolment maybe cancelled at the student’s request or because the student has abandoned their course.
• Where TIV cancels a student’s enrolment the student will be advised in writing of TIV’s intention and has 20 days in which to access the appeals process. From this point on the procedures relating to appeals concerning deferrals or suspensions will apply.
• A student must complete the Deferral Application Form and submit the completed form to the Training Administration (TA) department with all supporting documentation attached, or the request may be declined.
• If fees are outstanding the request may not be approved except where compassionate and compelling circumstances can be demonstrated.
• If the request is approved, the student is advised in writing including being advised to seek information concerning any impact on their studies and on the validity of their Visa. If the request is not approved, the student will be advised in writing that their request has been declined and that they have access to the appeals process.
• If the CoE end date is affected, the student must nominate a date of return and provide evidence to support the request. The original CoE will be cancelled and, if the return date is known, a new CoE will be created.
• TIV will refer the student to the DIAC website or helpline 131 881 for advice on how the potential change to enrolment status may impact on his/her Visa.

 

7. NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL INCLUDING TRANSFERS

If a student is in a situation where they need to apply for withdrawal, they must do the following:

• Apply in writing
• Address it to the Training Administration Manager
• State his/her student number and name
• State the course and date of its commencement
• State the reason for the withdrawal request
• Provide contact details
• Attach any relevant supporting documents

Notices will not be effective until the application is received by Trade Institute of Victoria.

Where a student requests a transfer to another provider prior to the completion of six (6) months of his/her principal course of study, the other provider is restricted from enrolling the student without the transfer being agreed to by TIV.

 

8. STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT

Students are entitled, at no additional cost, to a formal Statement of Attainment on withdrawal, cancellation or transfer prior to completing the qualification, provided the student has paid in full for the tuition related to the units of competency to be shown on the Statement of Attainment.

 

9. STUDENT CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Students must adhere to Trade Institute of Victoria’s Code of Behaviour. Failure to do so may lead to expulsion, in which case there will be no refund of tuition fees.

The following code of behaviour is intended to ensure that each member of the student community enjoys satisfactory conditions in which to study, resulting in benefits for all. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not discredit themselves or TIV. Acts that seriously interfere with the basic purposes, necessities and processes of the community, or which deny the essential rights, health and safety of other members of the community, are prohibited and can lead to disciplinary action, which can include cancellation of a student’s enrolment.

a) Health & Safety

Students are required to observe any lawful directions given by a staff member of TIV in order to ensure the safety of individuals and the orderly conduct of learning programs in line with the OH&S Legislation.

b) TIV Property

All property of TIV, as well as that of individuals, shall be respected. The unauthorised entry into, use, theft, damage or destruction of TIV buildings, equipment or property is prohibited.

c) Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling & Theft

Smoking is not permitted in any TIV building. The appropriate authority will be called to deal with students who breach the law regarding alcoholic beverages, drugs, gambling, theft and other infractions that may be carried out.

d) Possession of Dangerous Items

Students may not use or carry prohibited and/or dangerous articles/weapons whilst training unless under the direct supervision of a teacher.

e) Disruptive Behaviour

The appropriate authority will be called to deal with students who:

• Obstruct or disrupt any official meeting, ceremony or other activity
• Refuse to leave a property after being reasonably requested to do so
• Assault or attempt to assault any person whilst training

A formal discipline / warning system exist, and continued disruptive behaviour may result in students being expelled.

f) Attendance & Academic results

Students are required to attend all classes. If students will be absent, they are required to inform the administration office by telephone. If the reason for absence is sickness, a medical certificate must be provided in excess of two days.

g) Phone Calls

Students are not to receive phone calls during training hours. Important messages are to be left at reception. Mobile phones and pagers must be turned off before training commences.

h) Minimum Dress Standard Requirements

Dress standards should reflect a professional attitude. The minimum dress standards for your particular course will be outlined by your educator, and should be adhered to at all times whilst participating in practical class situations. It should be noted that the non-wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) will result in the removal of the person from the area.

i) Plagiarism

Student plagiarism i.e. passing off the work of another as one’s own, is forbidden. All students must ensure that they reference all sources to avoid plagiarism in all assessments submitted.

 

10. INFORMATION SHARING / PRIVACY

Information is collected during enrolment in order to meet our obligations under the ESOS Act and the National Code 2007. The authority to collect this information is contained in the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, the Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007. Information collected about you on this form and during your enrolment can be provided, in certain circumstances, to the Australian Government and designated authorities and, if relevant, the Tuition Assurance Scheme and the ESOS Assurance Fund Manager. In other instances information collected during enrolment can be disclosed without consent where authorized or required by law, this may include and the circumstance of any suspected breach by the student of a student visa condition.

 

11. STUDENT RIGHTS

• This agreement, and the availability of complaints and appeals processes, does not remove the right of the student to take action under Australia’s consumer protection laws.