Access, equity and enrolment policy and procedure

Purpose of the policy

This policy describes the practices and procedures by which Allara will ensure compliance with the relevant equal opportunity legislation which are detailed within this policy. Allara acknowledges its legal obligations under the relevant State and Territory equal opportunity laws, to ensure that our working and teaching practices are fair and equitable, and our learning environment non-discriminatory.

Definitions

Allara – Allara Investments Pty Ltd, trading as Allara learning and is inclusive of Tactical Training Group Pty Ltd, RTO provider No: 91054 (TTG) and W G learning Pty Ltd, RTO Provider No: 91178 (WGL)

TTG – Tactical Training Group Pty Ltd, RTO provider No: 91054 (TTG)

WGL – W G learning Pty Ltd, RTO Provider No: 91178 (WGL)

Scope - means Scope of Registration and consists of the list of training package qualifications, units of competency or VET accredited courses which a training organisation is registered to provide, and the services offered, either training and assessment, or assessment only.

Training package - means the components of a training package developed by the Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) in accordance with the Standards for Training Packages. The endorsed components of a training package include units of competency assessment requirements (for individual units of competency), qualifications and credit arrangements. A training package also consists of a non-endorsed, quality assured companion volume/s which contains industry advice to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) on different aspects of implementation.

Training product - means, a course, AQF qualification, accredited course, skill set or unit of competency currently or previously endorsed by the Jobs and Skills Councils in accordance with the Standards for Training Packages.

Recognition - means, recognition of prior learning and is an assessment process that involves assessment of an individual's relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the outcomes of an individual application for advanced standing

Client Relations Manager (CRM) - means, the role is responsible for client administration, enrolment, provision of assistance to participants, employers and stakeholders including assistance with Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) funding arrangements.

Scope

The policy applies to all participants, clients, and staff and stakeholders of Allara Learning (Allara) inclusive of those seeking to be enrolled with Tactical Training Group Pty Ltd, RTO provider No: 91054 (TTG) and W G learning Pty Ltd, RTO Provider No: 91178 (WGL).

Policy

Allara will meet the needs of individuals and the community through the integration of access and equity guidelines by:

Ensuring that access and equity principles for all people are implemented through the fair allocation of resources and the right to equality of opportunity without discrimination; and
Increasing opportunities for people to participate in the vocational education and training system, and in associated decisions, which affect their lives; and
Prohibiting discrimination towards any group or individual in any form, inclusive of:
- Gender;
- Pregnancy,
- Race, colour, nationality, ethnic or ethno-religious background;
- Marital status;
- Sexual orientation;
- Age (in relation to compulsory retirement);
- Physical or mental disability;
- Marital status;
- Family or carer’s responsibilities;
- Religion;
- Political opinion; and
- National extraction.

Allara will ensure that at time of enrolment or prior, participants are:

Informed of their rights and obligations as a participant of an Allara course; and
Assessed equally for entry into an Allara course.

Fair treatment and equal opportunity

Promoting access and equity

Allara actively promotes equity in access to, and participation in vocational education and training through:

Ensuring fair treatment and equal opportunity to all existing and prospective participants through open, and fair and transparent selection procedures.
Assessing all participants, regardless of background, circumstance or eligibility for funding, for entry to study through:
- the same published entry requirements, and
- the same process.
Ensuring all participants who are eligible for funding under government programs are:
- advised of this right upon application or interview for entry, and
- neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by their eligibility for any program.
Ensuring all assessment from entry to the end of the course of study is based on merit on an individual, case by case basis.
Applying the principle of ‘reasonable accommodation’ in providing support for participants from equity groups. This support is provided on an individual, case by case basis.

Entry requirements, where stipulated, for each specific training product offered by Allara can be viewed on Allara’s website www.allaralearning.com.au.

Refusal of entry

Applicants who are refused entry to a training product course have the right to appeal this decision through the complaints and appeals process. (See Allara’s Complaints and appeals policy and procedure).

Minimum entry requirements for vocational educational courses

The minimum requirements for entry into VET Certificate and Diploma courses are published:

On Allara’s website www.allaralearning.com.au;
In relevant course marketing materials; and
In the Training and Assessment Strategy for each training product course.

Participant admission standards and selection

Admission standards

Participants who apply for entry to an Allara training product do so by fair and open procedures with published criteria outlining entry requirements for all training products. The principles upon which selection/admission decisions are made, are stated clearly in Allara course guides, and training and assessment strategies for each product and on the website www.allaralearning.com.au.

Additional information on participant support and welfare services is available in the Participant Handbook.

Allara’s staff advise prospective participants in a professional, and ethical and responsible manner and do not provide prospective participants with false or misleading information or advice.

The Client Relations Manager (CRM) or RTO Administrator provides prospective participants with a participant handbook and/or link to Allara website www.allaralearning.com.au at the time of enrolment.

Selection

Participants will be selected on their capacity to benefit from the nominated training product. This will be done through:

Meeting of all published entry and prerequisite requirements;
Review of previous studies and experience as submitted in the application; and
Should a surplus of applicants meet the necessary standard, places will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Enrolment procedures

Participant preliminary information

Participants may be sourced through:

Direct marketing to participants:
- via the Allara Learning website
- Social media and other online advertising campaigns
- Email marketing
Industry and employer networks
Job services and other community service providers (collectively service providers)

Information about the prospective participant is collected and includes (at minimum):

Full name (first and surname)
Email address
Mobile phone or alternative phone
Employer name (if applicable)
Job or community service provider name (if applicable)

Eligibility for training

On receipt of the participant preliminary information the Client Relationship Manager (CRM) or other Allara representative will determine the participants eligibility to enrol in the training product and access state government subsidised training.

This includes checking:

Australian cistzenship, resdiendcy status or Australian Visa entitlements, and
Eligibility to undertake an apprenticeships or traineeship completed via an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN), and
Eligibility for alternative subsidised training initiatives.

For all prospective participants in the state of QLD, an AISS search must be conducted in the QLD Partner Portal with a record of the results saved in the participant aXcelerate portfolio.

Eligibility checks may identify current enrolments. Where an existing enrolment is identified, the CRM is to verify the prospective participants enrolment, completion and/or withdrawal from the training course or program undertaken with previous training providers (written confirmation is required).

Pre-enrolment information

On receipt of eligibility confirmation, the CRM will contact the applicant, employer, service provider and AASN (where applicable) to provide pre-enrolment information to the prospective participant via email.

This email must include:

A link to the course page on the Allara Learning website,
Fees and charges information,
If applicable, information relating to accessing government funding for their course of study and the impact access has on for further subsidised training,
Information relating to the Unique Student Identifier (USI) scheme, and the requirement to provide the RTO access to their USI records,
Details of the enrolment process,
A link to the online enrolment form,
Information on how to apply for Credit transfer or RPL,
The date, time and location for the enrolment event and enrolment consultation (if to be completed face-to-face)

Enrolment events

At time of enrolment the participant completes an online AVETMISSS enrolment form.

Upon submission of the form the participant receives an automated email inviting them to create their aXcelerate Learner Portal Account, and completes:

A ‘Training with Allara Learning’ eLearning module,
A ‘Language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN)’ assessment,
A Current competency assessment (not applicable to job seekers).

When enrolment events occur face-to-face, the CRM is to guide the participant in the completion of the required form, eLearning module and relevant assessments.

Participant suitability and support needs identified

The CRM is to review the participants LLN and Current competency assessment (if applicable) to determine suitability for the training product.

LLN and current competency assessments are aligned with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) at the appropriate levels for the qualifications for which Allara Learning currently delivers training and assessment.

Where student support needs are identified the CRM is to:

Record a ‘Student Support Required’ contact message on the participant aXcelerate profile, and
Inform the assigned training facilitator that a ‘Training Support Plan’ is required.

Training plan execution

At the time of enrolment or within 6 weeks of enrolment, the CRM is to ensure a formal training plan is created and executed by the Participant, their parent or guardian (if applicable), the Allara representative and employer (if applicable).

Training plans must be in the form (template) as mandated by each state and territory and a copy of the executed training plan is to be recorded in the participants aXcelerate portfolio.

If applicable, a copy of the executed training plan is to be sent to the employer.

Training contracts (Apprentices and Trainees only)

Prior to finalising enrolment, the CRM is to execute the training contract as applicable for the relevant state or territory:

ACT: The Notification of business (NOB) is to be accepted in AVETARS within 10 days of notification and the date of training plan execution recorded.
NSW: The Training Plan Proposal (TPP) issued by the AASN is to be signed, dated and returned to the AASN for processing.
QLD: Supervising Registered Training Organisations (SRTO) issued by the AASN is to be signed, dated and returned to the AASN for processing.

Hard copies of the Training Contract are to be stored in the participants aXcelerate portfolio.

Finalising enrolments

To finalise the enrolment the CRM or Allara RTO administrator will:

Confirm the participants identify through supplied identification
Verify the Participants USI within the student management system
Update the allocated Training facilitator in the course enrolment
Verify and record credit transfer to individual units of competency (if applicable)
Review and update the course funding information including:
- Enrolment type (traineeship, apprenticeship, or other)
- Funding source (Government funded or fee for service)
- Funding contract and schedule for the relevant state or territory
- Generating invoices or payment plans as relevant to the enrolment
Add the participant to training workshops (if already confirmed)
Notify the training facilitator of enrolments added to their training caseload

Training support needs and plans

Upon receipt of a new participant in their training caseload, the Training facilitator is to review the participants LLN assessment and Current competency assessment (if applicable) and information provided by the CRM relating to the participants suitability for the training product.

If support needs have been identified the training facilitator is required to develop a training support plan in consultation with the participant.

A copy of the training support plan is to be saved in the participants aXcelerate portfolio.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Where the review of the current competency assessment identifies the potential for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), the Training Facilitator is to inform the participant of the RPL application process.

If required, the Training Facilitator is to provide the participant with access to the relevant RPL kit and plan the conduct of the RPL assessment.

Training commencement

The training facilitator is to schedule and commence training in accordance with the Training and Assessment Policy and Procedure.