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.