VET Code of Practice

CODE OF PRACTICE

• PURPOSE
   
  
  To establish and maintain a set of procedures for dissemination to the client, staff and other stakeholders. This will ensure that:
  
  • Clients are aware of important company policy and procedures that may affect their successful participation in training and/or assessment activities, and other similar interactions with Morley SHS.
  • Trainers/Assessors are aware of company policies and procedures, clients may access the information from the company website, relevant details may be accessed at will, and
  • Morley SHS is seen to be operating an open and transparent system.  
• SCOPE
   
  This procedure applies to activities relating to good practice in all area of company interaction with the client and other stakeholders. In particular it is made available to potential stakeholders to enable them to make an informed decision about their own training and assessment needs through Morley SHS.
   
• REFERENCES
   
  All Quality Procedures
   
  
  1. RESPONSIBILITIES
     
     • Principal/Training Coordinator
     • Overall responsibility
     • All staff/contractors/partnerships
     • Adherence to the Code as written 
        
  2. ACTION / METHOD
      
     Note: This Code of Practice will reflect the actual copy as detailed on the website and as given to prospective clients. For uniformity the numbering system will remain the same, commencing at # 1.
      
     This Code of Practice adheres to the following ethical principles of:
     • Honesty
     • Openness
     • Compassion
     • Integrity and
     • Fairness and equity 
  3. HONEST DEALING
     
     
     • Principle - Morley SHS supports the principle of honest and fair dealing. Morley SHS will, at all times, do the utmost to ensure that clients, staff and partnerships alike are fully and accurately informed to permit them to make decisions in their best interests regarding their future relations with our organisation. This will, however, exclude information that might be considered commercially sensitive or personally confidential. 
     • Disclosure - Morley SHS will disclose any communication relating to individual clients to those clients on request, unless the matter is confidential.
        
       1.2.2    Morley SHSwill ensure appropriate strategies are employed to ensure that clients are fully informed of their progress in any course.
       1.2.3    The Training Manager will provide client information to training staff of Morley SHS and/or partnerships on a need-to-know basis only.
       1.3       Confidentiality
       Notwithstanding 1.2 above, Morley SHS will not disclose details of any client to any party or other training institution unless:
       1.3.1    that party is the Training Manager, or similar title, of the client's organisation or the person who paid the fee for the clients and trainees, or
       1.3.2        Morley SHS is required to do so under authority of Australian Law or Regulations, or
       1.3.3        the client authorises, in writing, the release of the information requested, or
       1.3.4        prior to enrolment the client has approved the release of information, and/or
       1.3.5        the client is an enrolled and financial client of another training organisation.
       
       In all the above cases Morley SHSwill provide the minimum information required for the purpose specified. 
     • FEES
       
       Rules and principles associated with fees, withdrawals and refunds are set out in appropriate marketing brochures and associated documentation, copies of which are available to all potential clients on request at any time. This applies to partnership organisations with which Morley SHS has Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). Details of refund arrangements are provided at Clause 7 of this Code
        
       Morley SHSreserves the right to consider exemption of fees and withdrawal conditions for specific individuals without creating a general precedent (eg, in the case of disadvantaged clients). Partnership organisations will also apply this right. .
        
     • WELFARE AND GUIDANCE SERVICES
       
       3.1       General Principle
       Over and above contractual obligation to the client, Morley SHSand associated partnerships seek to create a friendly and caring environment, attentive to legitimate needs of the client.
       3.2       Detail
       Wherever possible, Morley SHSand associated partnerships will strive to ensure that clients have the best chance of success in their course through the provision of:
       friendly, co-operative advice, 
       support on training and assessment issues,
       monitoring of performance to determine if issues other than physical/academic ability are impacting on progress,
       counselling on personal issues, if considered appropriate, and
       referral to appropriate specialist assistance, if required.
        
       Where language, literacy or numeracy issues may hamper progress, the client will be counselled on the minimum requirements to achieve competency.   The Trainer/Assessor will advise the client of an appropriate course of action (including referrals) for remedial assistance.   In cases where the language, literacy or numeracy issues are such that it impinges on the individual or group’s safety and security, or the safe and efficient use of equipment, the client will be required to undertake remedial development before continuing with the training or assessment.
        
       Morley SHScan provide literacy and numeracy teachers, as well as workplace counsellors and professional psychological services, where appropriate.
        
       If clients are having particular difficulties, they may seek assistance from the Training Manager or be referred for more professional assistance. Contact can be made with the Training Manager by phoning Morley SHS
       (08) 9376 5555– this number has a 24 hour facility. Morley SHSalso has email contact at www.yeo@morleyhs.wa.edu.au. Partnership organisations may offer similar services.
        
       Professional referrals are likely to incur costs at client expense.
        
     • ASSESSMENT
       
       4.1       General Principle
       The principles of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) will be adhered to in relation to competency-based courses. Morley SHSsets its standards to industry “best practice” requirements. In both competency and non-competency based courses, training and assessment standards are set to ensure that successful clients are highly competitive with those of other training and educational institutions.
       4.2       Detail
       4.2.1    Assessment is open and transparent and not influenced by factors extraneous to actual     performance against elements and performance criteria from units of Training Packages.
       4.2.2    Assessment processes applied comply with National Assessment Principles and are valid, fair, reliable, flexible and consistent.
       4.2.3    Commitment to validity ensures that due allowances are provided to clients who are legitimately disadvantaged in assessment due to physical, linguistic or other barriers and, as far as possible, alternative assessment will be provided within the constraints of reliability and allowable adjustments.   However, OSH requirements will not be compromised and where necessary, doubt as to the client’s apparent disabilities will be referred to WorksafeWA, or other applicable body, for a decision on whether it is safe to allow the client to undertake the training or assessment.
       4.2.4        Morley SHSensures its Trainers, Assessors, Management and partnership personnel are kept informed of industry best practice standards in comparable training establishments to ensure standards are, at all times, equivalent or better. Liaison with appropriate networks ensures this.
       4.2.5        Morley SHS ensures its Assessors are cognisant of the mutual recognition requirements. They will recognise the suitable and applicable qualifications issued by another RTO, for assessment and/or skills recognition purposes, providing these qualifications are current.
       4.2.6        Clients are permitted a maximum of one free workplace (or skills recognition) re-assessment where they have been unable to demonstrate competency to meet appropriate standards. In most cases, consistent with the principles of competency based assessment, clients may be permitted several re-attempts without charge. However, in cases where more than two assessments are required, or where it appears the client is not making the effort, only the Training Manager of Morley SHS may grant permission for further assessment, without further cost to the client.
       4.2.7        Notwithstanding the above, re-assessment will only be permitted to the extent that it does not conflict with the assessment principles or specific requirements of the applicable Training Package.
        
        
       Morley SHS can provide literacy and numeracy teachers, as well as workplace counsellors and professional psychological services, where appropriate.
        
     • FEEDBACK
       
       5.1       General Principle
       Feedback on clients’ progress is essential to the development of clients. Morley SHSand associated partnerships are committed to providing honest feedback in a constructive, consistent and fair manner.
       5.2       Detail
       5.2.1    Where Morley SHScourses are competency based, clients will be informed of their attainment of each Element of a Unit, either verbally or within appropriate documentation.
       5.2.2    If graded assessments are introduced, clients will be informed of their standing in relation to “best practice”, in relation to grading of Competent, Competent with Merit, Competent with Distinction, or as applicable.
       5.2.3        Morley SHS ensures Trainers and Assessors are kept informed of skills training standards in comparable institutions to ensure standards are, at all times, equivalent or better. In achieving this commitment, Morley SHSgrading will be subjected to moderation at regular intervals.
        
     • FLEXIBILITY
       
       6.1       General Principle
       Morley SHSis mindful of maximising the progress of each individual client and adopts a positive attitude to tailoring training solutions for individual clients.
       6.2       Detail            
       6.2.1    Morley SHSand associated partnerships explore flexible training delivery and assessment solutions designed for individual and groups of clients.
       6.2.2    Application of Skills Recognition (Recognition of Prior Learning – RPL, and Recognition of Current Competencies - RCC) will be consistent with national assessment standards, including Mutual Recognition principles.
       6.2.3        Eligibility for entry to training programs will be applied equitably, taking into account the client’s assessment, training and work history, attitude, motivation and apparent learning capacity.
       6.2.4        The exceptions to the above will be where they conflict with specific requirements of Training Package guidelines, Australian Law or Regulation.
        
       6.3       Assessor Qualifications and Assessment Instruments
       6.3.1    Morley SHS and partnership Assessors must be fully qualified against national Workplace Assessor Standards and have the appropriate practical experience and qualification prescribed for the unit being assessed. When appropriately qualified and experienced Assessors are not available, a qualified Assessor may work with appropriately experienced and qualified trainers, facilitators and supervisors to complete assessment activities. This ensures flexibility in the assessment process.
       6.3.2        A copy of the unit/s of competency assessment tools (minus the answers), which may be used for the particular training, will be provided to clients during Briefing Sessions.
        
       6.4       No Guarantee
       Morley SHSand associated partnerships do not guarantee that clients will achieve a successful outcome following the training and/or assessment.   However, Trainers/Assessors will make reasonable efforts to allow the client to achieve the outcomes advertised.
        
• REFUND POLICY
  
  7.1              Refund Policy for Fee Paying Clients
  
  Morley SHS does not usually collect fees in advance. However, if the requirement does occur the following refund policy will apply. Partnership organizations have adopted this policy, unless stated in their marketing fee schedules.
   
     
  Reason for Refund
     
  Notification Period
     
  Minimum Refund
  
  1.   
  
  Clients withdraw
     
  More than 7 days before course commences
     
  Full Refund less $50 administrative fee.
  
  2.
    
  Clients withdraw
     
  Within 7 days prior to the course commencing
     
  Full Refund less $150 administrative fee.
  
  3.
     
  Clients withdraw
     
  After the course commences.
     
  No Refund given.
  
  4.
     
  Clients withdrawn
     
  After course commences
     
  Full refund less $150 administration fee and resource costs, if up to 25% of the course had been conducted. No refund if over 25% of course has been conducted.
  Note: Morley SHSretains the right to negotiate with individuals who, due to financial hardship, may require special consideration, without establishing a precedent.
   
   
• COMPLAINTS, GRIEVANCE AND APPEAL PROCEDURES
  
  8.1              Complaints and Grievance Procedures
   
  8.1.1      Morley SHSand associated partnerships will attempt to resolve complaints and grievance issues on an individual case basis, if they arise. Where this does not resolve the matter, a panel comprising one representative from Morley SHSand one external party will hear the dispute.
  8.1.2      Should the dispute remain unresolved by this mechanism, or by the panel appointed for this purpose, then either party may request a Conciliator recommended by the Department of Education and Training, Western Australia. The decision of this Conciliator will be binding on all parties.
  8.1.3      An Appeals Process will deal with issues relating to:
              Morley SHS and associated partnerships services and facilities
  -             the content and standard of courses
  -             refund policy matters, requests for refunds etc
  -             training matters – quality and client progress
  -             welfare of clients
  -             training accommodation provided or arranged by the training provider
  -             any matters considered by the Training Manager to be appropriate.
  
  8.1.4                 The jurisdiction of the Western Australian Court system is the legal authority to deal with issues referred through the court
  8.1.5                 Disciplinary action against Trainers/Assessors will result from breaches of current workplace legislation, including:
  -         Harassment of any nature
  -         Fraudulent activity or falsification of documents
  -         Illegal activity, including use of alcohol or drugs
  
  8.2       Appeal Procedure
  In the case of an appeal against an assessment result, the client may make application to the Trainer/Assessor concerned, who will attempt in the first instance to resolve the disputed assessment.   Where, as a result of the appeal, the assessee is not satisfied, a written appeal is to be forwarded within 7 days to the Training Manager of Morley SHS, for consideration.   The Training Manager may gain assistance from another suitably qualified person in considering the appeal. The Training Manager may reject the appeal, require a reassessment, support the appeal or deal with the matter in any other appropriate way.   The outcome of the Trainer/Assessor and Training Manager considerations will be given in writing.
  Where an appeal is made against an assessment completed by a Morley SHS or associated partnership representative, a non-refundable fee of $50 for the independent review will be charged to the applicant.
  At any time during the appeal process, the applicant for assessment may request another Assessor be appointed.   The Training Manager of Morley SHS must approve this request.   Additional costs incurred may be charged to the applicant.
  Clients should not be deterred and are not to be counselled from exercising their right to appeal against an assessment where they feel they have been wrongly assessed.   In the majority of cases, minimal costs would be incurred ($50).   The costs will be advised during the initial appeals interview, for which there will be no charge. The decision related to fees for appeals or change of Assessor, will be made by the Training Manager when applying the principles of fairness and equity and the relative legitimacy of the claim.
  The process for appeal should be finalised within a 3 month period.
   
• ASSESSMENT AND ISSUANCE OF QUALIFICATIONS
  
  9.1       Formal Assessment Required
  Morley SHSrequires it’s own, and partnership clients to undergo a formal assessment process prior to receiving any qualifications issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Qualified Assessors follow the criteria for assessment included in the Assessment Tools. These tools have been developed in line with the units of competency and performance criteria of the Training Packages or industry/enterprise standards.
  Clients receive a briefing on the process and are given the opportunity, within available resources, to choose the time of assessment. For each unit or course, the assessment requirements that clients are to achieve to be awarded a Statement of Attainment or Certificate of Competency are clearly explained in the Briefing Guide/s, as applicable. A copy of the Assessment Tool (less answers to questions), which will be used for the assessment, will be provided to clients during the Briefing Session.  Tools can be available to download off the website www.morleyhs.wa.edu.au. The Tool/s are ‘password’ protected.
  9.2       Trainer/Assessor Qualifications
  Morley SHS and associated partnership Trainers and Assessors have, as a minimum, the specialist knowledge and at least two years practical experience relevant to the content of Training Packages they are dealing with. In addition, Trainers possess a nationally recognised qualification in workplace training and are experienced in providing training in a number of industry settings and contexts.
   
  When necessary, if Morley SHS or partnership organisations are inducting new Trainers and/or Assessors, they will be under supervision until meeting the minimum company requirements.
   
  Assessors hold a nationally recognised qualification against the National Standards for planning, conducting and reviewing assessments.
   
   
  9.3       Skills Recognition
  A process is in place to enable clients to apply for recognition of competencies they already possess, when requesting training courses with Morley SHS. The process for Skills Recognition is:
  - Applicants for Skills Recognition either attend a Briefing Session on the process or receive a comprehensive “Guide to Gathering Evidence”. This may also be downloaded from the company website. The Guide, also provided at the Briefing Session, indicates the evidence requirements against the performance criteria for each unit of competency, and other relevant information, including the Appeals system.
  - Applicants indicate their acceptance of the Guide and it’s content by a signed declaration on the Application within the Briefing Guide. This is faxed or posted to Morley SHS.
  - Applicants complete a self-assessment against the performance criteria and prepare a portfolio of evidence to support their claims.
  - Applicants advise their readiness for assessment to the Training Manager of Morley SHS or the allocated Assessor.
  - The Assessor meets with them in the applicant’s workplace to review the evidence provided.
  - Following the review of evidence, the Assessor may:
  - provide recognition against the competencies claimed, or
  - recommend provision of additional evidence (this may include attending other training), or
  - arrange an interview to obtain additional evidence and verify what is being provided, or
  - arrange for a practical demonstration of some aspects of the Units being applied for.
  - Following the review, interview, practical demonstration and/or provision of additional evidence, the Assessor determines whether Skills Recognition will be given for a unit or units.
  -  Applicants are advised as soon as the decision has been made.
  - Applicants have the right to appeal against the assessment decision in accordance with the procedure at Clause 8 of this Code of Practice.
  9.4       Access to Records
  Clients may have access to their records and can receive a paper copy, on written application.
   
• CERTIFICATION ON COMPLETION OR PARTIAL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE
  Certificates of Competency or Statements of Attainment will be issued as follows:
  - Statement of Attainment for successful completion of a unit or units, or
  - Certificate of Competency, where a client successfully completes the core/common units and the minimum elective units to satisfy an AQF level certificate, according to the Qualification Framework from the applicable Training Package.
  To receive a certificate after successful completion of a training course, the client must make written application, ensuring correct details are included for the qualification to be awarded. An application form is available from Morley SHS or by downloading from the website www.morleyhs.wa.edu.au
   
• ACCESS AND EQUITY
  Morley SHS supports equal opportunity within the parameters of the requirements of the company and appropriate legislation and as such is committed to opening all courses to any person who wishes to participate regardless of:
  - sex, marital status or pregnancy;
  - family responsibility, family status;
  - race, religious or political convictions;
  - impairment or age;
  - disability
  provided that the client meets the minimum entry requirements when and where stipulated in the program and/or the Training Packages.
  Where pre-requisites are not listed any client is able to attend and partake of the training as long as they are able to complete the requirements of the course. When a client cannot complete a training requirement the company may suggest and/or offer alternative arrangements until they are able to finish the training.
  Therefore, access to the Training Packages included in the company’s scope are not limited on the basis of age, gender, social or educational background, race, language or religion. The delivery modes are designed to meet the needs of individual and cultural differences in order to meet the defined competencies required.
  Current examples being used for delivery mode includes clients completing training through self-paced learning, face-to-face delivery and skills recognition. 
• RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  12.1     Work and Study
  Clients, staff and contractors at Morley SHS and associated partnershipshave a right to study and work in an environment free from harassment, discrimination or threatening behaviour. This right is accompanied by everyone’s responsibility to:
  -  respect the rights of others
  - respect difference and diversity
  - respect people’s rights to privacy and confidentiality
  The right for clients to have a say is balanced with the responsibility to listen to others. Clients may expect Trainers/Assessors and support staff to:
  - treat them in a fair and non-discriminatory way, and

Please download our VET Code of Practise Document

The purpose is to establish and maintain a set of procedures for dissemination to the client, staff and other stakeholders.  This will ensure that:

• clients are aware of important company policy and procedures that may affect their successful participation in training and/or assessment activities, and other similar interactions with Morley SHS.
• Trainers/Assessors are aware of company policies and procedures,
• clients may access the information from the company website, relevant details may be accessed at will, and
• Morley SHS is seen to be operating an open and transparent system.