This code of practice describes Newskills commitment to the maintenance of high standards in the provision of vocational education and training and other client services. Management is responsible for the control and issue of this statement.
This procedure applies to all persons employed by or contracted to Newskills and engaged in the delivery, management or administration of training and assessment services.
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the control, issue and implementation of this quality document.
Newskills will comply with all relevant standards governing its operations as a Registered Training Organisation with regard to the management of clients and the delivery of training and assessment services.
Newskills will adopt policies and management practices to maintain a high standard in the delivery of education and training services, to safeguard the interests and welfare of trainees.
Newskills Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or his appointed Officer, will supervise all legislative, regulatory and compliance requirements necessary to maintain registration and certification. The CEO will have direct access to all operational policies and procedures, records and staff to ensure these tasks can be undertaken. The CEO will prepare a report on current and projected risks, compliance to standards of operation and improvement requirements, at lease annually and make use of this in all planning and improvement processes.
Newskills will ensure that it has the capacity to deliver the AQF qualifications appearing on its scope of registration and will ensure that the facilities, staff competence, methods and materials used in the provision of training and assessment will be appropriate to the outcomes to be achieved.
RTO Operational Standards - Student Services
Newskills will build and maintain a learning environment that is conducive to training success. This will be achieved by building processes and policies to support the following:
Selection, Enrolment and Orientation
Recruitment of trainees will be conducted at all times in an ethical and responsible manner and be consistent with the requirements of the curriculum. Newskills will ensure that trainee application and selection processes are explicit, defensible and comply with access and equity principles.
All applicants for enrolment will receive advice and assistance in the selection of courses. Prior to enrolment, at enquiry, prospective students can access course information, fee structures, RPL and National Recognition arrangements and anticipated pathways and outcomes. Information will also be made available prior to enrolment about Newskills RTO Services, details of RTO obligations to students and the State Authority(s), Student rights and responsibilities, assessment, student services and awards processes.
Literacy Numeracy and Course Pre-requisites can be discussed prior to enrolment and tests may be arranged to determine course suitability or if special assistance is required.
Applications for enrolment can be accepted from prospective students who agree to attend an enrolment interview and selection process. Newskills will use the completed applications and interview report to determine course suitability. A language, literacy and numeracy assessment may be conducted as part of the interview process in line with Training Package Guidelines and AQTF requirements. Prospective students may also apply for skills recognition including RPL and National Recognition.
Students will be advised of their eligibility prior to payment of course fees.
Course fees will be clearly described in all RTO promotional materials and students will be advised that fees paid in advance will be protected under an approved Assurance Scheme. Refund arrangements are communicated in pre-enrolment information and are discussed again at enrolment with details of course material and administrative fees. Fees associated with RPL, RCC or funded programs are to be provided separately an on application for service.
Newskills will offer an orientation program for all new students/trainees. Such programs will advise of course requirements, anticipated outcomes, discuss learner needs, the conduct of assessments, policies and procedures, grievance mechanisms and confirm RPL and National Recognition arrangements. On completion of orientation, Student Training Plans will be finalised and signed by student(s) and course adviser.
Course Participation
Newskills will ensure that training and assessment occurs in accordance with the requirements of the AQF qualification or endorsed training package and where appropriate, the Victorian Qualifications Authority guidelines for customising courses.
Newskills will maintain and seek to improve its capacity to deliver the courses for which it has been registered, providing access to adequate facilities and using methods and materials appropriate to the individual learning needs of students.
Newskills will regularly monitor and assess the performance and progress of its students against the learning and competency outcomes in which they are enrolled.
Newskills will maintain systems for recording and archiving student enrolments, attendance, completion, assessment outcomes, recognition of prior learning, grievances, qualifications and statements of attainment issued.
Newskills will treat all personal records of clients with confidentially, disclosing information only to the first party or State Authority in agreement of the student.
All students, trainers and assessors will have an opportunity to provide feedback on course progress, the conduct of courses and the level of assistance and resources to support the course outcome. This data will be analysed and used to determine continuous improvement or corrective action.
Student complaints/appeals
Newskills has a fair and equitable process for dealing with student and staff grievances, complaints and appeals. This process is clearly communicated to students at all levels of progression from pre-enrolment information to enrolment process and orientation to training completion.
A complaint is considered to be made if it is lodged in writing to the Chief Executive Officer. All complaints, whether lodged by a student, staff member of other stakeholder will be acknowledged in writing, and will be processed using the RTO Handling Issues and Complaints Procedure.
Equity and Access
All staff and students at Newskills are to be made aware of their responsibilities and rights with regard to the health, safety and welfare of self and others.
Newskills advocates the value of diversity and promotes its services to all people without distinction of culture, race, age, gender or ability. Newskills will not accept behaviors (verbal or physical), which give cause to feelings of intimidation or humiliation arising through differences of culture, race, age, gender or ability. Disciplinary action will be instituted where such matters arise. Newskills encourages people with disabilities to apply and participate in training programs. Newskills Trainer / Assessors are required to ensure access and equity principles are applied.
Credentials and statements of attainment
Newskills will only issue credentials and/or statements of attainment to students who satisfactorily complete the requirements of AQF Qualifications listed on the current scope of registration. They are produced under protocol arrangements and are to be listed on a Certificate Register on issue.
Certificates will include provider's name and TOID number, the name of the person receiving the credential, the title and code of the AQF qualification, the issue number of the credential, student number, date issued and signature of the Chief Executive Officer or his Authority. Statements of Results must accompany the issue of Certificates.
Statements of Attainment must also be issued to students successfully meeting the requirements of individual, or clusters of, modules/units drawn from AQF qualifications. The protocol details the layout and issue requirements.
RTO Operations - Capability and Competence
Newskills will ensure RTO staff has appropriate qualifications and experience relevant to their position in the organisation and the RTO function for which they are responsible.
Legislative and Regulatory Compliance
Newskills will ensure that its staff are sensitive to the cultural and learning needs of the students through policy, induction and staff development processes.
Newskills will comply with all laws regarding the operation of the training venues and will ensure that facilities and equipment are appropriate for the courses being delivered. This includes occupational health and safety regulations, privacy and equal opportunity regulations.
Partnership and Contract Arrangements
All arrangements proposed for the sub-contract delivery either for or by Newskills of accredited training and assessment services shall be reviewed in terms of capability, compliance, risk and profitability. Contract review protocols shall apply.
Quality assurance/Risk Management and Improvement
Newskills has clearly documented procedures for managing and monitoring all its RTO operations and reviewing stakeholder satisfaction with the outputs. Internal auditing and self-assessment processes are established throughout the Quality System and are acted on throughout the financial year.
Newskills will undertake internal audit processes, collect feedback from stakeholders, seek relevant industry input and consider preventative and corrective actions as a means to identify potential and actual risk and areas for improvement. This shall be reported and documented for action to or by the Chief Executive Officer, at least annually. In this manner, the Policy and Procedures provide the blueprint for risk assessment in conjunction with the audits against RTO and standards.
Sanctions
Newskills accepts that failure to meet the obligations of this code of practice, the conditions of registration as private provider of vocational education and training or supporting regulatory requirements where applicable, may result in the suspension or withdrawal of registration as a registered training organisation.
Newskills is willing to accept decisions and where necessary abide by the sanctions of State Authorities and course accrediting bodies with regards to the delivery of accredited training and assessment services.
RTO Operations - Ethical Standards in Marketing and Promotion
Newskills will market its vocational education and training products with integrity, accuracy and professionalism, avoiding vague and ambiguous statements. In the provision of information, no false or misleading comparisons will be drawn with any other provider or course.
Newskills will not state or imply that courses other than those on the scope of registration are recognised by the Victorian Qualifications Authority. Newskills will ensure that all courses offering AQF qualifications are marketed separately to non-accredited services.
In the advertising and promotion of courses, issue of awards or production of publications, Newskills agrees to use the logos of state and national authorities only within the guidelines or specifications of use. All such productions will be tested for accuracy prior to release. Protocols exist for this process.
