Important Information

Working in Australia

Australian Immigration laws allow students to work for a limited number of hours whilst studying on a student visa in Australia. Students can currently work 20 hours per week during the college study time and full-time during holiday. However, work is not always easy to find and under no circumstances can students rely on income earned in Australia to pay tuition fees. Students are not permitted to work if it interferes with their study.

Academic Progress

International students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress during their course of study. As per the ESOS legislation, you are deemed to have unsatisfactory academic progress if you fail in more than 50% of units in any two consecutive study periods. Failing a unit means being assessed as “Not Yet Competent” for a completed unit. At CAC, A study period is a term of 11 weeks. A failure in more than 50% of units in one study period will trigger a review of academic progress by CAC and the implementation of an intervention strategy to provide with you with necessary support.

In order to have the best chance of maintaining satisfactory progress you must:

• Attend all theory and practical classes and pay attention to the work and activities undertaken in class
• Study the theory and practice the skills that are taught in class
• Ensure that you are present for all assessment activities scheduled by the teachers
• Make an appointment with the student contact officer if you are having any difficulties with your studies

In addition to the above minimum requirement CAC will implement counselling procedures and an intervention strategy when your teachers think you may be in danger of not meeting the requirements. Counselling and intervention may be triggered by any of the following events:

• Failing key units in a study period
• Failing two or more core units in any study period

If you continue to have unsatisfactory academic progress after initiation any intervention CAC is obliged to report you to DIAC which may affect your student visa.

Please refer to Student Progress Monitoring and Support Policy & Procedure available on our website.

Plagiarism & Cheating

At CAC, any acts of plagiarism and cheating are not permitted in any work completed for assessment by students and may result in a warning and repeating the unit of work or even cancellation of enrolment. All students are expected to submit their own work for projects/assignments.

Cheating means to seek to obtain an unfair advantage in an examination or written, oral or practical work, required to be submitted or completed for assessment in a course or unit of study and includes the resubmission of work that has already been assessed in another unit.

Plagiarism means to take and use another person’s ideas and or manner of expressing them and to pass them off as one’s own by failing to give appropriate acknowledgement, including the use of material from any source, staff, students or the Internet, published and unpublished works.

Refer to CAC’s Plagiarism & Cheating Policy and Procedure in this handbook or our website. 

Student Conduct

Students are required to follow all rules of the CAC and the instructions from staff representing the CAC. Students are required to act in a non discriminatory manner at all times and respect the rights of other students, staff and visitors.

Students are also required to adhere to academic rules and regulations as directed by the CAC or its representatives. Where a student is found to have acted in a way that the CAC deems to be misconduct, the CAC may implement disciplinary action in the form of suspension or cancellation of a student’s enrolment.

Refer to CAC’s Student Code of Conduct in this handbook or our website.

Complaints and Appeals

Students have access to the CAC complaints and appeals process. This allows for a fair and equitable process to be implemented for any complaint against the CAC in its assessment process, decisions relating to academic or attendance records, and any other concern students may have.

Students are able to submit a complaint against the CAC or any person employed by the CAC if they feel a person has acted inappropriately, or the systems and practices of the CAC are not meeting expectations, or the CAC is treating a person unfairly. All complaints are handled with confidence and are reviewed by CAC management. Complaints and appeals are at no cost to the student.

A student may also appeal a decision made by the CAC in relation to a complaint or an assessment outcome. Where a student feels they have been treated unfairly or incorrectly judged and assessed on a specified task, project, or assessment requirement they may have the decision reviewed by the CAC by submitting an appeal form. Students must provide supporting evidence or explanations as to why they feel the decision or outcome was unfair or why the decision / outcome should be reviewed.

If a student is still dissatisfied with the decision of the CAC, a student may wish to refer the matter to an external independent / third party mediator who will review any decisions as a result of a student complaint or appeal. A list of external third party mediators is as follows:

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

Phone: 1300 701 801

Email asqanet@asqa.gov.au

Students can lodge a complaint online through ASQA website: https://www.asqa.gov.au/

Overseas students Ombudsman

Call 1300 362 072   (Local call charge)

Enquiries 9 am–5 pm Monday to Friday

Email: overseas.students@ombudsman.gov.au

Web: www.oso.gov.au

If you want to make a complaint in your language you can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Ombudsman will pay for the interpreter.

Ombudsman Victoria

Level 9, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Tel: (03) 9613 6222 or 1800 806 314

Web: http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au

Dispute Resolution Centre of Victoria

Level 4, 456 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

Tel: (03) 9603 8370

Web: http://www.disputes.vic.gov.au

All students have access to this complaints and appeals process and a copy of this policy & procedure is readily available from Student Administration. Complaints and appeals policy.

Change of Provider

The National Code 2018 restricts the capacity of students to change providers prior to completing six months of their principal course.

Central Australian College will not allow students to transfer to another provider within six months of the commencement of their principal course of study in circumstances where the transfer would be detrimental to their training plan.

Students wishing to apply for a letter of release will need to complete the Application for Letter of Release, available from the College. There is no cost for applying for a letter of release; however students will need to contact DOHA to seek advice on whether a new visa is required.

All applications will be assessed on the basis of the College’s Transfer of Student Policy, Conditions of Enrolment, the training plan and declaration submitted by the student in their application. Students must include documented evidences supporting circumstances or reasons for seeking a release letter with the application.

Student under aged of 18

All students studying at CAC – Central Australian College must be at least 18 years of age at the time of arrival in Australia or else provide evidence that they will turn 18 when they arrive in Australia. Prospective students applying for a course, who are under 18 years or age at the time of application, must have their application signed by their parents or legal guardian in order for their application to be considered.

School Aged Dependents

If you are to be accompanied by any school aged dependant’s you are required to ensure that they are enrolled in a school. The options are enrolling in a Government or Private School. In both cases you will be required to pay any fees.

Access and equity policy

The college Code of Practice includes an access and equity policy. This document is available on request. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure the requirements of the access and equity policy are met at all times.

Course Delivery

A number of approaches to course delivery are used by the College staff. Course delivery approaches may include: teacher led classroom delivery, workshops, practicals, seminars, tutorials and supervised study. During the class time, students will be expected to participate by, for example, answering questions, giving opinions, demonstrating tasks, working with others in groups, making presentations and role playing situations. Delivery is in the classroom, a training workshop, and simulated workplace environment. Delivery is a minimum of 20 hours per week over 3 days.

Course Assessment

A number of approaches to course assessment are used by the College staff. Assessment approaches may include: observations of performance in class, practical demonstrations, workshops, case studies, projects, assignments, presentations, role plays, written tests and exams and work-based assessment. Students will be notified in advance of the time and form of any assessment. Students will be given an opportunity for at least one reassessment for any competencies not achieved on the first attempt.

Qualification to be issued

Students completing all assessment requirements for a qualification will be awarded a certificate corresponding to the completed course. Students completing assessment requirement for part of a qualification will be awarded a Statement of Attainment

Pathways

Graduates of the Central Australian College may seek credits to the relevant degree programs in Australia Universities. The College has no special arrangements with any Australian University and there is no guaranteed entry into University programs. As a general rule students with high marks will have the best chance of being accepted by a University.

Orientation & Enrolment

Orientation is conducted prior to the commencement of the course. Its purpose is to fully inform new students of most aspects of life at the College and to provide an introduction to studying, Melbourne’s costs of living, transportation, facilities, banking and accommodation. In addition College staff will be introduced, a tour of the College and the local area will take place and an opportunity to ask questions will be given.

Arrival Assistance

An airport pick-up service is available to arriving students, upon request. This is usually undertaken as part of a meet and greet service, and usually requires at least one week’s notice to the College by email to admin@cac.edu.au, prior to the student’s arrival.

Accommodation Assistance

CAC don’t has its own accommodation facilities for overseas students to stay when they first arrive in Melbourne. CAC can however refer to appropriate accommodation providers upon request. Please send an email to admin@cac.edu.au or contact student services for referrals.

Helpful Contacts

Use of Personal Information

Information is collected during your enrollment in order to meet the college obligations under the ESOS Act and the National Code 2018; to ensure student compliance with the conditions of their visas and their obligations under Australian immigration laws generally. 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 during your enrolment can be provided, in certain circumstances, to the Australian Government and designated authorities and, the Tuition Protection Services (TPS). In other instances information collected during your enrolment can be disclosed without your consent where authorised or required by law.

It is a requirement of the VET Qualification Framework that students can access personal information held by the College and may request corrections to information that is incorrect or out of date. Apply in writing to the Operations Manager if you wish to view your own records.

Please view our Privacy Policy

Fee refund if Visa is refused by the Australian Government

Where a prospective student is refused an initial student visa by the Australian Government a full refund of course fees will be made. In order to receive the refund students will have to provide authenticated evidence of the student visa refusal to the Institute.

Fee refund if the College defaults on delivery of qualification

In the unlikely event that the college is unable to deliver your course in full, you will be offered a refund of all the course money you have paid to date. The refund will be paid to you within 14 days on which the course ceased being provided. Alternatively, you may be offered enrolment in an alternative course by the College at no extra cost to you. You have the right to choose whether you would prefer a full refund of course fees, or to accept a place in another course. If you choose placement in another course, we will ask you to sign a document to indicate that you accept the placement. If the College is unable to provide a refund or place you in an alternative course the Tuition Protection Services (TPS) provided by the government will place you in a suitable alternative course at no extra cost to you. Finally, if TPS cannot place you in a suitable alternative course, the TPS will attempt to place you in a suitable alternative course or, if this is not possible, you will be eligible for a refund as calculated by the TPS Fund Manager. Please refer to Overseas Student Refund Policy for full details.

Relevant legislation

A range of legislation is applicable to all staff and students. Information on relevant legislation can be found at the following websites.

It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure the requirements of relevant legislation are met at all times. Refer to the websites indicated, or contact the Institute if you require further information. There maybe additional, course-specific, legislation that is relevant. Information about this legislation will be communicated during the course.