Additional Support Policy
RELEVANT STANDARD(S): Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 Standard 1 – Clause 1.7
PURPOSE
Sydney Rescue Consultantsis responsible for ensuring the educational and support services it provides meet the needs of the student cohort/s undertaking the training and assessment.
This policy ensures that Sydney Rescue Consultantshas mechanisms in place to collect, analyse and act on any support requirements that are additional to the provision of standard services. This ensures individual students are provided access to the educational and support services necessary for them to meet the requirements of the training product as specified in training packages or VET accredited courses.
This policy also ensures that Sydney Rescue Consultants determines the amount of training required in accordance with the requirements of the relevant training package and in consideration of each individual student’s existing skills, knowledge and experience with respect to the relevant vocational competency.
POLICY PRINCIPLES
Sydney Rescue Consultants is responsible for collecting, recording, analysing and acting on additional support information that could adversely impact on a student’s ability to undertake and complete a course.
This includes, but is not limited to, any disability or impairment that restricts access and equity as well as English language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) information obtained from students prior to enrolment and prior to the commencement of their first unit of competency.
Educational and support services may include, but are not limited to:
- pre-enrolment materials;
- study support and study skills programs;
- language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) programs or referrals to these programs;
- equipment, resources and/or programs to increase access for students with disabilities and other students in accordance with access and equity;
- learning resource centres;
- mediation services or referrals to these services;
- flexible scheduling and delivery of training and assessment;
- counselling services or referrals to these services;
- information and communications technology (ICT) support;
- learning materials in alternative formats, for example, in large print;
- learning and assessment programs contextualised to the workplace;
- reasonable adjustments for any disability or impairment; and
- any other services that the RTO considers necessary to support students to achieve competency.
Sydney Rescue Consultants will abide by the following principles:
Assessment of Need and Identifying Additional Support
- Each eligible student of Sydney Rescue Consultants is asked to provide information prior to enrolment to a full qualification or training regarding any additional support requirements. The Enrolment Form and Pre-Enrolment Assessment Form provides students with the opportunity to identify and advise if they are aware of LLN issues, disabilities or impairments that may impact their ability to undertake study in their chosen course.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will conduct assessment of need prior enrolment or prior commencement of training. It will ensure that assessment of need is undertaken at the earliest possible opportunity and that it manages any identified support needs.
- It may also identify and act on student support needs at the time of enrolment, and/or any time prior or during the delivery of training.
- It will document the results of the assessment of need and ensure that this is reflected and managed in the student’s training records.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants assessment of need involves, but will not be limited to the following:
- eligibility assessment to assess eligibility of student for the course;
- LLN skills assessment to ascertain whether the level of the qualification and proposed learning strategies and materials are appropriate;
- determining the most suitable qualification for the student, based on the student’s existing educational attainment and capabilities;
- offering RPL to the students when applicable, explain credit transfer obligations and identifying any relevant competencies previously achieved (refer to the RPL Policy);
- assessing the need for additional support;
- identifying any actions or strategies to be implemented to address identified needs for the student including any adjustment required to the learning program, delivery of learning and materials used for learning to ensure that retention and completion outcomes are improved.
Access to Educational Support Services
- Sydney Rescue Consultants ensures individual students are provided access to the educational and support services necessary for them to meet the requirements of the training product as specified in training packages or VET accredited courses.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will ensure that students are made aware of opportunities for recognition before the start training and that adequate information, support and opportunities are provided to the students to engage in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process when applicable. (Refer to the RPL Policy)
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will ensure that when additional costs are required to provide additional support, the student will be notified and provided information prior to enrolment.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will inform students prior to enrolment of any limitations to the additional support it can provide, so students can make informed decisions regarding their training.
Provision for Reasonable Adjustment
- Upon student advice of any disability or impairment that may impact on their studies, Sydney Rescue Consultants will review the information provided and where necessary, make contact with the student to determine the additional support requirements.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will arrange for reasonable adjustment to be applied to training or assessment tasks where it is appropriate. It will ensure that the reasonable adjustment applied does not impact the integrity of the training package requirement. (See the Training and Assessment Policy)
Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN)
The Language, literacy and numeracy assessment is part of Sydney Rescue Consultants’ initial skills and upfront needs assessment process. LLN assessment will help to ensure prospective students have the minimum levels to access the vocational course of their choice.
LLN Assessment
Sydney Rescue Consultants uses the Learning Pre-Enrolment Assessment Form to review and assess each student’s training needs, relevant current competencies, Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills and eligibility for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Information gathered through this form will be used to facilitate provision of additional support required in areas such as language, literacy and learning and assessment, whilst ensuring that students receive the maximum outcomes and benefits from the training, in relation to set learning objectives, career opportunities and skill level.
When the LLN assessment outcome identifies that the student does not have adequate language, literacy and numeracy levels of their chosen course, the Admissions Officer will:
- explain to the student the challenges that will be encountered in completing the course with their LLN level;
- provide information on where they can obtain assistance with their LLN issue; and
- offer other options and pathway for training until they are within the ACSF level requirement of the course.
Disability and Impairment
- The admissions officer will advise the trainer in writing of any identified disability or impairment that may impact the studies of the student. The trainer is responsible for reviewing the information provided and where necessary making contact with the student to determine any further additional support requirements. The support will vary depending on the individual needs of the student.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants trainers may arrange for reasonable adjustment to be applied where it is appropriate to the assessment and does not impact the integrity of the training package requirements. (See Training and Assessment Policy)
- Sydney Rescue Consultants trainers will endeavour to work with the student to determine and provide reasonable access to training facilities, materials and resources to allow them to undertake their studies.
- Where appropriate, Sydney Rescue Consultants will seek external assistance to ensure additional support services are available.
Determining the Amount of Learning
Sydney Rescue Consultants ensures each student’s skills and experiences relevant to respective vocational competencies are considered in the development of their learning plans. It follows the procedures outlined in the Upfront Assessment of Need procedural document in determining how the student’s existing skills, knowledge and experience impacts the amount and level of training they will require.
Access and Equity
Sydney Rescue Consultants does not discriminate against any student enrolling or engaging in any course. Its aim is to advise students as much as possible on how they can attain support with any additional support requirements and how it will be able to support them (including on limitations of support). Ultimately, it is the choice of student as to whether or not they wish to proceed with their enrolment.
Records Management
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will document the assessment of need for each student in their student record.
- Sydney Rescue Consultants will retain all documents and reports pertaining to a student’s individual record following enrolment.
MONITORING AND IMPROVEMENT
- The admissions officer(s) will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Student Enrolment Policy and Processes. All Administration Staff are responsible for the correct and accurate enrolment in accordance with this policy and relevant procedural documents.
- All enrolment practices will be monitored by the admissions officer(s). Areas for improvement will be identified and discussed during the Continuous Improvement Meetings. (See Continuous Improvement Policy)
- Students and employers (if applicable) are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience and through Sydney Rescue Consultants’ continuous improvement process.
- Students can lodge a complaint or appeal an enrolment decision, as per Sydney Rescue Consultants’ Complaints and Appeals Policy.
Annex A: LLN Support Services
Students with LLN issues may be referred to the following services to discuss any additional LLN support services available to them:
- Reading Writing Hotline
Phone: 1300 655 506
- Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL)
Phone: (03) 9546 6892
- NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council (NSWALNC)
Phone: (02) 9514 3478
- Resources for people teaching or tutoring adult literacy
Literacy Face to Face Resource
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