RTO 40049 www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing
RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training are trading names of YourLife Health & Learning Inc. (RTO 40049) registered under the Australian Skills and Quality Authority (ASQA). We are a nationally recognised training organisation with campuses in both South Australia (RDNS Training) and Western Australia (Silver Chain Training) and are a member of the Open Colleges Group. Our focus is on providing our valued students with quality, flexible learning, by delivering a range of training products aimed at enabling you to commence working in the health industry or for current health workers to increase their skills and knowledge. We wish you well with your studies! Terminology reference RTO Staff Student We, Us, Our You, Your, Yours Registered Training Organisation (RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training) Employees and contractors of the RTO Individual enrolled into nationally recognised training course or unit of competency RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training The student Date of Origin June 2016 Last Review Date Decenber 2016 Next Review Date February 2017 Version v1.4 Authority Academic Director Responsibility Coordinator Nursing Programs
Contents Introduction... 1 Steps in the Enrolment Process... 2 Entry Requirements... 2 Core Skills Test... 2 Student Interview... 3 Progressing to Enrolment... 3 Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT)... 4 Fee Information... 5 Payment Options... 5 Fee Schedules... 6 Incidental Costs... 6 Course Structure... 7 Clinical Placements... 9 Cancellation of Placements by Students... 10 Clinical Placement Pre-requisites... 10 National Criminal History Check... 11 First Aid Requirements... 11 Immunisation Requirements... 11 Course Attendance... 14 Deferral from a Course or Unit of Competency... 15 Cancellation of Course or Unit of competency... 15 Course Abandonment... 15 Training and Assessment... 16 Grading of Assessments... 16 Re-assessment... 16 Missed In-person Assessments... 17 Clinical Placements and Pre-requisite Units... 17 Submitting of Assessments... 17 Notification of Assessment Results... 17 Failure to Submit by the Due Date and Extension Requests... 17 Course Progression and Unit Results... 18 Rights and Obligations... 19 Access and Equity... 19 Student Support... 20 Facilities and Resources... 20 Code of Conduct... 21 Professional Dress and Appearance... 21 Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page i
Student Information... 23 Student Registrations... 23 Change of Personal Details... 24 Student Feedback... 24 Completion of Course... 24 Complaints and Appeals... 25 Emergencies... 26 Accidents... 26 Ambulance Cover... 26 Hazards and Near Miss Reporting... 26 Health Conditions... 26 General Information... 27 RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training Contact Details... 27 Reception / Student Services... 27 Student Facilities... 28 Unique Student Identifier (USI)... 28 IT Requirements... 28 Identification Badges... 28 Children on Site... 28 Counselling... 29 Lost Property... 29 Messages (Student)... 29 Mobile Phones... 29 Smoking... 29 Becoming Registered as an Enrolled Nurse... 30 AHPRA Application Process... 30 Registration Fees... 30 AHPRA State Offices... 31 Further Study Options... 32 Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page ii
Introduction Welcome to our for HLT54115 which provides a comprehensive range of information about our principles and practice in the delivery of the course. RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training is a sister college to Open Colleges with a strong history of high quality, campus-based and blended industry-based training and a reputation for providing high quality graduates to the nursing, health and community care industries in Australia. Our Course has a strong practical focus, which will prepare you to work as a qualified Enrolled Nurse, and is the only qualification that can lead you to becoming registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Enrolled Nurse. RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training offers: Professional high quality training with a personal touch by registered, experienced and specialised clinical educators, with the most up-to-date and evidence based material A combination of flexible delivery modes, including online, classroom based (face to face training), self-directed learning, and practical hands on clinical skills Practical job-relevant experience through industry standard simulation in our clinical labs and individually facilitated clinical placements in both public and private hospital, aged care and other health facilities. We look forward to helping you on your educational journey towards your future success in this exciting and rewarding career. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 1
Steps in the Enrolment Process Entry Requirements The entry requirements for the HLT54115 course at RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training are as follows: You will need to be 18 years of age or over AND You will need to be an Australian Citizen or have a permanent humanitarian visa or certain temporary visas with study rights AND You will need to: have successfully completed year 12 or its equivalent in Australia Evidence must be supplied in the form of a Year 12 Certificate apply based on your work and / or life experience Resume / references verifying experience beneficial but not essential OR AND You will also need to complete an online core skills test to assess your language, literacy and mathematical skills against the standard levels (refer to Core Skills Test) Core Skills Test Prior to acceptance in our course, you will be required to complete an online Core Skills Test. You will undertake the Core Skills Test using the Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) tool. If you have sufficient evidence of having successfully completed Year 12, the results of the Core Skills Test will help us determine if you require any additional support for Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN). If you do not have sufficient evidence of having successfully completed Year 12, you will need to achieve a result at or above Exit Level 3 in Reading and Numeracy to proceed through the enrolment process. Evidence of successful completion of Year 12 in Australia or achieving the minimum LLN standards for Diploma level courses is a pre-requisite for entitlement to VET FEE-HELP in Australia. If you decide you would like to complete the CSPA tool, you can request a log in for the Core Skills Test from our Educational Advisor. You will then be sent a username and password direct from the national administrators of this tool. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 2
You can complete this test in your own home. There is no cost for up to 2 attempts at this test. The Core Skills Test should take approximately 45 minutes and once completed we will check your test results and provide you with a copy for your records as soon as practicable. If you have evidence of successfully completing Year 12 or reach the required level in the Core Skills Test, you will be contacted by us to arrange for an interview If you do not have evidence of successfully completing Year 12 and do not reach the required Core Skills Test level, we will contact you to discuss your options. You may choose to sit the online Core Skills Test again. As required under the VET Guidelines (2015) a copy of your evidence of successful completion of Year 12 (if applicable) and/or your Core Skills Test results must be retained by us for a period of at least 5 years. The completion of the Core Skills Test and face-to-face student interview assists us to determine whether you have the Foundation Skills required to cope with the training, or whether you will need additional learning support, at your own cost, or require an external program that will develop your Foundation Skills before the vocational training begins. Student Interview The face-to-face student interview is an ideal opportunity for you to view our facilities and ask our team any specific questions you may have about studying with us. This is the perfect time to confirm for yourself that you have made an informed choice to train with the experts! It also gives us an opportunity to get to know you, discuss your motivations for studying the and any challenges you think you may have with study. This is the time we can help you develop a Support Plan to overcome any identified challenges, including if your Core Skills Test results indicate you may require some assistance with Language, Literacy and Numeracy. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has a mandate to protect the public. As a result it is a requirement of registration that you are able to demonstrate and legally declare yourself to be of good character to practice in the field of nursing. The interview is an opportunity for us and you to discuss the requirements of nursing as a profession, including the NMBA registration standards. Please note: It is imperative that you bring all evidence that you meet the Entry Requirements to this interview without this evidence we will be unable to progress your enrolment. Progressing to Enrolment Upon providing the evidence that you meet the Entry Requirements and attending an interview where you have been able to articulate your ability to meet the demands of this course, we will make you an offer of enrolment. To accept this offer, you will be required to complete the documentation included with the Letter of Offer and return by the closing date. Once we receive all your enrolment paperwork you will be sent a Confirmation of Enrolment letter with final details regarding the course, and details of your fees and payment options. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 3
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT) RPL is an assessment process that assesses competency(ies) you have that may have been acquired through formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which you meet the requirements specified in the training package or VET accredited course. Where assessment is completed via RPL, the requirements of the Standards do not change, although the variety of evidence gathered and considered in making an assessment decision may be greater than when assessment is completed through traditional assessment activities. We offer all students the opportunity to apply for RPL. It is important to note that RPL is not guaranteed and you will need to provide sufficient evidence to be assessed against the current competency(ies) listed in the. You are able to apply for RPL at any time during the course of study; however this needs to be undertaken before commencing the unit(s) of competency for which you are applying for RPL. CT will be granted where recognised units of competency or qualifications have been achieved from Australian RTOs. Evidence of verified statements of attainment and qualifications must be provided. Where a Competency Achieved result is demonstrated in a unit of competency with the same code as being assessed a direct Credit Transfer will be granted. Should the updated unit of competency not be equivalent you may seek RPL or enrol in the unit(s). If you would like to apply for either RPL or CT, please refer to the RPL and CT Procedure. Charges will apply. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 4
Fee Information Fee information for our products and services is published on our website www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing or provided to you in pre enrolment and / or service negotiation information. The opportunities and benefits of Commonwealth assistance will be made equally available to all eligible students upon enrolment. Visit www.studyassist.gov.au for further information on VET FEE-HELP. In the event we cancel a planned product or service before it commences we will refund you 100% of any fees you have paid us in advance in relation to that service. In the event we terminate a product or service before its completion we will refund you 100% of any fees paid in advance, less fees for services already provided up to and including the date of termination. In the event we become unable to provide any services to you, our Tuition Assurance Scheme will respond to protect fees paid in advance and minimise disadvantage to impacted students. Refunds will be processed within 28 working days from completion of formal claims. For further information see our Fees and Refund Policy as published on our website www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing. Payment Options Payment of your course fees can be via up-front payment, through the Commonwealth Government VET Student Loans (VSL) income contingent loan scheme (eligibility criteria applies) where applicable, or students can opt for an interest free loan. If paying for your course fees we can offer you the option of a payment plan or lump sum payments. Alternatively, we can offer students an interest free loan option. Further details will be available in 2017. Conditions do apply and are subject to change. Please refer to the Fees and Payments section of our website www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing for eligibility information and a detailed Schedule of Fees which outlines all fee related information, as they can be subject to change. The Schedule of Fees will outline the cost for each unit, the loan fee (if applicable) and the census date for each unit of study as well as any incidentals. Further information regarding VET Student Loans can found via this link. Unless otherwise indicated you are responsible for each fee as relevant to your enrolment with us. All fees include GST unless otherwise indicated. If you fail to meet academic requirements you will need to re-enrol in the individual unit(s) of competency and pay the corresponding fee(s). Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 5
RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training is a member of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) Australian Student Tuition Assurance Scheme, which provides protection for tuition fees paid in advance (for more information visit www.acpet.edu.au). Fee Schedules Refer to the Fees and Payments section of our website (www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing) for a detailed Schedule of Fees for the course you are interested in. Tuition fees for the course are inclusive of the following items: Tuition and classes Online resources provided by us Induction and orientation Uniform items (x2) Student identification badge Manual handling Access to library resources Student counselling and support Administration, insurances, placements and facilitation. Incidental Costs Our course involves additional items which cannot be deferred / paid for with a VET Student Loans (these are referred to as incidental costs) and you will be personally responsible for paying for and / or sourcing all of these items including: Nursing equipment kit Immunisations / vaccination status report National Criminal History Check and Screening Assessments Textbooks (which may be purchased at Orientation or from a supplier of your choice). You will find estimates of incidental costs in the Schedule of Fees. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 6
Course Structure The course will be conducted over 18 months and is currently structured in six modules. The schedule consists of 2 days of attendance per week for theory and practical sessions. You will be required to supplement the face to face attendance through completion of online selfdirected learning packages, workbooks and assessment materials. This will require on average, a commitment of at least 10 to 20 hours per week study time to be completed by you in your own time. Units are sequenced to ensure you are adequately prepared and safe when on clinical placement and to maximise learning opportunities. There are three main clusters of clinical placements to be completed which cover Residential Aged Care, Community / Primary Care, Mental Health and Acute Care settings. These will be undertaken in full time mode. Further details regarding these are outlined in the Clinical Placements section of this Guide. Code Title Module One HLTENN001 HLTAAP002 HLTAAP003 HLTENN008 HLTENN002 Practice nursing within the Australian health care system Confirm physical health status Analyse and respond to client health information Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice Apply communication skills in nursing practice Module Two HLTINF001 HLTWHS002 HLTENN003 HLTENN013 HLTENN006 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures Follow safe work practices for direct client care Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care Implement and monitor care of the older person Apply principles of wound management in the clinical environment Module Three CHCPRP003 HLTENN012 Reflect on and improve own professional practice Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health problems Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 7
Code Title Module Four HLTENN007 HLTENN011 HLTENN005 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health problems Contribute to nursing care of a person with complex needs Module Five HLTAID006 HLTENN010 HLTENN009 Provide advanced first aid Apply a palliative approach in nursing practice Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions Module Six CHCDIV001 CHCDIV002 HLTENN004 HLTENN025 BSBRES401 BSBWOR404 HLTENN015 Work with diverse people Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care plans Implement and monitor care for a person with diabetes Analyse and present Research information Develop work priorities Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting Clinical Placements Placement 1 window Weeks 24 to 26 Student completes 2 weeks Clinical Placement (80 hours full time) Placement 2 window Weeks 44 to 51 Student completes 4 weeks Clinical Placement (160 hours full time) Placement 2 window Weeks 69 79 Student completes 6 weeks Clinical Placement (240 hours full time) Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 8
Clinical Placements As part of the course you will be required to complete compulsory clinical placements which will be undertaken in a variety of clinical settings which may include Residential Aged Care, Community / Primary Care, Mental Health and Acute Care environments. These will vary between 10 to 30 working days in duration and will require attendance for 5 days per week. Attaining your qualification is, in part, reliant on successful completion of these clinical placement hours. Therefore you should be aware that if you miss any of the scheduled placements you will need to make up any time missed and it is possible that this may be at a later date and in a completely separate facility. There may also be some personal out of pocket costs for the extra facilitation required, particularly if the reason is, for example, due to your own disorganisation or lack of completion of assessments. During the compulsory clinical placements you will be rostered according to standard industry shifts. The following shifts are provided as examples only as shift times can vary between facilities: Early 7:00am to 3:30pm 6:30am to 2:00pm Late 1:00pm to 9:30pm 1:30pm to 10:00pm Night 9:00pm to 7:30am 9:30pm to 7:00am Please Note: These shifts may include weekends and / or public holidays as determined by some placement host facilities. It is important to note this may impact you if you work in a part time job or have other commitments. We will negotiate clinical placements on your behalf with various facilities and every effort is made to organise for your placement to be at a host facility near to where you live. However at times this is out of our control and due to industry pressures we must accept locations that are available in various areas of your state, including regional locations. You should generally allow for travel to and from your placement venue of up to one hour each way. In some circumstances, due to State placement pressures, placement access issues may require amendments to your course timetable. Unfortunately we have no control or jurisdiction over this process but will work to provide you with as much notice as possible about these amendments. You will be supported in your clinical placements by host facility preceptors, facilitators and our qualified staff. It is critical that you utilise every learning opportunity whilst on clinical placement as it is here that you will gain the confidence and competence to help you gain successful employment on completion of your course. You must be fit to perform all duties required when on placement and we expect that you get in there and take every opportunity you have to practice your newfound skills and apply your training to practice. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 9
Cancellation of Placements by Students Organising clinical placements is a complex and time-consuming exercise. We schedule windows of time in course timetables during which actual placement dates are determined after the course has commenced. You are expected to make yourself available for the complete window of time scheduled for each placement. A cancellation fee may apply if you are unavailable for any placement window and you do not give us written notice of your unavailability more than 20 working days before the start of any placement window as indicated on your course timetable or as otherwise notified. This fee will be waived only under specific circumstances limited to: Medical condition preventing attendance at placement (doctor certificate required) Death of an immediate family member Unforeseen carer obligations for immediate family members. In the event you are unable to complete any scheduled placement you will not be permitted to continue in the course with your current group. We will work with you to determine the best course deferral option for you. You should note that any course deferral (without a sickness certificate or equivalent) may incur a fee and could extend your completion date by as much as 12 months. We are also unable to guarantee that any cancelled placement will be available at the same host facility. Clinical Placement Pre-requisites In order to complete the course, you will be required to meet course assessment requirements and complete all clinical placements to the required standard. To facilitate the allocation of a clinical placement, you are required to provide evidence of meeting all of the following prerequisites: A completed National Criminal History Check (refer to National Criminal History Check) A current First Aid Certificate (HLTAID003) refer to First Aid requirements A current Manual Handling Certificate A current immunisation record with evidence of up to date vaccinations (refer to Immunisation Requirements) Completion of any relevant electronic health records system training. IMPORTANT: These criteria for placement are not negotiable and if you fail to provide the necessary evidence to us in the timeframes we specify, your course progress and possibly completion will be at significant risk. You are strongly encouraged to pay particular attention to these requirements and to act on them as quickly as possible. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 10
You will also need to ensure you are up to date in regards to: Academic results (competency achieved in all academic assessments relevant to the area of clinical placement) Course fees Course attendance. National Criminal History Check To work as an Enrolled Nurse, graduates will be required to register with AHPRA (please refer to Becoming Registered as an Enrolled Nurse for information). In order for you to be assessed as suitable for registration by AHPRA, you must have undergone a National Criminal History Check. This includes Police Clearance and Screening Assessments: Child-related employment screening Vulnerable person-related screening (SA only) Aged Care sector employment screening (SA only) As stated previously, a National Criminal History check is also a pre-requisite for allocation of clinical placement. If you are aware of any prior criminal convictions, you are encouraged to speak with the Course Coordinator prior to enrolment. IMPORTANT: You are strongly encouraged to make all applications for criminal record screening and clearances as early as possible (even before your course commences). Your access to clinical placements depends on you providing us with evidence of your criminal history, and we have no influence over how quickly this evidence can be provided to you. Application forms will be provided in your enrolment pack. If during the course of your enrolment, changes occur to the status of your National Criminal History Check, you are required under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 to notify us as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). As national regulators of nursing practice in Australia, under their direction your enrolment may be suspended or cancelled. We may also decide to suspend or cancel your enrolment independent of the NMBA. First Aid Requirements You will be required to have a current First Aid Certificate (HLTAID003) prior to going on your first placement. You must be able to evidence a Statement of Attainment for this unit which must remain valid for the entire duration of your study. Immunisation Requirements Health care workers may be exposed to and transmit vaccine-preventable diseases, therefore maintaining immunity in the health care worker population helps prevent transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases to and from health care workers and patients. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 11
As stated previously, prior to undertaking clinical placements you will be required to be screened and vaccinated as per immunisation guidelines for health care workers to ensure your own personal safety and that of patients, staff and visitors from the potential threat of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases all students. To enable RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training to assess your vaccination status, to increase immunisation awareness and to update records, you will be required to provide documented evidence of your immunisation status. The following is a list of recommended vaccines for health care students along with minimum acceptable evidence of immunity. This information is subject to change and suggest you check these requirements at the time of your enrolment. Disease Influenza (Flu) Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Varicella Zoster (Chicken Pox) Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Poliomyelitis Hepatitis B 1 Minimum acceptable evidence of immunity Documented evidence of influenza vaccination during the current influenza season. Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. Documented evidence of measles, mumps and rubella antibody (IgG) on serology or documented evidence of 2 measles vaccinations at least one month apart or born before 1966. Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. Documented evidence of varicella antibody (IgG) on serology or documented evidence of varicella vaccination or a history of prior chickenpox or shingles (no documentation required for history of infection). Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. Documented evidence of a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine in the last 10 years. Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. History of vaccination with a primary course of 3 vaccinations (documentation is not required). Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. Documented evidence of Hepatitis B core antibody or documented level of Hepatitis B surface antibody (>10mlU/ml) following completion of a course of Hepatitis B vaccine. Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is required after completion of the vaccination course for all Health Care Workers. 1 It is a requirement that all students involved in patient care must have evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation. A full course of injections must be completed and serology report evidencing conversion obtained prior to your first clinical placement. Hepatitis A 2 Documented evidence of hepatitis A antibody on serology (IgG) or documented evidence of completed course of Hepatitis A vaccine. Confirmation of immunity post-vaccination is not required. 2 Applicable if you have worked in remote indigenous communities or with indigenous children in NT, QLD, SA and WA Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 12
Applicable only in South Australia Tuberculosis Screening You will need to confirm that you have completed the screening questionnaire provided by SA Tuberculosis Service (http://www.pages.on.net/questionnaire.php) Applicable only in Western Australia Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) If you have been a patient, or worked in any hospital or residential care facility outside of Western Australia in the 12 months preceding placement, a MRSA screening clearance will be required. Tuberculosis Screening You will need to provide evidence of either Mantoux (skin screening) or Quantiferon Gold (blood test) results. Further information on immunisation can be found at www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/content/handbook10-home Please Note: As a student health care worker, you also need to know your HIV and Hepatitis C status; however you do not need to inform RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training of the result. If you have one or both of these infections you must seek confidential medical and career advice from an infectious diseases specialist. All information provided by you will be treated confidentially and stored securely in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1988). If for cultural, religious or medical reasons you are unable or unwilling to be immunised in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Department of Health, your enrolment and consequent completion of the course may be suspended pending negotiations with host facilities to facilitate you on clinical placement. We hold no jurisdiction over this matter and the negotiated result will be final. If hosts are not able to facilitate your placement you will not be able to meet the assessment requirements of the units of competence and as such your enrolment will be cancelled. IMPORTANT: Your immunisation status is a critical criterion for access to clinical placements. It can take several months to complete courses of immunisation and you are strongly encouraged to commence this process with your health professional as soon as you decide to accept the offer of a place in this course. We cannot adjust course timetables for you if you fail to act on these requirements early enough and accept no liability for any negative impact on you that may arise. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 13
Course Attendance Attendance is important to your success and to ensure you don t fall behind academically. Students who regularly attend classes have better outcomes, including employment outcomes. Attendance provides you with the opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and values required to demonstrate competence. You are required to notify your Educator prior to any training and / or assessment that you are unable to attend. You may be asked to provide a medical certificate. Our requirements for attendance are as follows: You are expected to attend sessions as indicated by the timetable. Attendance is recorded and is available for other government agencies to check. This may affect any benefits you receive such as Austudy, Abstudy, Youth Allowance, state funding or VET Student Loans. Attendance at scheduled skills laboratory sessions is compulsory and 100% attendance is required. Ensure to arrive 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you are unable to remain for the duration of the session, you should advise the Educator prior to the commencement of the session and sign out when leaving. If you are unable to attend sessions for any reason, please notify your Educator by email or phoning Student Services at your campus by 09:00 on that day and leave a message. For missed sessions it is your responsibility to obtain notes, handouts, etc. from the Educator or a fellow student. It is not the responsibility of the Educator, Student Services or other students to seek you out to advise of missed information. Sessions often include exercises and activities that form part of the overall assessment for the unit. Sessions often involve individual student participation and therefore missed sessions may jeopardise your success. If you have missed too many contact sessions, you are likely to be not adequately prepared for assessment and / or clinical placement, which may create delays in your training pathway. If any assessment or skills laboratory session is missed due to absence, you will be issued a Not Yet Competent result (unless you present a medical certificate or a prior arrangement has been negotiated with the Educator). Only in exceptional circumstances will you be permitted to sit missed assessments. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 14
Deferral from a Course or Unit of Competency If you wish to defer from a course, you must do so in writing using the Withdrawal and Deferral Form (available on our website). Note that deferral is not automatically granted and may have a financial impact. An administration fee to process your deferral will apply. A maximum of 2 deferrals only is permitted and the administration fee will apply for each deferral. Please Note: That when deferring to a future course, any increase in fees for that course will apply. A maximum period of 12 months will apply for all deferrals. Decisions regarding deferral options are subject to superseded Qualifications and teach out periods relating to each training product. If you wish to defer from your course please adhere to the following: Schedule an appointment with the Educator or Course Coordinator to review your need to defer and to ascertain the group to defer into as part of Course Progression. Sign and complete both the Course Progression Form and Withdrawal and Deferral Form and return in person to your Course Coordinator or electronically by email to info@silverchain.edu.au A deferral fee of $100 will be charged and upon receipt of invoice, and payment will be required before deferral can be confirmed. Payment can be made in person to Student Services or as outlined on your invoice. On receipt of payment, confirmation of your deferral will be sent, which will include an Application for Enrolment Form for completion and return to Student Services. Please refer to our Withdrawal and Deferral Procedure and our Fees and Refunds Policy on our website (www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing) for further information, particularly if your course payments are deferred through VET Student Loans. Cancellation of Course or Unit of competency Should we reschedule or cancel a course, training session, or practical placement, you will be notified as soon as possible. Course Abandonment If you fail to attend 8 consecutive planned sessions or contacts without giving prior written notification to us of your withdrawal, then you will be considered to have abandoned your course. In the event of course abandonment, your enrolment will be terminated and you will be required to pay any outstanding fees for which you are liable. No evidence of your studies will be provided to you until outstanding fees are paid in full. A written notice will be sent to your address on file. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 15
Training and Assessment You will be assessed throughout the course in a variety of ways. Assessments have been developed for each unit of competency based on the essential knowledge and required skills outlined in the relevant Training Package. You must achieve a result of Satisfactory (S) in all assessment tasks to receive a Competency Achieved (CA) outcome for the unit overall. Each assessment will specify the criteria to be met and it is your responsibility to seek clarity from your Educator should there be any aspect you feel is unclear. Grading of Assessments All assessment tasks will be graded Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). These include: Written assessments (workbooks, essays, exams) Clinical skills laboratory assessments Demonstrations Interviews / competency discussions Role plays Oral presentations Questioning Problem based scenarios Work place observation. If you do not attain a Satisfactory (S) in your primary attempt (1st attempt) you will be awarded the result of Not Satisfactory (NS) and will be given feedback on the areas that need to be rectified. Should additional support be required it is your responsibility to request additional assistance or clarification as soon as possible after receiving initial feedback. Re-assessment A supplementary assessment (2nd attempt) will be provided should the result of Not Satisfactory be awarded for the primary attempt (1st attempt). Based on the level of understanding demonstrated, you will be asked to address the gaps in your evidence by resubmitting or re-demonstrating part or all of your assessment. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 16
Should the result of Not Satisfactory be recorded for the supplementary assessment (2nd attempt), you will be counselled by your Educator and provided options in regards to continuance in the course based on your ability to meet the academic requirements. You will be offered some additional support, counselling and assistance as needed by our staff or referred to specialist support providers as appropriate. Missed In-person Assessments If you are unable to attend any in-person assessment activity failure to advise your Educator of your inability to attend will automatically attract a result of Not Satisfactory (NS). Re-assessment will be scheduled as soon as practicable and this will be graded as a supplementary assessment (2nd attempt). This may result in delays to your course progress, should this be a pre-requisite to placement or a pre-requisite unit as outlined below. Please Note: A medical certificate may be requested as proof of inability to attend or provision of evidence of extenuating circumstances. Clinical Placements and Pre-requisite Units It is a pre-requisite of your clinical placement that all coursework including assessments is up to date; therefore Clinical Placements will not be confirmed if you have any outstanding coursework or assessments. Where coursework or assessment evidence remains outstanding for such units you will not be permitted to continue in the course until those outstanding items have been satisfactorily completed. Submitting of Assessments Assessments are accessed and submitted via our online Learning Management System (LMS) and you are provided an orientation on this system in the first week of the course. Should you have any questions on the operation of the LMS, please raise this with the elearn support team on 1300 886 204 or via elearn@silverchain.edu.au. Please ensure you keep a copy of all your assessments. Notification of Assessment Results Most assessments are electronically managed and e-collected via our LMS. The aim is for Assessments to be graded and returned to Students in a timely manner. Failure to Submit by the Due Date and Extension Requests Due dates have been allocated to each assessment task and will be administered through the Learner Management System (LMS). Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 17
If you are unable to meet the date set for submission of assessment tasks you must contact your Educator and discuss the need for extension. A request for extension must be made in writing or via email and be approved by your Educator before the assessment is due. A maximum 2 week extension will be granted for written assessments. You will be required to show evidence (e.g. sick certificate) for longer extension requests. In the absence of an approved extension, assessments submitted after the due date will receive the result of Not Satisfactory (NS). This will automatically be recorded as a 1st attempt and your submission will be graded as your 2nd attempt. If you can t satisfy the assessment requirement then you run the risk of not progressing through the course. Course Progression and Unit Results Course progress is monitored closely throughout the duration of each course. If you are considered to be at risk of not meeting course requirements you will be provided additional support and where appropriate a Support Plan will be implemented to assist you. You must achieve a result of Satisfactory (S) in all assessment tasks to receive a Competency Achieved (CA) outcome for the Unit overall. The result of Competency Achieved (CA) in each Unit must be attained in order to progress through the course and receive the full qualification on completion. If you have received Not Satisfactory (NS) after your supplementary assessment (2nd attempt) for any assessments in a Unit you will receive a Unit result of Not Yet Competent (NYC). Please Note: If you have received Not Yet Competent (NYC) for more than 2 units, you will be required to defer to a later group, incurring a $250.00 deferral fee. You may also be liable to repay for some units depending on your circumstances. A maximum of 2 deferrals are allowed before you will be withdrawn from the course. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 18
Rights and Obligations You are bound to comply with the rules and regulations stated in our Policies and Procedures which are subject to change from time to time. You can review this information on our website www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing We would like to particularly refer you to our Pre Enrolment Information Policy. If you wish to enrol as a student you must return to us a signed copy of the Applicant Agreement along with all other enrolment documents as required for your course. We shall be under no liability whatsoever to you for any loss or damage, including personal injury or death, sustained at or upon our premises howsoever caused, and whether in respect of any negligent act or omission by us, our employees, agents or servants, to notify you of any risk or danger of which we had no prior knowledge nor ought reasonably to have had such knowledge. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to review and alter the organisation and / or structure of our courses at any time. If any material alteration is made before the commencement of a course, we will endeavour to notify you, but we shall not have any liability if we are unable to notify you. Notwithstanding the provisions of these terms and conditions, nothing removes your right to take further action under relevant Australian consumer protection laws and to pursue such legal remedies you may have under such laws. Access and Equity We apply access and equity principles throughout all of our policies and procedures to promote full and equal participation of all students in our training products, to foster an environment free of discrimination and harassment, and to assist students to identify and achieve their desired outcomes. We meet the fairness principles under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Standards by offering a cooling off period as appropriate. Please refer to our Fees and Refunds Policy on our website (www.opencolleges.edu.au/nursing) for information. Where there are any changes to agreed services, we will advise you as soon as practicable, including in relation to any new third party arrangements or a change in ownership or changes to existing third party arrangements. If due to unforeseen circumstances you are unable to continue your training, you may wish to apply for deferral to a future scheduled training product (if available) according to the Withdrawal and Deferral Procedure. Note that we allow no more than 2 deferrals and these are not automatically granted and may have a financial impact (refer to Fees and Refunds Policy). Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 19
Fair Treatment As a provider currently holding provisional VET Student Loans (VSL) approval we will uphold the principles of procedural fairness to: All students who are, or would be eligible for VET Student Loans assistance All students seeking to enrol with us in a VET Unit of Study that meets the course requirements who are, or would be, eligible for VET Student Loans assistance All students who choose to pay fees in full All students who are eligible to access State and/or Commonwealth funding Student Support Student support includes any educational and support services that you may need to assist you in your training. We provide you with access to the necessary support to meet the requirements of the training product as specified in training packages or VET accredited courses. In some cases this may include referring you to third party specialist providers of support. We use a variety of methods to identify your support needs as part of the selection process. The aim is to identify any additional assistance you may require in areas such as literacy, numeracy, English language or physical capabilities to complete each course. If you are identified as requiring additional support you will be provided with a copy of the Student Support Information Sheet and a Support Plan will be developed with you to help address your identified needs. We will accept no responsibility where you fail to achieve course outcomes due to a learning difficulty experienced by you where you have not made us aware of such difficulty and where we have the capacity to meet the requirements of that learning difficulty. Any additional external learner support services will be at your own cost. Facilities and Resources All students are responsible for treating our facilities, staff, and resources with care, respect and courtesy. We aim to provide a high quality education and training service in which all students are encouraged to strive for excellence and fulfil their potential. Unacceptable behaviour may hinder the academic progress or work performance of others. In order to familiarise yourself with these processes and standards please refer to our Code of Conduct Policy. We reserve the right to recover costs from you if you are identified as causing damage through wilful acts or negligence, to our property or resources or the property or resources of any of our partner organisations. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 20
Code of Conduct Our students and staff have the right to work and study in an environment free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and threatening behaviour. When representing our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) all students, staff, contractors and visitors are expected to behave in a considerate and courteous manner when dealing with other staff, students, clients and members of the general public. You have a responsibility to: observe all stated or agreed rules or behavioural guidelines however they may be put into effect behave in a manner which does not interfere with the learning or work of others conduct yourself in a responsible and professional manner while at any of our training facilities or on clinical / field placements. Violence, intimidation and harassment are not consistent with a safe and supportive learning environment and will not be tolerated. Please refer to our Code of Conduct Policy which clearly defines student and staff rights and responsibilities that relate to appropriate behaviour. Professional Dress and Appearance At RDNS Training and Silver Chain Training we have a commitment to promote a professional image in all aspects of our business. This includes the personal appearance of our staff and students. All Students Unless otherwise directed by your Educator, the following criteria are to be met by both male and female students in the skills laboratory and whilst on clinical placement. Identification badge must be worn at all times Clothing must allow for ease of movement to ensure safe posture in all positions required to perform nursing care. General Appearance Jewellery should be kept simple and the style should not be hazardous (for example: plain wedding ring, studs or sleepers) Pierced body jewellery should be restricted to the ears, unless completely hidden by clothing or meeting the Workplace Health and Safety standards of the facility at which you are attending for reasons of your course Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 21
Hair must be clean and neat and if longer than shoulder length, tied or secured at the back of the head with plain ties or clips Fingernails must be clean and short. Nail polish and acrylic nails are not acceptable on clinical placement. Shoes Shoes are to be a dark colour (for example: black, navy, charcoal) Shoes are to have a broad heel base, preferably flat with arch and instep support (height no greater than 4cms) Shoes must be completely enclosed (sandals, ballet flats, thongs, ugg boots, sandshoes / trainers are not permitted) Shoes are to have well maintained non-slip soles. Female Students Dark colour (for example: black, navy, charcoal) knee length skirt, culottes or trousers. Polo shirt or scrubs top with RDNS Training or Silver Chain Training logo (2 supplied as part of tuition fee replacements or additional shirts / tops can be purchased). Plain dark colour cardigan, jumper or vest Stocking or socks to be dark colour, white or flesh colour. Male Students Dark colour (for example: black, navy, charcoal) trousers Polo shirt or scrubs top with RDNS Training or Silver Chain Training logo (2 supplied as part of tuition fee replacements or additional shirts to be purchased). Plain dark colour cardigan, jumper or vest Socks to be dark colour, white or flesh colour Please be aware that you will be prevented from attending lectures and / or the skills laboratory should you fail to meet the dress criteria. Strict adherence to the dress criteria is essential for clinical placement. Please Note: You may need to comply with additional dress code conditions (e.g. jewellery, piercings, visibility of tattoos) as per Clinical Placement Agency / Host Facility requirements. Any associated costs are your responsibility. Decenber 2016 vv1.4 RTO 40049 Page 22