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College Course Information Sheet |
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ACVS is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), registered by the Vocational Education &
Training Advisory Board (VETAB) under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).
ACVS is also registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions & Courses for
Overseas Students (CRICOS).
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All ACVS courses are nationally accredited and internationally recognised, fulfilling the
requirements of the National Training Packages.
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ACVS protects students fees through membership of ACPET and ensures the protection of student fees through
OSTAS and the ESOS Assurance Fund
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ACVS follows all relevant Commonwealth and State laws covering OH&S, workplace harassment,
victimisation and bullying, anti-discrimination, including equal opportunity, access and
equity, racial vilification, disability discrimination as prescribed in the: OH&S Act, EEO,
Access & Equity and anti Discrimination and Harassment Acts, National & ACVS Codes of
Practice, ESOS Act
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Student selection and registration into ACVS is based upon clients satisfying college
entry criteria covering English proficiency (min. IELTS score of 5.5 or the equivalent),
academic qualifications (min. completion of the HSC or the equivalent), work experience,
age (min. 18 years) and visa status (as per assessment levels for the country of origin).
Applicants who do not meet the English entry requirement are required to register into an
appropriate English course. Original or certified copies of all documents must be submitted
upon application. These requirements can be found at www.immi.gov.au
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Students registering under CRICOS ie on student visa must complete a min. of 36 weeks of
supervised tuition for 20 a min. of 20 hours per week on premises per year, achieving a minimum
average course attendance of 80% at any time.
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Under current country assessment levels, students from Assessment level 1 countries must
sign a declaration that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay in Australia.
Students from Assessment level 2-5 countries must have evidence that they have funds totalling
$AU12000 per year of study in Australia. Students accompanied by a spouse should add 35% per
annum.
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Students should add a further 20% per annum if they have at least 1 child (plus AUD$8000
per annum or the cost of schooling) if the child is of school age and 15% per anum per
additional child (plus AUD$8000 per annum or the cost of schooling) if the children are
of school age.
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Non refundable education fee- $110, Primary School years K-6 - $4500, Junior High School
(or 1EC) years 7-10 $4500, Senior High School (or 1EC) years 11-12 $5500, For more info.
See www.det.nsw.edu.au/papers/tempvisansw
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All registering students are required to undertake an orientation procedure provided by
appropriate ACVS staff. During this procedure students will be provided with a Student
Handbook and all ACVS and course policies and procedures will be explained.
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When required or requested students will receive counselling for academic and vocational
purposes from ACVS staff. For personal counselling a suitably qualified person will be provided.
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Language, Numeracy and Literacy must be assessed by a suitably qualified assessor prior to
registration. Offers of course placement will be based on the student being assessed as
satisfying these entry requirements support will be provided in all subjects as normal
tuition practice. Students requiring extra support will be provided that support upon request.
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ACVS is committed to high standards of client services and all staff are obligated to
follow this provision through the ACVS Client Services Policy.
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All ACVS training and assessment comply with the standards of the AQTF. These standards are
maintained through continual staff professional development, monitoring, industry liaison,
internal auditing and both internal and external moderation.
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All courses are delivered on site as modified lecturers in English as competency based
training following the guidelines of the relevant training packages. Trainers will
establish the training needs of the students at the start of each delivery unit and use
different strategies to meet these learning needs including presentations, role play,
case studies, demonstrations, excursions, guest lectures, group work, calculations and
exercises, tutorials, audio visual, individual learning, library use, magazines and
newspapers. All training is designed to maximise student access and participation and
hence the opportunity to achieve competency. Delivery units will be delivered in lecture
or class rooms, computer laboratories.
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All ACVS assessment tasks are designed to allow students to demonstrate that they can
satisfactorily complete all tasks as required by the competency units comprising the
subject being assessed. Trainers will assess student assessment needs at the start and
assessment tasks may include formal exams, research assignments, presentations,
demonstrations, reports, simulations, computer based productions, group and individual work.
Assessment tasks are constructed upon the principles of validity, reliability and fairness
and ACVS follows an Assessment Moderation Policy.
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Students are not permitted to repeat a subject more than once within the duration of
their course. Students with not yet competent results at the completion of their course
will be able to re register into their course to complete these subjects. If students
are required to repeat units in the final semester, they are not required to be enrolled
full time.
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ACVS follows a competency system. Students will receive a ‘competent’ or a ‘not-yet-competent’
on all transcripts. Exemptions are also recorded.
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ACVS follows a policy of mutual recognition and accepts the academic qualifications of other
Australian RTOs and overseas institutions based on consultation with NOOSR. RPL is available
on the basis of previous academic qualifications or work/life experience. RPL can only be
granted by the academic head who may determine that further testing is required before
exemptions are granted. Students are required to apply for RPL upon commencement of their
course and ACVS reserves the right to charge a fee for this service. Where RPL is granted
before the issue of a visa the net course duration, will be indicated on the ecoe issued to
the student. Where RPL is issued after the granting of a visa thew resulting change of course
duration will be reported via PRISMS. Students must maintain full time courses when RPL is
granted. The student’s course will be reviewed to ensure that the student has a full time
load.
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ACVS requires all students to access and understand all ACVS college and course information
available on the website, at reception and included in the college application and marketing
material. Students will be required to sign a declaration that they have read and understood
all terms and conditions before registration and will be bound by these conditions once
registration is complete.
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ACVS follows a Student Grievance Policy and Procedure ensuring that all student
grievances are considered confidentially with expediency and to the satisfaction of
all parties involved. Students are encouraged to make all grievances known to college
management either through the student suggestion box or through the Grievance Policy and
Procedure. The ACVS Grievance Policy and Procedure does not circumscribe the student’s right
to pursue other legal remedies. Consequently students are free to involve an independent 3rd
party at any stage of the procedure and they are free to take the matter to the Department of
Fair Trading or any other relevant body.
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Students on student visa are not permitted to defer the commencement date of their course
unless on grounds of medical reasons (illness), or other exceptional circumstances beyond the
students control ie bereavement. Weddings, pregnancy, festive occasions are not acceptable.
Students must specify the duration and reason for the deferral and visa cancellation may
be initiated by DIMIA if the deferral is for more than one semester. ACVS will enter a
Student Course Variation to DIMIA via PRISMS.
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It is not recommended that any student take extra leave outside the official college
breaks. However if for exceptional circumstances students may apply for leave. Student
Visa students must study for 36 weeks per year to maintain a fulltime status. At ACVS
student visa students may apply for a max. of 4 weeks ‘exceptional leave’ outside the
official college breaks so long as the min. of 36 weeks is maintained.
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The full Cancellation and Refund Policy is included on the application form and
available on the ACVS website. This policy covers default situations by both students and
provider and the corresponding method and timing of refund calculation. Students not satisfied
with the calculated refund may use the ACVS Grievance procedure and ask for an independent
3rd party consultation. The ACVS Cancellation and refund Policy and procedure does not remove
the right of the student to take action under the Australian consumer protection laws.
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If ACVS does not offer a course on the advertised start date, terminates a course after
the course start date or before the course completion date or does not provide a course as
advertised due to sanctions by any authority ACVS will pay a full refund to the student
within 2 weeks after the default date. This refund equal to the daily course rate
(total tuition fees divided by the total course days) multiplied by the number of course days
for which the student has not received service.
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Students registered under CRICOS are subject to DIMIA – attendance, academic and financial
warning and reporting requirements and hence to the ACVS Warning and Reporting Policy and
Procedure. Students with 5 days consecutive absence, unsatisfactory academic results on a
Tuition Block Basis will receive a warning letter requesting an interview. Students with 10
days consecutive absence or below the 80% average course attendance rule, with not
satisfactory academic performance on a semester basis and with fees outstanding will be
reported to DIMIA and required to attend a meeting with a DIMIA official when requested.
Students must continue to attend college until requested by DIMIA to attend a meeting.
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Students registered under CRICOS should be advised that ACVS is not permitted to enter sick
days or any other days absent (unless granted Exceptional leave) on attendance records. All
unofficial absences, sick or otherwise will be recorded as absences and subject to the above
rulings.
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All ACVS students are subject to Australian civil and criminal laws and to the ACVS
Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. ACVS reserves the right to expel students who break these
conditions. In such circumstances students will be reported immediately to DIMIA and the
depending on the seriousness of the incident the Police involved.
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All students are required to maintain current and accurate contact details with ACVS at all
times. In the event of a change in contact details students are required to complete a change
of details form and submit to the Registrar.
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ACVS reserves the right to expel students for serious breaches of discipline following
appropriate LIC disciplinary procedure. No money is refunded for expelled students and in the
case of student visa holders, DIMIA will be notified.
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It is the responsibility of the student to remain aware of the conditions of their visa and
visa subclass and to register for an ACVS course after the student has taken the ACVS letter of
offer to DIMIA for approval.
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Students on student visa are not permitted to change their primary provider for the first year
if the course duration is equal to or exceeds 1 year and are not permitted to change their
primary provider for the entire course duration if this duration is less than 1 year.
ACVS may release a student in exceptional circumstances.
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ACVS reserves the right to change its fees, conditions, course times or course commencement
dates at any time without notice.
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If the College changes its location, students will be notified in writing at least three weeks
before the re-location is to take place.
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The college has leased premises that will enable course completion. The Harris Park campus
is leased until June 2007 and the Surry Hills campus until April 2007.
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Student attendance details will be recorded systematically on a daily basis as both manual
attendance rolls and entered onto the college electronic record system. Student ac academic
details will be recorded at the conclusion of each subject on both Results roll and
electronically in the electronic record management system.
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A Student Support Officer is available for Student advice and counselling, who can assist
students with problems or refer them to outside agencies if the need arises.
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Never leave your belongings unattended. In case anything is lost, check at Reception and in
the student room. Keep the College premises clean and do not write anything on the walls or
on the desks. Student must leave the College premises in neat and tidy condition.
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ABOUT SYDNEY |
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Overseas students cannot travel on a concession fare and have to pay full fare. However,
Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly Tickets are cheaper. You can also buy a ten-ticket pass called
a Travel ten ticket for bus or ferry. Failure to pay the correct fare may result in a
hefty fine of $100 or more.
There are frequent suburban train services leaving from Wynyard station, which is a few
minutes walk from The College. Return train tickets are cheaper after 9:00 am. Weekly
rail tickets are cheaper than daily tickets.
Sydney has many bus services between the suburbs and the city center. Many bus services
travel along George St. or Pitt Streets. Fares start from $1.50 and depend on the
traveling distance. Ask the bus driver for the exact fare. There are many ferry services
from Circular Quay to suburbs around Sydney. You can use weekly travel passes or Ferry
tens to make ferry travel cheaper.
It is usually easy to find a taxi in Sydney. Prices vary depending on the distance
traveled. If you take a taxi on a toll-way you will have to pay the toll for the taxi’s
return journey. You can take a taxi from a taxi rank, book one by telephone or you can
‘hail’ a taxi from the street.
Sydney has a mild climate, especially in winter, but be aware that the weather is subject
to quick changes. Each day may be a combination of seasons, so be prepared for rain,
heat, or cold, wind and sunshine all in the one day. Perhaps you should carry an umbrella
and something warm. Listen to the weather forecasts carefully.
Sydney has many festivals. In Chinatown, which is 15 minutes walk from The College;
Chinese New Year is celebrated every year. Sydney also celebrates New Year’s Eve
(December 31) with spectacular fireworks over the Harbor. The Sydney Festival is in
January every year and lasts for the whole month. The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is held
in late February or early March.
Post Offices are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. The nearest Post
Office is in Australia Square, about 3 minutes walk from The College. Banks are open
from 9:30 am to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday. They stay open till 5:00 p.m. on Friday
and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. There are many banks near The College. Shops
in the city are usually open from 9:00 am to 5:30 p.m. during the week, and many big
stores stay open till 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays. They are open from 9:00 am until 4:00 p.m.
on Saturdays and many shops are open on Sundays as well.
If you get sick, you may have to go and see a doctor. In Australia you do not go to a
hospital unless you are seriously ill. You go to your local doctor who will have a surgery
near your house. If you cannot leave the house, you can ring the doctor’s receptionist
and make an appointment for the doctor to visit you. In this case the cost will be greater.
If you cannot come to college, the doctors will give you a medical certificate that
describes what is wrong with you, stating how many days you may stay at home. Don’t
forget to give your medical certificate to the receptionist when you return to The College
or the time you are away will affect your attendance.
Overseas students pay 15% of the cost of a visit to the local doctor and if you are in a
public hospital you do not have to pay at all. However, you may have to pay more to see a
specialist or if you are staying in a private hospital. When you get a bill or a receipt
for a medical service, take it to the Medibank Private office, together with your medical
card and apply for a refund. Normally you have to pay for medicine at the pharmacy.
This expense is not usually refunded.
Please note: Medibank Private does not cover medication. If you are hurt in an accident
or need urgent medical attention in an emergency go to the Emergency Department of a
hospital.
Local calls on a public telephone are currently charged at 40 cents. Coins to use: 10
cents, 20 cents, 50 cents and $1 coins only. You can buy phone cards that cost between
$2 and $50 at any newsagent or chemist.
Police, Fire, Ambulance 000
Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) 13-1450
0011 + country code + area code + number (country codes may be found in the telephone directory).
0012 + country code + area code + number (to find out the cost of the call immediately afterwards).
There are many different types of bank accounts. Ask about the different types of
accounts before you decide which one you would like to open. A Savings Account is
probably the most suitable account for students. When you open an account you will
normally receive an ATM Card allowing you to withdraw money after hours. Many shops in
Australia will not accept cheques but most will take credit cards. An ATM Card cannot be
used for credit but it can be used in some supermarkets to pay for the bill (as long as
there is money in your account) and it can be used to withdraw money from the
machine (ATM) you find outside banks.
The average cost of renting a one bedroom apartment in the Sydney metropolitan area is
A$150 per week. The average cost of a meal in Sydney is AUS$16
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