Policies
Training and assessment
All training and assessment is competency based. Competency based systems assess students on the basis of their competency, that is, whether or not they can perform a task.
The emphasis is not on how well students can perform (eg, whether they get 88/100 or 52/100) but on whether or not students can do the required task.
For all completed units a student's achievement will be graded as either Competent (J) in the learning outcomes, or Competency Yet to be Achieved (M).
In the event of a student not obtaining competency, the student may re-submit work for assessment, but it must be received by the date specified for resubmission.
A student may re-submit work for assessment on a maximum of two occasions before a final grade is given.
Access and equity
The implementation of education and assessment processes within Property Training Qld is based on the principles of social justice, access, participation, equity and equality. Accredited training is provided, as applicable, within the guidelines of the Australian Quality Training Framework 2007(AQTF).
PTQ has a client-focused approach to ensure processes and educational products and services meet students' specific needs:
- Provision of opportunities for students to participate in quality vocational education and training, and in associated decisions that impact on their learning;
- Promotion of processes that ensure the right of equality of opportunity without discrimination;
- Fair allocation of resources to ensure access and equity for all.
Fees policy
Fees charged by Property Training Qld are reviewed annually to ensure that they are fair, competitive and realistic.
Clients can be guaranteed that their fees will be:
- kept in a separate account;
- accessed only when the service is rendered or when the fee becomes non-refundable.
The costing of training, as set by the CEO, will be both fair and realistic. Rates will be informed by the principles of access and equity, while reflecting the costs of delivery and organisational priorities.
Negotiation may be necessary in some instances to ensure the effectiveness of this policy.
Goods and Services Tax: Most PTQ courses are GST free. However, if a course (or service) is subject to GST a further 10% will be charged.
Refund policy
Property Training Qld has a refund process that is fair and equitable for all.
Classroom Training
If Property Training Qld has to cancel a training session, students will be
notified and will be entitled to a full refund.
Fees paid in advance for classroom-based courses are refunded, less a $75.00 Administration Fee, provided a minimum of 24 hours notice is given before the commencement date.
Once a course has begun there are no refunds available.
Online Training
Students studying online in our Employee Registration Course, Resident Letting Agent's Licensing Course or the Sales Upgrade Course for Resident Letting Agents have three months from the date of enrolment to complete their courses.
Students training online in our Real Estate Agents Licence Course are allocated three months per part of the course, or eighteen months for the full course, in which to complete the training.
At the conclusion of the allotted time students who have not completed will be made “inactive”. Students who do not complete the course they have enrolled in within the allotted time may apply for an extension. Extensions will be granted in one month blocks at a cost of $50 per month. This fee is payable before the extension is granted. For students studying a course online, refunds, less a $75 Administration Fee, are only available where they have not logged on to the website and commenced using the learning materials.
Students who have not logged into the course within one month of enrolment and/or who have not submitted any material or assessment within one month of the initial logon, will be deemed to be inactive and will have their enrolment terminated without refund.
General Information Regarding Refunds and Course Fees
Registration and course fees may be transferred to another person provided
he/she meets the course entry requirements. Alternatively, registration and
course fees can be transferred to a future course.
In all other cases where exceptional circumstances prevail, a written application for a refund of all or part of prepaid fees may be submitted to the CEO. The CEO will be the sole arbiter in all such decisions.
Records and privacy
Property Training Qld's staff, who have access to student records, have a responsibility to ensure that confidential information is not inappropriately released or taken from the centre.
Access to students' records is limited to the CEO, the Quality Manager and the Administrative Assistant.
Students may apply to the CEO to gain access to their individual records. A copy may be held or given out on a student's request subject to the student's authorisation. Authorisation will be sought from students to provide information for external reporting requirements eg, external audits, AVETMISS, external funding purposes.
Support needs
Property Training Qld will aim to provide, based upon resources and organisational priorities, appropriate arrangements for students with:
- Hearing Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Physical Impairment
- Intellectual Impairment
- Learning Disability
- Psychiatric Difficulty
to ensure fair and equitable access to educational opportunities so that no learner is at a disadvantage.
Recognition of prior learning and current competence
Property Training Qld recognises Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other Registered Training Organisations.
Recognition of prior learning is the process by which individuals can have their prior qualifications and informal learning recognised formally through assessment. Recognition of current competence is the term used when individuals are seeking recognition for their current skills and knowledge used in a particular job/role. (Adapted from ANTA 1999)
If a student considers he/she already possesses the skills/knowledge developed through some or all of the competencies, he/she will be granted credit upon substantiation of that claim.
The recognition of prior learning process (RPL) or recognition of current competence (RCC) process acknowledges skills and knowledge gained through:
- formal training conducted by industry or educational agencies in Australia or overseas;
- work experience (informal training) and/or
- life experience
An assessor with industry experience will be available to provide guidance and support to clients seeking RPL/RCC.
If a student wishes to gain credit through RPL/RCC, he/she should do a thorough self-assessment against the competency standards for which recognition is being sought.
The student will need to collect evidence to support his/her application.
Types of evidence may include:
- products of work;
- witness testimony;
- qualifications;
- courses completed;
- evidence of work achievements
Clients should then contact the Assessment Coordinator to discuss the specific requirements and processes for RPL/RCC.
Methods of assessment may include:
- Practical demonstrations/simulations
- Workplace performance
- Oral questioning
- Reports or projects
- Short written answers
- full RPL/RCC for the Certificate
- partial recognition (by unit)
- further evidence/assessment required
- RPL/RCC evidence supplied did not meet the performance criteria.
Applicants will have the opportunity to appeal assessment decisions (See Complaints/appeals policy and procedure).
Stages of the RPL Process
The RPL process will include the following stages:
- Inquiry;
- Information;
- Initial support and counselling;
- Application;
- Learner support;
- Assessment;
- Post-assessment guidance;
- Certification.
Assessment processes
Assessment of skills and knowledge is an integral part of each training course delivered by Property Training Qld. Assessment is undertaken to determine whether a student is competent in all of the performance criteria for each particular unit of competency within a training course. Assessment may be carried out in a variety of ways – written tests; written assignments and projects; completion of forms; role plays; group discussions; short answers questions; multiple choice questions; workplace projects.
Where students undertake classroom-based training, assessment may occur during training sessions. Alternatively, students may be supplied with assessment tasks which are to be completed in specified time frames, and returned to PTQ. Where training is undertaken by correspondence, assessment tasks are completed as students work through the study material and then returned to Property Training Qld. Assessment in an online course is conducted via computer-based tasks which are uploaded into the learning system when completed. These tasks are then accessed online by PTQ's assessors.
Students undertaking training in the Resident Letting Agent's Course, or Employee Registration Course, are permitted 30 days from the end of the course to submit work for assessment. This policy applies to classroom-based courses. Students undertaking training by correspondence or online study are allowed a period of six months in which to complete the course and submit all tasks for assessment. Those students studying in the Full Licence Course, in classroom mode, are permitted 60 days from the date of receiving an assessment task in which to complete and submit assessment work. Full Licence students studying online are allocated three months per part of competencies in which to complete each part, or 18 months for the whole course.
Clients may apply for an extension if an assessment is not completed within the nominated time frames. An application for an extension must be made in writing and cannot be for a period greater than three months.
Two re-submissions are permitted for each assessment task and this procedure applies to all courses. Following the issuing of a resubmission request, a student has 14/30 days in which to present work for further appraisal, at the discretion of the individual trainer.
Feedback on assessment results is provided through written comments, by telephone, email or through the online learning site. Based on the type of assessment undertaken, assessment results are recorded using the following codes:
Classroom, correspondence and online training:
J Competency achieved
M Competency not yet achieved
Recognition of prior learning:
R Recognition of prior learning/recognition of current competence granted
C Credit transfer
Complaints/Appeals
Students have the right to express complaints, concerns or dissatisfaction with any element of Property Training Qld's training/assessment without adverse consequence. Property Training Qld is committed to providing a fair and equitable process for dealing with learner complaints/appeals. In the event that complaints cannot be resolved internally, Property Training Qld will advise students of the appropriate authorities where further assistance can be obtained.
Complaint/Appeal Procedure
A student should firstly attempt to resolve the problem with the individual staff member responsible for the issue. If the complaint/appeal is not resolved at this point, or where the dispute or claim is of such a nature that direct discussion between the student and the trainer would be inappropriate, the complainant may apply in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, who shall arrange a meeting between the student and the other person, and/or his/her representatives, within seven working days of notification of the dispute.
At such a meeting, the student [and/or his/her representative(s)] and the staff member shall outline the concerns, separately or together. Where it is agreed that a serious problem exists, the meeting shall attempt to reach agreement on action to resolve the problem and where appropriate, a timetable for review of the action resolved to be taken shall be formulated. Whilst this conciliatory procedure is being followed, the student shall continue to participate in the educational services offered by Property Training Qld and, if necessary, a student will be given alternative means to continue such participation to ensure that he/she is not unduly disadvantaged.
Unless it is agreed that a serious problem does not exist, the parties shall separately or jointly prepare (as soon as possible afterwards) a record of the relevant facts and the outcome of the meeting, to be placed on the student's record. This record shall remain strictly confidential between the parties attending the meeting, except by agreement between the parties. The record/file shall be kept in a secure place and shall be accessible to all parties present at the meeting.
Where the parties agree that there is no longer cause for serious concern or that no further action is warranted, this shall be jointly stated on the student's record as soon as possible afterwards. Unless the same problem arises within one month thereafter, all references to the problem shall then be deleted from the record. If the resolution of the dispute fails, then the matter can be taken up with an independent mediation and conciliation service that will seek a meeting of all parties. Outcomes of the settlement of complaints/appeals will be conveyed in writing to all parties. The agreements reached at this meeting will be faithfully adhered to by PTQ.
If this cannot be achieved then the student will be asked to contact the Training Recognition Council. Where the concerns relate to allegations of harassment or intimidation on the basis of gender, race, sexuality or physical disability then the assistance of the Anti-discrimination Commission of Queensland will be sought. If the issue pertains to assessment, a student has a maximum period of six weeks in which he/she can appeal against results.
Property Training Qld will take steps to address the subject of any complaint or appeal which is substantiated through the complaints/appeals procedure. Procedures taken to redress the issue will be conveyed in writing to the complainant or appellant.