Student Web

A - Z of the NCDEA

The following information is for students of the the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia. If you need more information please call 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 0 NCDEA).

Absences

Students are expected to attend all classes and, in some areas, minimum attendance levels are set. Your teachers will let you know if this is the case. Austudy or Youth Allowance recipients may have payments reduced or stopped if a student accumulates more than five days of unapproved absence in a term.

Abstudy

Abstudy provides assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who wish to undertake post-secondary studies on a full time basis. Depending on your situation, Abstudy can help with living costs, school fees, books and travel. For more information and assistance contact the GOTAFE Koorie Education Unit on 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233) or Centrelink on 13 23 17.

Access & Equity Committee

An Access and Equity Committee has been established to advise the GOTAFE Board and Executive Management on the implementation, review and success of the Disability Action Plan.
The Access and Equity Committee is a sub-committee of Executive Management comprising the Deputy Director, Manager Student Services, Manager Organisational Development, Manager Facilities, Manager Student Administration, Manager Multimedia Development, Disability Liaison Officer, two Teacher Representatives and a Student Representative.
Terms of Reference of the Access and Equity Committee are:

To provide advice to the Board and Executive Management on strategies and procedures for creating an inclusive environment for all students and staff
To develop a Disability Action Plan that is “responsive to the diverse needs of individual clients, including people who face barriers due to age, gender, cultural difference, disability, language, literacy and numeracy, unemployment, imprisonment or isolation and any other clients who are experiencing barriers in relation to access, participation and outcomes” (AQFT Definitions 2005:15)
To monitor, review and advise Institute Board and Executive on the effective implementation of the Disability Action Plan
To recommend changes to Institute policies and procedures in relation to access and equity principles and issues

Nominations will be called in March for the student representative on the Access and Equity Committee. For further details please contact the Manager of Student Services on 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).

Accidents & Incidents

All staff and students must report any incidents, accidents, “near misses” and hazards to their supervisor/teacher as soon as possible. (See First Aid). An incident report form should be completed; these are available from your teacher or supervisor.

Accommodation

Student accommodation is available at the Dookie and Warragul Campuses either on a full time or block release basis.

Activities

As a student of the NCDEA you are encouraged to participate in the student activities such as orientation, barbecues, sporting events and health promotions organised by Youth & Student Services. Please contact the Youth & Student Services Officer if you wish to suggest or participate in a particular event.

Advertisements/Classifieds

Classified can be placed free of charge in GO4IT, the Student Newsletter. Please contact Youth & Student Services on 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 0 62332).

Ambulance

As ambulance cover is not provided by the NCDEA and is costly, students are encouraged to purchase an Ambulance Membership. Telephone 1800 648 484 for further information. Students who hold a Centrelink Health Care Card may be entitled to free Ambulance Cover. Contact Centrelink or Youth & Student Services for further information.

Apprenticeships

To find out more about Apprenticeships contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre in your area or the Apprenticeship Field Officer. Apprenticeship Field Officers provide assistance in a number of different areas:

Assist TAFE institutes in relation to apprenticeships and trainees
Answer queries and provide information on the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme
Advise/counsel apprentices/trainees and employers on training and other matters
Investigate disputes between apprentices/trainees and employers
Provide support for apprentices/trainees who are victims of workplace violence and harassment

For further information contact the Apprenticeship Field Officer on 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 0 62332).

Assessment

Trainers and assessors will develop strategies to assess your competence. The Assessment, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is required to:

meet the requirements of the relevant training package or accredited course
be conducted in accordance with the principles of assessment and rules of evidence
meet workplace and where relevant regulatory requirements

At the beginning of your enrolment, your trainer/assessor will discuss with you the assessment tasks you will be required to undertake during the course of your study. In designing assessment tasks, the assessor should develop assessments that are fair, flexible, valid, reliable and sufficient. The purpose of assessment tasks is to enable students to demonstrate competence, and assessors are guided by the rules of evidence to ensure that the evidence is valid, sufficient, authentic and current.

Graded Assessment

The NCDEA implemented graded assessment for all Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses. Grading has been introduced in response to requests from learners, employers and industry for a grading system that will recognise excellence in learner performance.
The grading criteria and grading results will be explained in detail by your course coordinator or trainer/assessor.

Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)

GOTAFE encompasses the NCDEA and is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offering a range of accredited qualifications and skill sets. Industry, State Training Authorities and other educational institutions anywhere in Australia recognise NCDEA courses through the obligation to recognise Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statement of Attainment issued by other RTOs. These principles also apply to NCDEA recognising AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment which students have gained from other RTOs.

All formally recognised, national education qualifications are now linked across the three education sectors within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The following table shows how the current qualifications relate to each other and where they can be earned. It shows the linkages between schools, vocational training providers and higher education providers and what each sector can offer you.

Awards are within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and include:

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer assesses the initial course or subject that an individual is using to claim access to, or the award of credit in, a destination course. The assessment determines the extent to which the clients’ initial course or subject is equivalent to the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards in a qualification.
This may include credit transfer based on formal learning that is outside the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is an assessment process that assesses an individual’s non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes or standards for entry to, and/.or partial or total completion of, a qualification. It forms part of the Skills Recognition process which also include Credit Transfer. It does not involve training and is different from Recognition of Current Competence (RCC).

Recognition of Current Competence (RCC)

Recognition of Current Competence applies if a client has previously successfully completed the requirements of a unit of competency or module and is now required to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained. Recognition of Current Competence relates to courses where a certificate or qualification is issued with an expiry date and requires candidates to participate in regular updates or reassessment to maintain currency e.g. First Aid or Confined Spaces. It does not form part of the Skills Recognition (Credit Transfer or RPL) process and does not involve training.

ATMs

There are no banking facilities available on any campus but fees can be paid by EFTPOS at all campuses except Western Victoria where credit card payments only are accepted. (No cash withdrawals available at EFTPOS campuses.)

Austudy

Austudy provides financial assistance to students aged 25 and over, who are Australian citizens or permanent residents and normally undertaking full-time studies in an approved course. The allowance varies according to the student’s circumstances and are subject to an income and assets test on the student and their parents or spouse and satisfactory progress in an approved course.

Australian Apprenticeship Centres

These centres have been established by the Federal Government to provide assistance and advice to employers, job seekers, students and career advisors about all facets of apprenticeships and traineeships. Call 1800 639 629 or visit www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au for further information.

Awards/Certificates/Graduations

If you have successfully completed your course of study you must apply for your Award/Certificate. Awards are presented to students at annual graduation ceremonies held each year. For details talk to your course coordinator.