DOMESTIC STUDENTS - Terms and Conditions of Enrolment and Refund Policy
EAA Responsibilities
1. Education Access (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is required to provide the Victorian Government, through Skills Victoria, with student and training activity data which may include information provided by the student in this enrolment form. Information is required to be provided in accordance with the Victorian VET Student Statistical Collection Guidelines (which are available at www.skills.vic.gov.au/corporate/statistics/submit_data) Skills Victoria may use the information provided to it for planning, administration, policy development, program evaluation, communication, resource allocation, reporting and/or research activities. For these and other lawful purposes, Skills Victoria may also disclose information to its consultants, advisers, other government agencies, professional bodies and/or other organisations.
2. Selection and enrolment at EAA is carried out in an ethical and responsible manner. Individual interviews are conducted to ensure applicants meet the entry requirements, are well informed about our courses and provide the opportunity to identify any special requirements the applicant may have. All successful applicants must complete the orientation program to familiarise themselves with the institute’s services, facilities and procedures.
3. EAA endeavours to create a positive learning environment and provide student support services which are free of coercion, unfair treatment and harassment of students. Students are encouraged to achieve their personal best through the provision of valid learning and assessment tools and methods that are most suited to their diverse needs. EAA has a fair and open Complaints Policy to address student complaints and appeals, and ensures all outcomes are on record in writing.
4. All staff at EAA abide by the principles of access and equity and ensures that they behave in a non discriminatory manner as outlined in the Staff Code of Practice. Equity issues are discussed and consolidated at a management level whilst updates and changes to equity legislation are communicated at manager’s meetings and through the Occupational Health and Safety committee. Where a student has a concern regarding their treatment, the student should refer to the Student Complaints and Appeals Procedure.
5. EAA will issue refunds as per the conditions outlined in EAA’s Student Information Handbook. To apply for a refund, please submit a completed Refund Application Form.
6. EAA must, during the course of delivering the training:
▪ monitor and record training progress against the Training Plan, at least, monthly;
▪ document and provide support services and appropriate assistance to students with special learning or employment needs in accordance with the results of the Pre-Training Review, and as required by the student;
▪ advise the Apprentice or Trainee and his/her employer, that an application for an extension to the term of the Training Contract must be made if they are unable to complete the Structured Training prior to the nominal completion date of the Training Contract (this application should be lodged via the relevant AAC); and
▪ make all reasonable provisions for the Apprentices or Trainees to achieve all competencies required for the Structured Training identified in the approved training scheme within the term of the Training Contract.
7. EAA is committed to protecting an individual’s right to privacy in accordance with Privacy Act2001.
Student Responsibilities
1. In the event of any change in contact details, the student will notify EAA within 7 days by completing Change of details form and providing this to the Training Manager.
2. All students enrolled in and participating in programs or using the services of EAA are expected to maintain appropriate standards of conduct at all times. Where behaviour is deemed to be improper or inappropriate, EAA will take appropriate action as outlined in the institute’s Student Disciplinary Procedure.
3. If a student notifies a provider in writing that they are withdrawing from a course at any time up to 4 weeks after commencement, the provider can keep the minimum tuition fee but must refund any tuition fees above the minimum, and all other fees. If the withdrawal is from part of the enrolment, for example if a full-time student wishes to study part-time, the refund is applied just to the hours and materials, etc. that is no longer required.
4. If a provider cancels a course at any time during a person’s enrolment, a full refund of tuition fees applies, along with an appropriate portion of any student services and amenities fees and other fees.
5. A successful application for RPL may mean that a student is entitled to a refund of the tuition fees they have already paid for hours of tuition they no longer need.
Note: Course units (elective) are subject to change without notice
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - Terms and Conditions of Enrolment and Refund Policy
E.A.A. has a standard policy and procedure regarding enrolment of a student, collection of course enrolment fees and refund of fees to students withdrawing their participation from a course at E.A.A. at various stages. In making a contract to enrol in a course(s) at E.A.A, the Student/ Applicant acknowledges the following:
E.A.A Enrollment Agreement
▪ The information provided by the Applicant in their application is complete and correct.
▪ E.A.A reserves the right to accept or reject any application for enrolment at its discretion.
▪ The Student/Applicant agrees to be bound by E.A.A rules and regulations and any amendments made to the rules and regulations.
▪ The Student/Applicant agrees to undertake a testing requirement prior to any course entry, if deemed necessary by E.A.A.
▪ The Student/Applicant agrees to observe DIAC student visa requirements.
▪ The Student/Applicant agrees to abide by E.A.A. policies and understand that E.A.A. could suspend or cancel their enrolment if they breach E.A.A. disciplinary policies.
▪ The Student/Applicant also understands that the outcome of not following DIAC regulations can lead to suspension or cancellation of their student visa.
▪ The Student/Applicant understands that any extension to enrolment arising out of deferment of studies/failure to achieve competency in unit(s) within the opportunities provided by E.A.A resulting in a requirement to re-enrol may incur a fee of AU$450 per unit. Students who fail to achieve competence even after re-enrolling will not get another chance, free or paid, to complete the unit by any means, and as a result may not be able to successfully complete all the requirements of the qualification.
E.A.A Fee Payment Agreement
▪ At the time of admission, applicants need to pay one semester’s fees.
▪ Semester fees are payable 14 calendar days prior to the commencement of the semester. The fee due dates are marked on the E.A.A. Records Booklet provided to students as part of induction. Failure to pay fees by the due date will incur a late fee/disciplinary action.
▪ The Student/Applicant agrees to pay all fees required on or by the due date as notified in writing by E.A.A or as per the invoice. A penalty of AU$100 per week applies for late payment.
▪ Payment of fees, in part or in total, indicates acceptance of an offer from E.A.A., and acknowledges the existence of a binding contract between the applicant and E.A.A.
▪ Fees and charges are subject to change without prior notice.
▪ All policies including the refund policy are subject to change without prior notice, within regulations.
E.A.A Rights Regarding Courses Offered
▪ There is no guarantee that all courses or subject/stream options will be offered in any particular semester, as they are subject to staff availability. All elective units are subject to change through the process of regular course revision. Class times and days are also likely to change as per the timetable schedule per semester.
▪ E.A.A. reserves the right to cancel or postpone any courses prior to their scheduled commencement dates, should it be deemed necessary. In such circumstances, if a course is postponed by more than four weeks, and if a student is unable to enrol in a similar course at E.A.A., all fees will be refunded within 14 working days.
▪ E.A.A reserves the right to withhold granting the Award/ statement of results attained by the student, if student fees remain outstanding.
Applicant/Student Rights Regarding the Refund of Course Fee
▪ The Refund policy applies equally to all students including students who have Permanent Residency or Australian Citizenship.
▪ Student/applicant could obtain the Student Complaints & Appeals Procedure from E.A.A. through the office, website or student manual, if they wish to appeal the Refund Policy.
▪ The refund policy of E.A.A and the availability of complaints and appeals processes do not remove the student/applicant’s right to take further action under Australia’s Consumer Protection Laws.
▪ An overseas student or an intending overseas student is entitled to a refund of full fee in relation to a course within 14 working days if:
(a) the course does not start on the agreed starting day, and is postponed by more than four weeks, and if a student is unable to enrol in a similar course at E.A.A., or
(b) the course ceases to be provided at any time after it starts but before it is completed; or
(c)the course is not provided in full to the student because a sanction has been imposed on the registered provider by regulatiory authorities; and the student has not withdrawn before the default day.
Mode of Fee Payment / Application for Refund
▪ Fees are payable by bank cheque, draft or telegraphic transfer to: Education Access Australia.
▪ Credit card payment / EFTPOS facilities are also available with E.A.A.
▪ In case the tuition fee has been paid by EFTPOS/Credit Card/Bank Account of any other person such as friend/relative/agent etc on behalf of the student, the refund will be paid to the person who has actually paid the fees and not the student, unless otherwise authorised by the payer.
▪ All applications for refund must be made in writing by way of the Application for Refund Request (available from the E.A.A Reception area) and submitted to the Senior Manager - Student Administration by Registered mail, Courier or personal delivery as soon as practicable. Evidence such as visa refusal advice should be submitted to E.A.A. along with the Application for Refund Request.
E.A.A Fee Refund Conditions
A refund of tuition fees will only be granted in accordance with the refund policy set out below:
▪ If an intending overseas student is not granted a student visa by DIAC for any reason, any fees paid as a deposit* towards a CoE will be refunded, minus an administration fee of AU$300*. Documentary evidence of visa refusal is required.
▪ All course fees paid by the student, less a AU$300* administration fee (includes the AU$100 administration fee paid at the initial deposit of course fees), will be refunded if E.A.A receives a written notice of withdrawal at least 28 calendar days before the commencement of the course.
• If written notice is received less than 28 calendar days prior to the commencement of the course a fifty percent refund will apply on the total course fees, less AU$300* administration fee (includes the AU$100 administration fee paid at the initial deposit of course fees). If the student has paid less than fifty percent of semester/course fee till the time of such a withdrawal, he/she will have to pay the difference to E.A.A. before being issued with a release letter
▪ Once the semester/course has commenced there will be no refund of fees. If the student has paid less than fifty percent of the full course fee up to the time of such a withdrawal, he/she will have to pay the difference to E.A.A. before being issued with a release letter.
▪ Current students withdrawing from study (not including ELICOS studies) will be entitled to a refund of unused tuition fees of the following semester, if 14 calendar days notice is received, prior to commencement of the following semester. Education Agent’s commission may be withheld.
▪ Notification of Withdrawal from Studies Form must be submitted to Student Administration 14 calendar days prior to semester commencement.
▪ Exceptions to the above-mentioned cases can occur where there are extenuating circumstances or compassionate grounds, as determined by the CEO.
▪ If written notice of withdrawal is not received at least 14 calendar days prior to commencement of the following semester, unused tuition fee for the semester will not be refunded. Students must also pay the full semester fee for the following semester, if they fail to advise E.A.A. of their intention to withdraw in writing at least 14 calendar days in advance.
▪ If a student’s visa is cancelled due to their breach of international student visa conditions or E.A.A Policies and Procedures after the commencement of semester classes, there will be no refund of the current semester’s fees. Any fees paid for subsequent semesters will be refunded, minus an administration fee of AU$300* (includes the AU$100 administration fee paid at the initial deposit of course fees).
▪ If a visa extension is refused to a student, E.A.A. will refund unused tuition fees* for the remaining semester. Education Agent’s commission may be withheld.
▪ If student defers after the start of the course/semester, the tuition fee will not be carried forward, unless the student is deferring for exceptional reasons, based upon the discretion of the CEO/ Director. Any extension to enrolment arising out of deferment of studies will have to be against the payment of tuition fee which may be decided on a per unit basis. Fees per unit will be AU$450.
▪ If a student requests to defer to any following intake/s within 28 days before the commencement of the course initially applied for, while waiting for a decision from the DIAC regarding their student visa application, or while waiting to prepare their visa application, EAA will require a proof of lodgment of student visa and a written request from student explaining why the deferment is requested. Any deferment is solely at E.A.A.‘s discretion.
▪ If a student withdraws subsequently at any stage before the course commencement, after any number of deferments, 50% of the 1st semester fee minus an administration fee of AU$300* (includes the AU$100 administration fee paid at the initial deposit of course fees) will be refunded. All other fees such as study materials, text books, etc. will be refunded. OSHC fee will also be refunded if the student has not arrived in Australia.
▪ Refund to students will be subject to a processing time of a maximum of 28 working days from the date of relevant written notification by the student.
*All refunds are subject to a postage & handling and banking charges fee wherever applicable.
Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress and Attendance following E.A.A. and other Student Visa Conditions
E.A.A systematically monitors students’ course progress as per DIAC/DEEWR policy and student services staff at E.A.A are proactive in notifying and counselling students who are at risk of failing to meet course progress requirements. Should student fail to meet the course progress requirements, E.A.A has an obligation to report students to DIAC, under section 19 of the ESOS Act. Attendance is also intrinsically linked to satisfactory course progress in hands-on vocational training programs, such as those offered by E.A.A. Therefore, students are encouraged to attend a maximum number of timetabled classes in order to meet the course progress requirements. Students who fail to abide by other student visa conditions such as informing provider about change of address and maintaining the conditions of visa grant, etc. will be reported to the DIAC.
By signing on the Application Form and the International Student Course Acceptance Form, the student declares that they will abide by EAA policies and understand that they could have sanctions, such as suspension or cancellation of their enrollment, imposed on them by EAA if they breach EAA disciplinary policies or do not maintain satisfactory academic course progress. They also declare that they understand that the outcome of not following DIAC regulations can lead to DIAC imposing sanctions on them such as the suspension or cancellation of their student visa.
Deferment of Course
As per DIAC regulations, providers may allow a student to defer commencement of, or suspend, their studies in only very limited circumstances, for example serious illness evidenced by a doctor’s certificate or other exceptional compassionate circumstances beyond the student’s control such as bereavement. DIAC has the final say as to whether reasons for deferral or suspension are acceptable for the purpose of continuing to hold a student visa. For more details, visit www.immi.gov.au or contact the Student Services office.
Change of Course Provider
Please note that according to overseas students’ visa conditions, from July 2007 onwards an international student is not allowed to transfer from their current Australian provider to another registered provider in Australia before completing six months of their principal course unless they have a written letter of release from their provider. EAA will not be able to enroll any international students who are currently enrolled/ studying with another registered provider and have not yet completed six months of the principal course they are enrolled for unless they have a written letter of release from their principal course provider. For more information please visit the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) website at:
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/international_education/policy_issues_reviews/key_issues/esos/
A Statement about use of meat and alcohol at MITH
Please note that students enrolled in the Commercial Cookery stream of all Hospitality courses will be required to handle and prepare meat and meat products in the practical training components. Students enrolled in the patisserie stream of all Hospitality courses will be required to handle processed meat products and eggs. MITH uses Halal meat wherever possible. Some practical training sessions for the Commercial Cookery and Patisserie streams may also require students to handle alcohol.
