Student Handbook

RTO ID 41038
CRICOS Provider Code 03417F

This student handbook is your guide to Charter Australia. Inside you will find information on where students should go and who they should see to resolve problems. Policies, procedures, and regulations are outlined so that you understand how the college operates. This Student Handbook outlines the standard of service you can expect from us when you enrol in a Charter Australia’s course and your responsibilities as a student. Before you enrol in a course with Charter Australia, please be sure that you have read this handbook and understand its contents.

Disclaimer

Charter Australia attempts to ensure the information distributed is accurate and up-to-date, but sections may be amended without notice. Persons intending to act on any information contained herein should first check with the college to ascertain whether any updated information is available regarding the relevant material. Charter Australia, its agents and employees will not be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the possession, publication or use of reliance on information obtained from distributed information. It is provided in good faith without express or implied warranty.

Welcome to Charter Australia

Welcome to Charter Australia, where new and exciting experiences and adventures await you. We are happy for you to join our college family, and our experienced staff and Trainers are dedicated to providing every student with the best educational opportunity possible.

Charter Australia is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) under the National VET Regulator Act 2011. Charter Australia is also registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions & Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Charter Australia provides students with an effective teaching and learning environment designed to raise education standards, enhance employment opportunities and enrich personal lives.

Contact Information

Campus Location

Level 3, 53 Walker Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060
Phone: +61 2 9955 5881
Email: support@charter.edu.au

Office Business Hours

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Transport

Our College is in the North Sydney CBD and is very easy to get to by public transport. It is a 3-minute walk from North Sydney train station and bus stop. To find the easiest way to North Sydney from your accommodation, go to: https://transportnsw.info/#/.

Transport Concessions

Domestic students enrolled in a full-time course with Charter Australia can apply for Transport Concession Entitlement Card from Transport NSW. Contact Student Support Officer for more details.

Important Information

• Student Support Officer is your first point of contact. If you have a question or are confused about something, please talk to the Student Support Officer at Reception or ph: 02 9955 5881.
• In case of fire or any other emergency, please follow the instructions given by your Trainers or other Charter Australia staff member;
• Read college notice emails and announcements in the Student Portal for important college information, results etc.
• Always follow the rules and regulations displayed on notice boards, in classrooms and near facilities like computers, printers, photocopiers etc.
• Do not leave valuables unattended. Charter Australia is not responsible for any damaged, lost or stolen item.

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights

Charter Australia’s vision is to be publicly recognised as one of the leading vocational training organisations in Australia. We want to be known as a provider of the highest quality training to our students from Australia and around the world. We want the community to regard our graduates as having achieved their qualifications through the highest training.

Our mission is to be good at what we do by providing excellent training that improves our students' employment and career prospects, that provides desirable employees for businesses, and that is value for money.

Our promise to you is that we will provide the highest quality service to you by using the best trainers to deliver relevant, up-to-date material and skills in a way that is responsive to our clients and our students' needs.

We will strive to make our training accessible to both the employed and the job seeker by working with the private sector, not-for-profit and government organisations and overseas businesses to provide our services in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Charter aims to provide a supportive and collaborative teaching and learning environment to every student. You have the right to expect that your education at Charter Australia will be at a consistently high academic standard. You also have the right to equal access to resources and accurate and transparent information from the College.

Charter provides students with multiple channels to express their voice and their feedback. We welcome student feedback, and Charter’s students have the right to report issues or grievances on both academic and non-academic matters. If you have any problems, complaints or grievances, you may report them to the CEO, Ming Chen, at any time.

Charter appreciates that privacy is very important to students. When you enrol at Charter, any personal information provided, such as address and contact details, is covered by the Privacy Act and the National Privacy Principles. Charter recognises your right to expect that your personal information will be kept confidential and held securely and privately.

Charter prides itself on being a fair, tolerant, inclusive and welcoming environment for every student. Any acts of discrimination or harassment in any manner will not be tolerated.

For more information about student rights, please refer to the policies and procedures, which can be found at https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Student Responsibility

Enrolment Obligations

Students are responsible for abiding by the conditions required under their enrolment. This may include:

• Keeping their enrolment and contact information updated on the College’s system;
• Regularly checking their student email account and Student Portal announcements;
• Paying their fees in accordance with the deadlines given by the College; and
• International students abiding by their visa conditions in relation to enrolment into a course.

Code of Conduct for Students

Charter is committed to providing its students with a rewarding and worthwhile learning experience. As part of this experience, the College and its students share the responsibility of maintaining a safe, tolerant and harmonious environment for all. Outlined below are some of the responsibilities that we expect our students to embody while studying at Charter:

Responsible Behaviour

You are expected to behave responsibly and promote the values of the College at all times. You should respect all rules and regulations of the College. It is expected that you will follow the policies and procedures of Charter and attend to your duties as a student, i.e. maintaining your academic performance as well as engaging with the wider community.

Academic misconduct

Students are to conduct themselves responsibly on their assessments. The College will not tolerate any acts of plagiarism, cheating, academic dishonesty and/or fraudulent behaviour on their assessments. Such behaviour will result in disciplinary action and may also lead to a failed assessment outcome.

Respect for others

You are required to treat all members of staff and your fellow students with respect. Students are to be conscious of their behaviour and not cause offence or discomfort to the teaching staff or their fellow students. For example, speaking consistently while lectures are in progress will not be tolerated, and you will be asked to leave the classroom if you continually interrupt the lecturer or other classmates.

Respect for property

Students are to respect and maintain the property of their fellow students and the College. Students are not permitted to damage, destroy, pollute or vandalise any part of the premises, resources or facilities of the College. Students should also be mindful that their behaviour does not hinder others’ access to the use and enjoyment of resources and facilities.

Harassment

Any act of physical or verbal abuse, bullying, improper influence and/or intimidation committed by a student upon others within the College will be deemed as misconduct and subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, no sexual contact, comments and any other unwanted conduct are to be made to any student, staff or associate of the College.

Discrimination

A student is not permitted to discriminate, antagonize or single out a person or a group of persons because of their gender, sexual orientation, race, religious beliefs, marital status, age or disabilities. Any form of discrimination is not acceptable at Charter and will not be tolerated. Serious cases of discrimination will be viewed as misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action.

Offensive material

Offensive material will not be displayed or produced in any part of the College.

Noise levels

Out of consideration of the other businesses in the building, a noise level that disturbs others is considered inappropriate.

Alleged illegal activity

If a student is alleged to have engaged in illegal activity under the laws of any State, Territory or Commonwealth jurisdiction, the matter shall be reported to the police of that jurisdiction for investigation.

Firearms and dangerous weapons

Firearms or replicas of firearms (including ammunition or magazines), weapons, flammables, explosives or dangerous instruments are prohibited in the College.

Drugs and alcohol

Students are not permitted to bring any drug or alcoholic substances onto the premises of the College. No drugs, other than those prescribed by a medical practitioner or available over the counter without prescription, will be tolerated in the College. Students are also not permitted to distribute drugs or alcohol to other students.

Smoking is a health hazard

Smoking is a health hazard and is prohibited in the College premises, including the toilets. If students choose to smoke, they may do so outside the building and at least five meters away from the doorway and within the designated area. Students are to ensure that they do not hinder or block the access of other users of the premises and must be mindful of other users when they are in the designated area.

For more information on the Student Code of Conduct, please refer to the Student Policies and Procedures register, which can be found at the Charter website: https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Student Life

Student Portal

Students access the Student Portal for learning resources, and conduct certain learning activities and assessment tasks. After your enrolment is confirmed, you will receive Student Portal access details via email. If you have any problems using the platform, please contact support@charter.edu.au.

Course Materials and Textbooks

Required textbooks and recommended texts and materials will be listed in the Course Outline. The Course Outline and other course materials are published in the Student Portal.

Assessments

Details of assessment tasks for each course are available in the individual course Learning Plan in the Student Portal.

A range of assessment methods, such as written questions, case studies, simulations and practical demonstrations, may be used for a course. Charter Australia uses units of competence drawn from nationally endorsed industry Training Packages as our primary benchmark for assessment.

Completing and submitting assessments

You must submit all assessments via the Student Portal. Your trainer will mark your assessments and provide feedback via the Student Portal. It is important that you submit all your assessments on the due date. Satisfactory course progress is an important requirement of your student visa, and it will be monitored by your trainer on a weekly basis. If you fail to complete your assessments within the required timeframe, you will not complete satisfactory course progress. If you have any questions about this or will not be able to complete the assessment on time due to illness or compassionate and compelling circumstances, speak to your trainer before the due date.

Assessment outcomes

There are two outcomes of assessments: S = Satisfactory and NS = Not Satisfactory (requires more training and experience).
Students will be awarded C = Competent on completion of the unit when they have completed all assessments for the unit of competency and have provided the appropriate evidence required to meet all criteria. If you fail to meet this requirement, you will receive the result NC = Not Competent and will be eligible to be re-assessed.

Re-assessment

In accordance with our assessment policy, students will be allowed two (2) further attempts at an assessment for which the outcome is Not Satisfactory within the timeframe of the due date of the assessment. No additional fees will be charged.

A further attempt will be charged a re-assessment fee.

Should a student require further time for medical reasons, he or she must request it in writing to their trainer.

Students should be aware that any extension may mean that they are in danger of not completing their course within the timeframe or of not making satisfactory course progress. Students should speak to their trainer or the Student Support Officer if they are not able to complete assessments on time.

Extension

Assessment task extensions

A student who has been prevented through an illness or other unavoidable and/or unforeseen circumstances from submitting their assessment on the due date may apply for an extension of his/her assessment.

A student must complete a formal application for the extension as soon as practicable and within seven working days of the assessment.

As stated above, only students with extenuating and compelling circumstances are eligible for an extension. Extenuating and compelling circumstances may include:

• • • Illness (supported by medical certificates)
    • Family trauma (supported by evidence)
    • Other emotional issues (supported by a letter from the Student Support Officer)

Charter will try its best to accommodate any student with current medical condition/s and/or disabilities. Students who may require assistance should seek advice from Charter’s Administration team.

For international students, if the assignment extension has the potential to impact their duration of study, please refer to the information below - Extension of Student Study.

Extension of  student study

Charter Australia will only extend the duration of a student’s study where it is clear that the student will not complete the course within the expected duration as specified on the student CoE as a result of:

• Compassionate or compelling circumstances (e.g. illness, where a valid medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes or where Charter Australia has not been able to offer a pre-requisite unit of competency)
• Charter Australia is implementing the intervention strategy for at-risk students not meeting satisfactory course progress
• Charter Australia approved a deferment or suspension of studies granted under the National Code of Practice

Where there is a variation in a student’s enrolment load which affects the student’s expected study duration, Charter Australia records this variation and the reasons on the student file and the online student management system. Charter Australia will then report the student via PRISMS and/or issue a new CoE when a student can only account for the variation(s) by extending the expected duration of the study.

The student is advised to contact the Department of Home Affairs to seek advice on any potential impacts on their visa, including the need to obtain a new visa.

Except in the circumstances specified as valid grounds for an extension to duration as noted above, the expected duration of study at Charter Australia specified in the student CoE will not exceed the CRICOS registered course duration.

These policies are in accordance with clause 8.16 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.

Academic Support

You can always get advice and assistance from your trainer and our Student Support team. If you have any problems with the course content, we encourage students to raise questions and ask their trainers. We also suggest that students book consultation sessions with trainers if they need any extra assistance with their studies.

Classrooms and Facilities

Training rooms

Modern, well-equipped air-conditioned training rooms provide students with an environment conducive to learning and developing the skills and knowledge required to achieve successful outcomes.

Computer facilities

Enrolled students are given access to free Internet, a variety of online platforms, and printing and e-mail facilities. It is a requirement that all students have their own computers to perform online study and assessment work.

Photocopying and printing

A photocopier and printer are available for students to photocopy or print their class and assignment work. (Fees apply, please see Reception, the first 100 Pages per term are free)

Kitchen and dining area

There is a common kitchen/dining area in the college where students can have a snack between classes. It is equipped with a microwave and kettle as well as kitchen supplies. Coffee and tea are provided for free for Charter Australia students.

Reference Libraries

To supplement their own textbooks, students have access to the Charter Australia Reference Library of textbooks and reference books. Please ask Reception regarding the procedures for using the library. As a Charter Australia’s student, you can borrow and use facilities at a number of libraries which have partnership arrangements with Charter Australia. Applicable library fees may apply.

Course Progress

Course progress for all students

Charter Australia monitors, records and assesses the course progress of each student throughout and at the end of each teaching term. Unsatisfactory progress is defined as not successfully completing or demonstrating competency in at least 50% of the units in any study period of a course. International students who do not achieve satisfactory progress for two consecutive study periods (terms) will be reported to the Department of Home Affairs via the PRISMS system.

Students can access their results and feedback via the Student Portal and also from trainers to show them their recorded results. Students can contact their trainer as soon as their results are available. Trainers are the first point of contact if students have any issues with assessments.

Course progress for international students

Under the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 of the ESOS Act 2000, international students are required to maintain satisfactory course progress in order to successfully complete their program within the duration specified in the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) letter. An education provider can only extend the expected duration of study in limited circumstances by issuing a new CoE letter.

Satisfactory course progress is defined as a student successfully completing all required subjects in their program in order to achieve the qualification. A student who is identified as falling behind in successful assignment completion will be managed via a range of intervention strategies.

An intervention strategy is an individual student plan developed by Charter Australia staff to improve the academic progress and attendance of a student. Intervention strategies may include additional learning support, make-up classes, counselling, training to develop study habits or adjustment to the study program. Charter Australia will do everything it can to assist students who want to learn and progress. If the intervention strategies do not result in any improvement, Charter Australia will notify the student in writing of its intention to make a report to the Department of Education and of their right to access the complaints and appeals processes within 20 days. This report may result in the cancellation of the student visa by the Department of Home Affairs.

Additionally, you must participate in 20 hours of formal learning and assessment activities per week during scheduled course terms. This includes all activities on your course delivery schedule, which may include: attending class, attending work placement (if applicable to your course), participating in online learning, and completing assessment tasks. Charter Australia closely monitors your attendance and participation levels. If we do not feel that you are meeting your course participation requirements, we will undertake intervention strategies as mentioned above.

It is important to remember that before we can arrange a work placement for you, you must:

• demonstrate satisfactory progress in your course
• good attendance
• complete and pass ALL your non-work-placement assessments.

For more information, visit our page on Course Progress & Intervention.

Course progress for ELICOS students

Students who are enrolled in an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) have additional attendance requirements. ELICOS classes are scheduled for 20 or more face-to-face hours per week, and students must maintain an attendance rate of 80% or higher. For more information, visit our page Monitoring Attendance: https://www.charter.edu.au/study-with-us/policies/monitoring-attendance-policy-procedures/

Early Intervention for Students at Risk

Your performance within each teaching period will be monitored to assist you towards the successful completion of the units in which you are enrolled. Students whose performance is deemed to be at risk will be identified through an early intervention strategy. Indicators of students at risk of not completing the unit satisfactorily include:

• • • Not attending classes and/or tutorials
    • Not performing adequately in assessment tasks

Where you are identified as at risk of failure, you will be counselled on academic matters and advised to access available support services. For more information on course progress and early intervention, please refer to the Course Progress and Intervention Policy and Procedure, which can be found on the Charter website https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Your Enrolment

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

In accordance with the requirements of the RTO Standards 2015, Charter Australia provides the opportunity for students to apply to have prior learning recognised toward a qualification or units of competence for which they are enrolled.

Recognition generally takes two forms: recognition of prior learning and credit transfer.

For more information on RPL and credit transfer, please contact the Student Support Officer or refer to the relevant Policy and Procedure on the Charter website: https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Withdrawal

If you wish to cancel your enrolment, you must complete a ‘Notice of Withdrawal Form’ with all supporting documentation attached. You will receive notification in writing of the outcome of the request. For international students, if you have not completed the first six months of your course, you must provide a Letter of Offer from an alternative provider to therefore comply with the conditions of Standard 7 of the National Code 20018. If you have any questions about withdrawing from your course of study, please contact the Student Support team on 02 9955 5881 or support@charter.edu.au.

Leave Of Absence

A Leave of absence is a period of time that allows students to take a temporary break from their studies. You are only permitted for a leave of absence during the course through a formal agreement with the College. For more information about Leave of Absence, please contact the Student Support team

Deferral, Suspension and Cancellation

Information for all students

In some circumstances, after making a tuition fee payment, you may still have the option to defer your course for up to one year. All applications for deferral are assessed on a case-by-case basis and may depend on your chosen course.

To apply for a deferral, please submit a ‘Deferment of Program’ application form to Student Support. For domestic students, Charter will update your enrolment status in the student management system. For international students, please refer to the information below.

For more information on deferral, please contact the Student Support Officer.

Information for international students

Under the requirements of the ESOS Act and National Code, if an international student has enrolled in a course, they are not permitted to defer the commencement of their studies or suspend their studies, except on the grounds of compassionate or compelling circumstances. If a student defers or suspends their studies on any other grounds, Charter Australia has the right not to approve the request and may report the student to DET/Department of Home Affairs via PRISMS as not complying with visa conditions.

For more detailed information, refer to Charter Australia's policy for International student deferment, suspension and cancellation. 

It contains information on deferments, suspensions and cancellations, which may be initiated by either the student or Charter Australia.

Charter may defer, suspend or cancel a student enrolment for:

• a serious breach of a Charter policy
• breach of enrolment conditions
• where a student is considered to provide a threat to the well-being of other students or staff
• serious misconduct
• failing to meet the requirements of the course progress policy
• non-payment of a tuition fee

Where suspension or cancellation is initiated by Charter, you will receive a Notice of Intent to Suspend or Cancel Enrolment. This notice will clearly indicate that you will be given 20 working days to access the College’s internal appeals process. When the appeal process is initiated, Charter will maintain the student’s enrolment until the internal appeals process is complete.

For international students, the suspension or cancellation will be notified to the Department of Home Affairs upon completion of the 20 working days or at the end of the appeals process if the appeal is not upheld.

Finance

Tuition Fees

Student tuition fees are based on the current rate at the time of issuing an offer. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

For current tuition fees, refer to Charter’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/fees.
Fees Refund Policy

Domestic Students

Withdrawal 14 days or more before a course or workshop commencement

• A full refund of tuition fees
• Notification for withdrawal or deferral must be received 14 days before course commencement by completing and returning to Charter Australia’s Head Office the Application for Withdrawal or Application for Deferral forms.
• An Application for Refund form is also required, if a student doesn’t complete the Application for Refund, the refund will be held on their account as credit towards a future enrolment.

Withdrawal less than 14 days before the course or workshop commencement

• There is no refund if a withdrawal is received less than 14 days before commencement.

Non- attendance

• There is no refund if a student fails to attend a course or workshop without prior notice.

International Students

The tuition fees will be refunded only under the following circumstances as stated below:

• Enrolment/application fee is non-refundable unless the visa is rejected.
• Charter Australia will refund, within 28 days and without deduction, all tuition fees paid where Charter Australia refuses the student's application for admission.
• Charter Australia agrees to refund within 28 days and 95% of all fees paid where the student produces the original student visa rejection letter from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
• If a student withdraws from a course 28 days or more before the course start date and the student’s visa application has been granted, 70% of all tuition fees paid will be refunded.
• If a student withdraws from a course less than 28 days before the course start date and the student’s visa application has been granted, 50% of all tuition fees paid will be refunded.
• If a student visa extension application is refused, Charter Australia will return the balance of unused tuition fees within 28 days.
• NO REFUND will be made to any student who withdraws after the commencement of the course or during the course unless the student can provide a medical certificate or show evidence of extreme personal hardship.

International student fees are protected by the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service (TPS).

For full details of Charter’s refund policies for both domestic and international students, please refer to the Refund Policy on Charter’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Safety, Health and Wellbeing

Charter is committed to providing and maintaining a healthy, friendly and collaborative environment for all students. You can find assistance via the Charter student support team, online resources, workshops and professional bodies.

Safety

It is important to be aware of potential dangers and risks whilst travelling around the city. This may involve avoiding empty and badly lit places, especially at night. Walk with a friend or stay with a crowd and avoid empty train carriages. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and ensure you can access assistance if necessary.

For more personal safety tips and crime prevention, you can visit the safety page of the City of Sydney via: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/safety/crime-prevention/what-you-can-do. Multi-languages are available. These safety tips cover household safety, car security, personal safety and fire safety.

Always remember, if there is an emergency, call 000 (Police, Ambulance and Fire). Further emergency contacts for dealing with critical incidents are provided below:

• Lifeline: 131114
• Victims of Crime Support Line: 1800 633 063
• Crime Stoppers: 131 444
• Alcohol and Drug Counselling: 02 9799 1199
• NSW Rape Crisis Centre: 02 98196565 or 1800 424 017
• Crisis Service-ask for after-hours crisis workers: 02 9515 6111

Please note that if you encounter difficulty or danger and need support from Charter, please do not hesitate to ask us. Charter staff is here to support you, help you study and to live safely while in Australia.

Health

If you are unwell prior to arriving on campus, you are required to attend a medical practice close to your home. If you become unwell whilst on campus, the closest medical centre is:

North Sydney Medical Centre

Address: G Floor, 71 Walker Street, North Sydney NSW 2060

Phone: (02) 9922 3022

If you or your peers require urgent medical attention, call an Ambulance on 000 and follow their instructions.

Wellbeing

Counselling
It is important for you to know that you are not alone in dealing with the pressure you may face as part of your studies. All members of the Charter team are willing to offer guidance and support if required. Our management and the academic and administrative teams have an open-door policy and are willing to talk to you about any issues you may be facing.

Student Support Officer can assist students with issues including but not limited to:

• Personal/cultural problems, such as stressful circumstances or emotional issues which interfere with your studies
• If you think you may have chosen the wrong course
• Decision-making, interpersonal issues and personal behavioural patterns
• Incidents of harassment or discrimination
• Attendance problems
• Administrative problems or complaints
• Adjustment to study
• Guidance on future career pathways and academic progress
• Guidance on mental health and life coaching

Individual assistance is available for students in need of specialised counselling. An external agency you may refer to. If you need immediate external support and intervention, please contact Lifeline on 131114. More information can be found on their website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/.

Please find below resources and information on various ways that you can get the right kind of help for you:

• Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
• The Black Dog College: http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
• Reach Out.com: http://au.reachout.com/
• Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/

Cyber Safety

Spam Emails

If you receive an email from someone you don’t know and the subject line seems a bit strange, you may have received a Spam email. Here are a few tips to help you pick up whether you have come across Spam:

• The email may be advertising something;
• The email is making offers that you weren’t expecting;
• There are misspelt words in the subject line and/or throughout the body of the email
• The email may be in a different language; or
• The email announces that you have won a prize or contest that you don’t recall signing up for.

Personal Information

Your personal information may include your passwords, tax file numbers, contact details and any kind of information that you would reasonably not want in somebody else’s possession. Such information can be used to identify you and, if in the wrong hands, could lead to issues such as identity theft. It is important that you do not disclose your personal information to parties that you do not know or trust online through social media, emails or any other online modes of communication. Charter does not accept any responsibility for the misuse of your personal information that you may provide to an unauthorized party that is not connected to the College while you are using your student emails and facilities.

Website Dangers

Certain websites may have harmful programs or viruses that may damage your computer or steal your personal information. It is important that you are vigilant while surfing the web.

Here are a few tips to help you identify problem sites:

• Avoid websites that encourage you to click on a link to download or save a file;
• Avoid websites that are threatening, hurtful or contain adult content;
• Avoid websites that ask for your personal information; and
• Avoid websites that have pop-ups and advertisements attached to them.

Charter has the most updated firewall and virus protection in place to protect you while using the Internet and your personal information. Charter accepts no responsibility if you visit a site that is clearly dangerous for your personal system and effectively pass on viruses or malware to the personal systems of your peers.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when a person uses the internet to threaten, intimidate, embarrass or put down others. If think you are the victim of cyberbullying and the attacks by another student or staff member become overwhelming for you, please talk to your Student Support Officer for further advice. If you witness cyberbullying, please help the College to promote a safe online environment for its student and staff and assist the victim where possible. Charter encourages you to report such behaviour so that we may respond appropriately. If possible, please save evidence of the alleged conduct in the event that the Student Support Officer needs to conduct investigations; If a student is found to have engaged in cyberbullying, Charter will not tolerate such behaviour, and this will likely attract penalties and sanctions under the Code of Conduct.

General suggestions:

• Always have virus protection on your computer that is regularly updated;
• Ensure that the software on your computer is regularly updated so that you do not lose any important assignments and work.

More Information For International Students

Living in Sydney

Sydney’s lifestyle is defined by cultural diversity. People from over 180 countries speaking 140 languages are welcome in a population of over four and a half million. This means that Sydney residents enjoy an outstanding range of ethnic food, clubs and festivals, cinema and theatres, Aboriginal arts and culture, museums and music venues. Sydney is also a shopping paradise and a major business hub. More regional headquarters of multi-national companies from the Asia-Pacific region are set up in Sydney than in any other city in Australia.

If you’d like to explore Sydney’s wide range of culture and entertainment, you can contact the NSW tourism board at http://www.visitnsw.com. If you’d like to follow the latest and freshest events in this lovely city, you can check out the City of Sydney via www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/ or https://www.timeout.com/sydney.

Transport

A guide to Australian road rules is available from Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). Overseas students may be permitted to drive using their home country’s driver’s license. In some cases, students may also need to apply for a Temporary Overseas Visitors Licence. We encourage students to contact RMS to confirm what licensing requirements apply to them.

You can contact Roads and Maritime Service on 13 22 13 for more information or visit their website at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/index.html.

Cars, buses, trains and ferries are the main forms of transport used in Sydney. The Opal card is an easy, convenient and fast new way of travelling on the public transport network in Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands. Using an Opal card can also get discounts as a frequent traveller.

For more information and order your opal card, please visit https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/get-opal-card.

More information regarding transport in Sydney can be found at:

Public Transport trip planner: http://www.transportnsw.info (Train, Bus, Ferry and Light rail)

Accommodation

If you have not organised accommodation in Australia, please contact the Student Support Officer, and we will be happy to provide you with support and assistance. There are several options for accommodation, including renting a house or an apartment, renting a room, sharing with other students and homestay. You can find this information through social media, your friends’ or classmates’ recommendations, newspaper advertisements or on public notice areas around Sydney. No matter what kind of accommodation you choose, safety is always the first priority. If you have any disputes with your roommates and landlord, please remember to protect your rights.

Fair Trading can provide support in solving issues or disputes. For more information, please refer to https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ or contact the Student Support Officer. If you need any legal advice on matters of accommodation, you can obtain free advice from Redfern Legal Centre; refer to the Legal Rights section of this document.

Visa Conditions

International students are required to observe certain conditions. It is important that you understand what your visa entitles you to do and what you are not permitted to do. In some instances, Charter is required to report breaches of Student Visa conditions to the Department of Home Affairs. You should take the time to familiarise yourself with your visa requirements by visiting the website: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.

The main points you should be aware of include:

• • • You must notify Charter of your current Australian address and contact details within 7 days of arriving in Australia. Should you change your address or contact details during your enrolment, you must notify Charter within 5 working days.
    • You must remain enrolled in a full-time study program and attend classes in accordance with the Charter attendance policy. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress. If you are an international student and you continually fail units, the College may need to report your performance to the Department of Home Affairs
    • You are permitted to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during a school term. During holidays you may work unlimited hours.
    • You are responsible for renewing your visa when it is close to expiry. Please see the Department of Home Affairs website https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/ for information.
    • You are responsible for informing Charter of any changes you wish to make to your course or enrolment. DIBP must have accurate information on your course at all times. The College can then relay any information provided by you after issuing the necessary approvals.
    • You are responsible for your finances and the care of your dependents. As part of your visa requirements, you must show that you have the necessary financial capacity to support yourself and your dependents during your study. You are to also ensure that any school-aged children are to be enrolled in and attending school. You will need to pay for all necessary school fees. Your dependents will need to leave Australia at the time that you are required to do so.
    • You are required to complete 6 months of study at a recognised education provider before you are able to transfer to another provider.
    • You must maintain adequate Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC) throughout the term of your student visa.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

OSHC is a compulsory requirement, and the Charter can help arrange OSHC for international students. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection requires that student visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover.

Know Your Rights

Remember, you are not only a student; you also live in Australia to work and enjoy your life overseas. You should know your rights and know how to handle any difficulties you may meet. In Australia, every person has the right to be protected from unfair business practices. For students, especially international students, some issues might be extremely challenging, such as renting and bond issues with a landlord, mobile phone and the correct plan, or purchasing goods.

If you are unsure, you can contact NSW Fair Trading and ask for advice on avoiding unfair business practices. NSW Fair Trading is a state government agency that resolves disputes between consumers and businesses on issues such as shopping, refunds, renting, cars, buying and selling property, home building, product safety, scams and more. NSW Fair Trading provides many tips for consumers online and a free smart app. For further information, please refer to https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/youth-and-seniors/youth/international-students.

Many international students get part-time or casual jobs when they’re studying in Australia. It is very important to understand your rights at work if you do. Before you look for a job, make sure your visa allows you to work in Australia.

Contact the Department of Immigration and Border Protection on 131881 or visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/contact-us/ if you have any questions.

If you are working, you will also need a Tax File Number (TFN) in order to meet your tax obligations. To organise this, call the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61 or visit ww.ato.gov.au. You need to give your employer your tax file number so that you are able to pay tax and lodge a tax return. Please keep your Tax File Number private and secure to prevent identity theft.

Everyone working in Australia should have access to basic rights at work. Workplace-related information can be found from the Fair Work Ombudsman via https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/rights-and-obligations/international-students (Multi-languages assistance is available). The Fair Work Ombudsman provides advice to help you understand your workplace rights and responsibilities.

You are entitled to minimum pay and conditions for any job, no matter how long you stay in Australia. You should find out about your entitlements. Your minimum pay and conditions can come from an award, agreement or contract. These are legal documents that say what your employer is required to do and what you are required to do as an employee.

Legal Advice

The Redfern Legal Centre provides free, confidential advice to international students in NSW about housing problems, fines, debts, car accidents, employment, discrimination, family law, domestic violence, and complaints about colleges or universities.

For advice, please call them on (02) 9698 7277 or go directly to their offices, located at 73 Pitt Street, Redfern. For more information on Redfern Legal Centre, please visit their website: https://rlc.org.au/i-need-legal-help/self-help-information/international-students.

Academic Integrity

Academic Misconduct or Plagiarism

Academic misconduct or plagiarism occurs when you reproduce someone else’s words, ideas, or findings and present them as your own without proper acknowledgement. It includes attempts by students to cheat or act dishonestly in an examination, test, assignment, essay, or any other assessment task. Students who are found cheating or guilty of plagiarism in any form of assessment will be deemed Not Competent for the relevant Unit of Competency. An additional fee will apply when the student is required to repeat the unit.

Use of Chat GPT and other AI tools

Student Feedback, Complaints and Grievances

Student Feedback

Charter highly values student feedback and considers student feedback and evaluation as key components of a College’s internal and external quality assurance. Students’ views about their experience at Charter provide valuable information in maintaining a successful teaching and learning environment and contributing to ongoing improvement.

Charter has multiple channels in place to collect student feedback, including:

• Learner Engagement Survey
• Individual student consultation
• Email support@charter.edu.au
• Speak to your trainer and/or any of the management personnel.

Complaints

Charter wants its students to enjoy their time while studying at the College. You have the right to report problems, concerns or grievances regarding any aspect of your education or other related activities, which are within the control of the College and its management staff. The College will attend to your complaint and ensure that your concerns are addressed appropriately and as quickly as possible.

Charter will ensure the following when dealing with student complaints and appeals:

• Your complaint or grievance will be heard, it will be treated fairly and appropriately, and you will be informed of how your complaint or grievance is being managed throughout;
• Your appeal will be heard by an independent person or panel if so required, and you will have the opportunity to formally present your case. You will be given a written statement of the appeal outcomes, including reasons for the decision.

The College will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour of any kind that will negatively impact its students’ experience. If you are being treated unfairly or are having a problem, complaint or grievance with other students or staff members, or see a student being bullied or harassed by anyone while they are at the College, you should immediately contact the Student Support Officer, who will mediate to resolve the problem.

Appeal

Any student who lodges a complaint or grievance will not be subject to discrimination or victimisation. Similarly, any respondent to a complaint or grievance will not be subject to discrimination or victimisation. A student may appeal the outcome of their formal complaint or review if they believe that the results of the formal complaint or review are unfair or incorrect on one of the following two grounds:

• either the process has been incorrectly followed and/or criteria incorrectly applied, or
• new evidence is available which was not available to the original decision maker

Appeals on the grounds that you disagree with the outcome will not be heard. For details of Complaint and Appeal Policy and Procedure, please refer to Charter’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

External Mediation

To provide you with a fair resolution to your complaints and grievances, independent third parties may be involved for advice and management of your complaint or grievance. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of any appeals within the College, you may speak to the following independent external parties:

Overseas Students Ombudsman (International Students)

Website: https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/.

NSW Fair Trading (Domestic and International Students, service-related matters only)

Website: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/.

National Training Complaints Hotline by either completing their complaints form or calling the enquiry line on 13 38 73.

Legislative and Regulatory Requirements

The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Legislative Framework

The ESOS laws are in place to protect the interests of international students. These laws include the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and the ESOS National Code

These laws provide international students with tuition and financial assurance as well as a nationally consistent approach to the approval of providers on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

For more information on the ESOS Framework and the protection it offers to international students, please visit https://internationaleducation.gov.au.

Work Health & Safety

The Charter guarantees to meet its duty of care to staff, students and visitors by providing a healthy and safe environment in which to work and study. As part of its guarantee, Charter is continually making improvements and establishing systems to ensure its employees and students are provided with a safe working environment. Any possible hazards from equipment and facilities are to be reported to the CEO on 0428 133 302. It is expected that students and employees of Charter will conduct themselves in a safe and healthy manner and will at all times ensure that they prevent others from incurring any injury, damage or disease.

In case of fire, students are to make their way to the nearest exit and meet outside and clear the building for roll call.

The Charter acknowledges the health risks associated with smoking. Accordingly, smoking is strictly prohibited within the premises of the College. If students wish to smoke, they must leave the premises and ensure that they are at least 5 metres away from any doorway into the College. Students and employees of Charter share the responsibility of making this ban known to fellow students and employees.

A first aid kit is located in the Reception area of the College.

Discrimination and Harassment

Charter prides itself on being a tolerant, nurturing and welcoming environment for its students. Any acts of discrimination or harassment in any manner will not be tolerated and may be subject to penalties and sanctions. The Charter has a framework of policies in place to address such issues. For more information, refer to the Code of Conduct, Anti-discrimination Policy and Harassment Policy on Charter’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Students who wish to discuss a concern with respect to such matters should consult the Student Support Officer.

Copyright

The College, its employees and its students are to abide by the provisions of the Copyright Act at all times. Charter currently holds an Educational (Statutory) License set out under the Copyright Act 1968, allowing the College to copy and share print and graphic works for educational purposes only. Please refer to the Copyright Guidelines for further information published on Charter’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/policies.

Privacy

Charter Australia's Privacy Policy

Charter Australia appreciates that privacy is very important to you and recognises your right to expect that your personal information will be kept confidential and held securely and privately. The Charter ensures that its obligations under the Privacy Act and the National Privacy Principles, which aim to protect your personally identifiable information, are complied with.

When enrolling into a course of study, Charter Australia will collect personal information such as name, address, contact details, date of birth, citizenship, educational history and prior academic results, work history (if required as a basis of admission), emergency contact details, and credit card details. Additional information may be collected during a course of study and dealings with Charter Australia.

Charter Australia may collect other personal information which may identify racial or ethnic origins (including proficiency in languages other than English), information about health or disability (where this is relevant to accommodating specific needs) and membership of professional or industry associations (where required as a basis of admission or for credit transfer/recognition of prior learning).

Charter Australia may collect government-related identifiers, such as a tax file number, passport number, student concession number and Unique Student Identifier (USI), which may be necessary to verify a person’s identity, to confirm eligibility for enrolment or to administer entitlement to financial assistance.

Charter Australia may collect personal information because it is required to do so by laws that require Charter Australia to report to Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies for planning, evaluative, administrative and funding purposes.

Communications with Charter Australia may be monitored (including emails and telephone) for security and dispute resolution purposes where it is lawful to do so.

Charter may use your personal information for the purposes disclosed at the time of collection or otherwise as set out in the College’s Privacy Policy. We will not use your personal information for any other purpose without first seeking your consent unless authorised or required by law.

Generally Charter will only use or disclose your personal information as follows:

• to provide the products, services or information requested from Charter, including providing you with products such as video workshops or training or providing you or others with services such as auditing and/or compliance programs for financial advisers;
• to register you for events, promotions or competitions;
• by disclosing it to third parties where we have retained those third parties to assist us in the delivery of products and services to students;
• To verify personal information details upon request from third parties, such as completion of courses, a request from a potential employer verifying a qualification and further enrolment into another institution;
• to assist us in making Charter websites, services and products more informative to you;
• for direct marketing of products or services and to keep you informed of new developments we believe may be of interest to you. If we contact you in this way without obtaining your prior consent, we will provide you with the opportunity to decline any further marketing communications;
• To comply with Charter Australia’s legal and regulatory obligations, including disclosure and reporting to Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies for planning, evaluative, administrative and funding purposes. This may include:

• • disclosure and reporting to Commonwealth and State government agencies (including State Training Authorities) for the purpose of administrating entitlements to financial assistance under Commonwealth and State government programs for supporting students, such as VET FEE-HELP
  • disclosure to government agencies responsible for administrating and regulating education and training providers in Australia, such Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS)

• to provide information to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER) - see the 'Privacy Notice for Students' section below for more information.

Charter has a legal obligation to disclose your personal information if it is required by law to do so. Information provided by International students to Charter may be made available to Commonwealth and State agencies and the Fund Manager of ESOS Assurance funds, pursuant to obligations under the ESOS Legislative Framework.

You can access your personal information held by Charter by contacting the Administration on (02) 9955 5881. We will provide you with access unless we are legally authorised to refuse your request. We reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee for providing such information. If you wish to change or remove any personal information, which is incomplete, inaccurate, or out of date, please contact the Administration team.

The information provided here is a summary of Charter Australia's Privacy Policy. For the full Privacy Policy, including further information about privacy and disclosure of information, refer to Charter Australia’s website https://www.charter.edu.au/study-with-us/policies/privacy-policy/.

Privacy Notice for Students

Under the Data Provision Requirements 2012, Charter Australia is required to collect personal information about you and to disclose that personal information to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER).

Your personal information (including the personal information contained on this enrolment form), may be used or disclosed by Charter Australia for statistical, administrative, regulatory and research purposes. Charter Australia may disclose your personal information for these purposes to:

• Commonwealth and State or Territory government departments and authorised agencies; and
• NCVER.

Personal information that has been disclosed to NCVER may be used or disclosed by NCVER for the following purposes:

• populating authenticated VET transcripts;
• facilitating statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage;
• pre-populating RTO student enrolment forms;
• understanding how the VET market operates for policy, workforce planning and consumer information; and
• administering VET, including program administration, regulation, monitoring and evaluation.

You may receive a student survey which may be administered by a government department or NCVER employee, agent or third-party contractor or other authorised agencies. Please note you may opt out of the survey at the time of being contacted.

NCVER will collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the National VET Data Policy and all NCVER policies and protocols (including those published on NCVER's website at www.ncver.edu.au).

For more information about NCVER's Privacy Policy go to https://www.ncver.edu.au/privacy.

Last updated on 7 September 2021