Course Requirements
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Students expressing an interest in a VET program facilitated by IMVC, will be required to adhere to the student code of conduct as outlined by each RTO.
Furthermore, additional course requirements set out by member schools must also be adhered to. It is important that parents and students take time to read the following course requirements before submitting an Expression of Interest.
- ABSENCES
Students are permitted two absences a Semester or four for the year. An additional two approved absences will be allowed for school camps, excursions etc. Where possible, students need to notify their VET Coordinators, trainers and/or workplace in advance.
- WORK REQUIREMENTS
All tasks as assigned by the trainer are to be completed by the due date. Students who fail to meet deadlines will be given a warning and a second submission date will be negotiated.
Students who fail to complete set tasks by the end of the Term may face withdrawal from the program.
- INFORMATION SESSION
Information sessions will be held for all first year or Units 1 & 2 VET programs early in Term 4. Dates will be published on the IMVC course site in late August. Students will receive a full course outline, have an opportunity to meet with the RTO and trainers.
- STUDENT ENROLMENT AND RTO POLICIES
Each VET provider has unique enrolment processes and student RTO policies. Students should be aware of their responsibilities regarding work requirements, student behaviour and course expectations. Failure to complete the correct enrolment processes may result in missing out on their VET Expression of Interest or being withdrawn by the individual VET provider.
- PROGRAM COSTS
All VET programs offered through the Clusters attract costs. Through the clustering arrangement, these costs are kept to a minimum where possible. Program costs will vary according to the purchase of training hours, the materials required by students to complete the program, uniforms, trade materials, books and equipment required. It should be noted that a student’s school determines costs and payment of costs. Please note once students have commenced the course, program costs cannot be refunded.
- WORK PLACEMENT
Structured Workplace Learning is a key feature of VET programs. All students are encouraged to complete a minimum of one week (40 hours) work placement in a related industry. It is the responsibility of the student and the schools to ensure that all paperwork associated with structured work placements are completed and returned promptly to the relevant parties.
- REPORTS
All students undertaking a Cluster facilitated VET program will receive official written progress reports. These reports are issued by the respective RTOs for each program and supplied to the student’s school. These reports will include information on completed competencies, student learning, attendance, behaviour and general comments.
Parents will receive a copy of these reports in Terms 1, 3 and 4. A Statement of Attainment or Certificate will be sent directly to the students’ schools at the completion of the course or posted to the student’s home. It should be noted that a Statement of Attainment or Certificate might not be sent until the following year, in accordance with graduation processes from the various RTOs.
VET programs with a study score or increment will have their results appear as part of their Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) Study Scores. ATAR contributions are calculated at the Year 12 level only by VTAC through the normal channels.
- STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
Over 1600 students undertake VET programs facilitated by the Clusters each year. To ensure the success, continuity and availability of VET programs to all students, it is imperative that students abide by the trainer’s rules and the rules of the Host School or RTO whenever they are on site. This includes meeting occupational health and safety requirements in and out of the classroom.
- ‘CATCH UP’ CLASSES
Where necessary, students may be required to attend ‘catch up’ classes after school, during the school holidays or on the weekend. The student and/or parent will be required to cover additional costs related to these classes should they be applied by the RTO.
- ABSENCE FROM SECOND YEAR VET PROGRAMS WITH SCORED ASSESSMENT
Second year students who are absent from class on a day when an assessed task is held, should:
- Contact their VET Coordinator at school and their VET Trainer by 9am
- Provide a detailed parental note immediately upon return to school. A copy should be given to the VET Coordinator by 9am and a copy should be emailed to the VET Trainer
The VET Trainer in conjunction with the student’s VET Coordinator will determine whether the absence is excused and whether rescheduling the missed task will be allowed. Students who fail to report to their VET Coordinators by 9am on their first day back at school will not have their assessment task rescheduled.
- BLOCK CREDIT RECOGNITION
Students may be eligible for credit towards the VCE/VCAL/VCE Vocational Major if they have completed, or are completing, training in a nationally recognised VET qualification that is not included in the suite of approved VCE VET programs. This credit is referred to as Block Credit Recognition.
How is block credit determined
Credit is based on achieving units of competency. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level of the relevant qualification determines the level of credit.
The award of credits towards the VCE are:
- Certificate I qualifications do not provide any credit into the VCE
- Certificate II qualifications provide credit at VCE units 1 and 2 level only. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 1, 2, 1 and 2 up to a maximum of six VCE units.
- Certificate III qualifications provide credit at VCE units 1 to 4 level. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 1, 2, 3, 4, 3 and 4 up to a maximum of six VCE units.
- Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications that are pre-approved by the VCAA provide credit at VCE units 3 and 4 level. Each completed 90 nominal hours of training provides one VCE unit of credit. Credit accrues in the following sequence: units 3, 4, 3 and 4 up to a maximum of four units.
Students who aggregate results from more than one VET qualification may be eligible for credit for all of their training if they have completed enough hours.
Duplication issues with other studies or VCE VET programs are taken into account when awarding credit.
Determining credit towards VCAL, the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) and VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM):
- 90 nominal hours of completed units of competency from a Certificate I qualification provide one credit towards Victorian Pathways Certificate.
- 90 nominal hours of completed units of competency from a Certificate II qualification or higher provide one credit towards the Intermediate VCAL (continuing Year 12 students)/VCE Vocational Major.
- Duplication issues with other studies or VCE VET programs are taken into account when awarding credit
- WITHDRAWAL FROM A PROGRAM
Cluster programs are successful because students are able to access programs offered by member schools and strong relationships with RTOs. It should be noted by students and parents that failure to abide by the above course requirements may result in a student being withdrawn from a program at full cost to parents.
- RTO CODE OF CONDUCT
The purpose of the RTO Code of Conduct is to:
- Provide school communities with a clear statement of the standards which RTOs are expected to adopt and deliver
- Enable training providers to understand the code of conduct expected of them
RTOs have been selected to work alongside member schools based on their current registration with VRQA or ASQA. It is the responsibility of RTOs to adhere to existing regulations and standards in place to govern training providers. Cluster Members and IMVC’s brokerage role do not represent or exempt the RTO from their responsibilities to AQTF or SNR.
RTO Obligations
- Commitment to excellence in service delivery and maximising student outcomes
- The RTO will adopt policies and management practices which will maintain high professional standards in the delivery of education and training services
- The RTO will issue partnership agreements/contracts outlining roles and responsibilities of each partner, delivery arrangements, timeline of agreed deliverables, communication protocols, grievance procedures and agreed costs and invoicing arrangements
- The RTO will comply with all laws regarding the operation of the training venues and will ensure that facilities and equipment are adequate for the programs being delivered
- The RTO will have the capacity to deliver the programs for which it has been registered and use methods and material appropriate to the learning needs of trainees
- The RTO will monitor and assess the performance and progress of its trainees. This will include providing UoCs and VCAA Assessment Plans, completing weekly IMVC online attendance records, interim/end of Semester reports, communicating Units 3 & 4 indicative grades, communicating ‘at risk’ students and VASS results in a timely manner
- The RTO will comply with the all the relevant guidelines in regard to the delivery and assessment of programs
- The RTO will supply accurate relevant and up-to-date information to prospective trainees and will market its programs with integrity and accuracy. This will include reviewing IMVC VET course guide details and attending annual IMVC Information sessions for parents and students
- Participants will be provided with all appropriate information including course details, assessment requirements and all relevant policies and procedures. This includes formally enrolling and inducting students
- All trainers and assessors are qualified
- All trainers and assessors are sensitive to the needs of course participants
- The RTO will issue Qualifications/Certifications in a timely fashion
- The RTO will continually monitor and improve their performance by collecting and acting upon information gathered, including evaluation, learner feedback and self-assessment
- RTO GRIEVANCE POLICIES
Complaints and appeals policies and procedures for each RTO offering a course in the booklet can be located at the following web links:
For further information on RTO grievance policies please contact the specific RTO.
- Unique Student Identifier (USI)
The aim of the Unique Student Identifier (USI) is to:
- Help build a national system for the storage of information and enable VET records to be linked
- Make it easier for students to access their VET achievement across multiple providers in the one transcript
- Seamlessly provide a single consolidate ‘outcome level’ transcript for all VET study
- Enable students to also easily access secure digital transcripts of their achievements
- Ensure VET records are not lost (i.e. particularly where an RTO closes)
- Assist development of transparency in the VET sector
Students studying VET programs will not be able to receive a Statement of Attainment or their Qualification until they have a valid USI.
How do students obtain a USI?
To obtain a USI, students can either apply themselves online, or can provide sufficient identity documentation at enrolment to enable the Institute to apply on their behalf.
The online USI system is available for students to apply for their USI electronically, at http://usi.gov.au/.
A brief USI student video on how to apply is available on the USI site at: http://usi.gov.au/Students/Pages/default.aspx. The application steps are very simple, with basic student information being required, along with details of one identity document needing to be recorded. Part of applying is obtaining a USI Student Account that then will enable a student to view their VET outcomes achieved regardless of provider, in the future.
A USI is then allocated on the spot on screen, and is also emailed to students instantly. The application process takes just a couple of minutes providing the student has their identity proof at hand. Valid acceptable identity proof includes:
- Driver’s License
- Medicare Card
- Australian Passport
- Visa (with Non-Australian Passport)
- Birth Certificate (Australian) *please note a Birth Certificate extract is not sufficient
- Certificate of Registration by Descent
- Citizenship Certificate
- ImmiCard
Please note, RTOs have the right to reject an Expressions of Interest if a USI is not supplied on the form.
- DELIVERY
All VET programs listed in this course guide are delivered face to face unless stipulated otherwise.
- COURSE CHANGES
Please note all course details and delivery arrangements contained in this course guide are subject to change. All final course and delivery arrangements will be confirmed at the information sessions. All programs require minimum student numbers to proceed. For further information on VET programs, please refer to the VCAA website: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vet
RTOs, qualifications and course structures published in this course guide were correct at time of publication (July 2022). Please check the VCAA or IMVC course guide sites for updates.