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ACFA Student Handbook

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STUDENT HANDBOOK Version 2.2 Contact Us Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) RTO Code - 90432 PO Box 157 GOSFORD NSW 2250 Australia Phone: 1300 342 248 or (02) 43 40 2000 Email: [email protected] Web: www.acfa.net.au

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ACFA Student Handbook 2 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA ACFA Student Handbook Welcome to Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) Thank you for choosing Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) as your training provider and allowing us to play a role in your learning journey. We pride ourselves on professional, flexible learning and providing you with the best experience possible to attain your learning goals. We hope you are looking forward to your learning and growing your skills and experience in your chosen field. We are here to help you make the most of your learning. Good luck. I look forward to hearing of your achievements and providing support where I can. I trust you will enjoy your time with us and wish you every success in your learning. CEO, Dean Brakell.

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ACFA Student Handbook 3 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1 INTRODUCTION 5 Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) – RTO Code 90432 5 Service Commitment 6 Consumer Protection 6 Change of terms and conditions 6 Training Programs 6 Traineeships 7 Apprenticeships 7 Recognition Programs 7 Tailored Workplace Training Programs 7 Qualifications 8 Enrolment 8 Regional NSW 8 Unique Student Identifier 9 Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) 9 Special Needs 10 Section 2 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 11 Assessment 11 Unsatisfactory Training Progression 12 Attendance 14 Behaviour 14 Breaks 15 Change of personal details 15 Disciplinary Processes 15 Dress & Hygiene Requirements 16 Duty of Care 16 Evaluation and Feedback 16 Learning Materials 16 Learner Support services 17 Making the Most of your Training 19 Mobile Phones 19 Security 19 Section 3 COURSE INFORMATION 20 Course Requirement 20 Accredited Training Programs 20 Competency 20 Evidence 21 Assessment 21 Principles of Assessment 22 Rules of Evidence and Assessment 23 Course Assessment 24 Presentation of Assessments / Assignments 24 Assessment results 24 Reasonable adjustments 24 Extensions for Assessment 25

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ACFA Student Handbook 4 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Certificates 25 Types of Certification 25 Course Delivery 26 Flexible Delivery 26 Recognition 27 Recognition Process 27 Recognition Decision 28 Credit Transfer / Mutual Recognition 28 Trainer and Assessors 29 Section 4 POLICIES 30 Access and Equity 30 Appeals 30 Student Records 30 Complaints 30 Course Fees 31 Flexible payment options 31 Paper based learning guides 31 Outstanding Learner Fees 31 Cancellation & Transfers 31 Enrolment cancellation / withdrawal / deferral / amendment 31 Student Transfers 31 RTO Cancellation of courses 31 Treatment of Records on Ceasing Operation 31 Equal Opportunity 32 Rights and Responsibilities 32 Complaints 33 Privacy 33 Refund Policy 34 Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) 34 Duty of Care 34 ACFA Management: 35 Staff, contractors, students and visitors: 35 Accidents, Injuries and Near Misses 35 Investigating incidents and accidents 35 Legislations and Standards 36

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ACFA Student Handbook 5 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Section 1 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with a quick reference about training programs, policies and processes, roles and responsibilities guiding you through your learning experience with ACFA. Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) – RTO Code 90432 Thank you for considering training with ACFA. ACFA (RTO Code – 90432) is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). ACFA aims to deliver high quality, innovative and engaging training that is relevant to students, employers and industry. Our commitment to continuous improvement means we are constantly developing and improving new resources, processes and facilitation methods to remain ahead in technology and industry standards. We strive for excellence in Vocational Education & Training and aspire to actively encourage our new apprentices / trainees to exceed industry expectations so they can reach outstanding success, showcasing the many skills of their chosen industry craft. With over twenty years of experience providing training and support to the industry and an established and integrated network of support services our training programs ensure that you are: ● trained and competent ● up to date with current industry trends and technologies ● familiar with your business and its operations. Traineeships and apprenticeships are available throughout NSW (Funded) and ACT, Victoria and Queensland (Fee-for-service) through ACFA and can be tailored to meet our client’s individual needs, making it relevant for their workplace and business requirements. We take a holistic approach to our training by developing individualised training programs that meet the needs of the workplace and the requirements of accredited training. In line with that ACFA: ● develops training plans that best reflects our client’s business ● uses client machinery and methods to produce our clients’ desired product ● offers flexible scheduling of training and assessment visits ● conducts skills development incorporating current industry trends and trade practices ● conducts one-on-one contact with the apprentice and a direct supervisor ● uses real work projects and workplace assessments ● implements recognition of current skills, knowledge and work experience. ACFA ensures that apprentices and trainees and/or employers: ● get one-on-one contact with an ACFA trainer / assessor ● receive real time updates on how apprentices are progressing ● considers the learner and employer’s input in their ongoing training and development. ACFA’s Postal address and head office is located: Postal Address Head Office PO Box 157 Unit 1-2 Sailfind Place Gosford NSW 2250 Somersby NSW 2250

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ACFA Student Handbook 6 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Phone: 1300 342 248 or 02 4340 2000 Service Commitment ACFA is committed to providing quality training and assessment services to its learners. We aim to: Provide training and assessment services that meet industry needs and trends. ● Deliver high quality, innovative and engaging training. ● Maintain a person-centred approach. ● Foster relationships with our students, supporting them through their career. ● Provide flexible learning opportunities. ● Provide a supportive, facilitative and open learning environment. ● Ensure all training is delivered by qualified trainers and assessors with the necessary skills and experience. ● Ensure all training is continually monitored and improved. ● Maintain a healthy and effective learning environment for students. ● Produce competent and confident workers that benefit the community and industry. ACFA DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OFFER ANY INCENTIVES OR GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT ON COMPLETION OF TRAINING. Consumer Protection ACFA maintains compliance with the national Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and associated Australian Consumer Law requirements as specified in the Act and in various state legislation across Australia. The Australian Consumer Law Protects students and ensures fair trading in Australia. For full details see our Consumer Protection Policy. Change of terms and conditions ACFA reserves the right to amend the conditions of the participant’s enrolment at any time. If amendments are made that affect the participant’s enrolment the participant will be informed 7 days prior to changes taking effect. Participants then have 21 days to submit an appeal from the date they were informed of the decision. Further information about appealing a decision is contained in the Appeals Policy. Training Programs ACFA delivers a range of training programs, both accredited and non-accredited, which we conduct as public courses or customised for students and industry. Our holistic approach ensures students’ needs are met. Accredited programs have been approved by State and /or Commonwealth Government. ACFA has been servicing NSW and ACT with excellent results since 1997. This is demonstrated through consistent positive feedback received from companies within the industry, reinforcing the effectiveness of

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ACFA Student Handbook 7 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA ACFA workplace training and assessment delivery. With a variety of training programs available, clients can select a program that specifically meets their workplace or personal requirements. Types of training on offer include: Traineeships Traineeships provide the training requirements for people commencing work in their chosen industry or existing employees wishing to have their skills recognised. Trainees are trained on the job by their employer, with flexible study arrangements that make Traineeships a cost-effective and flexible training method tailored to suit individual industry needs. Apprenticeships Starting an apprenticeship is an effective and exciting way to enter the furnishing and furniture related industries. Apprenticeships offer a practical approach to training. As an apprentice, you receive payment as an employee while being trained by qualified industry and training/teaching professionals. Apprenticeships are available to both: ● New workers entering the workforce seeking a trade qualification (including junior employees) ● Adult workers who have no formal industry qualification, but who have several years of industry work experience Recognition Programs Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programs are available to people currently working in the industry that have not had their skills, knowledge and experience formally recognised. RPL is an assessment process that provides candidates with credit for skills, knowledge and experience gained through working and learning. It can be gained at any stage of their lives, through formal, non-formal and informal learning, in Australia or overseas, through work activities. It has all the same requirements as other types of assessment. It involves collecting evidence and making judgements on whether competence has been achieved. Evidence can be collected through: ● Resumes/CV ● Work Examples ● Observations ● Questioning ● Logbooks ● Competency conversations ● Examination of past work history ● Formal Trade Tests / licences ● Workplace Photos/Videos ● References/Letters from employers Tailored Workplace Training Programs For businesses looking to develop their workforce and enhance current business practices, ACFA can develop individually tailored business training and development programs focussing on these key areas. Programs can be both part of accredited and non-accredited training dependant on the requirements of

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ACFA Student Handbook 8 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA your workplace. For more information on how we can assist your business, contact our office on (02) 4340 2000 or 1300 342 248 or email [email protected] Qualifications Below are the qualifications we currently offer through our various training programs. Certificate II programs ● MSF20313 Certificate II in Furniture Making Certificate III programs ● MSF31113 Certificate III in Cabinet making - Kitchens and Bathrooms ● MSF31113 Certificate III in Cabinet making - Furniture ● MSF31113 Certificate III in Cabinet making - Generic ● MSF30213 Certificate III in Furniture Making Enrolment To enrol in a training program your employer will need to contact their local Apprenticeship centre to organise a visit to come out and sign you (the student) up. They will then pass the contract on to us (ACFA) so we can start the enrolment process. Student Induction Sydney Area Once the contract is received from the Apprenticeship centre, a visit will be scheduled with the Student Liaison Officer (SLO) to complete enrolment forms, Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Assessment and discuss commencement of training. Regional NSW Once a contract is received from the Apprenticeship centre, enrolment information will be sent out to both student and employer to complete. A Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment will be sent to student to be completed at the workplace under supervision. Once all enrolment paperwork has been received, please allow approximately ten (10) business days for processing. Your trainer will be in contact with you within two (2) weeks of the completion of the enrolment process to schedule a visit to your workplace to commence training. Once training has commenced, the training and assessment resources necessary to complete the selected course will be available in the online portal (ACFA Coassemble and Cloud Assess) profile specific to each student. This online learning environment allows students to submit their Assessment Workbooks and Portfolios / Projects on completion ready for assessment by their ACFA Assessor. Each student’s online profile may only be accessed through personalised logins, which you will receive before commencement of training. Learners may request hard copies of learning guides and assessment workbooks for a fee of $200 per year. An invoice will be created for the printed resources, and once paid, the printed resources will be sent to students prior to assessment visits.

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ACFA Student Handbook 9 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Unique Student Identifier An initiative of the Australian Government is the requirement for all students of Vocational Education and Training to supply a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number to their VET provider. Students will be assisted by ACFA to apply for and supply their USI (if required). ACFA has a registered facility to verify each USI before issuance of any certification. All students should be aware that neither ACFA nor any other VET provider can issue a certificate for a VET qualification without being supplied a student’s USI. Exemptions to the USI requirements may apply, even for international students studying within Australia or overseas. For any student exempt from supplying a USI, completion results and records will not be available through the Commonwealth Registrar. Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) ACFA makes appropriate concessions for language, literacy, and numeracy issues of students where these concessions do not compromise the requirements of the relevant Training Package and the validity, flexibility, reliability and fairness of assessment. Prior to enrolment, ACFA will request participants undertake a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment as per the Australian Core Skills Foundations (ACSF) requirements. The assessment identifies participant’s core skills in Reading, Writing and Numeracy to assist with targeting areas of learning that may require additional learner support and, in some cases, participants who are unable to reach the benchmark required to undertake a course at the level in which they are seeking enrolment. The initial assessment is completed online through LLN Robot. Participants will be assessed to ACSF Level 3. Participants requiring enrolment in a Certificate III qualification will require a minimum outcome of Level 2 in each core skill. Participants requiring enrolment in a Certificate II qualification will require a minimum outcome of Level 1 in each core skill. If the benchmark is not achieved in the LLN Robot assessment, an additional paper-based assessment will be provided to the participant to complete. Along with an informal discussion, ACFA representative can determine eligibility and learner support requirements. If ineligible to enrol in the level in which seeking enrolment, a lower level enrolment will be recommended. ACFA will ensure that if reasonable adjustment is applied it will not impact the integrity of the training package requirements. ACFA provides materials, resources and assessment tasks at a level of complexity required and also provides opportunities for repeated and supported practice. Reading Writing Hotline Individuals who want to get help with their literacy and numeracy can access information about the nearest LLN provider by calling the Reading Writing Hotline on 1300 655 506. You can call the Hotline at any time. If a teacher is unavailable to take your call, your name and number will be taken by the hotline paging service and your call will be returned. The Reading Writing Hotline is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. The project is managed by TAFE NSW - Access and General Education Curriculum Centre and is Australia's national telephone adult literacy and numeracy referral service. For the price of a local call from anywhere in Australia, the Hotline can provide you with advice as well as a referral to one of 1200 providers of courses in adult literacy and numeracy.

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ACFA Student Handbook 10 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA For more information about the Reading Writing Hotline, please visit http://www.readingwritinghotline.edu.au/ Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) The Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) is a national forum that promotes adult literacy. It provides information on adult literacy and numeracy practices, including information on current policies and services that may affect adult literacy and numeracy. It also provides a forum for debates on adult literacy issues and supports research on adult literacy. For general assistance regarding adult literacy and numeracy, please call (03) 9546 6892, or visit https://acal.edu.au/ Special Needs Students intending to enrol for training with the ACFA are requested to advise us if they have any physical or other impairment (e.g., English language, literacy or numeracy difficulties, dyslexia, etc.) which may adversely affect their ability to successfully undertake training and assessment, prior to enrolment. Students with disabilities or impairments are encouraged to discuss with the Student Liaison Officer (SLO) and/or Trainer/Assessor any ‘special needs’ and/or ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the study environment which they consider are necessary or would assist them in the performance of their studies. The Training Manager, in collaboration with the student, will assess the potential for the student to successfully complete the training which may include flexible delivery options to optimise the ease and benefit of the student’s learning.

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ACFA Student Handbook 11 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Section 2 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACFA conducts training courses to suit individual student needs, course type, and learning styles. The following student etiquette guidelines will help foster a healthy learning environment for all students. Assessment All assessments must be submitted by the due date. If you encounter difficulty in completing an assessment, you should discuss it with your trainer/assessor well in advance of the due date. This way the trainer/assessor may be able to offer support or grant additional time. Please note that there may be conditions or penalties to getting a request for an extension approved. Assessment malpractice Assessment malpractice includes cheating, collusion, and plagiarism. ACFA regards the integrity of assessment as critical to its professional responsibilities as an RTO and therefore strives to ensure the assessment processes are not compromised. ACFA has policies and procedures in place for dealing with assessment malpractice. ● Cheating - All assessments must be 100% your own work. The use and/or submission of another person’s work as if it were your own is cheating and will not be tolerated. ● Collusion - Collusion is the presentation of work, which is the result in whole or in part of unauthorised collaboration with another person or persons. It is your responsibility to ensure that other students do not have an opportunity to copy your work. ● Plagiarism - Copying from a published work (including the internet), without properly referencing the source material, will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to: o presenting work which has been copied in whole or in part from another person’s work or from any other source such as the Internet, published books, and periodicals o systematically re-wording or changing key nouns and verbs. To avoid plagiarism, a student must be careful to cite all referenced content in his/her work. o Always cite other people’s work properly. You may quote from someone else's work (for example, from websites, textbooks, journals or other published materials) but you must always indicate the author and source of your referenced material. o Always cite your sources. You should name sources for any graphs, tables, other representation of data, and/or any kind of primary data that may be included in anything you submit. o You must not copy someone else's work and present it as your own. o You must not falsify assessment evidence.

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ACFA Student Handbook 12 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Unsatisfactory Training Progression ACFA are passionate about providing quality training and assessment to our learners (apprentices) by continuing to improve our delivery, processes and procedures. Along with supporting our learners’ progress for completion of their qualification within their contract term, ACFA must ensure all stakeholders within the contract abide by their responsibilities within legislation under the NSW Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001. Therefore, it is essential the training plan, which all stakeholders have read and signed, be followed and units completed by their assigned end dates. This is to ensure the contract end date is not at risk or compromised. ACFA are committed to providing ongoing support to our learners to ensure satisfactory progress throughout their training contract. An apprenticeship is adult-based learning therefore it is the apprentice’s responsibility to contact their trainer and assessor if they feel that they are struggling and/or are concerned about meeting their assessment due date. If a learner does not complete their training prior to the contract end date, there may be commercial fees applied if non completion is due to the non-compliance of structured training in the workplace. To ensure training is kept on track, the following disciplinary process regarding incomplete unit of competencies will be implemented as of the 1st of October 2020. Incomplete Units of competency by due dates: ● First occurrence - If the learner has not completed assigned units by their due date, the ACFA trainer/assessor will discuss with both the learner and employer to determine the reason of non-completion. If there is not a valid reason for non-completion, both will be verbally advised that the units must be completed at the next visit or further disciplinary action will take place. ● Second occurrence – if the learner has yet to complete the assigned units by their due date, ACFA will issue a first warning letter to the learner and employer as a reminder of their training contract obligations. ● Third occurrence - if the assigned units have yet to been completed, ACFA Head Office will issue a second warning letter. In turn, this will trigger a ‘notification of issue’ to Training Services NSW. This will result in a Not Yet Competent result in the Unit of Competency. Additional fees will apply to repeat units. See fees below. [1] RTOs are required to notify Training Services NSW of any matter that may affect the successful completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship for which they are the nominated RTO Repeat an assessment or unit of competency If a learner is unable to complete a Unit of Competency that is required to achieve the qualification, the learner has the option to: ● Repeat the assessment or ● Repeat Unit of Competency (full)

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ACFA Student Handbook 13 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Repeat assessment/s process Learners will be provided three (3) attempts to complete their assessments tasks. If a learner is unable to complete their assessment/s or is deemed ‘Not Yet Satisfactory’ in the assessment after one (1) attempt and two (2) re-submissions, the learner will be required to repeat the assessment/s at an additional fee (refer to the fee scale below). Upon receipt of the additional fee, the learner will be provided an additional one (1) attempt to complete the assessment/s. If the learner is deemed ‘Not Yet Competent after submitting the additional attempt, the learner will be offered to repeat the Unit of Competency (full) at an additional fee. Repeat Unit of Competency (full) If a learner receives a ‘Not Yet Competent’ on two (2) occasions, the learner will be offered to repeat the Unit of Competency (full) at an additional fee Fee scale - Repeat assessments or Unit of Competency Repeat type Definition Student Fee Repeating an assessment This includes: ● Written assessment modules ● Competency Conversations ● Workplace Observations This fee is applicable for assessment only, where no additional training is required to be delivered. $120 per assessment Repeat enrolment for full Unit of Competency (Training and assessment) This fee is applicable where the full unit of competency is required to be trained and assessed. $500 Per Unit of Competency Non-completion by end of training contract Training and Assessment provided to an apprentice is funded by the NSW government under a training contract. If an apprentice has not completed his/her qualification by the contract end date, the funding may cease. ACFA will apply for an extension to Training Services NSW to allow funding to continue, however ACFA cannot guarantee the extension will be granted. If an apprentice’s contract has ceased and an extension is not granted, commercial fees will apply if the apprentice chooses to continue their training to achieve the full qualification (see fees below). Amount of unit remaining to be delivered Student Fee Up to 6 units of competency $500 per unit In excess of 6 units of competency ACFA Head office to review on a case by case basis.

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ACFA Student Handbook 14 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Attendance As part of the apprenticeship-training contract, you are required to complete a minimum of 3 hours of training in your workplace each week for the purpose of undertaking formal training, learning, and assessment activities. Your Trainer / Assessor will identify key areas in your assessment results that will require further training. This will then need to be documented and signed off as completed on your Workplace Logbooks, along with other relevant tasks that you are required to undertake as part of your role. Adherence to scheduled training is paramount to successful completion of learning and assessment outcomes. Students are expected to attend for all scheduled training sessions. It is expected that students be present and remain for the full duration of each scheduled training visit. All training and assessment sessions are designed to provide students the essential knowledge and skills required for relevant units of competency. It is expected, however, that students undertake additional reading and research if advised by your trainer/assessor in agreeance with your employer. If you are absent from a training session, it is your responsibility to catch up on any work you have missed. If you are going to be absent from a training session, assessment visit or activity, please advise your trainer/assessor or ACFA administration personnel as early as possible. Other arrangements will be made to ensure you are kept up to date with your training. Punctuality As a courtesy to other learners and the trainer/assessor, all students must be punctual on scheduled training sessions. Punctuality shows respect and is essential to avoid disruption of other students and the trainer/assessor. Behaviour Students are expected to always behave appropriately in a mature and professional manner. All students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour during training and assessment. Misconduct will not be tolerated. Misconduct includes: ● Any offensive conduct or unlawful activity (e.g. theft, fraud, violence, assault). ● Interfering with another person’s property. ● Removing, damaging or mistreating ACFA property or equipment. ● Cheating/plagiarism ● Interfering with another person’s ability to learn through disruptions during training. ● Breach of confidentiality. ● Inappropriate language. ● Serious negligence, including WHS non-compliance. ● Discrimination, harassment, intimidation or victimisation. ● Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol and being unfit to participate in learning activities.

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ACFA Student Handbook 15 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Respect for others It is expected that the behaviour of all persons in the learning environment ensure a positive learning experience. Respect for other students and the trainer/assessor is expected. ACFA retains the right at all times to remove disruptive students from the training environment. ● You will be expected to treat staff and fellow students with respect and observe any student etiquette requirements which appear in this handbook or requested during the course by a trainer/assessor. ● Inappropriate language and actions will not be tolerated. ● Harassment, bullying and intimidation of staff or fellow learners will not be tolerated. ● Treat facilities and equipment with due care and respect. ● You are required to respect the rights of others and treat others in a manner that is fair and non-discriminatory. Breaks Workplace Based Learning Your trainer and/or employer will advise of timing for all breaks. This would usually conform to the workplace’s daily break schedule. Classroom Based Learning Your trainer will advise of timing for all breaks. Typically the following break times have been allocated, though they may vary: ● 15 minutes duration for - Morning and afternoon tea breaks ● 45 minutes duration for - Lunch breaks Change of personal details Students are required to ensure their personal details recorded with ACFA are always up to date. Should your circumstances or details change please contact ACFA Administration by emailing ACFA at [email protected] or request access to Personal Details Form on Cloud Assess. Disciplinary Processes ACFA may implement student discipline processes should a student be found to be acting inappropriately, due to misconduct or assessment malpractice. Any breaches of discipline will result in the person being given a ‘verbal warning’. For students undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships the discipline process undertaken will be in agreeance with the employer at all times. If matters are not resolved at the RTO and employer level, the matter will then be referred to the relevant state training authority to intervene. Further disciplinary processes may include: ● The student being asked to justify why they should continue to participate in training. ● Involving the State Training Authority to intervene and resolve issue. This may include mediation, warnings, suspension or cancellation of training.

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ACFA Student Handbook 16 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Dress & Hygiene Requirements Students are to be well presented and appropriately dressed during all training. Dress requirements include: ● Appropriate work attire, including personal protective clothing (PPE) for training in workplace or simulated environments ● Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times Since you will be working in close proximity with others, care with your personal hygiene (clothing, hair, deodorant, etc.) is requested. Duty of Care Under Workplace Health and Safety Legislation, students have a duty of care to maintain a safe environment for both themselves and their fellow students and employees. ● Should you be involved in an accident which results in personal injury and/or damage to equipment or facilities, notify your trainer/assessor immediately. ● If you have a prior health condition that may become critical while attending training, please advise us before commencing the course. All information will be treated in strict confidence and is only needed so ACFA can provide support or treatment should an emergency arise. ● Emergency procedures and exit plans must be followed. You have a duty to: ● Protect your own health and safety and to avoid adversely affecting the health and safety of any other person ● Not wilfully or recklessly interfere or misuse anything provided by ACFA in the interests of health, safety and welfare ● Cooperate with health and safety directives given by staff of ACFA ● Ensure that you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol Evaluation and Feedback ACFA values all feedback from students as it assists us to continuously improve the products and services we offer. Students are encouraged to provide us with feedback, both positive and constructive. ACFA has developed the Opportunity for Improvement Form, which you may use to provide us feedback. You may access it through this link Opportunity for Improvement Form Thank you in advance for your comments. Learning Materials

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ACFA Student Handbook 17 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Students receive a copy of training and /or assessment materials online as part of the course fee. Hard copy training and assessment materials are available at a cost of $200 per year. Should you lose or misplace the materials you are provided, additional fees for replacement of materials may be incurred. Learner Support services ACFA understands that there may be times when personal issues may affect your ability to undertake your training. ACFA has identified a number of support services for students who have special needs or require additional support and assistance to undertake or complete their learning. For more information on learner support please review ACFA’s Additional Support Policy Category Support Understanding of course expectations ◻ providing clear information on cost of course and additional expenses ◻ providing information on personal equipment required or providing the equipment ◻ offering RPL ◻ providing workplace information ◻ providing attendance & participation information Cultural support ◻ People from all social and cultural backgrounds will be equally treated and due respect will be given to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Disability support ◻ Offering students with a recognised disability the necessary support services to meet their individual needs physically and academically through reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act Education Standards; ◻ Development of individual access plan. (if required) Personal issues/Family Support ◻ Flexibility to accommodate personal barriers; ◻ Identified staff member who can provide referral to support agencies; ◻ Referral arrangements for LSS ◻ Offering student support when they are dealing with family issues. Further study or employment transitions ◻ Assistance with acclimatising to formal study environment/course expectations; ◻ Assistance with obtaining vocational placements; ◻ Liaison with employment services provider Information Technology (IT) support ◻ For some courses students are provided with access to online materials through an online Learning Management System (LMS) (Coassemble & Cloud Assess) these students are provided with materials which support students to access these resources; ◻ Providing the support to assist students in applying IT skills relevant to the training program by the RTO internal IT staff or qualified/experienced trainers. Language, Literacy & Numeracy (LLN) support ◻ Identified by the student conducting an LLN online assessment during the enrolment process where students are assessed against the ACSF levels for the qualification they are studying. Mentoring/Coaching ◻ Assisting students by offering a structured mentoring or coaching program by highly qualified trainers or other RTO staff. Professional Counselling ◻ Referring students to professional external counselling services. Study support ◻ Students provided with guidance and resources to assist and guide them during self-based study.

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ACFA Student Handbook 18 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Work-based training support ◻ Offering support when a student is undertaking workplace learning and assessment. Financial Support ◻ Flexible payment arrangements/ options will accommodate individual circumstances. Delivery methodologies ◻ Varying teaching and learning methodologies; flexible assessment options to accommodate personal barriers. Learning support ◻ Support to assist different learner styles by providing strategies such as additional time to complete the course and assessment, contextualised resources, additional activities to assist in understanding or facilitation/teaching approach. (See below table for more details on Learner Support). Learner difficulty Reasonable adjustments Maintaining concentration ◻ additional time ◻ access to a scribe ◻ split sessions ◻ separate assessment venue Expressing knowledge in writing ◻ additional time ◻ access to a scribe ◻ multiple choice and short answer questions in preference to long answer questions ◻ models and practical examples ◻ oral assessment Spelling and/or grammar ◻ additional time ◻ access to a scribe ◻ oral assessment ◻ an audiotape or dictaphone ◻ a personal computer with spelling and grammar checkers, dictionaries, thesauruses ◻ special equipment ◻ multiple choice and short answer questions in preference to long answer questions ◻ models and practical examples for the learner to demonstrate what he/she means ◻ other assessment methods such as taped interviews, slide presentations, photographic essays or models Numbers and numerical concepts ◻ additional time ◻ allow using a calculator Understanding spoken information and instructions ◻ additional time ◻ rest breaks ◻ split sessions, on the same or successive days, to prevent the learner working for extended periods ◻ simple direct language ◻ instructions step-by-step ◻ repetition of information given ◻ asking the learner to repeat what she/he is required to do to check for understanding ◻ demonstrating what is required Communicating orally, for oral assessments ◻ additional time ◻ access to an interpreter ◻ a personal computer with voice synthesiser ◻ a reader of the learner’s work

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ACFA Student Handbook 19 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA English language ◻ additional time ◻ a dictionary and / or thesaurus ◻ a personal computer with spelling and grammar checker, dictionary and thesaurus ◻ a scribe or assistance with writing Making the Most of your Training It is very important to make the most of your training opportunity. Your trainer and assessor will advise you of what is expected of you and what deadlines you must meet. Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the expected due dates to ensure you keep on track of your training. To optimise your own learning and successful completion, it is suggested that you do the following: ● Attend all training sessions and complete all required reading and learning activities ● Prepare well in advance of each training session ● Be a willing participant ● Work with fellow learners and/or your trainer and assessor ● Respect other people’s opinions ● Ensure you have a clear understanding of the assessment requirements ● Take responsibility for the quality of evidence that you submit to the Assessor ● Keep track of your progress ● Complete and submit all assessment on time, tasks using clear and concise language ● Be willing to contact your trainer/assessor if you do not understand the training activity or assessment task. Mobile Phones All phones must be turned off during training, as a courtesy to the trainer/assessor and/or other students. In an emergency where you need to be contacted, please advise your trainer/assessor so that arrangements can be made. Security Do not leave handbags or other valuables unattended. Although the workplace or building may be reasonably secure, you are ultimately responsible for your own belongings. ACFA accepts no responsibility for any belongings which may be stolen or missing.

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ACFA Student Handbook 20 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Section 3 COURSE INFORMATION Course Requirement As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), ACFA complies with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (SRTOs) 2015 as set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). ACFA also complies with the operating guidelines and funding contract requirements of Smart and Skilled (New South Wales) for Traineeships and Apprenticeships. All training and assessment services provided to students follow policies and processes developed to meet the VET Quality Framework and SRTOs 2015 and the operating guidelines and funding contract requirements of NSW. Accredited Training Programs Accredited programs are competency based which means that training and assessment focus on the development and recognition of a person’s ability to apply relevant knowledge and skills to perform workplace tasks to a specified standard. The specific skills and knowledge required for a particular workplace activity are set out in Units of Competency which can be grouped together to formulate the completion of a nationally recognised qualification. Nationally recognised qualifications are outlined in Training Packages. These can be viewed at www.training.gov.au. Each qualification has a list of employability skills which describe the non-technical skills and competencies that are important for effective and successful participation in the workforce. For each qualification there are specific employability skills listed under the following headings: ● Communication ● Teamwork ● Problem solving ● Initiative and enterprise ● Planning and organising ● Self-management ● Learning ● Technology These employability skills will be part of the assessment requirements of all nationally accredited courses. Competency It is important to note that the rules and requirements of a Unit of Competency and a qualification are applied to all students regardless of where they are, or the mode of training delivery provided. You could be a full-time student in a classroom or the workplace, or you could be applying for recognition of prior learning (RPL) of the skills and knowledge currently held. Each Unit of Competency is made up of the following: ● Elements ● Performance criteria ● Required knowledge evidence and performance evidence of skills ● A range of variables ● Critical aspects of evidence ● Any pre or co requisites (if applicable)

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ACFA Student Handbook 21 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA To be deemed Competent in any Unit of Competency you must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge to complete work tasks to the standard that is required in the workplace. Skills need to be demonstrated in a range of situations and environments (which could include simulated applications in a learning environment) over a period of time. Evidence Evidence is the material proof that you have performed the specified competency or task to the required standard. Your evidence requirements will be determined by the Unit of Competency, employability skill requirements, industry expectations, Government regulations, and your qualifications and current experience. Evidence can take many forms and you will be required to present more than just one piece of evidence. Assessment tools that we will provide to you set out the exact requirements for evidence for each unit/module. Examples of evidence could include one or more (but not limited to) of the following: ● Specific assessments tasks set by your Assessor ● Observation reports ● Certificates and awards ● Examples of work completed or special projects ● Current licenses ● Position descriptions and performance reviews ● Third party reports ● Question responses ● Tests Your evidence must also demonstrate the following: ● That you can do the job or task to the required standard ● Understand why the job should be done in a particular way and complete routine activities ● Be able to handle unexpected issues or problems as well as find solutions ● Work with others ‘in a team’ also work with discretion and judgement in some instances ● Do more than one thing at a time, e.g. perform the task and be aware of the occupational health and safety requirements ● Know the workplace rules and procedures Assessment Assessment is an integral part of your learning if you wish to complete successfully and gain certification. The assessment process will be explained at induction and throughout your program. Assessors will also be available to you if you have any questions. Assessment is the process of collecting evidence and making judgements on whether competency has been achieved to confirm that an individual can perform to the standards expected in the workplace and as expressed in relevant competency standards. Throughout the training program, you will be assessed to see if you have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the qualification. Your trainer/assessor is required to ensure that the assessment

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ACFA Student Handbook 22 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA tasks you undertake meet the national principles of assessment and rules of evidence (see following for more information). Various assessments tasks /activities may be involved including, but not limited to: ● observation of performance ● assignments ● written activities ● written / oral questioning ● oral presentations ● workplace performance ● projects ● case studies ● role plays/ simulations ● demonstration of skills ● online assessments ● portfolio of evidence Certification will only be given to students who successfully complete all assessment requirements for a course. ACFA is required to meet stringent quality requirements in the conduct of all assessments. The ACFA has carefully constructed and developed assessment resources to meet these quality requirements, as well as be user friendly to students. Principles of Assessment Assessments will be conducted in accordance with the following principles of assessment. Validity Any assessment decision of the RTO is justified, based on the evidence of performance of the individual learner. Validity requires: ● Assessment against the unit/s of competency and the associated assessment requirement covers the broad range of skills and knowledge that are essential to competent performance. ● Assessment of knowledge and skills is integrated with their practical application. ● Assessment to be based on evidence that demonstrates that a learner could demonstrate these skills and knowledge in other similar situations; and ● Judgement of competence is based on evidence of learner performance that is aligned to the unit/s of competency and associated assessments requirements. Reliability Evidence presented for assessment is consistently interpreted and assessment results are comparable irrespective of the assessor conducting the assessment.

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ACFA Student Handbook 23 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Flexibility Assessment is flexible to the individual learner by: ● Reflecting the learner’s needs ● Assessing competencies held by the Learner no matter how or where they have been acquired; and ● Drawing from a range of assessment methods and using those that are appropriate to the context, the unit of competency and associated assessment requirements, and the individual Fairness The individual learner’s needs are considered in the assessment process. Where appropriate reasonable adjustments are applied by the RTO to take into account the individual learner’s needs. The RTO informs the learner about the assessment process, and provides the learner with the opportunity to challenge the result of the assessment and be reassessed if necessary Rules of Evidence and Assessment ACFA is required to ensure that all evidence provided by students, as proof of their competency, meets the following “rules of evidence”. Validity There is a clear relationship between the evidence requirements of the unit of competency and the evidence on which the assessment judgement is made. The assessor is assured that the learner has the skills, knowledge and attributes as described in the module or unit of competency and associated assessment requirements. Sufficiency The performance criteria and evidence guide are addressed; competency over a period-of-time is demonstrated; all dimensions of competency are addressed; competency in different contexts is demonstrated. The assessor is assured that the quality, quantity and relevance of the assessment evidence enables a judgement to be made of a learner’s competency. Authenticity It can be verified that the evidence is the candidate’s own work. The assessor is assured that the evidence presented for assessment is the learner’s own work. Currency The evidence demonstrates the candidate’s current knowledge and skills. The assessor is assured that the assessment evidence demonstrates current competency. This requires the assessment evidence to be from the present or the very recent past.

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ACFA Student Handbook 24 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Course Assessment There will be assessment tasks set for each course regardless of the learning mode. Assessment activities and expectations will be explained to students and are outlined within learner / assessment resources. Many courses require assessment to be completed after the course, as workplace performance is essential in competency-based learning. Presentation of Assessments / Assignments All assessments, as much as possible, should be typed. ● Handwritten assessments are accepted; however, handwriting must be clear and easy to read. ● If you are mailing an assignment, it must be received by the due date. ACFA does not accept responsibility for any lost assignments. Please ensure you keep a copy of your assignment prior to submission. ● All assignments are registered and time stamped as they are received. ● We endeavour to assess all assessments within 10 working days of receipt. Assessment results Students have access to their own learning account that will indicate assessments undertaken and the units of competency that the individual has attained. At the completion of various assessment tasks/activities your assessor will mark your competency-based assessment to which you have performed or answered each question to an appropriate standard. (See ACFA Assessment Standard for further details). Results of assessment are provided to students as soon as is practical. These results are available through your student login account. Assessment results are confidential at all times and will not be given to any other party unless a written request signed by the student is received in advance. If you have deemed Not Yet Satisfactory (NYS) by your assessor, you will be able to re-submit your assessment tasks/activities a maximum of two additional attempts before you will be deemed Not Yet Competent (NYC). The learner will be required to repeat the assessment/s at an additional fee (refer to Unsatisfactory Training Progression on page 12). Reasonable adjustments ACFA supports the process of adjusting or changing the assessment process to meet the needs and characteristics of the candidates being assessed and any equity requirements. The determination of ‘reasonableness’ requires judgement that must take into account the impact on the organisation and the need to maintain the integrity of the unit of competency. Reasonable adjustment must be approved by the Trainer Manager on a case-by-case basis.

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ACFA Student Handbook 25 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Extensions for Assessment It is expected that all assessment tasks be handed in on the due date. Should you require additional time to complete an assessment you must communicate with your assessor to apply for an extension. Certificates Types of Certification In general, four types of certificates can be issued by ACFA. Certificates can only be awarded by ACFA in accordance with our approved qualification scope. ● Qualification – issued under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) for nationally recognised training. Full qualifications can only be issued once the student has been deemed competent across all the relevant units of competency making up the qualification. ● Statement of Attainment (SOA) – issued under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) for nationally recognised training. Issued when a student is deemed competent in a unit or a cluster of units of competency. Minimum achievement for SOA is one unit of competency. You can request a SOA at any time during your training. ● Record of Results – accompanies a qualification issued under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) for nationally recognised training. This document supplements the qualification listing all units of competency achieved for the qualification. ● Certificate of Attendance – for non-nationally recognised training also known as non-accredited training. Issued when a student attends a short course that is not within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). To receive a Certificate of Attendance, the student must have a satisfactory attendance rate. Certificates will only be posted to students at their nominated postal address as shown in VETtrak. The details in VETtrak come from the student’s enrolment form, so it is the student’s responsibility to ensure their address details are correct. Certificates will not be sent to other parties, without the expressed prior written permission from the student. Duplicate or replacement copies of certificates incur a fee.

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ACFA Student Handbook 26 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Course Delivery ACFA ensures the following resources are in place: ● Trainer and Assessors with appropriate qualifications, and experience ● Course materials appropriate to the methods of delivery and assessment requirements ● All necessary copyright authorisations ● Appropriate equipment and facilities Training and assessment methods used by ACFA meet specific quality requirements and are chosen to best suit the unit of competency, while giving consideration to the learning style of the student. The provision of training often includes a blended approach with a combination of on and off-the-job methods. A number of delivery methods will be used throughout the training to help you achieve the necessary skills. Learning is a partnership that involves participation from all involved. Delivery methods may include, but are not limited to: ● workplace based training ● Practical demonstrations ● audio/visual presentations ● group participation/ discussions ● trainer/facilitator instruction ● practical activities ● self-paced activities ● individual projects ● case studies Flexible Delivery Flexible delivery focuses on learning rather than teaching and to provide the best possible learning experience for the student. This means that the student has greater control over what, when and how they learn. ACFA offers various forms of delivery to accommodate the varying needs of students. Modes of delivery available for most courses include classroom (face-to-face) environment, workplace –based, correspondence, on-line, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or a combination of these. (subject to availability)

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ACFA Student Handbook 27 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Recognition Recognition is the collective term and includes: ● Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) ● Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) and ● Mutual Recognition (MR) more commonly known as Credit transfer (CT) All students have the opportunity to apply for recognition. This means that you can submit evidence for a Unit(s) of Competency and have it assessed by a qualified Assessor without completing the training. ACFA believes that no learner should be required to undertake a unit of competency for which they are already able to demonstrate satisfactory achievement of the performance outcomes, as stated in the endorsed training package or nationally recognised course. ACFA aims to maximise the recognition of a learner’s prior skills and knowledge whilst at all times maintaining the integrity and standards of the defined learning outcomes of the specific qualification or course of study. Students who consider they already possess the competencies identified in all or part of any course/qualification offered by ACFA may seek recognition. If you think you have the necessary knowledge and skills to match a Unit(s) of Competency or a qualification at the required standard you need to contact our Admissions officer at Head Office on 1300 342 248 or (02) 4340 2000 or email at [email protected] who will provide the information you need to complete an application. Recognition Process Recognition is a method of assessing if you have evidence of competency for a particular unit of competency that you are enrolled in. It is important to remember that Recognition is an assessment process not an assumption of competence. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) means an assessment process that assesses the competency/s of an individual that may have been acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual meets the requirements specified in the training package or VET accredited courses. A. formal learning refers to learning that takes place through a structured program of instruction and is linked to the attainment of an AQF qualification or statement of attainment (for example, a certificate, diploma or a university degree). B. non-formal learning refers to learning that takes place through a structured program of instruction, but does not lead to the attainment of an AQF qualification or statement of attainment (for example, in-house professional development programs conducted by a business); and C. informal learning refers to learning that results through experience of work-related, social, family, hobby or leisure activities (for example the acquisition of interpersonal skills developed through several years as a sales representative).

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ACFA Student Handbook 28 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Recognition therefore determines the subsequent advanced standing to which the student is entitled in relation to a course/qualification. The major focus of Recognition is what has been learned rather than how, where or when it was learned. Recognition focuses on both the demonstration of competence and the currency of that competence to industry standards. It is important to note, it is the student’s responsibility to document and present evidence to justify a claim for recognition and present their case to the satisfaction of the Assessor. Any documents that you provide to support your claim of competency must be certified copies. It is also expected that any evidence submitted is your own and if any part of the work is the work of others, that this is formally acknowledged and advised. Recognition Decision Regardless of the type of evidence that you submit, Assessors must be confident that the evidence meets the following criteria: ● Full requirements of the Unit of Competency(s) ● Any regulatory requirements ● Authenticity - That it is your own evidence and can be authenticated ● That you can perform the competency consistently and reliably ● Is at the standard expected in industry and set out in the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) ● Sufficiency - There is sufficient evidence to make a judgment ACFA is committed to ensuring that all judgments made by assessors against the same competency standards are consistent. Your Assessor will examine the evidence that you present and then make a judgment on that evidence which will be either: ● Competent (C) - you have been deemed competent against all the requirements of the Unit/s of Competency ● Not Yet Competent (NYC) - you have not yet demonstrated competency to all requirements. Your assessor will advise you what you can do if you receive a NYC for your assessment task. If you are deemed NYC in your initial assessment, you are allowed a second attempt. However, if you are deemed NYC in the second attempt, you will be required to re-enrol. Please talk to your assessor if you have any concerns. For further information on Recognition, please see ACFA Recognition policy Credit Transfer / Mutual Recognition ACFA recognises the AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). This is commonly referred to as Credit Transfer or Mutual Recognition. Credit Transfer is applicable when a Statement of Attainment or qualification provided by a student has the same national competency codes as those that form part of the training and assessment program within which the student is enrolled or is intending to enrol. Students are required to formally apply for Credit Transfer/Mutual Recognition. With Credit Transfer/Mutual Recognition students are not required to undertake learning in the unit/s again, the student is exempt.

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ACFA Student Handbook 29 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Trainer and Assessors All Trainers and Assessors are qualified in training and assessment and the vocational area which they are delivering. They have practical experience and maintain their currency in industry as per requirements of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. Please be advised that Trainers and Assessors may change throughout the course of your training due to staffing, demographics and other matters the management team at ACFA cannot foresee. If for any reason ACFA need to make a change with their Training and Assessment team, the aim is to do this as a smooth transition to avoid disruption to the student’s learning.

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ACFA Student Handbook 30 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Section 4 POLICIES Access and Equity Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) is committed to providing equal opportunity for all staff and learners by promoting inclusive practices and integrating the principles of access and equity into its policies and procedures. For further information, see ACFA Access & Equity Policy Appeals ACFA acknowledges that clients have the right to appeal an assessment decision, based on valid grounds for appeal. ACFA has provision for clients to appeal against assessment decisions, including those made by a third party partner. ACFA ensures that clients have access to a fair and equitable process for lodging an appeal against an assessment decision. ACFA will manage appeals by implementing principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. For further information, see ACFA Assessment and Appeals Policy. Student Records ACFA maintains an individual student file for every student who undertakes any form of training and assessment with us. This file contains records regarding your personal details provided to us, any training and assessment undertaken and completed. This file is available to you. ACFA maintains a systematic, compliant approach to the efficient reporting and effective management of all records. In accordance with privacy laws and confidentiality requirements, your file is kept in a locked cupboard. Only those ACFA personnel who need to have access to your file for training and assessment purposes can access it. No other person can and will have access to your personal student file without your prior written permission. If you would like access to your personal records simply contact the Training Manager. Complaints ACFA acknowledges the client’s right to lodge a complaint when they are dissatisfied with the training and /or assessment services and experiences that they have been provided by ACFA. ACFA will ensure that clients have access to a fair and equitable process for expressing complaints, and that ACFA will manage the complaint by implementing principles of natural justice and procedural fairness.

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ACFA Student Handbook 31 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA For further information, see ACFA Complaints Policy Course Fees ACFA has developed a fair and equitable process for determining course fees, refunds and payment options. Flexible payment options ACFA accepts various methods of payment for course fees. Payment for courses can be made in the form of Visa card, MasterCard or Direct Deposit. Course fees are payable in advance and enrolments are considered tentative until payment is received. Smart and Skilled – Click to access the NSW Fee Administration Policy Paper based learning guides Learners may request hard copies of learning guides and assessment workbooks for a fee of $200 per year. An invoice will be created for the printed resources and once paid, the printed resources will be sent to students prior to assessment visits. Outstanding Learner Fees a. Non-payment of fees by the due date for continuing enrolments will result in suspension of training. ACFA will notify all parties in writing of suspension. Once payment has been finalised parties will be notified of the recommencement of training. b. ACFA will charge a recommencement fee for any suspended training to cover administration costs. c. ACFA will not issue SOAs or Certificates if training fees are outstanding. d. ACFA will make inform learners of its process for the recovery of outstanding learner fees prior enrolment through the fee administration policy. Cancellation & Transfers Enrolment cancellation / withdrawal / deferral / amendment Students who wish to withdraw/cancel/defer/amend their course are required to complete a Course Withdrawal Amend form. Student Transfers Transfer to another “Course” – Should a student wish to transfer to another course, they need to make the request in writing a minimum of one week in advance. The transfer is subject to course availability. RTO Cancellation of courses It is NOT ACFA normal policy to cancel scheduled training programs. Click to access further details - https://www.acfa.net.au/training/student-help/fees-funding Treatment of Records on Ceasing Operation Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) acknowledges that it has a responsibility to retain accurate copies of records to enable these to be transferred to ASQA should ACFA ceased to operate. It is

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ACFA Student Handbook 32 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA a requirement that RTOs who ceased to operate, must within 30 days of registration ending, forward to ASQA an electronic copy of the records for each student who were enrolled in a course during the period of registration. This requirement does not include hard copy student files and relates specifically to electronic data providing evidence of activities the student has performed. For the purposes of this policy, ACFA will interpret “activities” to mean records providing information on the outcomes achieved by students. This will include records of qualifications and units of competency that have been issued by ACFA during the entirety of its registration period. ACFA will retain these records electronically and file them under RTO Reporting, AVETMISS. Information will be provided in the form of the following AVETMISS reports in consultation with ASQA. Equal Opportunity ACFA is committed to equal opportunity policies and principles, as they affect students and employees to ensure the elimination of discrimination and harassment. Rights and Responsibilities ACFA has a legal and moral obligation to provide equal opportunity in employment and a learning environment free from harassment for employees, contractors and students. ACFA is committed to providing an environment which recognises and respects the diversity of employees, contractors and students. ACFA is committed to providing a work and study environment free from harassment, vilification and bullying and supports the rights of all employees, contractors and students to work and study in a safe and healthy environment free from such behaviour. ACFA will: ● Ensure that employees, contractors and students understand that these types of actions and behaviour will not be tolerated in the work/study environment. ● Request that any behaviour which could be considered harassment, vilification or bullying cease immediately. All employees, contractors and students have a role to play in eliminating harassment, vilification and bullying by not encouraging or showing support for harassment, vilification or bullying aimed at work or study colleagues. This can be achieved by: ● Refusing to join in with these types of actions and behaviours. ● Supporting the person in saying no to these behaviours. ● Acting as a witness if the person being harassed decides to lodge a complaint. If an employee, contractor or student feels harassed, vilified or bullied, the employee, contractor or student is encouraged to inform the person where the behaviour is unwanted, unacceptable and/or offensive. If the employee, contractor or student feels unable to approach the person, or if the behaviour continues following their request that the behaviour cease, the Director should be contacted. As a student of ACFA, you have the responsibility to: ● Act to prevent harassment, discrimination and victimization against others ● Respect differences among other staff, students and contractors, such as cultural and social diversity ● Treat people fairly, without discrimination, harassment or victimisation

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ACFA Student Handbook 33 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA ● Refuse to join in with these behaviours ● Supporting the person in saying no to these behaviours ● Acting as a witness it the person being harassed decides to lodge a complaint. Following is a list of areas that ACFA will not tolerate, if you need clarification on what these mean please go to ACFA’s Access and Equity Policy attached here. • Discrimination • Harassment, Vilification and Bullying • Harassment • Vilification • Bullying • Sexual harassment • Forms of sexual harassment Complaints ● ACFA encourages informal resolutions of discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and violence, victimisation, and vilification grievances in the first instance, as close to the source as possible, with the option of conciliation or investigation of the complaint if necessary. ● ACFA will investigate complaints in a confidential manner. Action will be taken to ensure that the discrimination/harassment stops. Appropriate warning or disciplinary action will be taken where harassment is found to have occurred. ● ACFA staff responsible for advising, conciliating or investigating a complaint will act fairly and impartially. They will act without bias and avoid any conflict of interest. The respondent will be given a fair opportunity to know the case against him or her and will be given the opportunity to make a considered response. ● All staff, clients and contractors involved with the ACFA complaint procedures will be treated with respect and courtesy. Enquiries and complaints will be dealt with in a sensitive, equitable, fair, and confidential manner. All attempts will be made to deal with matters expeditiously while ensuring all parties are provided with sufficient time to prepare and or respond. ● ACFA acknowledges that it is of paramount importance and in the best interests of all parties that confidentiality is maintained during these procedures. ● ACFA encourages the reporting of behaviour that breaches equal opportunity policy, but will not tolerate vexatious or frivolous complaints. (See ACFA’s Complaints Policy and Appeals Policy) Privacy ACFA is committed to providing quality training and assessment in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) 2015. As an RTO, ACFA is obliged to maintain effective administrative and records management systems. This involves the collection and retention of personal information from students in secure student records. ACFA abides by the Privacy Act and respects students, staff and trainer / assessors’ right to privacy. All staff must be scrupulous in using student information only for the purposes for which it was gathered. All students have access to their own records at all times. For further information, see ACFA Privacy Policy

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ACFA Student Handbook 34 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA Refund Policy Payment of all refunds, to students who are entitled to a refund, are in accordance with the following ACFA Refund Policy Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) ACFA is committed to providing quality training and assessment in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (SRTOs 2015). As such, ACFA is required to comply with relevant Federal, State and Territory laws, including that relating to Workplace Health and Safety. The purpose of this policy is to ensure ACFA complies with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and regulatory requirements that are relevant to its operation and Scope of Registration. ACFA recognises its responsibility under the Workplace Health and Safety and related regulations. The Director has responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of staff, students, contractors and visitors. This includes: • ACFA uses a consultative and participative approach with employees regarding Workplace Health and Safety. • ACFA considers Risk Management a top priority in all activities on and off site and WHS is a key element of this risk management. Communication within all levels of the organisation ensures everything from clearly marked exits to spill signage and evacuation plans form the basis of a comprehensive approach. • The CEO of ACFA conduct bi-annual Safety Risk Audits and enter any identified Actions into the Continuous Improvements Register. This includes an Action Date and a Date Closed so that the Administrative Officer can follow up any issues with the CEO. • ACFA at all times plans for and monitors its employees and clients wherever they are working. • Evaluation of WHS matters are discussed in the regular meetings. • ACFA always provides ergonomic equipment. • Safe use of equipment is discussed at regular staff meetings. • Safe plant and equipment are provided and maintained by ACFA. • Environmental protection is an ACFA concern including disposal of various types of materials from the administrative areas to industrial waste where relevant. Duty of Care ACFA is committed to taking practicable steps to provide and maintain a safe and healthy work and learning environment for all staff, students, and contractors. Specific responsibilities are shown below.

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ACFA Student Handbook 35 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA ACFA Management: ● Are responsible for the effective implementation and regular review of this WHS policy. ● Must observe, implement and fulfil responsibilities under legislation that applies to WHS and endeavour to comply with relevant standards and codes of practice. ● Must ensure that the agreed procedures for regular consultation between management and staff are followed. ● Monitors the WHS management policies and procedures. Outcomes of WHS monitoring are used to help maintain appropriate risk controls. The effectiveness of these risk controls and this monitoring and review process is linked to ACFA Continuous Improvement processes ● Are responsible for ensuring that a WHS management system is implemented. Staff, contractors, students and visitors: ● Have a duty of themselves and others. ● Have a responsibility to cooperate with all WHS processes. ● Have a responsibility to comply with relevant ACFA WHS management system policies and procedures. ● Must not bypass or misuse systems or equipment provided for WHS purposes. ● Must report any unsafe conditions which come to their attention to the Director. Accidents, Injuries and Near Misses All incidents and near misses are required to be reported immediately. See your trainer/assessor or administration personnel to report any issues. ACFA will ensure that the injured person receives appropriate first aid and/or medical treatment as soon as possible and will investigate to reasonably prevent a recurrence. ACFA is also committed to ensuring that injury management activities commence as soon as possible after injury and that every effort is made to provide suitable and meaningful duties consistent with the nature of the injury or illness, after seeking appropriate medical judgement. Students and employees are expected to take care to prevent work-related injuries to themselves and to others. Investigating incidents and accidents The Training Manager is responsible for investigating incidents and accidents. Following the report of an incident (near miss) or accident (and after first aid and other injury management processes have been implemented), the Training Manager will immediately undertake an investigation.

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ACFA Student Handbook 36 of 36 Next Review Date: 31/07/2022 Version: v2.2 (10/05/2022) Authorised by: Compliance Coordinator Note: Uncontrolled when printed! (RTO Code – 90432) Approved by ACFA The process for investigations may include. ● Interview all people involved in the accident or incident and witnesses. ● Use the risk management approach to help understand the underlying hazards that caused the incident or accident and whether controls failed, were insufficient or were absent. ● Listen to recommendations of people involved in the incident or accident about what is required to prevent such incidents or accidents in the future. ● Analyse results of investigation and document recommended courses of action for evaluation by the Director. ● Once action is approved, communicates outcomes and planned actions. Legislations and Standards All Nationally Recognised Training courses / qualifications will be delivered in line with the standards set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority and relevant Federal, State, and Territory authorities. All ACFA Employees are expected to promote and embrace ACFA’s standards, policies and procedures. At ACFA, we meet the relevant Commonwealth and State legislation requirements as well as the RTO standards. Legislations The relevant legislation and standards include: ● National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 ● Student Identifiers Act 2014 ● Privacy Act 1988 ● Freedom of Information Act 1982 ● Copyright Act 1968 ● Racial Discrimination Act 1975 ● Disability Discrimination Act 1992 ● Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 ● Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 ● Work Health Safety Act 2011 State based VET Legislation includes: ● Vocational Education and Training (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2010 (NSW) ● Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 (NSW) ● Work Health Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) You may view and download these Acts at the Australasian Legal Information Institute (www.austlii.edu.au) website, which provides free online access to Australian Government, State and Territory case law and legislation. Standards ● AQF Framework http://www.aqf.edu.au/ ● VET Quality Framework https://www.asqa.gov.au/about/asqa/key-legislation/vet-quality-framework ● Standards for RTO’s 2015 ● National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Data Provision Requirements) Instrument 2020 Note: Amendment Bills may have been passed since this has been published.