STUDENT HANDBOOK - down2earth.com.au · Control Number DTE-DOC-00006 Version 18 Responsible Person...

Down to Earth

Training & Assessing

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Welcome to and thank you for choosing Down to Earth Training & Assessing.

We provide both accredited and non-accredited training and assessing solutions relevant to the mining, civil

construction, logistics and engineering industries.

Down to Earth Training & Assessing (RTO # 51199)

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Control Number DTE-DOC-00006 Version 18

Responsible Person Kim Brunswick Last Review Date 12.02.2020

Created by Kim Brunswick Next Review Date 11.02.2023

Contents Welcome from the Managing Director ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Our promise to students .................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Scope of registration ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Enrolment Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Course attendance ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Location ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Terms, Conditions and Policies ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

Code of Practice ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Unique Student Identifier (USI) ..................................................................................................................................................... 13

Course Completion Guarantee ....................................................................................................................................................... 13

Drug and Alcohol Policy ................................................................................................................................................................ 13

Smoking Policy .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Revocation Policy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................................................................................ 14


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Welcome from the Managing Director I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Down to Earth Training and Assessing (DTE. We are an established Registered Training Organisation (RTO #51199) committed to tailoring flexible training solutions for you. As the Managing Director and founder of DTE, I am responsible for overseeing operations and ensuring that you

receive excellent customer service and support throughout your training experience. As an accredited Trainer/Assessor with decades of industry experience, I am also here to ensure that DTE delivers nationally recognised training and assessing solutions as per the latest industry standards and regulations. We look forward to delivering quality training tailored to meet your individual needs.

Kim Brunswick MANAGING DIRECTOR

Our promise to students DTE is committed to providing excellent customer service and quality training ensuring that:

Each student receives maximum quality training and support during the course;

Comprehensive and accurate records are maintained;

Equal opportunity, WHS/OHS and other legislative requirements are addressed;

We strive for excellence in all our standards and seek experienced, qualified and talented Trainers/Assessors and support staff;

We are committed to providing quality service with a focus on continuous improvement, seeking feedback from clients, staff and organisations for incorporation into future programs;

We utilise sound management practices to ensure timely issuance of assessment results and qualifications;

Support services and appeals procedures are in place.


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Scope of registration DTE is scoped to deliver the following full qualifications:

RII20215 Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations

RII20715 Certificate II in Civil Construction

RII30815 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations

RII30915 Certificate III in Civil Construction

RII31615 Certificate III in Trenchless Technology We are also scoped to deliver a large range of stand-alone units of competency. Our full scope of registration can be viewed at: http://training.gov.au/Organisation/Details/51199

Enrolment Information Thank you for choosing DTE to support you in your learning journey. If you haven’t already done so, please contact our friendly staff by telephone, email or in person at our premises to make a course booking or enquiry. At initial contact or time of booking, DTE will provide you with a copy of our student handbook. Once booked, a confirmation will be provided to you informing you of any course details, requirements and venue information. The enrolment process will be finalised upon commencement of your course. Please take the time to read through our terms, conditions and policies, as it explains both your and our legal rights and obligations. If you would like to make an enquiry or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Phone: (08) 9528 8888 Email: [email protected] Office Address: Unit 2/24 Beale Way, Rockingham WA 6168

http://training.gov.au/Organisation/Details/51199

mailto:[email protected]


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Course attendance Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your course start time. All students are required to sign-in at the main office at the commencement and conclusion of your course. Please read through your booking confirmation sheet prior to attending and ensure that you meet any course pre-requisites and participant requirements as specified. Students who do not meet these requirements may be refused entry to the course. Please note DTE does not provide lunch on our courses. Tea, coffee, water and biscuits are provided at tea breaks and fridge and microwave facilities have been provided at our premises for students to bring their lunch. There are a number of food outlets in the nearby area for those who wish to purchase their lunch.

Any students who have special needs or language, literacy or numeracy issues should advise our office at the time of booking so the Trainer can be notified in advance of your requirements. Any injuries or accidents that occur during your course should be reported to your Trainer/Assessor immediately. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you are going to be late or are unable to attend your course.

Location Office address: Unit 2/24 Beale Way, Rockingham WA 6168 Postal address: PO Box 298, Rockingham WA 6968 Overflow parking is available at our second building across the road (17 Beale Way) if the main office car park is full.

Unit 2/24 Beale Way Rockingham WA


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Terms, Conditions and Policies

Code of Practice DTE will ensure that management strategies are adopted which will maintain a high professional standard in the marketing and delivery of vocational education and training and which will protect the educational advancement and welfare of students.

Marketing/Promotion DTE will market/promote its training courses/ competencies and training services with accuracy and professionalism. This will be achieved by on-going development of management strategies to respond to WA Local Government, Construction, Mining and associated industry sectors and vocational education and training requirements. Where information on students/employers are included in any advertising, marketing and/or promotional material, DTE will ensure that appropriate prior written consent is obtained from those individuals or organisations.

Course Information DTE will provide accurate and timely course information to students which will include:

a. National code and title b. Description of qualification or unit c. Training content d. Delivery options e. VET outcomes f. Assessment information g. Resources issued to students h. Any PPE requirements i. Availability of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) j. Availability of Credit Transfer and RCC k. Fees and charges, including refund policy and exemptions (where applicable) l. Provision of guidance for language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assessment m. Client support, including any external support DTE has arranged for clients/students n. Flexible learning and assessment procedures o. Access to welfare and guidance services p. Appeals and complaints procedures q. Disciplinary procedures r. Staff responsibilities for access and equity

Recognition of Qualifications issued by other RTO’s DTE will recognise the AQF and VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment issued by any other RTO.

Training/Education Standards DTE will ensure that quality vocational education and training is provided to students and that such vocational education and training will have sufficient flexibility in the mode of delivery to ensure no learning outcome bias to any group or individual.


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Induction Procedures A DTE Trainer/Assessor will conduct an induction at the beginning of each course. The induction will include introductions, housekeeping responsibilities, emergency evacuation (particular to the training venue), assessment requirements, course structure and student responsibility (some of which are listed below):

Arrive 15 minutes prior to commencement of training

Wear correct clothing for relevant training

Inform DTE of any non-attendance

Advise DTE if you have any LLN or other learning difficulties

Access and Equity DTE will ensure that government legislation, policy and principles of access and equity are complied with. To achieve this aim, DTE will:

Continually improve access to and participation in all programs and services; Work towards removing barriers; Ensure that vocational education and training courses/programs are responsive to the needs of both

individuals and groups; Provide advice on bridging and access programs for those students with special needs, including

language, literacy and numeracy (LLN); Information regarding any pre-requisites to any competency or course training will be supplied to all

students at the time of student application. Should these pre-requisites not be held by the student, the student is to be referred to an appropriate training/ licensing authority in order to obtain sufficient proof of evidence of compliance and any competency requirements;

In accordance with DTE’s Records Management Policy, records of student’s results, qualifications and statements of attainment issued as well as the final summative result of a qualification must be kept for a minimum of 30 years. This contains sufficient information to reproduce the qualification or statement of attainment if required, in accordance with the Data Provision Requirements 2011. Release of student details and/or training information details to any other party will be consistent with Federal and WA government legislation and policy including Freedom of Information (FOI), Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety / Work Health and Safety where applicable, Anti-Discrimination, Privacy Act and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011;

Requests for access to any and all pertinent records is/are to be approved in line with Freedom of Information and Privacy Act 1988. Appropriate identification and/or authorising letter are to be verified prior to releasing such information.

Access to the following information will be available to each client/student:

enrolment and induction/orientation procedures;

Course information as per section 2 of the code of conduct.

Support services


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Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) A basic LLN screen will be offered to all students at enrolment into a qualification or course, for the purpose of identifying special learning needs. We ask that you please make your Trainer aware of any LLN issues or special needs you might have prior to commencement of your training, in order that adjustments to the methods of learning delivery and/or to the assessment process can be made, so that you are supported and have a reasonable chance of success in your training.

Re-Assessment If deemed ‘not yet competent’, the student will be given feedback as to the deficiencies and areas for improvement and will be provided with support services. The opportunity of re-assessment will also be offered. After re-assessment, should the student be deemed ‘not yet competent’, additional charges for further training may be applied at management’s discretion. Students do have the right of appeal (please refer to Complaint and Appeals Policy).

Replacement Cards and Certification/Statements of Attainment An additional fee will be incurred if at any time a replacement card or certificate is requested by a client due to loss or damage at no fault of DTE. Recruitment Down to Earth Training and Assessing does not use any third party agency to recruit enrolments on its behalf. Recruitment of candidates will at all times be conducted in an equitable and responsible manner. The recruitment policy will be managed on the stated principles of access and equity and will also take into account the candidate’s abilities and aspirations. Relevant selection criteria, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/Recognition of Current Competencies, Credit Transfer and workplace assessment will also form part of the recruitment policy.

Complaint/Appeal Mechanisms DTE will ensure that students have access to appeal mechanisms covering:

Recruitment selection Enrolment procedures Assessment Other complaints.

These will be consistent with Federal and WA government legislation and policy including Freedom of Information (FOI), Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety, Work Health and Safety where applicable, Privacy Act, and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.


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Complaint and Appeals Policy DTE have a comprehensive process in place to manage any complaint. If after first speaking with your trainer, assessor or other relevant person you are not satisfied with the outcome. Please visit or telephone DTE and ask to speak with the Director or General Manager. DTE will maintain written records of all complaints/appeals made by students. The following steps will be taken with every complaint/appeal addressed to DTE: a. Where a complaint/appeal is made verbally at the time of training and/or assessment, the student is to

initially approach the trainer to attempt to resolve the issue. b. Should resolution not be accepted the student is to complete and sign COMPLAINT/APPEAL FORM and

forward to Down to Earth for consideration under its Complaints and Appeals process. c. All complaints/appeals must be registered within 14 days of the incident d. The maximum time to receive a response from DTE will be 30 days from receipt of written complaint. e. DTE will assess the complaint/appeal by the following methods:

o Review evidence, including unfairly judged competence; o Interview trainer/assessor; o Interview complainant/appellant; o Comply with Standards of the National VET regulator; o Identify common grounds of agreement.

f. Where the complaint/appeal evidence indicates the successful completion of the training by the student, DTE will incorporate such details into the student and course records and issue the student with the appropriate Statement of Attainment.

g. Where documentary evidence does not support the complaint/appeal, the student will be offered the opportunity of contacting an external agency for resolution of the complaint/appeal.

h. All details of contact with external agencies are to be recorded on the Complaint/Appeal Form. i. Successful/unsuccessful resolution of the conflict is to be recorded on the Complaint/Appeal Form. j. Should any litigation arise from an unsuccessful resolution of the complaint/appeal, the company’s lawyer

is to be contacted and apprised of the details. k. Outcome of any litigation is to be recorded on the student’s Complaint/ Appeal Form. If you are not satisfied with the quality of service or training being provided by DTE, you can lodge a complaint with the National body ASQA. However, ASQA will ask that you first approach the RTO and collaborate with the RTO through its process to find a solution. If you are not happy with the outcome then approach ASQA. https://www.asqa.gov.au/complaints/getting-started-making-complaint-about-training-provider

https://www.asqa.gov.au/complaints/getting-started-making-complaint-about-training-provider


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Discipline Procedure All of DTE’s terms and conditions, as stated in this Student Handbook and in accordance with relevant legislation, shall be followed by all students. Any breach of the terms and conditions and relevant legislation will be followed by an initial warning. Further breaches will result in disciplinary action appropriate to the severity of the breach. Students in serious breach of the terms and conditions and relevant legislation will not be able to participate in training with DTE. This includes, but is not limited to:

Presenting to DTE training areas or workplace learning with incorrect PPE,

Physical or psychological abuse to other students, trainers and assessors or other DTE staff,

Presenting to DTE training areas or workplace learning under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If the student wishes to appeal against disciplinary action, please refer to the appeals process.

Construction Training Fund (CTF) Rebate Policy DTE is a bulk billing RTO for the CTF. The CTF rebate will be applied by DTE to the invoice/s of any client whose company and candidate/s attending the course have been deemed as eligible for the CTF rebate by DTE prior to completing their training. DTE may request that the client complete a CTF work history form to confirm their eligibility status. As the CTF do not allow the rebate to be applied when candidates do not complete their training, are regarded as ‘not yet competent’ at the end of their training or who are working in ineligible job roles and/or on ineligible projects, the full cost of the course will be collected by DTE from the client/candidate in these instances irrespective of any previous CTF eligibility status or prior quotes at the CTF rebated cost. The full cost will also be collected by DTE when the client/candidate fails to attend their scheduled training without notice, if minimum numbers are not met or if less than 24 business hours’ notice is given to advise of non-attendance.

Protection of Fees (Private Bookings only) DTE will accept payment of no more than $1500.00 from each individual candidate prior to the commencement of their training/assessment. If training/assessment costs exceed $1500.00, the total outstanding balance will be processed upon commencement of the course, not exceeding $1500.00 per transaction.


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Cancellation, Reschedule and Refund

Rescheduling – One time only Permitted DTE will allow you to reschedule your course one time only without incurring a cancellation fee. To reschedule you must confirm your course date within 3 days of the original booking and where applicable, the new booking must be supported with a valid purchase order. If you fail to do this, you will be charged a cancellation fee. It is your responsibility to call DTE to reschedule.

DTE supports a fair and equitable refund policy as indicated below:

Reason Notice Period Refund / Charges

Client withdraws More than 5 business days prior to course commencement.

Full refund / no charge to client (apart from any pre-paid costs incurred by DTE).

Where a blended learning course (online) is withdrawn a $30 fee is charged per unit of competency.

Client withdraws

Within 5 business days to 24 business hours prior to course commencement.

Refund to client less DTE administrative fee of $150 + GST (in-house bookings) or 20% of the full cost (on-site bookings), plus any pre-paid costs incurred by DTE.

Client withdraws Within 24 business hours prior to course commencement.

No refund to client / full charges apply (including any pre-paid costs incurred by DTE).

Client withdraws After course commencement, or no notice given at all.

No refund to client / full charges apply (including any pre-paid costs incurred by DTE).

DTE withdraws Any time prior to course commencement.

Full refund / no charge to client, or a credit towards future training.

* Please be advised that Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are not considered as a business day.

The client will pay all course fees on the first day of any course unless alternative arrangements are first made in writing with DTE. If a client is unable to complete a course but provides a valid medical certificate or shows extreme personal hardship, a refund may be offered at the discretion of the Director of DTE. If a client cancels due to unavoidable circumstances that can be proven (eg. extreme weather on-site), the course may be refunded or rebooked at no cost to the client. If invoiced fees and charges are not paid within 30 days from date of invoice and collection services are required to collect outstanding amounts, the client will then be held responsible for charges incurred by the collection agency. Where paying by cheque, should the cheque not be met on presentation the client will be charged a dishonour fee in addition to their original invoice amount.


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All fees must be paid in full before certification will be issued. Private students must pay no later than the day of training. An interim certificate will be issued on the final day of training/assessment so long as a purchase order or payment has been provided to our office. Interim certificates will expire 3 months from the date of training. Any pre-paid costs incurred by DTE for a client’s booking (eg. flights, excess baggage, accommodation, meals, vehicle/machinery hire, drug/alcohol screens etc.) will be invoiced to the client irrespective of any notice period given if their booking is withdrawn after a purchase order has been issued, payment has been made or approval has been provided to DTE to proceed with these arrangements.

Proof of Identity (online courses) Students will need to enrol with DTE and each student will need to acknowledge that they are the person who has enrolled for this course / assessment. Students will need to enrol with their own unique login and password before commencing the course/assessment. A unique student ID number is then created for that person. This unique number is not to be used by any other person other than the student it is given to. The student acknowledges that they are the person attending the online unit, completing the enrolment details and completing the course/assessments. No two students can enrol with the same email address or ID number. Students who complete the assessment will be presented with a Statement of Attainment for the unit completed. Students must acknowledge that they are the person completing the online unit.

Feedback to DTE DTE is committed to continuously improving client services and would appreciate your participation in any feedback surveys. All information will be treated confidentially but as a condition of registration, DTE are required to report such feedback to our regulatory body.

Continuous Improvement At the conclusion of training/assessment, each student will be invited to complete a survey seeking their feedback about our services, their level of satisfaction and ways to improve our services. Please take the time to complete this form and provide your honest feedback. All feedback collected is anonymous and is treated in a confidential manner. This student handbook is reviewed annually to include any changes that may affect your participation in VET programs. If you have any feedback on this Student Handbook or the general improvement of our services, please contact DTE on 08 9528 8888 or email us at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]


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Unique Student Identifier (USI) DTE will comply with requirements for implementation of the national unique student identifier (USI). As per the Student Identifiers Act 2014, DTE is not authorised to release accreditation to any client/candidate who does not provide their valid USI number to DTE at the time of training. The client/candidate will not be eligible for a refund if they are unable to provide their valid USI number after training has been completed. Certification will be issued by DTE as per a candidate’s registered USI details (eg. legal name). Please be advised that the USI register commenced from 1st January 2015, so completion of any accredited training/assessment prior to this date will not appear on the register. A candidate’s training records will only be available for viewing the next calendar year after completion. You can obtain a USI or learn more about a USI here: https://www.usi.gov.au/

Course Completion Guarantee DTE is committed to making every reasonable effort to ensure that if a student enrols with us they can complete their training and/or assessment. Once the student has commenced their training and/or assessment, DTE will guarantee to complete the training and/or assessment within the nominated duration. DTE will negotiate the timing for completion of the training and/or assessment if it cannot be completed due to extenuating circumstances (eg. illness, staff resignation etc). If for any reason DTE is unable to complete the training and/or assessment, DTE will make arrangements and/or recommendations for another organisation to undertake the training and/or assessment on their behalf.

Drug and Alcohol Policy DTE believes that the safety of employees, students and members of the general public whilst under the duty of care of DTE to be of paramount importance. Please be advised that DTE conducts random drug and alcohol screens at our premises by an authorised qualified person. Any employee, student or member of the general public that may be subject to drug and/or alcohol testing are required to return a blood alcohol content of 0.00 and test negative for drug use. If an employee, student or member of the general public is confirmed or suspected as being under the influence of alcohol or any other drug deemed unsafe whilst under DTE’s duty of care, they will be required to leave DTE’s premises immediately. A student’s employer will be notified should they be required to leave DTE’s premises due to being affected by drugs and/or alcohol. The employee, student or member of the general public will not be able to return to DTE’s premises until they are able to demonstrate that they are fit for attendance (eg. doctors letter, pathology results etc).

Smoking Policy Smoking is not permitted inside or within 5 metres of any of DTE’s buildings. A designated smoking area is located outside DTE’s main office building (2/24 Beale Way), underneath the large tree on the grassed area. Smokers trays have been provided here. It is asked that smoking only be conducted within the designated area and only on allocated break times.

https://www.usi.gov.au/


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Revocation Policy DTE reserves the right to revoke any certification (including qualifications, statements of attainment, certificates of attendance, interim certificates, wallet cards) that has been issued in an instance whereby incorrect information has been included on the testamur and/or it has been proven that certification was falsely attained (eg. plagiarism, false identity etc). DTE will contact all students who have had their certification revoked and will inform them of any action to occur. DTE will reissue revoked certification whereby incorrect information has been included on the testamur by DTE, and will maintain a register of all revoked certification.

Definition of Terms Accredited Training: An accredited program of study that leads to vocational qualifications and credentials that are recognised across Australia. Only registered training organisations that meet government quality standards such as TAFE, private providers and vocational divisions of universities can provide nationally recognised training. It includes accredited courses and endorsed training package qualifications. Non-accredited Training: Training that does not lead to a nationally recognised qualification. Competency Based Assessment: is a purposeful process of systematically gathering, interpreting, recording and communicating to stakeholders, information on candidate development against industry competency standards and/or learning outcomes. Competency Based Training: is an approach to vocational education and training that places emphasis on what a person can do in the workplace as a result of completing a program of training. Credit Transfer (CT): The granting of status or credit by an institution or training organisation to students for modules (subjects) or units of competency completed at the same or another institution or training organisation.

Construction Training Fund (CTF): The Construction Training Fund provides funding support for training of eligible workers in the construction industry. We acknowledge the support of the Construction Training Fund in reducing the costs of training for eligible workers. For more info visit: http://www.bcitf.org/

DTE: Down to Earth Training & Assessing. Employability Skills: Employability skills are skills that apply across a variety of jobs and life contexts. They are sometimes referred to as key skills, core skills, life skills, essential skills, key competencies, necessary skills and transferrable skills. Employability Skills are imbedded in the Training Package units of competency. Information on the employability skills relevant to a qualification or units of competency can be obtained by visiting: http://training.gov.au/ or by contacting one of our friendly Down to Earth staff members. Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN): Taken collectively, these are the skills to communicate in oral and written form. The term includes reading and use of written information; the ability to write appropriately, in a range of contexts and the integration of speaking, listening, and critical thinking with reading and writing. LLN includes numeracy, such as the recognition and use of numbers and basic mathematical signs and symbols within text Learning Outcomes: are the expression of the set of knowledge, skills and the application of the knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate as a result of learning Competency based training is an approach to vocational education and training that places emphasis on what a person can do in the workplace as a result of completing a program of training.

http://www.bcitf.org/

http://training.gov.au/


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RCC Recognition of Current Competency: The assessment of a person's current capacity to perform; it applies if an individual has previously successfully completed the requirements for a unit of competency or a module and is now required to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): The acknowledgement of a person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a subject or module. It can lead to a full qualification in the VET sector. Registered Training Organisation (RTO): Training providers registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) or in some cases, a state or territory registering and accrediting body to deliver training and/or conduct assessments and issue nationally recognised qualifications in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework or the VET Quality Framework. RTOs include TAFE colleges and institutes, adult and community education providers, private providers, community organisations, schools, higher education institutions, commercial and enterprise training providers, industry bodies and other organisations meeting the registration requirements. VET - Vocational Education and Training: Post-compulsory education and training, excluding degree and higher level programs delivered by further education institutions, which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. VET also includes programs which provide the basis for subsequent vocational programs. Alternative terms used internationally include technical and vocational education and training (TVET), vocational and technical education and training (VTET), technical and vocational education (TVE), vocational and technical education (VTE), further education and training (FET), and career and technical education (CTE). Reference Sources: NCVER, glossary of terms - http://www.ncver.edu.au/ http://www.nssc.natese.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/71247/TrainingPackGlossary.pdf http://bcitf.org/upload/documents/Guidelines_January_2013.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to read your Student Handbook.

Enjoy your learning experience with Down to Earth.

http://www.ncver.edu.au/

http://www.nssc.natese.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/71247/TrainingPackGlossary.pdf

http://bcitf.org/upload/documents/Guidelines_January_2013.pdf

STUDENT HANDBOOK - down2earth.com.au · Control Number DTE-DOC-00006 Version 18 Responsible Person...

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Transcript of STUDENT HANDBOOK - down2earth.com.au · Control Number DTE-DOC-00006 Version 18 Responsible Person...