It is a checklist of things to look out for, when you are trying to spot which RTOs are reliable ones (especially given the media hype). While most of these questions are fairly decent ones you should be asking, it's important to keep in mind two things:
1) Some institutions will say the "correct" answers to the questions to get you in the door. They will not necessarily practice what they preach.
2) Other institutions may require a bit of phone tag as different people will have different points of knowledge about each of the questions. Be patient with this.
So I'll go down each of the questions one by one, cover why these should (or shouldn't be asked) and also add some extra tips of my own. I'll also add any extra notes for International Students.
NOTE: These apply equally to RTOs and ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students-some unis require students to take these classes before they start studying with them). ELICOS may be taught by RTOs, but some institutions set themselves up as ELICOS providers only. These do NOT apply to private colleges/unis such as Excelsia College-they are run under a separate body and separate laws, although some of the tips may be helpful.
Question 1: Are you a registered training/education provider organisation?
Why you should ask this: The course you may want to do may not necessarily have units that are recognised nationally. Some short courses are just "fun" ones, but they won't get you anywhere in a job. Some other courses are recognised in one state, but not others and finally, some courses may be done just as a skills refresher, but won't qualify you for a license. Being "Registered" also means that they're accountable to all government legislation and thus means that they're subject to regular auditing by ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority-basically the TAFE/RTO police). If they are a RTO and offer any other programs that are not "nationally recognised", they must separate the two on any marketing materials (for example, some dance schools in NSW will provide the Cert III in Dance. They cannot put this information on the same page as their RAD exam information.[1])
Question 2: What is your registration number?
Why you should ask this: Any provider that is delivering a nationally recognised qualification MUST have an registration number, also known as a RTO number or TIO number. This is a roughly 4-5 digit number (some older RTOs will have numbers between 1 and 3 digits long) that must appear on their website in a prominent location, on their marketing material for their nationally recognised training, on their certificates and more. It is a good way for you to check their legitimacy on the training.gov.au webpage, as some institutes will conduct their delivery through another provider, or the RTO provider may run multiple institutes (example: Open Colleges conducts some of their courses via North Coast TAFE). If they do, they MUST say this is the case on all marketing material. The number is also easier to search for than a name.
International Students: The only institutions that are permitted to take on international students are ones that have a CRICOS number (Commonwealth Register of International Courses for Overseas Students). Make sure you ask for this as well-if they do not have a CRICOS number (5-6 digits plus a letter), avoid. This protects you as well, as they are accountable to another group of legislation on this and are also audited on this regularly.
Question 3: Does this course lead to an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification?
Why you should ask this: Basically the AQF gives a rough idea of the skill level you would expect of someone with that particular qualification and/or the minimum skill level of someone in a particular field. For example, someone with a Master in Business Admin would be expected to have a higher skill level than someone who's done a Cert IV in Business Administration. The AQF also has a list of courses and who is allowed to issue the actual certificate for said course.
Another thing...If you do ask this question, ask them what level qualification it would be on the AQF. Providers should have a rough idea of where this is without needing to look on the AQF website. [2]
Question 4: Is the course the right one for you to do the license you intend to apply for?
Why you should ask this: This may not necessarily apply to you if you do not need a license for your industry. Examples where you may need a license for the industry you want to work in are tradespeople [3], real estate (including auctioneers, who need to undergo a "short course"[4]), security (since they carry guns and all) and hospitality (such as if you want to work in a casino or serve alcohol). All of these fields (and some others) will only accept individuals who have completed certain courses, usually with particular units in that course. If you undertake a course that is NOT a required course for the license, or you take that course and are missing some units, you may wind up being unable to apply for the license and could be out $15k.
Question 5: Is this provider a member of an industry body or association? If so, which one?
Why you should ask this: This may stump you if your provider handles multiple fields of study, however, they should NOT be stating that they are a member of an organisation that doesn't match their courses (for example, you could expect that a provider that focuses mostly on nursing and aged care courses to be a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, you would not expect that same provider to be a member of AusDance). Being a member of an industry body also means that they should (in theory) be following the guidelines of said industry body in regards to what you are taught and how you are taught (for example, you would be taught the current guidelines for CPR in a nursing course taught by someone who is a member of the federation I mentioned above. Someone who is not part of that same federation might opt for the older guidelines and just sign off anyway.[5])
Another thing: For private providers only (NOT TAFE), check to see if they are also a member of ACPET. This basically acts as insurance for you that in the event that your course is no longer being taught, or your RTO shuts down, you are able to transfer over to a new provider at no extra cost (meaning that you'll gain credit for any units you've already done without paying to do so)
Question 6: Which units of competency or modules will you attain from the training?
Why you should ask this: When a provider registers that they want to teach a course, they are also required to note what units they want to teach within that course. There are two reasons for this: 1) it allows for the course to be tailored according to student needs (for example, if you were training to be a dance teacher, you would take units that focus on your style of dance rather than units that don't) and 2) if a student does not complete the full course, the provider is still authorised to give the student credit for units previously studied (known as a Statement of Attainment). They cannot give this Statement of Attainment out unless that provider is registered to deliver those units. Finally, some of those units are required for licensing or industry purposes (see Q5)
Also...If you do know what units they offer, have the list with you when you make the call or do the research. Their response should at least outline roughly the number of units required, whether they're core units or not and roughly the subject areas covered across these units (for example, a live entertainment course would cover areas like sound, lighting, prop handling, floor managing, rigging and ushering.)
Questions 7-9: What jobs will this training lead to? What are the job prospects on completion of the training? Is there anything else I can do to improve my chances of getting said job (in addition to the training)?
Why you should ask these: This one's more one that you can double check with the training.gov.au website. If you search for the course you are interested in, check to see what the prospects are for each course. The possible jobs will also be listed for each course. If the provider does not refer to these or gives information that doesn't match, you may want to avoid.
Also...By law, providers cannot guarantee a certain job, that you'll complete the course in a certain period of time, or that you'll be earning a certain amount by the end of it. (These parts can be displayed on the training.gov.au website, but providers themselves cannot display them)
Question 10: What is the total cost of the training including any additional fees on top of course fees?
Why you should ask this: Institutions MUST provide the total cost of the course upfront before you even fill out an application form, regardless of whether they offer VET-FEE-HELP, any sort of government subsidy or are entirely upfront. Stating "We provide VET-FEE-HELP" or some variant of this WITHOUT putting the fees somewhere on the website is a no-no (This really also applies if they've put it in a place that's hard to find i.e. Estrada College). They must also provide the cost of unit fees and/or term fees upfront, they cannot lump you for the entire course cost in one hit (especially if they provide VET-FEE-HELP) and they CANNOT provide unit fees without providing the total course cost.
If they are providing VET-FEE-HELP, they must also advise you of any fees that are set by the government (including the loan fee. If you are doing a postgraduate course [6] this does not apply)
International Students: They must also provide you with the costs of any international student fees (ASQA guideline). They must also provide an estimate of the cost of living in Australia (CRICOS guideline).
Question 11: What is the refund policy?
Why you should ask this: This one's simple: by law, they MUST provide this on request. If you're a VFH student, you are required to receive this at the same time you get the VFH form.
International Students: Make sure you receive the correct policy. Both domestic and international students do also have some guidelines under consumer laws.
Questions 12a and 12b: What resources are provided/included in the fees and what do I need to provide myself?
Why you should ask this: This is generally put on the website of most reputable institutions with the course. This may be a legally required thing, but I will check. Basically some things they will provide (for example, they may provide costumes for a performance) and some things you will need to have or obtain in order to complete the course (for example, dance shoes). Really it's kinda like needing textbooks for uni study. :)
International Students: Make sure that you ask for a copy of an International Student Handbook (or something similar) before arrival. Also please do your homework regarding laws around quarantine and what you can/can't bring into Australia. A large number of foreign students get tripped up at Quarantine because they didn't declare their items. [7]
Questions 13a and 13b: What are the minimum/expected hours of attendance per week and How much work do I need to put in outside of formal class time?
Why you should ask these: The first question actually makes sense, particularly if you are applying for welfare benefits or for any other concession benefits. For Certificate and Diploma-level courses delivered through RTOs/TAFEs, they're measured by hours, not by the number of units. If you're online, it's expected hours per week. The second question really only makes sense if your course is predominantly online. While needing to put in work outside of class time is pretty much an obvious one, some of it you will be doing naturally as part of your studies anyway. :) If you're undertaking an apprenticeship/traineeship, this also includes homework time.
Questions 14a and 14b: How and when will you be assessed? Will training/assessment be undertaken in a real workplace?
Why you should ask these: This I believe is another legal requirement. If you have a disability that makes some of these impossible (for example, you cannot fill out a workbook by hand), you would then need to consult with the disabilty staff to make alternate arrangements for assessment. If they're vague however, avoid like crazy. Assessment should consist of more than just "Here's the workbook, fill out the questions, please send back."
As for the second part, some courses do require you to undertake work experience and some training/assessment may therefore take place here. Some courses will use a simulated workplace to ensure that you get the most out of your learning. If your course does use a simulated workplace, do a little research to find out how "realistic" said workplace actually is. (Example: a music theatre course will simulate auditions, casting and so on for a performance)
Question 15: If work placement is included as part of the course, will the RTO/TAFE find me a place or will I need to organise one myself?
Why you should ask this: Do a little research first to find out if work placement is a required component (some courses do require this for licensing). If it is a requirement, it is important that you organise a work placement as early as possible within your studies. This is partially because for a large handful of liability, OHS and (if you're under 18) child protection reasons, the RTO/TAFE also needs to check the place out. If the RTO/TAFE organises it, then it also gives you time to identify if there are any possible factors that might affect your placement (i.e. family member works there), or to arrange time off if you're working.
If you do need to organise your work placement on your own, the RTO is usually a good place to start as they can point you in the right direction for local workplaces in that field. For ethical reasons, it is not recommended that you choose a workplace where a family member is working (this includes separate branches of the same company) and it is also discouraged for friends. (In both cases, they may be your supervisor and might therefore be less likely to assess you neutrally)
Question 16: What support services are provided?
Why you should ask this: Even if you do not have a disability or long-term medical condition, I would still ask this question. A good institute can be measured by how they treat their students with disabilities or extra needs. If you do have a disability, there may also be a handful of state/federal subsidies that you may qualify for and the process to get that verified can take a LONG time (and it can STILL cause problems!)
A reliable institute will also be able to see that "support services" aren't just for students with disabilities-students with English as a Second Language or similar also benefit.
Questions 17-19: Online service technological requirements.
Why you should ask these: The only questions I would focus on out of the first three are the technological requirements. A good institution will provide options for both Mac and Windows users, as well as those who use Chrome, Firefox or Safari. If they rely on Internet Explorer, run for the hills. (Yes, even TAFE allows for Chrome/Firefox). They will also advise you on software you may need and if there's a free option, how to get it. The other two questions are basically irrelevant nowadays given that most people will either have, or be able to get access to, a computer with Internet and decent download speed.
Questions 20 and 21: Computer literacy and helpdesk support.
Why you should ask these: Only if you're unsure. Helpdesk is pretty much a given. Even smaller institutions will at least have one person who can help you through any difficult issues.
Questions 22-24: Trainer Support and Assessments
Why you should ask these: Trainer support is a definite given, as your trainer is required to basically be there helping you every step of the way (they are also the ones who can legally sign off on your workbooks-any salespeople MUST show their Cert IV Training Certificate if asked). Assessments conducted online will typically take one of two forms: virtual workbook/quiz, or one that you download, fill out and scan/submit online. A reputable institution will also take steps to ensure that yes, the person doing the work is the person enrolled (there are ways to check this)
Question 25: Are there additional fees?
Why you shouldn't ask this one: This one's already covered by the question above regarding fees. If they do charge you extra without informing you first, it's a scam. Also, they should not be charging you extra to access online services.
Other General Tips:
- READ THE ENROLMENT CONTRACT: I cannot stress this one enough. Make sure that you thoroughly read through it, understand it and are sure that you will be able to follow the terms and conditions set out in the contract. If you're under 18 at the time, a parent or guardian MUST sign the contract as well. If you don't understand anything, get the institution to explain the bits you don't understand or get a parent, guardian or friend to explain it for you. A good institute will let you take the contract home, or allow you to take a copy of the contract as well.
- READ THROUGH THE REFUND POLICY: Make sure you understand the process and conditions for refunds and cancellations. This can come back to bite you in the ass later. If you are using VET-FEE-HELP, they must give you at least two business days to read through and sign off on VET-FEE-HELP, it cannot be done in one day.
- KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FEES: If you are using VET-FEE-HELP, they must send you a Commonwealth Assistance Notice before the census date. (NOTE: if you are using FEE-HELP, it must be within 28 days after the census date) This is also where knowing the refund policy comes in handy. If you are paying upfront, check to make sure that the fees match the fee schedule. Also get a receipt.
- VISIT THE PLACE: If you are attending any sort of institute face-to-face, actually go and visit them first. Organise a tour and have someone show you around. The institute should actually look like a place of learning and should be somewhere easily visible from the street. It should not be three rooms upstairs over a convenience store.
- IF THEY ARE AN ONLINE INSTITUTION: Try and visit the nearest physical office for them, even if you don't actually walk into the office itself. A reputable institution does not set up their office in a shopping centre (even in the office tower!)
- ASK PREVIOUS STUDENTS: Try and track down previous students for information on their experience with a previous course. If the institute largely has teachers who've undertaken those same courses, be very very careful. Testimonials on websites are not a reliable source.
- FINALLY: Please, please, PLEASE read through the training.gov.au website. It is an extremely handy source to have. You can visit this via http://training.gov.au
Extra points:
[1] The RAD exams are nationally recognised in the sense that if you were doing Intermediate Foundation before you moved interstate, you may be able to pick up where you left off. However, those same exams will not necessarily guarantee you a job in the long-term short of actually working for a ballet company as a dancer. A Cert III in dance in the other hand can be used as a pathway towards other careers in dance. So "Nationally Recognised Qualification" means being able to use those skills in other areas of that field too.
[2] There are two things you need to be mindful of here: the first is that Advanced Diplomas and Associate Degrees are treated as the same by the AQF. The second is that high school is NOT a valid level on the AQF.
[3] Tradespeople in nearly all states are required to be licensed in the field (or multiple fields) for what they do. This means that they are aware of updated building codes and will carry out work to said codes, along with being held accountable to all state/federal laws. There are different licenses for each area of being a tradie (so for example, a carpenter may not necessarily be qualified to carry out plumbing work, even if they know how to).
[4] A "short course" is also sometimes known as a "Skill Set". The training.gov.au website will refer to them as "skill sets." Basically, it's a few units that won't make up a full qualification but can fill some other industry need or may even be just for fun (A common example of this is the Responsible Service of Alcohol course. You can do just these units and be able to serve alcohol without having to complete the Cert II/III in Hospitality. Another example is the Senior First Aid certificate, where the units form part of the Nursing qualification.)
[5] For anyone who's wondering, current guidelines are 30 compressions, 2 breaths for EVERYONE, although for children and infants the amount of air used and the depth of the compressions will vary. The other recommended option is also to do just compressions, no breaths. Both are acceptable.
[6] Postgraduate courses are: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters, Doctorate. The first two may also be taught by TAFEs/RTOs but only in certain fields. In all cases, loan fees do not apply. If they claim you can do a Masters course through them, check to see if they have a Higher education provider code-this is NOT their RTO code. (and they should not match)
[7] Simply put: if you are unsure, tick yes. It does not mean you will always lose your item. Quarantine will assess the items on arrival, even if you did declare them, and inform you if there are any that can't be taken in. Some items may need to be treated first (such as wood products) but you will get those back eventually. Some items you will lose flat-out and some items you may be allowed to keep if you have the proper permits. If you are bringing gifts from overseas for friends/family, it is much easier to not bring in food-there are a LARGE number of Asian/Indian supermarkets around.
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