3. Definitions

Short Course: A program of study leading to a statement of attainment, comprising of one or more units of competency.
Study Period: The duration of the short course.
Fee: The amount the Client was responsible for paying, for their employee participating in the course.
Commencement Date: Refers to the date from which the enrolled student has been provided RTO induction and Short Course information.
Start Date: Refers to the day on which training and assessment has started
Client: Business or entity to whom People Improvers have agreed to provide a Course to their employees
Students: Employees of the Client who have been nominated to participate in a Course
Subsidised Course: Training that is to be subsidised as part of a purchasing contract between PI and Skills Tasmania or other funding body.

4. Principles

The Short Course Withdrawal Policy is guided by the principles of access, equity, fairness and timeliness. People Improvers is committed to:

 ensuring students that request to withdrawal from a course are not discriminated against
 considering course withdrawal requests in a consistent, transparent, objective and unbiased manner
 making the Policy publicly available
 informing clients of the policy pre-enrolment
 ensuring reasonable timelines for the charging and expected payment of monies
 providing reasons and full explanation in writing for any decisions and actions taken as part relating to this Policy
 keeping appropriate records of withdrawal requests, including brief written outcome, within student files and allowing students access to their records upon request.
 ensuring that such records are treated as confidential and any requests for viewing are referred to the RTO Manager
 reviewing the Withdrawals process regularly

5. Policy Statement

5.1 Fees will be charge to the Client when:

a) the Course for which to Student has been nominated has commenced, and / or 
b) an Enrollment Form has been received from the Student

5.2 The charge of Fees will remain valid even if the Student does not attend the Course.

5.3 A refund of Fees is contingent upon approval by the CEO upon receipt of the following from the Client:

 the return of the learning materials in a state that they may be reused. (if appropriate)
 a request in writing from the Client to PI stating that, the enrolment change was necessitated by compassionate circumstances beyond the students/client’s control, and which prevent the student from completing studies in that study period.
Other guidance about the refund of fees can be found in People Improvers Fee Refund Policy and Procedure

5.4 The client may choose another employee to participate in the training and access any subsidised course places if:

 the enrolment form of the new employee is received prior to commencement of the Course
 advice is received in writing from the client that one person is replacing the other.

6. Grievances and Appeals

A student / client may appeal against a decision made with respect to fees, including refunds, and the appeal must be lodged in writing according to the processes for appeals as detailed in the Student Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedure.

Availability of the RTO’s complaints and appeals processes does not remove the right of a student or client or an intending student or client to take action under Australia’s consumer protection laws or to lodge an appeal with a relevant external body or to take other legal action.

7. Responsibility

The RTO Manager has the responsibility to provide the student/client details and fee status to CEO for approval.

The CEO has the responsibility to make a final decision about all the refund claims.
The CEO has the responsibility to effectively implement the policy and maintain this policy and relevant procedures.

Any complaints or breaches in relation to this policy should be reported to the Chief Executive Officer in person or by email to: ceo@peopleimprovers.com