Youth Futures provides a Participant Handbook for all participants in our Training Courses and Programs. It spells out what you can expect from us and what we will expect of you. Please ensure that you read it thoroughly prior to enroling.
It can be read online here or downloaded via the link at the bottom of the page.
- Welcome
- Induction Training and Assessment
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy
- Access and Equity
- Code of Conduct
- Definitions
- Certificates
- National Recognition
- Recognition of Prior Learning
- Recognition of Current Competency
- Withdrawals
- Grievances, Complaints and Assessment Appeals
- Participant Support, Welfare and Guidance
- Privacy
- Unique Student Identifier (USI)
- Access to Training Records
- Harassment and Discrimination
- Plagiarism
- Change of Participant Details
- Participant Feedback
WELCOME
We are pleased that you have chosen to participate in workplace training with us at Youth Futures.
We will provide the identified training and assessment and support you to successfully complete your training. Welcome to our partnership.
Youth Futures is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). We deliver training in individual units as well as skill sets in Rural, Construction, Manufacturing and Wine Industries. Go to www.training.gov.au to see the full range of our courses, units and qualifications.
We are fortunate to have a highly skilled training and assessment team with extensive industry skills and experience. Our trainers will deliver a tailored learning program that meets your vocational training needs, as well as offer you timely advice and constructive feedback along the way.
On the first day of training your Trainer will go through this handbook with you and provide further information in relation to your training program, the units of competence and/or skill set and discuss your Training Plan.
Please do not hesitate to approach your trainer or any Youth Futures staff if you require further information or clarification on any aspects of your training. Our aim is to address any concerns quickly to enable you to continue along the path of enhancing your vocational skills.
Our contact details are as follows:
Youth Futures Inc.
RTO 60164
Address: 6 Invermay Road, Launceston TAS 7248
Postal address: PO Box 1210, Launceston TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6331 6176
Fax: 03 6331 6626
Email: training@youthfutures.org.au
Website: www.youthfutures.org.au
We look forward to working with you!
INDUCTION TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT
As part of your induction your trainer will:
- Arrange for you to complete the required paperwork.
- Provide you with an outline of and introduction to your Training Program, including the dates and times of all of your subsequent training sessions and expectations of you as a participant
- Develop a personal training pathway plan to suit your specific needs
- Provide you with your applicable Training Materials and/or Journals and Log Books
- Complete a language, literacy and numeracy test to establish where you are at
- Commence training in the first unit of competency
- Outline any out of class activities that you are required to complete
It is important to utilise the expertise of your trainer – they are working with you to ensure you successfully complete your training.
It is important to acknowledge that any learning takes time and effort from you to complete your tasks to the competency level required. Your commitment to this program is vital to your success.
During all sessions, your trainer will review your completed tasks asking you to demonstrate your competency in the skills you have acquired. Known as the assessment process, it aims to:
- Confirm that you have acquired the competencies identified in the course units; and
- Demonstrate that you are competent to the agreed industry standard
Methods used to assess your competence in the required units may include but are not limited to:
- Observation
- Practical demonstration
- Case studies/problem solving
- Questioning
Trainers will have an outcome sheet to record results of each competency. There are four possible outcomes:
- Competent “C”
- Not yet Competent “NYC”
- Withdrawn “W”
Any participant graded a “NYC” will be advised of the reasons for the mark, and be given further opportunities for re-assessment. We will provide assistance to try and assist you achieve a competent result.
LANGUAGE, LITERACY AND NUMERACY
Youth Futures delivers flexible learning and assessment procedures and can tailor its training and assessment to suit individual needs. As your course requires language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills your trainer will discuss with you your LLN skills at the first visit.
Our trainers can provide supported assistance, if necessary, are able to adapt assessment methods, where appropriate, to ensure you have equal access to a fair assessment. This may mean that a participant who struggles with written communication will be assessed in another manner and the trainer will make notes of this assessment.
Participants are encouraged to discuss any LLN concerns with their trainer if issues emerge during the course of the training.
In the event that your needs exceed our ability we will discuss appropriate assistance available through other providers.
See also Access and Equity Policy
Youth Futures' participant application and selection processes will comply with access and equity principles. All participants will be treated with equal merit and given equal access to all available courses appropriate to their needs. This includes, but is not limited to, the following groups of people:
- people with a disability
- indigenous people
- people from non-English speaking background (NESB)
- Youth
- Long term unemployed
Participants will be given every opportunity, within reason, to progress through their training and to obtain the qualification for which they are enrolled.
Our organisation conducts its business according to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Our code of conduct stresses the importance of treating participants fairly, ethically and with respect and dignity at all times.
We have expectations of you as a participant to display similar standards.
We ask that you:
- Notify Youth Futures or your trainer if you cannot attend your training session. This should be done at the earliest possible time.
- Always bring your workbook and related examples, along with your completed assessment tasks to each session with your trainer
- Treat all individuals with respect and dignity
- Comply with all reasonable requests and instructions given by Youth Futures
- Comply with Youth Futures’ policies and regulations provided in this information folder
- Conduct yourself in a manner that will provide a safe and rewarding learning environment for all
These words may be used frequently during your training, so we ask you to familiarise yourself with them.
Competency is a broad concept that describes a person’s ability in a range of areas.
Competency-based training is training which develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve competency standards.
Competency standard is an industry-determined specification of performance which sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are made up of units of competency, which are themselves made up of elements of competency, together with performance criteria, a range of variables, and an evidence guide. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package.
Workplace assessment is the gathering and judging of evidence during normal work activities in order to determine whether a required standard has been achieved. Workplace assessment usually involves observation of work in progress, checking the product(s) of a work activity, and receiving oral responses to questions posed while work is in progress.
Workplace training is training undertaken in the workplace, usually on-the-job, including on-the-job training under normal operational conditions, and on-site training, which is conducted away from the work process (e.g. in a training room).
Participants who successfully complete all the required units from their course will be issued with a Nationally Recognised Certificate and associated Statement of Attainment.
This will be sent to your nominated address and specify the qualification name, code and individual units within the course. You should receive this within two months of completing your course.
Where you do not complete the full requirements of the course a Statement of Results for the individual units successfully completed will be issued.
National Recognition is the recognition, by Registered Training Organisation (RTO), of the AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) qualifications and statements of attainment issued by all other RTO's. Thereby enabling national recognition of the qualifications and statements of attainment issued to any person
You will need to provide Youth Futures with an original or certified copy of their Certificate and Statement of Attainment indicating a competent level of attainment. This must occur prior to commencement of the unit(s).
Upon verification you will be granted credit for the units of competency previously completed at the other RTO and the participant’s record will be updated with National Recognition noted against those units.
Youth Futures recognises that you may be able to demonstrate some of the defined competencies of the course. These competencies may have been gained from previous learning, through work and life experiences, employment experience and/or previous non-accredited education and training undertaken.
RPL discussions are conducted at the time of completing an application, however further opportunity for an RPL assessment is possible throughout the course via the following process:
- Complete an RPL application with your Youth Futures trainer, along with relevant supporting documentation. This should be done prior to commencement of the relevant unit/s
- An interview is conducted which is followed up by an assessment and verification process
- You are then advised of the results of the assessment
You may appeal the results of the RPL decision. Your appeal application should be lodged with Youth Futures - Training.
If difficulties arise for you, that may cause you to consider withdrawing from the course, we would appreciate if you could discuss the issue with your trainer or staff at Youth Futures. There are many options that we could offer that may enable you to avoid withdrawing from the program.
GRIEVANCES, COMPLAINTS & ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Youth Futures is committed to creating a fair and equitable organisational culture and will deal with any client complaint against a Youth Futures decision in an effective and timely manner.
For a period of up to 6 (six) months after your final assessment decision has been made, you are able to appeal the assessment decision should you not agree with the outcome.
If you have a grievance that is affecting your ability to complete your course, it is important to let your trainer know about the issue. Trainers and management at Youth Futures are responsible for responding appropriately to complaints and managing the resolution process, in accordance with Youth Futures’ complaints handling policy and procedures.
The process for the lodgement of a grievance, complaint or assessment appeal includes:
- Participant lodges grievance / complaint in writing (email or paper), if verbal negotiation has not provided a successful outcome
- Youth Futures Training staff investigates the grievance or complaint. This will include an interview with the participant
- If resolved, the participant is advised of the outcome in writing
- If unresolved, the participant may appeal to the Director of Youth Futures, who will further investigate the grievance or complaint.
- Outcomes, including reasons for the decisions are recorded in Youth Futures’ complaints register
- Should the participant seek further assistance the Director will consider other options
PARTICIPANT SUPPORT, WELFARE AND GUIDANCE
Youth Futures will assist all participants in their efforts to complete their training course. In the event that a participant is experiencing any difficulties with their learning we would recommend that the participant discuss the issues with their trainer or staff at Youth Futures.
The trainer will ensure that the full resources of Youth Futures are made available to assist the participant achieve the required level of competency in all accredited courses.
Should you be experiencing a personal difficulty, Youth Futures will make every attempt to accommodate your needs.
If your needs exceed our capacity we will recommend referral to an appropriate external agency.
See also Privacy Policy
Youth Futures takes the privacy of our participants very seriously and we will comply with all legislative requirements.
These include the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles (APP) 2014
“We will not disclose any information that we gather about our staff, clients or participants to any third party. We use the information collected only for the services we provide. No staff, client or participant information is shared with another organisation. If staff, client or participant information is required by a third party we will obtain written consent from the relevant staff, client or participant prior to release of any information”
For detailed information about our Privacy Policy, please refer to our Privacy Policy available on our website (www.youthfutures.org.au)
UNIQUE STUDENT IDENTIFIER (USI)
As of 1 January 2015, all students require a USI to be able to be awarded qualifications and statements of attainment. Youth Futures will assist Participants who need to obtain a USI by either providing access to a computer and the internet or apply on behalf of the Participant. Should we apply on the Participants' behalf, a privacy consent form (Forms/USI Privacy & Consent) must be given, read, understood, signed and filed for our record. Step by step instructions on how to go about this are available to assist in the process. Once the USI has been obtained, Youth Futures will record this unique number in VetTrak in the Participant's profile.
The number will then need to be verified via VetTrak directly with the USI Registry, this process is automated. The following information is required to be provided to enable application to be processed:
- Their name, including first or given name(s), middle name(s) and surname or family name as they appear in an identification document;
- Their date of birth, as it appears, if shown, in the chosen document of identity;
- Their city or town of birth;
- Their country of birth;
- Their gender
You are permitted access to your own training records. In order to do so, you are required to make application to Youth Futures. Youth Futures will then arrange a time for you to attend Youth Futures’ premises to view your files.
Hard copies of your actual pieces of work, will be kept for a period of 6 months after the date of which you are deemed competent.
Youth Futures is required under Australian law to ensure we provide a workplace that is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination (including victimisation and bullying) so that participants feel valued, respected and are treated fairly.
Youth Futures will ensure that our trainers and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in creating such a workplace and they are aware of Youth Futures’ processes and procedures for addressing any form of harassment or discrimination.
Any breach of harassment / anti-discrimination policy will be considered a serious offence and immediate action will be taken.
Plagiarism is a form of fraud. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offences and may result in failure to achieve competency. It is important that participants declare sources from which they have derived material and ideas, if not their own.
CHANGE OF PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
It is your responsibility to inform Youth Futures of any changes to your personal details such as name, address, telephone phone numbers, or other personal details.
As part of our commitment to you and your professional development, Youth Futures is keen to hear from you about your progress in completing your course. You will be provided with a form upon completion of your training to provide feedback on the quality of our training and staff.
Youth Futures welcomes any feedback you feel is relevant as we see this as an opportunity to review and improve our policies and practices and to gain insight into participant satisfaction levels. If you wish to provide feedback prior to receiving our feedback form, you and provide this to your trainer, at Youth Futures office or via our website.
GOOD LUCK with your TRAINING!
