VET FEE-HELP Learner How To's

How to enrol and be inducted into your course with VET FEE-HELP

 

Course Descriptions: These can be downloaded and printed. They are available on each course information page and contain detailed information about the course.

 

Induction

At your enrolment, our enrolment officer will explain to you how you can complete your course, your obligations to your employer and various other information that you will benefit from.

Please review your Learner handbook as you will be required to acknowledge that you done so in order to obtain VET FEE-HELP.

 

How to get a Unique Student Identifier (USI)

USIs are free for all Learners - You will need a USI to obtain VET FEE-HELP

 

The USI scheme is free. The USI Office does not charge a fee for individuals creating their USI and maintaining their USI account, which will bring together their records of nationally recognised training completed after 1 January 2015. 

Individuals can create their USI for free by themselves. It is a quick and easy process and will only take a few minutes of your time by following the steps below: https://www.usi.gov.au/students/how-do-i-create-usi

 

Step 1: Get at least one form of ID from the list below ready:

•    Driver’s Licence
•    Medicare Card (this includes a current family Medicare card where your name is included)
•    Australian Passport
•    Visa (with Non-Australian Passport) for international Learners
•    Birth Certificate (Australian) *please note a Birth Certificate extract is not sufficient 
•    Certificate Of Registration By Descent
•    Citizenship Certificate
•    ImmiCard

 

IMPORTANT: The details you enter when you create your USI must match exactly with those shown on the form of ID used.

If you have no form of ID from the list above, please contact the Australian Salesmasters on (02) 96700 9333.

 

Step 2 Click on ‘Create your USI’.

 

Step 3 Agree to the terms and conditions. 

 

Step 4 Fill in your personal and contact details.

 

Step 5 Enter the requested details as shown on your form of ID (see list above).

 

Step 6 Set your USI account password and questions for security.

 

Step 7 Your USI will now be displayed on the screen.

 

Step 8 You should write down your USI somewhere safe or enter it into your phone for safe keeping.

 

Step 9 Your USI will also be sent to you by either your email, phone or by mailing address (which ever you choose as your preferred contact method when creating your USI).

 

Step 10 Be sure to bring your USI with you each time you enrol in course.

And remember creating your USI is free.

 

Duplicate USI

When you create your USI the system will check existing accounts and advise if there is a USI account already established.  If you or your training organisation become aware of the possibility of you having two USIs, either party should report the issue to the USI Office. The USI Office will work with the relevant parties to resolve the issue and advise you of the outcome.

 

Forgotten USI

If you forget or lose your USI you can retrieve it online. You will need to enter a few details to verify who you are to display your USI. The details must be the same as those you entered when you applied for a USI or, if you did so, when you last updated your USI account. 

 

Help

Visit for further help. 

Steps to create your USI: http://usi.gov.au/Students/Pages/steps-to-create-your-USI.aspx

Learner Help: http://usi.gov.au/help-centre/student-help/Pages/default.aspx

When am I competent?

 

You are either deemed competent or not yet competent.

 

Competent

After each assessment your Training Record Book should be completed and signed by you and the assessor. In the case where the assessment occurs over time and on different occasions, you should receive constructive feedback after each occasion from the assessor and your Competency Record Book should be updated.

 

Not Yet Competent

If you have provided insufficient evidence for the unit of competency, the assessor should explain why the evidence provided does not show that you fully possess the competency against the standards and provide advice on further evidence to be provided. It is up to you to provide further evidence. Further evidence can be in the form of:

providing additional documents or information

attending further training or education programs

further work experience

When you feel you are ready, you can be reassessed. You will not have to do the whole assessment again. You will only be re-assessed in those areas where the assessor requires more evidence. If, after the reassessment, you are deemed 'Competent', the process already outlined above for deemed competent should be followed.

 

How many times can I apply for assessment?

 There are no restrictions on the number of times you may seek reassessment. However, if competency is not indicated after the second attempt, you should seek advice from your assessor and employer/supervisor (where applicable) about how to improve your performance.

 

What if I do not agree with the result?

 There is a process available that allows for a review of your evidence. If you do not agree with the result you should discuss this first with your assessor and contact should be made with ASTC.

ASTC has appeal procedures instituted that you should follow. Please refer to Appeals & Complaints section of the Learner manual.

 

How do I turn my assessed competencies into a credential?

 When you have been deemed competent in the prescribed set of units for a credential, your assessor will provide ASTC with your assessment results. ASTC will issue all AQF qualifications and statements of attainment within 14 days of the training program completion. The details of the prescribed units for a credential can be obtained from the assessor, ASTC, your training plan or the relevant Training Package (refer training.gov.au).

 

How do I know what training I have completed or have yet to complete?

 This can be ascertained in the following ways:

• You are able to ring ASTC on Tel:(02) 9700 9333 and receive a copy of completed competencies which will be emailed to you within 2 working days.
• Written request to ASTC
• Refer to your Training Plan

Handing in assessments

 

Learner are to be advised to make a copy of all assessments prior to sending them anywhere. They may get lost.

 

An assessment completed on or before the due date should be given directly to the relevant Trainer in class, with the assignment cover sheet completed and the Learner declaration signed. Alternatively, it may also be handed in at the Administration Office and registered into the Assignment Folder on the reception counter. The Administration Office will pass it on to the Trainer. ASTC assumes no responsibility for assignments that have not been signed into the Administration Office or handed directly to the Trainer.

 

Whilst ASTC takes all due care, the Administration Office cannot take responsibility for the loss of assessments. Accordingly, Learners are to be advised to keep a photocopy of all work, and if using post as a medium of communication, Learners are recommended to send by Certified Mail or Express Post to:

PO Box 638

Rosebery NSW 1445

Testamur Reissue

 

a) Testamurs are system generated documents, produced to an authorised template. Amendments or the addition or deletion of details from a testamur is not allowed except where demonstrably incorrect information is presented on the document.

b) Testamurs will be produced and issued to graduates within 14 days of satisfactory completion of their program.

c) Multiple copies will not be provided. Replacements will only be made available where the original has been permanently lost, damaged or destroyed. Any replacement testamur will be issued in the format current at the time of replacement or reissue and will state the current date of printing as well as the original date of conferral. As a consequence, signatories to the replacement testamur may be different from those on the original testamur.

 

Fee

A fee of $45 will be charged upon the issue of a replacement testamur.

A fee of $50 will be charged for a urgent (within 24 hours of request) replacement testamur.

 

How to apply for a unit of study extension

 

Please fill in the form below. 

How to Withdrawal from your Vet Fee Help course

It is important to correctly withdraw from your course or unit of study. If you don’t withdraw correctly or if you miss the withdrawal deadline, you will incur a HELP debt and may also incur academic and financial penalties.

 

To withdraw from a unit or course of study without incurring a HELP debt or losing an up-front payment, you need to complete ASTC’s formal withdrawal procedures before the census date. You need to complete the formal withdrawal process for every unit you want to withdraw from, including any units for future study periods.

 

To withdrawal from your unit or course of study at ASTC :

• you must withdraw in writing on below Withdrawal application form;
• you must submit this form in time for it to be delivered and processed before the census date;
• you should keep a copy of your withdrawal documentation as confirmation that you completed the correct procedure in your training record book.

For more information about the correct withdrawal procedure you should contact your Student Support officer on 02 9700 9333 ( 1300 008880) or through email at assessment@thesalesmasters.com.au

 

What happens if I withdraw after the census date?

 

If you withdraw from your Vet Fee Help unit or course of study at ASTC after the census date, you will incur a HELP debt and your FEE‑HELP limit will be reduced.

If you withdrew from a unit after the census date because of special circumstances, you may be able to get your HELP debt remitted (and your FEE‑HELP balance re-credited if applicable). For ASTC to be satisfied that special circumstances applied to you, you must be able to prove in writing ( or through documentation) that the circumstances:

·         were beyond your control

·         did not make their full impact on you until or after the census date and

·         made it impracticable for you to complete your unit of study requirements

After investigation ASTC will notify the Learner of the outcome directly. 

How to lodge a complaint or Grievance regarding your VET FEE-HELP Course.

A complaint should first be lodged with Australian Salesmasters administration within 30 days of the issue arising, where practicable.

A written response will be provided within 21 working days.

These are to be sent to:

PO Box 638 

Rosebery NSW 1445

or emailed to: assessment@thesalesmasters.com.au

 

Where the outcome is not satisfactory to the Learner, the learner Support Officer should be contacted in writing (mail/email) by the Learner, setting out:

• The circumstances surrounding the issue
• Who was involved
• Why a complaint is being lodged
• Any evidence including dates and documentation
• The name of any witnesses who could support the case
• The learner Support Officer will table the complaint at the next scheduled Board of Directors Meeting and the Learner will be notified in writing of the outcome.

Complaint Third Party Referral

If the Learner is not satisfied with the outcome, the complaint will be referred to an independent person, who is agreed to by both parties, and the Learner will have an opportunity to formally present their case. Utilise the above form.

 

How to lodge an appeal

 

An application for appeal will be considered where:

• A Learner claims a disadvantage because the Trainer did not provide a unit outline and assessment scheme
• A Learner claims disadvantage because the Trainer varied without consultation or in an unreasonable way the assessment requirements as specified in the unit outline and assessment scheme
• A Learner claims disadvantage because assessment requirements specified by the assessment scheme were unreasonably or prejudicially applied to him or her
• A Learner is of the view that a clerical error has occurred in the documenting of the assessment outcome
• A Learner claims that there is a discrepancy between the practical observation and the formal assessment.
• Where appropriate the Learner should first approach the assessor concerned within 30 days of receiving the assessment result, where practicable.

Where the outcome is not satisfactory to the Learner, the learner Support Officer should be contacted in writing (mail/email) by the Learner, setting out:

• The circumstances surrounding the issue
• Who was involved
• Why an appeal is being lodged
• Any evidence including dates and documentation
• The name of any witnesses who could support the appeal

 

The Board of Directors will consider the appeal and the Learner will be notified in writing of the outcome and the reason for the decision.

 

 If the Learner is not satisfied with the outcome, the appeal will be referred to an independent person, who is agreed to by both parties, and the Learner will have an opportunity to formally present their case.

 

Appeal Third Party Referral

In the event that you are still not satisfied with the outcome, they will be informed that they can contact the National Training Complaints Hotline on 1800 000 674 and/or refer the matter to the Australian Skills Quality Authority complaints team on 1300 701 801 or email complaintsteam@asqa.gov.au