Student rights and responsibilities - landing

 

Student rights and responsibilities

Know your rights and responsibilities and what you can expect from TAFE NSW.

Know your rights and responsibilities

TAFE NSW students have rights and responsibilities which they need to be aware of. When you begin a TAFE NSW course you will be advised of these, and you will be provided with a student guide that provides further information.

TAFE NSW students have responsibilities in work placement.

TAFE NSW Student Guide

2024 Student Guide
Download (PDF, 4.92MB)

TAFE NSW Enrolment Information

For enrolment information see: TAFE NSW Enrolment Information.

Student Privacy and Enrolment Notices

As a TAFE NSW student, you must acknowledge and accept that it is a condition of your enrolment that you abide by all TAFE NSW policies and procedures, and where relevant, adhere to the entitlement and eligibility criteria of Smart & Skilled, and that you have read, understand and agree to the following:

Management of Risk of Harm to Students and Staff

TAFE NSW is required by law to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and visitors on our premises. In order to meet these legal obligations it is necessary for us to access and manage any known risk of violent behaviour. If you have a history of violence that may suggest that you could pose a current risk of any type to TAFE students, staff and/or visitors it is a condition of your enrolment to advise the Campus Manager, a TAFE Counsellor or your Head Teacher prior to attending your first class.

For this purposes 'violence' is not restricted to physical acts.

  • It includes any behaviour that seriously interferes with the physical or psychological safety and wellbeing of others such as:
  • actual violence to any person
  • possession of or use of a weapon or any item with the intention to cause harm or injury to others
  • threats of violence or intimidation of others
  • suspension or expulsion from any school or educational institution for violent aggressive behaviour.

TAFE NSW is committed to offering vocational education and training to the entire community. Following your advice of a potential risk, we will carry out an assessment of the current risk and, if necessary, provide support and a management plan. Only in exceptional circumstances will a risk assessment lead to exclusion from enrolment.

It is our aim to provide an appropriate, safe environment to suit every learner's need and maximise your success in your studies.

Student - Smart & Skilled Consent

I understand and agree that personal information (information or an opinion about me), collected from me, (my parent or guardian) such as my name, Unique Student Identifier, date of birth, contact details, training outcomes and performance, or sensitive personal information (including my ethnicity or health information) (together Personal Information) collected by TAFE NSW may be disclosed to the Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development (Department).
The Department may disclose my Personal Information to other Australian government agencies, including those located in States and Territories outside New South Wales.

The above government agencies may use my Personal Information for any purpose relating to the exercise of their government functions, including but not limited to the evaluation and assessment of my training, the determination of my eligibility to receive subsidised training or for any fee exemptions or concessions. My Personal Information may also be disclosed to other third parties if required by law.

I consent to the collection, use and disclosure of my Personal Information in the manner outlined above.

I also acknowledge and agree that the Department may contact me by telephone email or post during or after I have ceased subsidised training with TAFE NSW for the purposes of evaluating and assessing my subsidised training.

Note: if under 18 years of age at the time of giving consent, then the consent of your guardian is required.

Student – Consent for access to Information

I consent and authorise TAFE NSW and the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) or Department of Veterans' Affairs for the release of information on the current status of my Entitlement solely in order to confirm and validate my eligibility for fee exemption or fee concession on enrolment into training subsidised by the NSW Government or identified TAFE NSW qualifications.

Student – TAFE NSW Privacy Notice

Information collected by TAFE NSW during a student's enrolment and attendance will be used for the purposes of your course enrolment, learning and student records administration, identification, communication, state and national reporting, program monitoring, evaluation and surveys. Student information will be held securely and disposed of securely when no longer needed. The information may be disclosed to the Department of Human Services (Centrelink), the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Transport for NSW, Training Services NSW, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the Universities Admission Centre, Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

In order to meet the requirements of Registered Training Organisations under the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Act 2001, apprentice and trainee information is provided to employers, Australian Apprenticeship Centres and Training Services NSW (or the relevant State Training Authority).

All personal information TAFE NSW collects in connection with your enrolment is managed in accordance with TAFE NSW's Privacy Statement.

Consumer protection

TAFE NSW has a reputation as a safe, progressive and dynamic place to study. TAFE NSW aims to provide an environment to support quality vocational education and training to benefit individuals, industry, business and the wider community.

As a TAFE NSW student you have the right to:

  • expect that the education and training will be consistent with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) regulations and Smart and Skilled Contract requirements
  • be informed about personal information that is collected about you and the right to review and correct that information
  • access to TAFE NSW feedback and complaints handling process.

With rights come responsibilities and as a student in TAFE NSW your responsibilities include:

  • providing true, accurate and complete information to TAFE NSW
  • behaving in a responsible and ethical manner.

Learner Portal

All students have the right to access their study records. TAFE NSW provides an internet service for students to view their study records within their current location of study, via the Learner Portal.

In the Learner Portal you may:

  • view your current and past study records and results
  • check and update your current contact details
  • request an official TAFE NSW transcript of your results (academic transcripts). To replace your Certificate, please fill out the replacement testamur form.
  • view notifications from your college, such as notifications of your next schedule fee payments as well as a history of your fee payments
  • view notifications of calendar information, such as the schedules for TAFE NSW final examinations.

To log on to the Learner Portal, you need the username and password issued to you when you enrolled. Contact your campus if you are unsure.

TAFE NSW will send notifications and reminders to your email account.

Assessment appeals

If you wish to have an assessment result reviewed or make an appeal against an assessment result, in the first instance, speak to your teacher or head teacher.

Alternatively, complete the Assessment Appeals Form and submit to the email address provided in the form.

For more information about assessments, read the Every Student's Guide to Assessment in TAFE NSW.

Making a complaint

If you have a problem with, or complaint about TAFE NSW, you can report it to any TAFE NSW employee. They will record your concerns so they can be dealt with confidentially and promptly. You may also submit your complaint complaints made via the online complaint form.

For more information about making a complaint to TAFE NSW see the complaints page.

Privacy and personal information

When you enrol at TAFE NSW, the collection, storage, use and disclosure of any personal information you provide is protected under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Any health information you provided is protected under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002.

Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA Act)

The GIPA Act gives you the right to request access to documents held by most government agencies, including TAFE NSW. Some documents may be informally available; others will require a formal application to be made.

For more information see How to access information.

Protection of children and young people

In line with NSW Government legislation, TAFE NSW is committed to promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people (defined legally as people under 18 years of age) whether they are students, apprentices or trainees in schools, colleges, workplaces or programs conducted by TAFE NSW or under the auspices of TAFE NSW.

TAFE NSW employees are required, by law and/or by departmental policy, to report children and young people suspected to be at risk of significant harm to Community Services within the NSW Department of Human Services under the procedures for "Keep Them Safe: a Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing".

Anti-discrimination

Discrimination means treating someone unfairly or less favourably than another person or group because of a characteristic specified under anti-discrimination or human rights legislation.
Discrimination is against the law. It is unlawful to discriminate against people on the grounds of:

  • age (including compulsory retirement)
  • carers' responsibilities (caring for or supporting some adults or children)
  • disability (physical, intellectual, psychiatric, learning and sensory) as well as infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS.

For more information please see the TAFE NSW policies page.

TAFEcard (Student Card)

A TAFEcard is the TAFE NSW student identification card. You must get a TAFEcard – it contains your photograph, name and student number, and:

  • Records membership of the library
  • Gives you access to parking, photocopying facilities and secure areas such as computer labs
  • Is required for you to be able to sit an examination

How to get your TAFEcard

The TAFEcard is a compulsory form of identification at TAFE NSW. Please visit your TAFE NSW campus to have your photo taken for your TAFEcard. If you are studying online, you can go to a TAFE campus close to you, or contact us on 131 241 to get your TAFEcard. You will be issued with one TAFEcard regardless of how many courses you enrol in; the card is valid whilst you are enrolled and can be used for future courses. Please don’t discard the card once your course finishes as a replacement fee of $20 applies to lost/stolen or damaged cards.