VET STUDENT ENTRY PROCEDURE
Applies to the CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) course
Step 1 – Before you apply
- Speak with an ACAP course adviser to determine which course is right for you; and
2. Familiarise yourself with your chosen course entry criteria/pre-requisites and course fees; and
3. Ensure you have read and understood all College policies & procedures. You can refer to the Policy and Procedures page for information regarding Credit/Recognition of Prior Learning, Refund, and Grievance Complaints and Appeals policies and procedures.
Step 2 – Apply online
Complete your online application form and collate the documents required to proceed to enrolment. An ACAP course adviser will contact you within 2-4 business days of receipt of your application to finalise your submission.
Step 3 – Proof of ACAP VET course entry eligibility
You will be asked to supply the following items:
1. One of the following documents to demonstrate you have met the course entry criteria
(i) Record of Results and/or authenticated transcript from the Student Identifiers Register AND Testamur to verify completion of a VET Certificate IV or above qualification (delivered in English); or
(ii) Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12 Certificate); or
(iii) Proof of completion of the ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) at Exit Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in both reading and numeracy.
If you are unable to supply any of the documents at (i), (ii) or (iii) above, ACAP will arrange for you to complete the online ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) in reading and numeracy assessment (see Step 5 below).*
2. Identification documents: passport, Australian Driver’s License, or state-issued ID card.
You will be asked to provide proof that you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or holder of a permanent visa or permanent humanitarian visa (e.g., copy of birth certificate, passport photo page, visa).
If any of your documentation refers to you using a different name, then certified proof of your change of name must also be supplied.
If any of your documentation is in a language other than English, a certified English translation must be included, along with the original.
Step 4 – Confirmation of enrolment
ACAP will advise the outcome of your course application via email, usually within 2-4 business days of receiving all required documents.
If you have indicated as part of the application process that you wish to access the Australian Government VET Student Loan to pay for your units (in full or in part) please read Steps 5 and 6 below, as you may be required to provide further documentation.
Step 5 – VET Student Loan Student Eligibility Requirements
It is a Commonwealth legislated requirement that all students wishing to apply for a Commonwealth VET Student Loan must be assessed by their provider for academic suitability to undertake a high level VET qualification. This is a student protection measure introduced from 1 Jan 2017.
The following steps are essential to meet VET student loan eligibility requirements:
- Studying in an approved course at ACAP
2. Apply to the Australian Government using the approved form and include all relevant information
3. Confirm your engagement and progression to continue to access the loan throughout the course, when required to do so by the Department
4. You must have FEE-HELP balance that is more than $0 (ie you have not used all of your FEE-HELP limit)
5. Meet the citizenship and residency requirements:
– be an Australian citizen (hold a current Australian passport, birth certificate issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, a citizenship certificate, or by completing a Form 119 Application for evidence of Australian citizenship. Note that different rules apply depending on whether you were born before or on or after 20 August 1986); or
– a qualifying New Zealand citizen (holder of a Special Category Visa); or
– a permanent humanitarian visa holder, who is usually resident in Australia.
6. Meet the academic suitability requirements:
One of the following documents to demonstrate you have met the course entry criteria(i) Record of Results and/or authenticated transcript from the Student Identifiers Register AND Testamur to verify completion of a VET Certificate IV or above qualification (delivered in English); or
(ii) Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12 Certificate); or
(iii) Proof of completion of the ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) at Exit Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in both reading and numeracy.If you are unable to supply any of the documents at (i), (ii) or (iii) above, ACAP will arrange for you to complete the online ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) in reading and numeracy assessment (more information about this is below).
Students must apply for a VET student loan for the course in accordance with the loan application requirements. An application for a VET student loan must:
- Meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements – i.e. include the your tax file number or a certificate from the Commissioner stating that the student has applied for a tax file number
- Include the your Unique Student Identifier (USI) unless you are otherwise exempt
- Have been submitted by the census day for the first unit for the course for which you are requesting a loan and no less than two business days after enrolling
- Be in the form approved by the Secretary for the loan – which is generally the electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
Where a student is under 18 years old, they must:
- Have a parental consent form signed by a responsible parent of the student; (providers must obtain the signed parental consent form prior to submitting enrolment information into the eCAF system); or
- Have evidence of the assessment of receipt of youth allowance on the basis that the student is independent within the meaning of Part 2.11 of the Social Security Act 1991; (providers should receive from the student evidence of this assessment in the form of their Centrelink Income Statement noting this assessment).
Section 82(1)(c) of the VET Student Loam Rules require ACAP ensure that require that process to be conducted with honesty and integrity.
ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults
If you are required to complete the ACER Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) test, either to provide proof of eligibility for entry into an ACAP VET courses or to meet the VET Student Loan Student Entry Procedure, ACAP will contact you to discuss how you can prepare for the test. ACAP will then email you a link to the testing tool. There is no cost to you if you complete the ACER CSPA test using the provided link by ACAP.
The ACER CSPA testing tool consists of two tests, one for reading and one for numeracy. Each test takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes to complete. There is no time limit and each test can be completed progressively over multiple login sessions on different days. ACAP must be confident that you have completed this test independently and are able to display competence at or above Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). ACAP will email you a copy of your test results normally within five business days of completion. ACAP is required to store your test results for five years after you enrol and may be required to provide your test results to the Commonwealth if requested.
STEP 6 (if applicable) – Submission of Application for a VET Student Loan
If you have indicated to ACAP that you wish to access the Australian Government VET Student Loan scheme to pay for your units in full or in part you will be emailed a link to the Australian Government’s online VET Student Loan Application Form after your enrolment, provided you have met the VET Student Loan eligibility requirements.
This form must be submitted by census date, which is also the final date you can withdraw from your course without incurring academic penalties or tuition fees. For more information about VET Student Loans, go here.