Student Information

The following information is for students studying courses containing Nationally Recognised units with Byron College.

Student Support
Guarantee of Course Completion
Appeals and Complaints Procedures
Consumer Protection Policy
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit Transfer
Refund Policy
Unique Student Identifier or USI

Student Support services

All prospective and enrolled students have access to the Student Support Officer (SSO) and our Foundation Skills Coordinator (FSK Coordinator) for course consultations and study plan interviews. Any student may self-refer or make appointments via a referral from an outside community or job-service agency, BRCC administration or BRCC training staff.

All students who are enrolling in an accredited qualification are required to complete a Learner Profile and IT Skills Assessment as part of their course application. This allows the SSO to identify any language needs, literacy and numeracy levels and gaps in digital literacy that the individual may have. The SSO will liaise with the FSK Coordinator to determine the suitability of the student for their chosen qualification, as well as to anticipate and facilitate external support if required for a range of issues or concerns.

The SSO and the FSK coordinator can facilitate external support via referrals if required by the student for the following:

Difficulties with study, decisions to defer from study
Individual mentoring, counselling
Financial problems
Accommodation, health care and well-being
Problems with personal issues, such as homesickness, gambling, depression, relationship issues etc.
Equity & Equal Opportunity issues, sexual harassment, discrimination issues
Disability Adviser regarding examination/study adjustments

Byron Region Community College has a Student Support Policy detailed in the Student Handbook. For more information on the specific roles of the SSO, the FSK Coordinator and the Student Support process please download the Student Handbook here. Or to arrange a meeting please either contact the College offices on 02 66843374, or email studentsupport@byroncollege.org.au

Guarantee of Course Completion

Byron Region Community College will only commence a course when the minimum number of students required for the course to be financially viable for the College has been met. Once the course has started the College guarantees to complete the course within the period advertised. Should the course need to be cancelled due to poor enrolments, Byron Region Community College will reimburse all students the fees already paid to the college. If the course teacher is unable to complete teaching the course, as per their contract with the College, we will arrange for an alternative teacher or make reasonable arrangements to assist all enrolled students complete their studies.

If a Third Party provider delivering training on our behalf closes or ceases to deliver any part of a training product Byron Region Community College will endeavour to find an alternative training provider. If an alternative is not able to be found a pro rata refund will be issued for any training not completed.

Complaints and Appeals Procedures

You have the right to appeal an assessment outcome made by a tutor. Information about how to appeal an assessment decision will be covered in the course Orientation (first class).

Byron Region Community College has a Complaints and Appeals Policy detailed in the Student Handbook. For more information about the Byron Region Community College complaints and/or appeals procedures please either contact the BRCC office on 02 66843374 or email admin@byroncollege.org.au

Consumer Protection Policy

BRCC maintains compliance with the National Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and associated Australian Consumer Law (ACL) requirements as specified in the Act and enacted in the Fair Trading Act 1987 & Fair Trading Regulations 2012 (NSW).

BRCC has implemented a Consumer Protection Policy and aligned Consumer Protection Strategy to protect the needs and interests of all clients. These arrangements are in line with the NSW Consumer Protection Strategy.

A designated Consumer Protection Officer has also been implemented: The Byron Region Community College Consumer Protection Officer is Lance Hopson, he can be contacted at lance@byroncollege.org.au

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is offered to each individual learner. If you believe you have through previous formal, non-formal and/or informal prior learning the knowledge and or skills that meet the requirements of the course or units you are about to enrol in, you may be interested in applying for RPL. To apply for RPL you need to complete an enrolment form and you will be contacted by one of our assessors to discuss your application.

For more detailed information on the RPL process please contact a client service officer on admin@byroncollege.org.au

Unsuccessful applicants have a right to formally appeal the RPL assessment; for more information on the Appeals procedure please contact the College.

Credit Transfer

A credit transfer is national recognition of qualifications and statements of attainment issued by Australian registered training organisations allows for the process of credit transfer by which identical competencies achieved elsewhere may be credited to a current course of study. Where you have completed a relevant unit of competency and you have evidence of the AQF certification documentation issued by any other Registered Training Organisation, or an AQF authorised issuing authority or authenticated VET transcripts from the Registrar, a credit transfer will be given.

Refund Policy

Byron Region Community College offers refunds following a fair and equitable process. Students are entitled to a full course refund without deduction if the College cancels a course for any reason prior to its commencement.

Students are entitled to a statutory cooling-off period of 2 business days from the date of enrolment. Any monies paid during this time will be fully refunded if a student decides to withdraw their enrolment.

Refunds otherwise are not granted automatically. You are expected to be aware of your work and personal commitments before you enrol. A full refund (less a $15 administration fee) will be given if you withdraw minimum five (5) working days before the date of commencement of the course

Total or partial refunds after a course has commenced will only be granted for extenuating circumstances (please refer to the Student Handbook for a complete list of these). An application for a refund is to be addressed in writing to the College Director and will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Enrolment conditions (COVID-19)

The College may at any point, as a result of change in health and safety conditions, postpone, reschedule or cancel a class.

If we postpone, reschedule or cancel a class, you will have the opportunity to re-enrol in another class

If you are not able to attend another class due to the change a credit will be offered

If you are unable to attend because you have possible COVID-19 symptoms, or have had contact with a known case of COVID-19, you will receive a full credit

Requests for full or partial refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Unique Student Identifier or USI

What is a USI?

The Unique Student Identifier or USI is a reference number made up of 10 numbers and letters that:

creates a secure online record of your recognised training and qualifications gained in Australia, even from different training organisations
will give you access to your training records and transcripts
can be accessed online, anytime and anywhere
is free and easy to create and
stays with you for life

Who needs a USI and why?

If you are a new or continuing student undertaking nationally recognised training, you need a USI in order to receive your qualification or statement of attainment. If you don’t have a USI you will not receive your qualification or statement of attainment.

Your USI will give you access to an online record of the training you have done since 1 January 2015. You will also be able to produce a comprehensive transcript of your training. This can be used when applying for a job, seeking a credit transfer or demonstrating pre-requisites when undertaking further training.

If you are an international student studying offshore and do not intend on coming to Australia to do your study you do not need a USI. However, if you are an Australian expat or resident and have an Australian ID, you need a USI even if you do the VET course while outside Australia.

If you are an International student who will be studying in Australia you will require a USI. You will only be able to create a USI using once you have arrived in Australia.

Click here to Create your USI