Other Things You Need to Know
The information below will help you with your decision - it give you more information on studying at Riverina Institute, including fees, the support you would receive as a student, and assessment and grievance processes. More detailed information is also available in the Riverina Institute Student Guide.
Assessment
Careers Advice
Complaints, grievances and appeals
Fees
Key Dates
Qualifications
Recognition
Students' rights and responsibilities
Study help
The Next Step
Assessment
At the first class of each subject/unit, your teacher will give you an outline of the course, the assessment scheme and any special requirements that apply (Student Assessment Guide for the course and units you are studying and Every Student’s Guide to Assessment in TAFE NSW).
You must submit work required for assessment events such as projects and attend class tests on required dates.
If for any reason you are unable to attempt an assessment task you should let your teacher know in advance of the due date. You may negotiate an extension of time otherwise a penalty is applied. If it is due to illness you must advise your teacher as soon as possible, preferably prior to the scheduled time of the given assessment task.
Careers Advice
The Riverina Institute Careers Service will be able to help you
- clarify the areas that interest you;
- determine the qualifications you need to work in those areas, and
- advise you on your best study options.
Contact your local campus to make an appointment.
Complaints, grievances and appeals
Every Riverina Institute student is highly valued and respected by us and we therefore welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can provide you with a better service. If you are not happy with any aspect of your course or any other services we provide please let us know. A staff member will complete or provide you with a Customer Suggestion/Complaint Form. We will investigate any complaint, report back to you and do all we can to solve the problem.
All complaints are handled with tact and confidentiality. This is part of our commitment to quality and customer service. Grievance and appeal mechanisms are in place if required.
We try to meet our students’ changing needs and are always interested in your suggestions for improvement. This is just one of the reasons why at 82%, we still have one of the highest rates of student satisfaction in Australia.
Fees
TAFE NSW Riverina Institute charges fees depending on the levels of study. These fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Click here for more information.
Note: If you are living overseas and would like to study at TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, please refer to the International Students section of our website.
Key Dates
For semester, examination and holiday dates, click here.
Qualifications
Qualifications certify what a person has achieved through study, training, work and life experience. Because Australian qualifications are nationally recognised, they are portable. Employers and training organisations throughout Australia understand what a particular qualification means, what you have learnt and what your skills are. It is important to be familiar with the range of qualifications offered by TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and to understand how the qualifications link together. See qualifications explained for more detail.
Recognition
You might have heard the terms Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) or Recognition of Informal Learning (RIL) – they’re all part of Riverina Institute's recognition program that gives you credit for those things you already know, may have already studied, or are currently competent. This may be formal education, experience in the workplace and with the jobs or work that you do or through life experiences.
To find out more about Recognition click here.
Students' rights and responsibilities
When you sign and date your enrolment form you agree to abide by the regulations relevant to TAFE NSW and declare that the information supplied by yourself is true and correct.
TAFE NSW provides all students with the opportunity to study, learn and develop skills in a safe adult and healthy educational and social environment.
Students have a right to
- be treated fairly and with respect by TAFE NSW staff and students
- learn and enjoy student life in an adult environment free of harassment and discrimination
- learn in a supportive and stimulating environment in which to pursue goals
- have access to counselling and other support services if desired or required
- privacy concerning TAFE NSW records that contain personal information, subject to statutory requirements
- be given information about assessment procedures at the beginning of the subject and progressive results as they occur
- lodge a complaint without fear of retaliation or victimisation
Students have a responsibility to
- treat students and TAFE NSW staff with respect and fairness
- follow any reasonable direction from a member of TAFE staff
- refrain from smoking in TAFE NSW buildings, walkways, stairwell,verandahs, doorways and cafeteria areas in accordance with New South Wales Government Policy
- behave responsibly by not littering, harassing fellow students or staff, damaging, stealing, modifying or misusing TAFE NSW property or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- not use mobile phones, pagers or similar devices at any time in class
- do all assessment tasks and examinations honestly, and not engage in plagiarism, collusion or cheating
- submit all assessment tasks by the due date. Under exceptional circumstances you may ask for an extension of time. This would normally have to be done before the due date, unless you have a very good reason for not doing so return/renew library resources by due date
- follow normal safety practices by wearing approved clothing, protective equipment and following both written and verbal directions given by TAFE NSW staff
- not behave in any way that could offend, embarrass, threaten, injure or harm others
Please Note: Students breaching discipline may be penalised in accordance with TAFE NSW Policy.
Study help
If you are having difficulty keeping up with your course, or have problems with study it is best to talk to your teacher first. They can refer you to someone who can help through tutorial assistance. In addition, the Counsellors, Individual Learning Centre/Open Learning Centre, General Education Department or Multicultural Education Services may also be able to help.
Tutorial support is a free service available for students enrolled in TAFE NSW courses. We can assist you with reading, writing and maths in your course. It is best to discuss your needs with your teacher first.
They can then refer you to someone who can help.
The Next Step
Now you've found out a bit more about the course or courses you'd like to study, what do you need to do next? Click here to find out.