COVID19 Updates

Easter break Announcement

(Date of issue: 23/03/2021)

Some of the students will need to attend classes during the Easter break. If your Easter break has been cut short you will get a message from the school on your phone.
Please contact the admin office on +61 3 9357 9119 if you need further information

Regular class commencement 

(Date of issue: 18/02/2021)

The circuit breaker lockdown lifted on the 17th of Feb 2021
Your regular face to face classes commences on the 18th of Feb 2021. If you need further information, please contact the admin office on +61 3 9357 9119

How does the Circuit Breaker 5 -day Lockdown affect my studies at Training Australia First 

(Date of issue: 12/02/2021)

Victorian Government announced a five day lockdown from the 12th of Feb 2021 to 17th Feb 2021. No training will take place during this time.
You may get a shorter Easter break, if there are any changes to your timetable you will be informed  by the college.

Regular class commencement 

(Date of issue: 25/10/2020)

Stage 4 restrictions have been lifted in Victoria.
Your regular face to face classes commences on the 26th of October 2020. If you need further information, please contact the admin office on +61 3 9357 9119

 

Stage 4 restrictions

(Date of Issue: 03/08/2020)

What are the State Government’s Stage 4 restrictions?
From 6pm on Sunday 2 August, restrictions are changing for metropolitan Melbourne. Metropolitan Melbourne is moving to Stage 4 Restrictions. The definition of metropolitan Melbourne is based on the Planning and Environment Act 1987 which sets out the local government areas that form metropolitan Melbourne and will not include Mitchell Shire for the purposes of the Stage 4 curfew or travel restrictions.
These changes are being introduced to reduce the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria. 
From 2 August, a curfew will be in place in metropolitan Melbourne. Curfews will be in operation from 8 pm to 5 am every evening, with people only allowed to leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
From 5 am – 8 pm, you can only leave your home for one of the following four reasons:

  • Necessary goods and services
  • Exercise
  • Care and health care
  • Work

For more specific information on these reasons please visit the Victorian Government website that details the Stage 4 restrictions. 
If you do need to leave home, you should wash your hands before you leave and when you return home. Keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others. Always wear a face covering, unless you have a lawful exception. Never, ever go out if you are unwell, unless it is to get tested and then you must go straight home.
If we all do this, we can protect our loved ones, friends, colleagues, health care workers and the community.

Training Australia First Enrolment Process during COVID restrictions
You can call up the college and request the Student Services and Records Manager to organise and assist you with the enrolment process.

SSR will conduct a pretraining interview on the phone and will send you a LLN test via email to complete. The staff will guide you to our website and show where you can access the application form, TAF COVID information, Student handbook, Prospectus, Student Pre-enrolment handbook, Fees and charges schedule.

Go through all the documents and when you are ready submit the LLN test, along with the application form, current visa, passport, health cover, qualifications, IELTS or equivalent.

Once your documents have been assessed and if your application is approved, you will be sent a letter of offer along with ‘Temporary changes to delivery and assessment acknowledgement’.

You will need to sign and return the documents along with the proof of payment according to the letter of offer.

Once we receive the signed documents and the proof of payment, you will be sent out a CoE.

What impact does Stage 4 restrictions have on my study with Training Australia First
Training Australia First will deliver all its courses as a blended learning during the Stage 4 restrictions.
(Blended (or hybrid) learning means a combination of both digital learning and in-class, face-to-face learning.)

  • Your classes will be scheduled online via zoom conferencing
  • The classes are scheduled 20 hours per week, your trainer will be available to you for all the sessions similar to a face to face Classroom environment.
  • You will receive/ must have received a ‘whats app’ message, informing you of the changes to the mode of delivery.
  • If you are not comfortable with the changes to mode of delivery, you can defer/ suspend or withdraw from the course.
  • If you withdraw, you may be eligible for refunds. Go through our refunds policy to confirm if you are eligible for refunds.

Certificate III and IV

  • Each of the units in Certificate III and Certificate IV courses at TAF include theory and practical assessments.
  • The delivery of theory part of the unit will be conducted online via zoom.
  • The theory assessments are to be completed online. You will be provided access to TAF LMS. You can hand write your assessments if you are not comfortable using the LMS. Talk to your assessor if you need a hard copy of the theory assessments.
  • You will be provided with the theory timetable for the units being delivered during lockdown.
  • Once the lockdown reopens your trainer will demonstrate the practical tasks, provide you with the opportunity to practice and conduct practical assessment when you are ready.
  • You will be provided with the timetable for practical assessment once the lockdown reopens.

Diploma
The units in the Diploma qualification have written assessments and projects. Some projects include observations as well, your assessor will provide you with the information on what portions of the assessments can be completed online and what needs to be completed in class after the lockdown.

Due to the lockdown we may need to extend your CoE. We will send out a letter informing you about the changes and seek your approval.
If you are not happy with the blended learning you can defer/suspend or withdraw from the course. You can also apply for refund if applicable. Please refer to the Student International Handbook/ Domestic Student Handbook for refunds policy and procedure.

What resources will I need to study online?
You will need access to

  • A desktop or laptop computer however many aspects of the course can be accessed via smartphone or tablet.
  • Microsoft Office 2003 or later.
  • A reliable internet connection with the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari.

Am I eligible for financial support?
Financial hardship support is available for students who have been studying for more than 12 months. Apply at the myGov website from April 2020 to see if you are eligible.

What support is available to me and how can I access it?
You trainer/assessor is your first point of contact. They can guide you with the following:

  • how to log into zoom
  • how to log and use the TAF LMS
  • when to attend your zoom sessions
  • how and when to submit your assessments.

If you need any IT support you can call up the college front desk.
Even with online delivery you have access to the same support services as on-campus students. You can call up the front desk and book a zoom appointment or a telephone appointment with the SSR as required.

Information TAF practices
response times for answering queries 5 working days
turnaround times on assessment As per the timetable
Trainer/assessor contact As per the timetable
Delivery Online delivery via zoom attendance a minimum of 20 hrs per week.
Assessment

Theory: online using LMS

Practical: in small groups as per timetable provided

After lockdown opens

Monitor course progress

  • You must attend 20 hours per week zoom sessions.
  • You must complete your assessments online and submit as per your assessor’s instructions.
  • Your trainer will mark attendance at the beginning of each session. If you cannot attend a session, you must inform your trainer or the admin office in writing. There must be a valid reason for your absence. e.g. medical reason.
  • Overseas Student Visa requirements policy and procedure for International students and Course progress policy for domestic students will still apply.

Please note that for the units delivered during COVID restrictions you will be sent out early ISM’s and ISM letters based on not achieving ‘Satisfactory’ results rather than ‘Competencies’ 

  • You will be sent out early ISM and ISM letters if you do not complete the written questions of the unit by the end date provided by the assessor.
  • The Early ISM/ISM meetings will be online face to face via zoom.

It may not be possible for all you to complete your course within the nominated course duration as you will need time to practice the tasks and demonstrate the assessments once the lockdown is lifted. In such a case you will be sent out a letter seeking consent to extend the CoE. There will be no additional charge for the extension.

Complaints
Refer to student handbook

 

 

Information on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

(Date of issue: 25/03/2020)

Easter Break:

Your Easter break has been pre-poned and will start on the 25th of March 2020 to 13th April 2020. You will receive/would have received, a text message on your phone. Please contact the admin office on +61 3 9357 9119 if you need further information.

What is the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.
COVID-19 is a new virus that can cause an infection in people, including a severe respiratory illness.
The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
COVID-19 spreads through close contact with an infected person; mostly face-to-face or within a household. It cannot jump across a room or be carried for long distances in the air.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) defines ‘close contact’ as someone who has either:

    • had at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • shared a closed space for more than two hours with someone who is a confirmed case.

What is close contact?

Close contact means greater than 15 minutes face-to-face or the sharing of a closed space for more than two hours with a confirmed case. Close contact means greater than 15 minutes face-to-face or the sharing of a closed space for more than two hours with a confirmed case.
A close contact could include any person meeting any of the following criteria:

      • living in the same household or household-like setting (for example, a boarding school or hostel)
      • direct contact with the body fluids or laboratory specimens of a confirmed case.
      • a person who spent two hours or longer in the same room
      • face-to-face contact for more than 15 minutes with the case in any other setting not listed above.

For information about COVID-19, please visit the DHHS website or contact the DHHS Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. This number is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
Please keep 000 for emergencies.

What can I do to reduce my risk of coronavirus infection?

Following good hygiene practices is the most effective way of protecting yourself from COVID-19. This includes washing your hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds. Dry with paper towel or hand dryer.

    • Practice social distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others when outside of your home.
    • Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
    • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.
    • Stay at home if you feel sick. If you take medication make sure you have enough.
    • Phone your doctor or the hotline – 1800 675 398 – if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do.
    • Continue healthy habits: exercise, drink water, get plenty of sleep.
    • Wear a face covering or mask when outside your home, unless you have a lawful exception.
    • Buy an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 per cent alcohol.

For more information about how to stay safe and well, visit the Department of Health’s website.

    What should I do if I’ve just returned from overseas?

    On 15 March, the Australian Government announced that all travellers arriving to Australia from overseas are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
    Importantly, it also includes parents, carers and any other relative you live with or have close contact with who are returning from overseas travel. As they are required to self-isolate, they must avoid public settings – this means they should not attend work, school, childcare or go to other public places such as restaurants, cinemas or shopping centres and should not use public transport or taxis.
    If you or a family member has arrived from overseas since midnight Sunday 15 March 2020, please notify us at: info@taf.edu.au

      What if testing confirms I have COVID-19?

      If testing confirms that you have COVID-19, please email: info@taf.edu.au with the following information:

      • Name
      • Course or program name
      • Classes attended
      • Date/time of notification
      • Contact Phone Number
      • Other relevant information

      All student details and personal information will be subject to privacy provisions.
      Training Australia First will notify affected students if we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 with advice from the DHHS.
      For information about financial support available should you need to avoid work, visit the Department of Health’s website.

        Where can I get more information?

        For the latest advice, information and resources on the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), please visit:

        Where can I get support?

        We encourage international students to get the most up-to-date information by:

        I am worried and anxious. Is there someone I can talk to?

        As the nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak evolves and we continue to be more confined to our homes, health and wellbeing should be a priority for all of us. It’s important that we continue to look out for ourselves, and for each other.

        For support or counselling, the following organisations are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

        • Beyond Blue.  Tel: 1300 224 636. beyondblue.org.au – Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
        • Lifeline.  Tel: 13 11 14. lifeline.org.au – Lifeline is a national service providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to crisis support and suicide prevention services.
        • Kids Help Line. Tel: 1800 551 800. kidshelpline.com.au – Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged up to 25.

        Our primary focus in all decision making remains the health and wellbeing of our students. We encourage you to read the information and take care of your personal health. We will be sure to keep you informed as information becomes available.