Student Support Policy

1. Purpose

This policy establishes the principles and responsibilities for ensuring that:

• students have equal access to the learning and assessment environment
• learning environments are culturally appropriate and inclusive
• students have access to support services
• Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) meets its obligations as a registered training organisation (RTO) and the requirements of other relevant legislation (state and federal).

This policy and the associated procedure are to be read in conjunction with the external legislation and internal policies and procedures listed below. In the event of any conflict, external regulations take precedence over this policy and the associated procedure.

2. Scope

Where this policy refers to CIT, it includes CIT Solutions.

This policy applies to:

• all applicants seeking to enrol in courses at CIT
• all CIT staff
• all on and off campus education activities
• CIT activities including:
  • culturally supportive and inclusive learning experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • careers advice
  • counselling
  • disability support
  • international student support
  • financial assistance
  • job seeker support
  • migrant support
  • youth support
  • LGBTIQ+ support
  • general academic support
  • student equity support
  • study skills support
  • language, literacy, numeracy and digital (LLND) support
• courses funded through specific initiatives of external agencies, sponsors and organisations.

This policy does not apply to higher education students (refer: Higher Education - Student Support Policy).

Student learning and wellbeing support are individual and may be complex. A student requiring support may be identified through a variety of sources, including:

• student initiated queries via the CIT website, email or phone
• direct referrals from student facing client services staff and teaching areas
• direct referrals from external agencies
• CIT Student Association (CITSA).

3. Principles

CIT is committed to:

• quality teaching and assessment
• promoting the principles of equity, child safety, gender equality and mutual respect
• providing a culturally safe, supportive, equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students
• complying with disability discrimination legislation and education standards for students with disabilities
• providing educational opportunities for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people through CIT Yurauna
• maximising student success and recognising the importance of providing education and wellbeing services to assist students to achieve in their chosen field of study
• adopting a coordinated approach to identifying and providing support services and including client services, educators, education managers and service specialists in the support process.

CIT will demonstrate these principles by:

• providing prospective students with equitable access to careers advice and disability advice
• providing enrolled students with equitable access to all support services over the course of their enrolment at CIT
• informing staff of policies and procedures to support student access and equity
• informing prospective and enrolled students of available support services through:
  • personal enquiries
  • the CIT website
  • on enrolment
  • course induction
• offering support services in line with best practice guidelines and consistent with ACT Government guidelines
• providing designated places in publicly funded courses for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who have:
  • advised CIT Yurauna of their enrolment intention prior to the relevant enrolment cut-off date
  • been assessed by CIT Yurauna and the relevant College as having sufficient academic background and support to achieve the objectives of the chosen course
• managing disclosures of significant risk to an individual in line with appropriate legislation
• working cooperatively and in consultation with external agencies to offer specialist services if required
• ensuring interactions occur in accordance with the CIT Privacy Policy
• publishing information on the Student Services webpage

3.1 CIT Student Support

CIT Student Support is responsible for providing reasonable additional support for students to access their chosen fields of study. CIT Student Support adopts a case management approach.  Students are responsible for their own course progression and meeting inherent requirements to participate in their chosen course.

Support will only be provided to students who take up the offer of assistance.

CIT Student Support will collaborate and coordinate with teaching areas to ensure optimal provision of support.

CIT Student Support is not responsible for:

• ensuring student engagement in courses
• progression discussions with students
• managing student behavioural issues
• student withdrawals or decisions to not progress with enrolment.

Students are welcome to invite a parent or support person to be involved in discussions regarding support services.

Requests for support services deemed unreasonable, or those that undermine the integrity of the course or qualification will not be considered.

Detailed records will be maintained regarding the provision of student support.

CIT Student Support is focused on continuous quality improvement and accepts student feedback on its approach, systems, and processes.

3.2 Responsibilities

3.2.1 Senior Manager CIT Student Support

The Senior Manager CIT Student Support is responsible for liaising with and leading College Directors and Heads of Department in the provision of:

• general support services
• relevant learning and academic support services
• disability support services
• counselling services
• careers advice
• referrals to external support services.

The Senior Manager CIT Student Support will ensure maintenance of secure records and detailed, accurate and current information on services.

3.2.2 Head of Department Foundation Skills

The Head of Department Foundation Skills is responsible for:

• leading the provision of LLND support for all CIT students
• scheduling of LLND support sessions across CIT campuses
• developing LLND support plans for students where required
• LLND coaching for CIT educators
• assessment of students' LLND against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF)
• maintaining ACSF assessment tools and providing reports to Heads of Departments.

3.2.3 Educators, College Support Staff and Student Services Staff

Educators, College Support Staff and Student Services Staff are responsible for providing information to applicants for student support and referring enquiries for support in a timely manner.

4. Documentation

4.1 Related Legislation/Regulation

• Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth)
• Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Commonwealth)
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Commonwealth)
• Race Discrimination Act 1975 (Commonwealth)
• Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth)
• Australian Building Standards
• Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997
• Canberra Institute of Technology Act (1987)
• Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Commonwealth)
• Children and Young People Act 2008 (ACT) Republication date 30 September 2023

4.2 Related Policy and Procedures

• Student Support Procedure
• Equity Policy
• Student and Community Members Complaint Policy
• Privacy Policy

4.3 Related Documents

• Resource Handbook for Educators/Teachers of Students with a Disability

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Policy Glossary. The following definitions are provided in the context of this policy.

6. Policy Contact Officer

Executive Director, Education Futures and Students.

Contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.

7. Procedures

This policy is implemented through the associated procedures. Authority to make changes to the procedures rests with the policy owner.