During your enrolment Blue Cross First Aid Institute will engage with you on a number of occasions to identify if you require any support. We do this through requesting you to complete enrolment documentation which includes an initial core skills assessment, discussions over the phone, enrolment interview and finally during your orientation.
One of the important objectives of these engagements is to understand what support services you may need to fully participate in your study. You will be asked various questions about your support needs or your “individual needs”. This is simply the term we use to define what your needs are, and this enables us to organise the appropriate support services or to refer you to specialist support services. Make sure you take the most of this opportunity and let us know if you need support.
What support is available?
Blue Cross First Aid Institute will use a combination of our own services and the services of referral agencies to either provide or refer you to the following support services:
- Administrative support (admin team)
- Language, literacy and numeracy support (trainer)
- Studying and learning support (trainer)
- English as second language support (external referral)
- Alternative payment plan (admin team)
- Counselling support (external referral)
- Disability access support, where feasible (training manager)
- Employment services referral (external referral)
Where specialist support services are recommended by Blue Cross First Aid Institute (such as Counselling Support for example), students are advised that these services may incur additional cost by the service provider that is separate from the services provided by Blue Cross First Aid Institute. Students should verify the cost of these services with the provider before proceeding with these specialist support services. Students are also welcome and encouraged to use a services provider of your choosing. Services recommended by Blue Cross First Aid Institute are recommended only for your convenience and this recommendation by no means that we give any warranty of these services. You should make your own enquiries and satisfy yourself that the service is suitable for your needs.
If you need support during your course, please approach and inform reception and you will be connected with the best person who can assist you. If the matter is sensitive and you do not feel comfortable discussing it with reception, simply inform reception that you would like to meet with the RTO Manager. It is our absolute priority to provide you the support needed to enable you to progress in your study and complete your chosen course. Blue Cross First Aid Institute is committed to our student’s welfare both during and after hours of study.
Your Wellbeing
We are committed to fostering a supportive and safe environment that promotes the mental, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of all students. If you need assistance or support at any time during your studies, you can seek help from your trainer or the Student Support Officer. Requests for help will be kept confidential.
Depending on the nature of the issues, adjustments may be made to your training plan, assessment due dates, additional training support may be provided to you, or you may be referred to external support services (e.g. counselling services that provide vocational, emotional and psychological support, or services to assist in accessing financial support).
Diversity and equity
Blue Cross First Aid Institute is committed to providing a supportive learning environment for all our students. This includes ensuring that our training and assessment environment is inclusive, respectful and free from discrimination and harassment. Blue Cross First Aid Institute staff members are there to ensure every student, regardless of their background or identity, has equitable access to learning opportunities, feels valued, and can contribute to the classroom community. If at any time you feel that the training environment is not safe, you should contact the Student Support Officer as soon as possible.
Disability Inclusion
If you think you’ll need changes made in the classroom or extra learning support, you should contact the Student Support Officer as soon as possible. You can do this when you apply to enrol and before you start studying. You can also ask for help at any time during your studies.
Disclosure of disability or ongoing ill health, including mental ill health, is your choice and is not a requirement for participation in our courses. However, we encourage you to share information about the impact of your disability with us when you enrol so we can put reasonable adjustments in place in a timely way to support you in your learning and assessment.
Harassment and Discrimination
Blue Cross First Aid Institute is committed to ensuring that the training and assessment environment is free from discrimination and harassment. All Blue Cross First Aid Institute staff members (including contractors) are aware that discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If discrimination and harassment is found to have occurred disciplinary action will be taken against any staff member who breaches this policy. Suspected criminal behaviour will be reported to police authorities immediately. Students should expect fair and friendly behaviour from Blue Cross First Aid Institute staff members, and we apply complaint handling procedures advocated by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Equally, students are also responsible for their own behaviour and are not to demonstrate or carry out any behaviour which can be perceived as harassment or discrimination on behalf of the other person. Students witnessing such behaviour should contact the Student Support Officer as soon as possible.
Students who feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed should report this information to a staff member of Blue Cross First Aid Institute that they feel they can trust. This will initiate the complaint handling procedure which will be fair and transparent and will protect your rights as a complainant.