Learner support policy

The Northern Territory (NT) has a diverse population. Many clients from remote communities have English as a second, third or fourth language. In addition people in remote communities are often disadvantaged due to the lack of contextualised knowledge of mainstream vocational education and training.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade recognises the need to provide some students enrolled in skill based vocational training with integrated one on one support to develop contextualised knowledge, language, literacy and numeracy skills.

Learner support is a flexible student assistance and support initiative which assists individuals in gaining contextualised knowledge (in addition to language, literacy and numeracy). Learner support aims to achieve successful outcomes for students enrolled in vocational education and training (VET) programs up to Certificate IV level qualifications through one-on-one support and is totally focused on student needs.

Learner support is available within existing General Recurrent Program and User Choice Funding Program profiles or on application under the Aboriginal Responsive Program. Applications must not exceed 50% of the total annual hours curriculum (AHC) related to the VET qualifications to which learner support is to be applied. Learner support is not available for use by school students undertaking VET, VET in Schools or school-based apprenticeship or traineeship programs.

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Funding application process

Registered training organisations (RTOs) requesting learner support funding will be required to complete the learner support application form. Funding will be considered only when all of the following information is provided in the application:

  • the accredited qualification with the identified barriers affecting successful outcomes
  • the total AHC enrolled for that student undertaken within the qualification for the year
  • a training plan identifying the learner support activities that will be provided
  • the location of where learner support will be delivered.

Public providers are exempt from completing the learner support application form for user choice and general recurrent funding.

Funded training activity is calculated using the general education industry rate. Regional and remote loading will be paid on learner support if allocation is granted in the training contract.

The total number of hours of learner support reported must not exceed 50% of the total AHC related to the VET qualification reported for that year.

Retrospective arrangements of learner support will generally not be accepted. The department has the discretion to review a retrospective application on a case-by-case basis.

RTOs cannot:

  • claim additional delivery costs on learner support
  • apply for learner support funding against accredited VET qualifications in literacy and numeracy or any other general education and / or basic education qualifications
  • report accredited training in literacy and numeracy as learner support.

Reporting requirements

RTOs are required to use the modules within the non-accredited course code LRNSUPP as a mechanism of providing learner support to students enrolled in accredited VET, up to Certificate IV qualifications and courses.

The learner support modules are for use in the NT only. They will not be placed on the training.gov.au database as it is non-accredited.

Learner support activity is to be reported in an AHC based format by the RTO in their AVETMISS data. Resulting learner support unit enrolments must be allocated to ‘non-assessable enrolment outcomes’ as stated in the AVETMISS standard.

As a contractual requirement outlined in the training contract, an acquittal report detailing the activities undertaken in providing learner support to students must be provided by RTOs. Activities may incorporate the following:

  • group discussion
  • theory and practice
  • demonstration of methods
  • use of audio and video recordings
  • group problem-solving
  • promotion of co-operative learning with other students
  • ongoing monitoring of students’ progress
  • practical, hands-on activities
  • promotion of interactive learning
  • individualised learning tasks
  • use of workplace and / or training examples of charts, maps, sketches, plans, worksheets etc.
  • computer assisted or other eLearning activities
  • simulation activities or games
  • use of a translator
  • mentoring.

If students, at the end of the year, have not participated in enrolments under the original qualification for which the learner support was granted, their learner support module must be amended to reflect their relevant level of training to ensure that learner support AHC does not exceed 50% of their targeted qualification AHC.

The RTO must ensure that:

  • the qualification and unit codes that the learner support is applied to are available on their data system to enable enrolments to be reported
  • they maintain evidence of learner support activities which may be requested by the department for audit and / or evaluation
  • they complete a summary acquittal report outlining activities undertaken.

Who can apply?

To access learner support funding in the Northern Territory, RTOs must:

  • be registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) in accordance with the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011, or be registered by the state training authority in their jurisdiction in accordance with the relevant VET regulatory legislation in that jurisdiction
  • be listed as an approved provider on the database, or delivering a training package qualification or course of study approved under general recurrent or Aboriginal Responsive Program funding.

The approval of an RTO to provide training and assessment services for students undertaking VET in the NT is not a guarantee of funding.

Contractual arrangements

If an RTO applies and is approved for learner support funding, the department through Workforce NT and the RTO must enter into an arrangement for the delivery of learner support for students as outlined in the training contract.

Mandatory requirements for learner support contract holders include:

  • maintenance of registration and scope of registration as required by the relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks
  • adherence to AVETMISS and other reporting standards
  • compliance with the Training and Skills Development Act 2016 as it relates to apprenticeship arrangements
  • compliance with the Return to Work Act, section 126AA. The Act requires all employers (other than a self-insurer) to hold a workers compensation insurance policy with an approved insurer. For further information go to the NT WorkSafe website
  • ongoing compliance with the department’s policies, procedures and reporting timelines
  • compliance and cooperation in matters relating to audit
  • fulfilling roles and responsibilities as outlined in the training contract
  • maintain endorsed provider status, through completion of the annual self-assessment process.

Training contracts will outline the requirement for all providers to maintain individual student contact records of their learner support as evidence of AHC activity.

Contractual arrangements for public providers under learner support may be provided up to a specified percentage approved by the department within the RTO’s overall general recurrent or user choice funding allocation. Funding will be allocated against the general education industry group in the form of an AHC target allocation for distribution to students at the discretion of the RTO. This enables public providers to be more responsive to student needs for support and reduce administration efforts such as the need for variations to training contracts throughout the year.

Resulted outcomes

An expected outcome of learner support is the successful completion by students of units of competency under the qualification for which the learner support modules are applied.

Statements of attainment are not to be issued for learner support modules.

Measuring success

Effectiveness of learner support will be measured in terms of improvements in pass / load rates for units of competency and for improved course completions for all funding sources to which this policy is applied.

The responsibility for developing and maintaining this policy rests with the director of Training Services.

The executive director of Workforce NT is responsible for approving this policy.

Learner support is the provision of resources and instructional strategies that give students the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual support needed to improve their commitment and outcomes in the teaching and learning environment.

The department has a number of policies that relate to this policy. These include:

Course code

Course code
Course identifier Course name Recognition status identifier Qualification category identifier Nominal hours ASCO identifier VET flag Industry group Qual field of education
LRNSUPP Learner support 14 991 0300 GEN19 N General education and training 1201

Module codes

Module codes
Unit code Unit name Nominal hours Industry code MUFOE identifier M / C flag VET flag
LRNSUPP10 Learning support module 1 0010 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP20 Learning support module 2 0020 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP30 Learning support module 3 0030 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP40 Learning support module 4 0040 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP50 Learning support module 5 0050 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP60 Learning support module 6 0060 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP70 Learning support module 7 0070 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP80 Learning support module 8 0080 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP90 Learning support module 9 0090 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP100 Learning support module 10 0100 19 120105 M N
LRNSUPP200 Learning support module 20 0200 19 120105 M N

This policy will be reviewed annually.

Signed on 26 August 2016 by:

Wendi Masters
Executive Director
Workforce NT


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