To access a place under the Victorian Training Guarantee you must be:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a holder of a permanent visa; or
• a holder of a Special Category Visa (sub-class 444); or
• an East Timorese asylum seeker; or
• a holder of a Temporary Protection visa.

For students starting a new course after 1 January 2012, you must be:

• under 20 years of age (as at 1 January 2012); or
• enrolled in a Foundation Skills course; or
• enrolled as an apprentice in 2012; or
• enrolled in a course that is at a higher qualification level than already held.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to discuss alternate options with a Student Advisor. Call us on 1300 133 717 or visit advancetafe.edu.au for more information.

The 2012 Victorian Government Guidelines about Fees apply to all Government-funded course enrolments. Fees are determined by the commencement date and the amount of hours of your course. There are three fee rates for government subsided fees:

1. New Enrolments – for students who commence study after 1 January 2012, and Apprenticeships that began on or after 1 July 2009;
2. Continuing students – for students who commenced study on or after 1 July 2009 and prior to 1 January 2012; and
3. Fee Maintenance – for students that commenced study before 1 July 2009.

Each of the three rates are explained below:

1. New Enrolments

2. Continuing students

3. Fee Maintenance

Your tuition fees are based on the number of hours you are enrolled in your course and if:

• you can access a government supported place
• you are paying full fees
• you are seeking credit for previous study or experience
• you are eligible for a fee concession.

In addition to Government Subsidised Fees all students must pay a Student Service fee. A Materials Fee may also apply for your course.

Student Services Fee

As part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to ensuring that indigenous students continue to gain educational qualifications, an indigenous completions initiative is being implemented via the Wurreker Strategy. Under this three year initiative, indigenous students will be levied at the minimum tuition fee for each program level, including Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas.

Concessions are available on tuition fees for Government subsidised places in courses below Diploma level, or in a Diploma / Advanced Diploma which is part of your Apprenticeship or Traineeship. Concession fees are applicable if you have a:

• Commonwealth Health Care Card; or
• Pensioner Concession Card; or
• Veteran’s Gold Card.

If you are a dependant spouse or dependent child of a card holder, concession fees will also apply for your course.

The concession rate for most courses is calculated by the hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours of your course, up to the maximum fee rate for that level. Note that Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses have a maximum fee of $100.00 if you are a concession card holder aged less than 25 years.

If you claim a concession, you must present your concession card (or confirmation of application for a concession card) within ten working days of your enrolment. If you have applied but are still waiting for a concession card, we are able to charge you the concession fee rate. However, you must present your concession card within thirty working days of your enrolment.

Fee for Service Fee is a commercial rate based on the nominal hours in which you are enrolled. Unless otherwise published, our fee for service rate per enrolled hour for the Skills Creation, Skills Building & Skills Deepening course categories is:

• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - $5.00 per hour
• All other enrolments - $10.00 per hour.

The number of nominal hours in a given unit of competency or module varies. Our Student Advisors and teaching staff can customise a training plan to meet your training needs at the lowest fee cost possible. Call us on 1300 133 717 for more information.

All fees should be paid in full, or deferred through VET Fee-Help before the administration date for your course. Administration dates for 2012 are:

• 30 January
• 28 February
• 7 May
• 6 August
• 29 October.

For students eligible for a Government subsidised place (excluding Diploma & Advanced Diploma enrolments), the Institute offers student instalment payments by direct debit or Centrelink deductions. A non-refundable charge of $50.00 is payable to sign up for an instalment payment plan.

Please note: Advance TAFE does not offer instalment arrangements for Full Fee Paying / Fee for Service courses.

Contact a Student Advisor on 1300 133 717 for further information on fee payment options.

Students studying a Diploma or Advanced Diploma may be eligible for the new VET Fee-Help loan scheme which is similar to the loan scheme offered to Higher Education Concession Scheme (HECS) students.

VET Fee-Help is a Government student loan that is offered on favourable terms compared to commercial loan arrangements. A VET Fee-Help debt is repaid by tax once you begin employment and are earning above a threshold amount.

VET Fee-Help can only be used for your Tuition Fee. Any other charges (such as services, materials or book charges) must be paid for by the student.

Click on the following link/s for a list of tuition fees for Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses:

• Schedule of Tuition Fees Semester 1, 2012
• Schedule of Tuition Fees Semester 2, 2012

If the Institute cancels a course, 100% of fees will be refunded within two weeks.

You are not entitled to a refund of commercial (full fee paying) course fees if you withdraw or do not attend.

If you withdraw from a place in a government supported course or unit on or before the census date for that unit you are entitled to a full refund of any up-front tuition fees paid for the course or unit. If you withdraw from a unit of study after the census date you will not be eligible for a refund of any tuition fees paid unless you meet the requirements for extenuating circumstances.

VET FEE-HELP census dates are:

• 12 Feb 2012
• 13 Mar 2012
• 21 May 2012
• 20 Aug 2012
• 12 Nov 2012

For more information about withdrawals and refunds you should seek advice from your Student Adviser.