1. Purpose

Australian Construction Training Services (ACTS) is committed to providing quality training and assessment in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (SRTOs 2015).  As such, Australian Construction Training Services  is required to have  policy and processes in place to manage and respond to allegations involving the conduct of staff, learners and third party training and assessment providers who provide services on behalf of Australian Construction Training Services.

This policy is based on providing and maintaining training and assessment services that are fair and reasonable and afford a forum where issues or inadequacies can be raised and resolved. This process provides opportunity for complaints to be recorded, acknowledged and dealt with in a fair, efficient and effective manner.

The object of this policy is to ensure that Australian Construction Training Services staff act in a professional manner at all times. This policy provides clients with a clear process to register a complaint.  It ensures all parties involved are kept informed of the resulting actions and outcomes.

2. Policy Statement

Australian Construction Training Services acknowledges the clients’ right to lodge a complaint when they are dissatisfied with the training and/or assessment services and experiences that they have been provided by Australian Construction Training Services. 

Australian Construction Training Services will ensure that clients have access to a fair and equitable process for expressing complaints, and that Australian Construction Training Services will manage the complaint with fairness and equity. 

In doing so, Australian Construction Training Services:

a)       Has written procedures in place for collecting and managing complaints in a constructive and timely manner

b)      Ensures that these procedures are communicated to all staff, third party partners and clients

c)       Ensures that all necessary documentation and resources are in place to enable clients to submit a complaint

d)      Ensures that each complaint and its outcome is recorded in writing; and

e)      Ensures that customer complaints and their outcomes are fed into continuous improvement initiatives 

3. Policy Principles

3.1   Principles

In managing complaints, Australian Construction Training Services will ensure that:

The principles of natural justice and procedural fairness are adopted at every stage of the complaint process

a)       The complaints policy is publicly available

b)       There is a procedure for making a complaint

c)       Complaints are treated seriously and dealt with promptly, impartially, sensitively, and confidentially

d)       Complaints will be resolved on an individual case basis, as they arise

e)       All clients have the right to express a concern or problem and/or lodge a complaint if they are dissatisfied with the training and assessment services that they have been provided (including through a third party) or the behavioural conduct of another learner

f)       All complaints are acknowledged in writing and finalised as soon as practicable

g)       The complaint resolution procedure is based on the understanding that no action will be taken without consulting the complainant and respondent, using a process of discussion, cooperation, and conciliation

h)       The rights of the complainant and respondent will be acknowledged and protected throughout the complaint resolution process, including the conduct of separate interviews initially

i)       In the interest of confidentiality, the number of people involved in the resolution process will be kept to a minimum

j)       Final decisions will be made by the General Manager and/or delegate, or an independent party to the complaint

k)       The complaint resolution procedure emphasises mediation and education while acknowledging that in some instances formal procedures and disciplinary action may be required

l)       If the complaints process fails to resolve the complaint or the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint the matter will be referred to an independent third party for review, at the request of the complainant. All costs incurred for the third-party review will be advised to the complainant

m)       If the complaint will take in excess of 60 calendar days to finalise, Australian Construction Training Services will inform the complainant in writing providing the reasons why more than 60 calendar days are required. The complainant will also be provided with regular updates on the progress of the complaint

n)       Victimisation of complainants, respondents or anyone one else involved in the complaint resolution process will not be tolerated

o)       All complaints will be handled as Staff-In-Confidence and will not affect or bias the progress of the client in any current of future training

3.2   Types of Complaints 

A complaint may include allegations involving the conduct of:

a)       Australian Construction Training Services, its trainers, assessors, or other staff; or

b)       A learner of Australian Construction Training Services

4. Australian Construction Training Services Responsibilities

The General Manager and/or representative, may delegate responsibility for the resolution of the complaint if necessary.

Details concerning the scope of the Complaints Policy are to be clearly displayed throughout the organisation and contained within the Staff Induction Process, Client Handbook and Australian Construction Training Services website.

5. Process

5.1   Complaints

If a client has a complaint, they are encouraged to speak immediately with the trainer/assessor to resolve the issue. If the complainant is not satisfied that the issue has been resolved they will be asked to complete a Complaints Form, to lodge a formal complaint.  Australian Construction Training Services  will then investigate the complaint and advise the complainant of the outcome.

If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome they may write to the General Manager and Senior Management Team, setting out in detail the issue of concern. This may lead to occasions where an industry-training representative may be invited to act as an objective party in order to negotiate a satisfactory resolution.

5.2   Complaints Process

All complaints shall follow the below process:

a)       Complaints are to be made in writing within 7 calendar days of the incident

b)       A submitted written complaint will constitute a formal complaint from the client. Further detail of the complaint can be provided by the client verbally

c)       The General Manager and/or delegate, must informed of receipt of all complaints immediately

d)       General Manager and/or delegate, may delegate responsibility for the resolution of the complaint

e)       In the case of a complaint, the General Manager and/or delegate, will initiate a transparent, participative investigation to identify the issues

f)       Complaints will be processed in accordance with the Complaints flowchart – Annex A

g)       Complaints, where possible, are to be resolved within 14 calendar days of the initial application

h)       In all cases the final conclusion will be assessed by the General Manager and/or representative

i)       The client will be advised in writing of the outcome of their complaint, within seven (7) days of resolution

j)       If the outcome is not to the satisfaction of the client, they may seek an appointment with the General Manager and/or representative

k)       If the client is not satisfied with the decision, they have the option to seek outside assistance to pursue the complaint

                         For training and assessment related issues contact:

                         Queensland Training Ombudsman

                         General PO Box 15090 City East Qld 4002

                         Ph: 1800 773 048

                         Email: info@qto.qld.gov.au

6. Access & Equity 

The Australian Construction Training Services Access & Equity Policy applies.  (See Access & Equity Policy) 

7. Records Management

Records of all complaints and their outcomes are maintained securely.

Records of complaints include:

a)       How the complaint was dealt with

b)       The outcome of the complaint

c)       The timeframes for resolution of the complaint

d)       The potential causes of the complaint; and

e)       The steps taken to resolve the complaint.

All documentation from Refund processes are maintained in accordance with Records Management Policy.  (See Records Management Policy) 

8. Monitoring and Improvement

All complaints practices are monitored by the General Manager and/or representative and will be discussed at the Management Review Meetings with areas for improvement identified and acted upon. (See Continuous Improvement Policy)