australian institute of holistic medicine

AIHM's Code of Practice
Last updated 25/03/2006

• To provide an opportunity for all persons to make application to undertake educational courses and clinical training in the field of Natural Therapies

• To provide a Student Natural Therapies Clinic to enable the on-campus completion by students of course requirements for supervised clinical training

• To provide a Student Natural Therapies Clinic to which access by the general public may be made to low-cost Natural Therapies treatment

• To ensure maintenance of the highest professional standards in the delivery to students of training and assessment services

• To deploy in all areas of operation the highest ethical standards as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

• To employ qualified and suitably experienced teaching staff in accordance with Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) standards

• To provide equality of opportunity and access to all persons in accordance with equity principles and without discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, age, religion, sexual preference, disability, marital status or family status

• To provide a Grievance and Appeals Policy and an Equity Policy based on the principles of equity and natural justice

• To develop and maintain effective administrative, records management and financial management procedures

• To identify, negotiate and implement appropriate learning and assessment strategies to meet the needs of all students

• To issue Qualifications and Statements of Attainment in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

• To recognise, in accordance with mutual recognition obligations, the AQF Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other RTO’s

• To ensure compliance with all relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislative and regulatory requirements, and to integrate statutory/regulatory provisions into policies and procedures 

Refund Policy
Last updated 10/04/2006

The application fee is non-refundable and non transferable, unless the candidate is unsuccessful at their interview. 

The unit fees are fully refundable if a student withdraws, in writing, from the course/unit within three weeks of enrolling and three weeks prior to the commencement of the course/unit. 

Students who choose to withdraw after this period will not have their fees refunded, and be subject to the Withdrawal Policy.

Withdrawal Policy
Last updated 25/03/2006

Students who wish to withdraw from a course/unit should send written notice of their intentions to the Registrar within 2 weeks of the commencement of the course or unit.  

Fees paid on a pro-rata basis will be held in credit for any future studies undertaken at AIHM during the following 12 months. No credit will be given after this period.

Grievance Policy
Last updated 25/03/2006

The Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine is committed to the principles of equity and natural justice.

The Institute’s grievance policy incorporates the following steps:

• The complainant is to take up the matter with the person that is the subject of their grievance, with a view to resolution

• If this action is unsuccessful then the complainant is to submit their complaint in writing to the Dean of Studies.

• The Dean of Studies will then hear from both parties before making a determination.

• If the complainant is still unhappy they can appeal the Dean’s decision by writing to the Grievance Appeals Committee.

• The Grievance Appeals Committee shall be comprised of the Dean of Studies, a member from the Student Council and a teaching staff member (to be agreed upon by both parties). The decision of the Grievance Appeals Committee is final. Where it is felt appropriate, complainants may be referred to external agencies for assistance, which includes the Department of Education Services Independent Conciliator for overseas students.
  

Equity Policy
Last updated 25/03/2006

The AIHM does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, colour, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status.

The Institute complies with the Equal Opportunity Act (1984). Accordingly, equal opportunity of employment and admission shall be granted to all persons and the Institute shall promote equal opportunity and treatment through a positive and continuing affirmation action program.

Privacy Policy
Last updated 25/09/2007

The AIHM uses student's information, which has been voluntarily provided to us, for the purposes of administration, Institute communications, statistics and other direct functions of the AIHM.  The Institute does not sell or provide student information to any commercial or third party entities.  However the Institute may be required to provide such information to Government agencies, as required by law.  This includes, but is not limited to, Centerlink, Department of Immigration, DEST or Private Health funds (in the case of overseas students).

Personal information will not be released to any third party without written authorisation from the individual concerned.  

Regulations of the Institute
Last updated 10/04/2006

• Use of tobacco products, ingestion of alcohol and the taking of illegal drugs are not permitted on campus.

• Students must be in attendance on campus for a minimum of 80% of lecture contact hours, except as otherwise approved by the Dean of Studies

• Course/unit fees are fully refundable where withdrawal occurs, in writing, within three weeks of enrolment and three weeks prior to course commencement. Where withdrawal occurs after this period but prior to course/unit commencement, fees may be credited towards another course to be undertaken within the following twelve-month period 

• The Institute reserves the right to make any changes or alternations to the subjects, terms or methods of awarding Certificates, Diplomas and other qualifications should the need to do so arise. Such changes will be effected with the best interests of students in mind.

• The Institute reserves the right to impose limitations or expel any student for unethical or improper conduct.

• The Institute expects that all students will respect the dress code of the Institute while on campus or in clinic and while representing the Institute at any external functions.

• NO advertising, promotional work or canvassing of any sort will be permitted within the premises without prior written approval from the Dean of Studies.

• The Directors of the Institute shall retain a discretion regarding the awarding of qualifications to any student having regard to the following factors:          

• whether, in the opinion of the Directors of the Institute (such opinion being based on information gathered by Institute staff), academic and technical skills have been obtained to a satisfactory degree;

• whether, in the opinion of the Directors of the Institute, (such opinion being based on the attributes of a student in terms of behaviour and character), a student would be a suitable member of the profession;

• whether all academic, administrative and financial obligations of the student to the Institute have been fully satisfied.

• Course fees are subject to change, with all fee increases being notified 12 weeks in advance.

• It is compulsory for all students to participate in annual events organised by the Institute to promote Natural Medicine and to educate the general public about the benefits of natural therapies, such as the Natural Medicine Awareness Day and other health promotion exhibitions.

• Student participation in Meditation/Yoga/Tai Chi sessions at the Institute, that have been introduced with the intention of assisting students to apply the fundamentals of Natural Medicine in their own lives, is compulsory.

• Personal information will not be released to any third party without your written permission, except where any information is requested by Centrelink, or any other external agency, to verify or support payments of Austudy or Abstudy.

Recognition of Prior Learning
Last updated 25/03/2006 

Based on work experiences, studies undertaken in the same subject with another accredited institution and/or your own life experience may qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning. 

If after looking at the content of any of the units in your chosen course, you can show that you already posses the skills and knowledge required in that unit you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (exemption). 

Applications must be made, following acceptance to the Institute, on the official Recognition of Prior Learning forms that are available from AIHM administration. All supporting documentation together with the initial processing fee of $50 must accompany the application, the processing fee is not refundable.  

The total cost for application of Recognition of Prior Learning will vary from case to case depending on the time, complexity and the amount of information to be evaluated. Upon receipt of your application an estimate can be provided.