​We are governed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). The ASQA sets national standards that apply to all registered training providers. This ensures consistent standards across all registered training providers. In turn, this means that students can move more easily from one study program to the next and from one training provider to the next. It also means that no matter where students complete their training in Australia employers can expect them to have developed the same skills.

The standards are designed to meet industry expectations, so qualifications provide the skills employers need.

​All education institutions that recruits, enrols or teaches international students must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).  Bendigo TAFE has CRICOS registration (Provider number 03059A) and all of the courses that are delivered to international students have their own identifiable CRICOS registration.

​Bendigo TAFE must also comply with the Educational Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS) and a National Code of Practice (the Code) in all our dealings with international students.

The ESOS framework protects your right to:

• receive, before enrolling, current and accurate information about the courses, fees, modes of study and other information from your provider and your provider’s agent;
• sign a written agreement with your provider before or as you pay fees, setting out the services provided, fees payable and information about refunds of course money ; and
• get the education for which you have paid or consumer protection that will allow you to receive a refund or to be placed in another course if your provider is unable to teach your course.

The ESOS framework also protects your right to know:

• how to use your provider’s student support services;
• who your contact officer or officers are;
• whether you can apply for course credit when your enrolment is deferred, suspended or cancelled;
• what your provider’s requirements are for satisfactory progress in the courses you study;
• that attendance will be monitored for those courses;
• what will happen if you want to change providers; and
• how to use your provider’s complaints and appeals process.

The Code protects the interest of overseas students by ensuring appropriate consumer protection mechanisms exist and that welfare and support services and complaints and appeal mechanisms meet nationally consistent standards.  In particular, Student visas include a condition  that requires the student to attend their classes and progress satisfactorily (Standard 9). 

If a provider intends to cancel or suspend a student's enrolment (Standard 13), the student will have access to an internal complaints and appeal process (Standard 8).  Registered providers are required to advise the designated authority (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations) where a student's enrolment is deferred, temporarily suspended or cancelled. This can lead to the student’s visa being cancelled. The Code requires that a provider cannot report the cancellation or suspension of a student’s enrolment to the department until the student has been given the opportunity to seek a review from an external complaint handling or review process (Standard 8).  

The Ombudsman is an independent officer of the Victorian Parliament.  His office provides a free service that investigates complaints about administrative actions taken by Victorian government departments, most statutory authorities and local government.  Ombudsman Victoria is impartial, ethical and respectful of individual rights and the services offered are free.  Universities and education providers created by Victorian legislation are within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is an external body that students may direct complaints to under the Code.  For further information about the Ombudsman and the services provided please review the following information, http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/www/html/87-fact-sheets.asp

Contact us via email or using the following options:

Telephone: +61 3 5434 1555
Facsimile:   +61 3 5434 1569
Mail:           PO Box 170, Bendigo, Victoria, 3552, Australia

Business hours are Monday to Friday from 9.00am - 5.30pm AEST