Important information

Refresher training is training that refreshes the knowledge of the trainee periodically after the initial training has taken place. These refresher periods are used to confirm and enhance an individual's knowledge and update them on any changes within that field.

At VHNZ, certain certificates/unit standards are issued with a ‘recommended refresher date’. Whereas First Aid training is required to be 'refreshed' by law, most training refreshers cannot be enforced but are strongly recommended by Industry.

Refresher Training Important Information:

VHNZ Course Refresher Table

REFRESHER TRAINING

What you need to know:

You must have been assessed against the NZQA unit standards for the course you need refreshed. If you have these unit standards on your NZQA Record of Learning (ROL), book your refresher course now.

Except for First Aid, VHNZ does not assess against unit standards on refresher courses, therefore we do not report unit standards to NZQA from refresher courses. If you did your last course with VHNZ your unit standards will be on your ROL.

Previous course not with VHNZ?

If you did not do your last course with VHNZ you will need to confirm you hold the unit standard/s you need refreshed by checking your ROL.

Don’t have your ROL?

If you have not yet registered to receive your ROL you can register through the NZQA website as follows: NZQA Learner Registration.

Your unit standard hasn’t been awarded?

If you have not had a unit standard awarded, please contact your last provider to arrange registration of the unit standard/s. If you have any issues you can complain to NZQA by submitting a complaints form via the below link: NZQA Complaint Form.

If you need to do a refresher and do not hold a unit standard, you can still do the refresher. Once you have successfully demonstrated the competencies required by the refresher course, you will be issued a refresher certificate. You will not be awarded the unit standard.

If you do not achieve an element of a course, you will be given an opportunity for reassessment.

Trainees who do not meet an objective will be:

1. Informed of the reason(s).
2. Given additional instruction on the aspects where they have not achieved competency.
3. Reassessed in a similar but not identical manner.

No reassessments are programmed for the objectives of the training; however, sufficient time is available during training to conduct reassessments.

Those who pass a reassessment will be credited with a full "Achieved" grade.

Those who do not pass a reassessment will be graded as "Not Achieved" on that module. If time and resources permit, additional reassessment may be conducted at the discretion of the lead trainer, unless otherwise required by the conditions established by a relevant external standard setting body or credentialing agency.

Trainees are informed of their right to have their prior learning and/or their current competency recognised, thus saving them the time and money needed to repeat unnecessary training.

If the trainee wishes to continue with RPL or RCC process with VHNZ they must apply for RPL or RCC in writing (VHNZ RPL RCC Application Form June 2016). They should address their application to the Quality and Compliance Manager of Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15030, Tauranga 3144, or info@verticalhorizonz.co.nz

On approval for RPL/RCC trainees will be required to complete a VHNZ enrolment form and pay the required fee (half the fee for the full course).

VHNZ endeavours to complete a RPL or RCC process within 10 days of receiving the completed enrolment and payment of fee.

The VHNZ RPL and RCC process is limited to VHNZ's approved accreditations. The following general restrictions are noted:

• RPL may not be granted for unit standards that evidence competency for high hazard activities (i.e. working at height, entering a confined space, crane operation, tree felling etc).
• Only full unit standards and all the learning outcomes of a particular course or module will be considered for RPL.
• Only a practical demonstration of competent practice can appropriately assess competency for any skill for an RPL.

Trainees are informed of their right to appeal any training or assessment decision they may have concerns about at the start of each course. The appeals process is found at the front of each VHNZ Learner Guide.

VHNZ Appeals Procedure

If any trainee has an issue with any assessment or is unhappy with either the assessment result or process, then they should take the following steps:

• Speak to the assessor at the course stating the reasons for being unhappy. If this does not resolve the matter, then;
• Within 10 working days from the end of your course write to the Chief Operations Officer of Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15030, Tauranga, 3144, stating the reason(s) that you are unhappy.

Your appeal to the Chief Operations Officer must include the following:

• All relevant documentation/information in your possession relating to the appealed situation
• A summary of the reasons for the appeal
• Details of what you believe should happen and what you expect as a result of your appeal
• Any other evidence you think is relevant to your appeal case.

You will then receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your appeal within 10 working days.

The Chief Operations Officer will investigate the situation. Once a decision has been made, you will then be advised of the result with 5 working days.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your appeal you are entitled to make a further appeal to any of the following education authorities:

• The relevant Workforce Development Council
• The principal Training Provider, for example a Polytechnic that may be involved
• Your regional Tertiary Education Commission who is the Government representative.

If you feel that you have been unfairly treated or wronged during the course you have the right to make a formal complaint.

To lodge a complaint, you must submit a written statement outlining the circumstances and reasons for the complaint. Your complaint is to be sent to:

Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15-030, TAURANGA 3144

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer will carry out a formal investigation into the circumstances of the complaint, which in turn will be presented to the Senior Leadership Team.

You will then be advised of the results/decision made regarding your complaint and any actions to be taken to resolve the matter.

If you are not happy with the outcome of your complaint, then you have the right to redirect your complaint to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or appropriate Government authority such as:

• Tertiary Education Disputes Registry (TEDR)
• The Tertiary Education Commission

1. For course and programmes of less than three months duration, notification of cancellation or postponement of training must be made in writing.
2. Confirmed training cancelled or postponed by the client within three to five business days of the course commencement date will be invoiced at 50% of the agreed course fee; training cancelled or postponed by the client within two business days of the course will be invoiced at the full quoted rate plus any associated costs, e.g. accommodation/flights booked, rental vehicles, etc. No cancellation fee is charged if 6 or more working days' notice has been given.

Student fees over $500 for programmes or training schemes of three months duration or more and paid in advance are held in an independently managed Trust Account.

This arrangement has been accepted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority as meeting the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Student Fee Protection Rules 2021.

Domestic students are entitled to a refund if they withdraw from a programme or training scheme of three months duration or more, and the withdrawal occurs up to the end of the eighth day after the start of the course. Withdrawals must be notified in writing. VHNZ may deduct a fee equal to the lesser of 10 percent of the fees paid or $500.

“Pursuant to Section 346 (1)(h) of the Education and training Act 2020 the Board of VHNZ wishes to advise that Carl McOnie, a VHNZ Board member, has declared a conflict of interest in that he is also CEO of LandSAR New Zealand a registered PTE.

The Board has advised NZQA and has processes and procedures in place to manage the conflict of interest if or when it arises.”

Know-the-Code-v2.pdf

Tertiary-Education-Dispute-Resolution-v2.pdf

Education-Code-of-Practice-Strategic-Plan.pdf

VHNZ General Liability Certificate 2022 - 2023

VHNZ Professional Indemnity Certificate 2022 -2023

VHNZ PRIVACY ACT 2020 POLICY

Authorised: Bruce Mazengarb
Updated by: Maurice Boyd
Date Issued: December 2022
Review Date: December 2024

1. Purpose/Scope/Rationale

The Privacy Act 2020 seeks to promote and protect individual privacy by providing a framework for protecting an individual’s right to privacy of personal information, including the rights of an individual to access their personal information while recognising that other rights and interests may at times also need to be considered.
This policy seeks to ensure that the principles of the "Privacy Act 2020" are understood and complied with in the operation of VHNZ.

2. Policy

VHNZ is a New Zealand Agency under Section 8(a)(iii) of the Privacy Act 2020. Personal information held by an officer, employee, or member of VHNZ is held by the agency (VHNZ). When information is disclosed by the officer, employee, or member it is deemed to have been disclosed by VHNZ.
Personal information can only be collected for a lawful purpose connected with the function or an activity of VHNZ and the collection of the information is necessary for that purpose. People from whom personal information is collected will be informed of the purpose for collection.

The Chief Executive is the VHNZ Privacy Officer however the task may be specifically delegated. The Privacy Officer is responsible for this policy and its procedures. The Privacy Officer limits access to personal information through delegated authorisations. Personal information is only accessed by people authorised to do so.

VHNZ officers, employees, or members must comply with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020.
All officers, employees, and members of VHNZ will be informed of their obligation to the principles of the Privacy Act 2020:

• On their induction to VHNZ.
• Completion of the VHNZ e-learning Privacy ABC course.
• Through the bi-annual review of this policy.

VHNZ will keep personal information secure. On request, personal information will be provided to the individual to whom the information relates within 10 working days. Records will be amended on request from the person to whom the information relates.

Some external organisations may have legal permission to access information e.g., NZQA, TEC, and WDC’s. Applications from other agencies shall be processed as described in the Privacy Act 2020. Only the Privacy Officer can authorise the release of personal information to any other party e.g., New Zealand Police, New Zealand Transport Authority, other training organisations, etc.

All personal information is destroyed once it is no longer required.

3. Rule of Thumb

The rule of thumb is that all decisions relating to Privacy activities reside with the Privacy Officer.

4. Implications

A well-established Privacy Act policy will ensure that VHNZ adheres to the Privacy Act 2020 when handling personal information.

5. Relevant compliance/documents

Privacy Act 2020
Education and Training Act 2020
Bill of Rights Act 1990
Human Rights Act 1993
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
Treaty of Waitangi
NZQA Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2021
TEC procedures
ISO 9001:2015 7.1.4.

6. Audience

This policy applies to all individual officers, employees, and members (including temporary staff, contracted trainers, etc) who will be advised of, and must comply with this Policy.
Failure to comply with this policy may be regarded as serious misconduct.

7. Related Procedures/documents

Privacy Act 2020 Procedure.
Education and Training Act 2020
Bill of Rights Act 1993
Human Rights Act 1993
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
Treaty of Waitangi
NZQA Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2021
TEC procedures and processes
ISO 9001:2015 7.1.4.
VHNZ Policy and Procedure on documentation processing.
VHNZ Disposal and Retention Policy

Who can receive the learner’s certificate?

New Zealand law and NZQA rules require the recording of learner identification details and course completions on the learners NZQA Record of Achievement and the release of personal information Privacy Act 2020. As such it is the learner who must receive notification of course completion from VHNZ irrespective of who paid for the training.

VHNZ is aware that the above can be difficult for employer needing proof of learner qualifications for contract. We can inform the employer at the time of course completion but must have the permission of the learner.

You can set up a Trading Account by filling in the following form and emailing it to accounts@vhnz.co.nz
VHNZ Account Application Form