Frequently asked questions

FAQs ... Simple Skills Recognition Solution

FAQs ... Traineeships

FAQS ... General questions

Simple Skills Recognition Solution

How long has Churchill Education's Simple Skills Recognition Solution been available?
It was first offered on 1st January 2006. Since then, over 3000 qualifications have been issued through recognising people's experience and skills.

How is Simple Skills Recognition Solution different from other training organisation's recognised prior learning?
It's completely different because it makes the recognised prior learning simple and it embraces your experience first and foremost. The focus is on keeping you out of the classroom when your experience is enough to achieve a qualification on its own. You won't have to complete any complicated paperwork and you won't have to jump through hoops to prove your skills. It is a fast process that works with you, not against you.

Are the qualifications issued under the Simple Skills Recognition Solution equal to a qualification obtained in a classroom?
Yes. The qualifications are all nationally recognised, comply with the Australian Quality Training Framework and are audited by the Department of Education and Training.

How long will it take me to obtain a qualification through the Simple Skills Recognition Solution?
From receiving your enrolment and working with you to gather your evidence of your experience, your qualification will be to you within 28 days.

What's involved in the process of completing the Simple Skills Recognition Solution?

The process is straightforward. First, there is a free consultation with a skills development advisor. Then, you'll be asked to provide some evidence of your skills and experience and guided through that process. Then, a course advisor will review your evidence and recommend qualifications that fit your experience and what you want to achieve with the quaification. You can then decide if you want to proceed to enrol. If you enrol, you pay your course fee (which can be paid as an initial enrolment fee and then prior to the issuing of the qualification the balance of the course fee). The course advisor will complete the academic process of mapping your skills across to the qualification and may speak to you during this process to compile further proof of your experience. The skills recognition application is then finalised,  and your qualification is ordered from the printer. You will receive an update throughout the process from our team until 28 days later, you will receive an electronic copy of your qualification and academic transcript and you will receive a physical copy of the qualification and academic transcript in the mail.

What happens if I can't provide sufficient evidence to complete a qualification through the Simple Skills Recognition Solution?

If after working together to gather sufficient evidence to complete the qualification, it is clear that you have a gap that you cannot provide evidence for and you don't want to complete gap training, we will refund your money.

What happens if I pay my enrolment fee but change my mind before I provide my evidence?

We will refund your enrolment fee if you indicate that you don't wish to proceed prior to the course advisor completing your assessment.

What happens if I pay my money and the assessor says I don't have sufficient evidence?

We will provide you with support to identify additional supporting evidence, explore other options for establishing your skills such as conducting a telephone interview, or we will offer gap training at a reduced fee. If after all this, you still have insufficient evidence, we will refund your course fee.

Where are you located?

We are located in Brisbane, Queensland. We service across Australia and overseas thanks to modern technology.

I'm in another State or country, can you still help me?

Yes. We just need some way of contacting you ... phone, email, mail, fax, skype ... any contact method except smoke signals. We have helped a large number of people working overseas and interstate without a problem.

I got my experience overseas, does this still count?

Just because you gained your experience overseas doesn't make you any less competent by Australian standards. There are a number of steps we will need to take to help us in proving your experience, and our course advisors will assist you through this process. The real test is whether or not you can demonstrate your experience, not where you developed it.

What are your payment options?

We accept VISA, Mastercard, Direct Deposit, Cheque, PayPal. We require payment in full before releasing your qualification. Please talk to us if you need a progressive payment plan.

Traineeships

I've heard about funding for training. How do I get it?

There is funding available for training under the Australian Apprenticeship & Traineeship scheme. This is available to eligible Australians, working more than 15 hours a week on a permanent basis. The training is available to new and existing employees. There are a number of criteria you need to meet and this is decided by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre. To learn more about the criteria, you can have a free consultation with a skills development advisor. There is also a simple preliminary eligibility assessment form which you can complete online here and will be submitted to an Australian Apprenticeship Centre representative and the results will only be forwarded back to you, direct from the Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

I'm an employer ... what do I need to do for my staff to take advantage of this program?

It's simple - once you have your staff on board wanting to complete a traineeship then you can have a free consultation with a skills development advisor. This will help you decide what qualifications fit with your team and your business. Then your staff should complete a preliminary eligibility assessment form so you can know who is eligible for a funded traineeship. Once you know where you stand, and you're ready to start, your skills development advisor will book a time that suits you for an Australian Apprenticeship Centre representative to come and sign up your team to get the traineeship underway. Your skills development advisor will be there for sign up to guide you and your team through the process and make sure it is an easy experience. From there, the mentors get involved to kick of your team's training program and ensure that the course matches your workplace so the study is practical and relevant.

How much funding is available if I complete a traineeship?

If you have never completed a qualification or a traineeship before, the usual starting point is $4000 from the Federal Government and there may also be additional funding available from the State government. There is a range of funding and this depends upon your circumstances. The best way to find out what funding is available for your situation is to talk to a skills development advisor.

Will I have to pay for the course?

The traineeship funding is paid directly to the employer to cover the cost of the course being completed by the employee. So, the employee does not pay for the course. The employer pays for the course out of the government funding.

How is the government funding paid?

The funding is paid directly to the employer in instalments. The first instalment is paid 3 months after the commencement of the traineeship and is usually $1500. The balance of the funding is paid on completion of the traineeship and is usually $2500.

I only work 15 hours a week ... will I still be eligible for a traineeship?

To receive the traineeship funding, you need to be working at least 15 hours a week on a permanent basis.

Will I get recognition for my current experience on my course?

Yes. Your experience will be recognised in preparing a training plan for you to complete so that you can really focus on improving your skills and knowledge in other areas.

I haven't studied for a long time, I'm not sure if I can do this. What support will I get?

Many students haven't studied since high school. The good news is that completing a traineeship is nothing like high school. You will be supported one-on-one by a mentor and a student liaison coordinator with access to your mentor on the telephone, by email, skype and face-to-face visits. You will not go through this process alone, and that's why all of our students successfully complete the traineeship and are awarded their qualification.

Is the qualification mine or my employers?

The qualification will be yours ... you complete the work, the study and demonstrate the skills and knowledge that entitle you to the qualification. It will be on your resume forever.

How long with the course take?

Technically, you have 2 years to complete a qualification through a traineeship. Experience has shown though that the quicker that the course flows and you get it finished, the easier the process is. So, your training schedule will be aimed at finishing 6 - 9 months after you first sign up as a trainee.

How much extra study do I have to during the course?

The study program is designed to be completed during working hours. You will normally have to find 1 - 2 hours per week and you will meet with your mentor for a face-to-face teaching session once a month for 1 - 2 hours.

Can I fast track the course?

This is a self-paced course with support from a mentor. If you want to work through the course faster, you can go for it!

Do you have an online study option?

Yes. But we've found that online study is really difficult to complete alone ... real life gets in the way and getting back to that computer to complete a course isn't always easy. That's why you'll always have the support of a mentor to make sure that online doesn't become offline.

General Questions

I thought your name was Churchill Education, so who is Train to Succeed?

We started out in business trading as Train to Succeed. In late 2010, we became known as Churchill Education. We are the same organisation, we are still here and we are still ready to help you.

Is a qualification issued from your organisation worth the same as if I got it from a TAFE?

Yes. The qualifications are all issued under the same Australian Quality Training Framework and meet the same standards and hold the same weight as any qualification issued by a TAFE. The process is different though ... we are more flexible, keep our process simpler and embrace recognising experience.