Integrity of Nationally Recognised Training Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect the integrity, credibility and value of nationally recognised training delivered and issued by Academus Training Institute.

Academus Training Institute recognises that nationally recognised training has public value. A qualification, statement of attainment or competency outcome must only be issued where the student has genuinely met all requirements of the relevant training product through valid training, assessment, recognition or credit transfer processes.

This policy ensures that all training outcomes issued by Academus Training Institute are legitimate, earned, evidence-based and compliant with the Standards for RTOs 2025, the Australian Qualifications Framework, training package requirements, assessment principles, rules of evidence and relevant regulatory expectations.

This policy also establishes clear controls to prevent fraudulent, misleading, incomplete or non-compliant training and assessment practices.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all domestic students enrolled with Academus Training Institute.

It applies to all staff, contractors and representatives involved in nationally recognised training, including:

• CEO
• Training Manager
• Trainers and assessors
• Administration staff
• Enrolment staff
• Compliance staff
• Student support staff
• Any approved third-party or contracted personnel involved in training, assessment, administration, marketing or certification

This policy applies to all nationally recognised training products delivered by Academus Training Institute within its approved scope of registration.

This policy applies to:

• Training delivery
• Assessment
• Recognition of Prior Learning
• Credit Transfer
• Assessment evidence collection
• Competency decisions
• Certification issuance
• Student records
• Marketing and course information
• AVETMISS reporting
• Complaints, appeals and integrity concerns

This policy applies only to domestic student delivery. It does not apply to international student, CRICOS or overseas student arrangements.

3. Policy Statement

Academus Training Institute is committed to protecting the integrity of nationally recognised training.

Academus Training Institute will ensure that:

• Training is only delivered for training products on its current scope of registration.
• Students receive genuine training and assessment.
• Assessment decisions are based on valid, sufficient, authentic and current evidence.
• Competency decisions are made only by qualified assessors.
• Qualifications and statements of attainment are issued only when all requirements have been met.
• Assessment evidence is not falsified, copied, fabricated or improperly completed.
• Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning are granted only where valid evidence supports the decision.
• Marketing and course information do not misrepresent training outcomes, licensing outcomes or employment outcomes.
• Records are accurate, complete, secure and retained as required.
• Any concern about integrity, fraud or misrepresentation is taken seriously and investigated.

4. Integrity Principles

4.1 Legitimacy

All training outcomes must be legitimate and supported by evidence. No qualification or statement of attainment may be issued unless the student has met the required competency or credit transfer requirements.

4.2 Authenticity

Assessment evidence must be the student’s own work or a genuine demonstration of the student’s skills and knowledge.

4.3 Validity

Assessment must assess the requirements of the relevant unit of competency, including skills, knowledge, performance evidence and assessment conditions.

4.4 Sufficiency

Assessors must collect enough evidence to make a sound competency decision.

4.5 Fairness

Students must be informed of assessment requirements and given a fair opportunity to demonstrate competency.

4.6 Accountability

Academus Training Institute remains responsible for the integrity of all training and assessment outcomes issued under its RTO registration.

4.7 Public Confidence

ATI must protect the reputation and value of nationally recognised training by preventing shortcuts, false records, paper-based qualifications without genuine assessment, and any conduct that undermines public trust.

5. Scope of Registration Integrity

Academus Training Institute must only advertise, enrol, deliver, assess and issue certification for training products listed on its current scope of registration.

Before delivery commences, the Training Manager or authorised staff member must confirm that:

• The training product is on ATI’s scope of registration.
• The correct national code and title are being used.
• A current Training and Assessment Strategy is approved.
• Suitable trainers and assessors are available.
• Required facilities, equipment and resources are available.
• Assessment tools and learning resources are suitable.
• Licensing or regulatory requirements, where applicable, have been considered.
• Student information is accurate and current.

6. Training Integrity

Training delivered by Academus Training Institute must be genuine, structured and sufficient to support students to develop required skills and knowledge.

Training must:

• Follow the approved Training and Assessment Strategy.
• Be delivered by qualified and current trainers.
• Use suitable learning resources.
• Provide sufficient training and practice before assessment.
• Reflect current industry practice where applicable.
• Be supported by attendance and participation records.
• Be delivered in a safe and appropriate learning environment.
• Meet training package and regulatory requirements.

Training must not be shortened, skipped or replaced by assessment unless a student is undertaking an approved Recognition of Prior Learning pathway or has been granted valid Credit Transfer.

7. Assessment Integrity

Assessment integrity is essential to the credibility of nationally recognised training.

All assessment must:

• Be conducted using approved assessment tools.
• Be completed under appropriate assessment conditions.
• Be assessed by a qualified assessor.
• Meet the principles of assessment.
• Meet the rules of evidence.
• Reflect the requirements of the relevant unit of competency.
• Be based on the student’s own evidence and performance.
• Be recorded accurately.
• Be retained according to ATI’s records management requirements.

Assessors must make competency decisions based only on evidence, not assumptions, attendance, payment, effort, personal relationship or pressure from any party.

8. Authentic Assessment Evidence

Assessment evidence must be genuine and must relate to the student being assessed.

To support authenticity, ATI may use methods such as:

• Student assessment declarations.
• Direct observation.
• Practical demonstrations.
• Oral questioning.
• Trainer questioning during assessment.
• Student identification checks.
• Comparison of written responses across assessments.
• Review of handwriting or digital submission patterns.
• Supervised assessment conditions.
• Verification of third-party or workplace evidence where applicable.
• Cross-checking evidence against other assessment tasks.

9. Prohibited Assessment and Certification Practices

Academus Training Institute strictly prohibits any practice that compromises assessment or certification integrity.

Prohibited practices include:

• Issuing a qualification without genuine training or assessment.
• Issuing a statement of attainment without valid competency evidence.
• Marking a student competent without sufficient evidence.
• Pre-filling assessment answers for students.
• Completing assessment work on behalf of students.
• Coaching students during assessment in a way that provides the answer.
• Backdating assessment records.
• Backdating enrolment or completion records.
• Falsifying attendance records.
• Falsifying assessment evidence.
• Allowing copying, plagiarism or cheating.
• Accepting payment in exchange for a guaranteed outcome.
• Granting Credit Transfer without verified evidence.
• Granting RPL without proper assessment of evidence.
• Conducting assessment where required resources or conditions are not available.
• Issuing certification for a training product not on ATI’s scope of registration.
• Altering assessment outcomes without proper review and evidence.
• Destroying or hiding records to avoid audit or review.

10. Student Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct occurs when a student acts dishonestly or improperly in relation to assessment.

Examples may include:

• Plagiarism.
• Copying another student’s work.
• Allowing another student to copy their work.
• Using unauthorised notes or devices during assessment.
• Submitting work completed by another person.
• Falsifying workplace evidence.
• Providing false documents.
• Misrepresenting experience or prior learning.
• Collusion during individual assessment.
• Using artificial intelligence or digital tools where not permitted.
• Attempting to influence an assessor improperly.

Where academic misconduct is suspected, the assessor must document the concern and refer the matter to the Training Manager or authorised staff member.

11. Managing Academic Misconduct

Where student academic misconduct is suspected, Academus Training Institute will manage the matter fairly and consistently.

The process may include:

1. The assessor records the concern and relevant evidence.
2. The matter is referred to the Training Manager or authorised staff member.
3. The student is informed of the concern.
4. The student is given an opportunity to respond.
5. The evidence is reviewed.
6. A decision is made and recorded.
7. The student is advised of the outcome.
8. Where appropriate, the student is advised of complaint or appeal options.

Possible outcomes may include:

• No further action.
• Student warning.
• Requirement to resubmit assessment.
• Requirement to complete assessment under supervision.
• Assessment marked Not Satisfactory.
• Cancellation of assessment attempt.
• Review of enrolment status.
• Referral under student misconduct procedures.
• Cancellation of enrolment for serious or repeated misconduct.

All substantiated academic misconduct must be recorded in the student file or relevant register.

12. Assessor Responsibilities

Assessors are responsible for protecting assessment integrity.

Assessors must:

• Use approved assessment tools.
• Confirm assessment conditions are appropriate.
• Explain assessment requirements to students.
• Collect valid and sufficient evidence.
• Verify authenticity of evidence.
• Make fair and evidence-based decisions.
• Record outcomes accurately.
• Provide feedback to students.
• Identify and report suspected misconduct.
• Refuse to make a competency decision where evidence is insufficient.
• Maintain confidentiality of assessment materials.
• Participate in validation and moderation activities.
• Follow ATI assessment procedures.

13. Recognition of Prior Learning Integrity

Recognition of Prior Learning must be conducted with the same level of integrity as any other assessment pathway.

RPL decisions must be based on evidence that is:

• Valid
• Sufficient
• Authentic
• Current

RPL evidence may include:

• Workplace evidence.
• Third-party reports.
• Work samples.
• Position descriptions.
• Licences or tickets.
• Prior training records.
• Practical demonstrations.
• Professional conversation.
• Challenge tests.
• Verifiable industry experience.

RPL must not be granted only because a student claims experience. Evidence must be assessed against the unit requirements.

Where evidence is insufficient, the student must be asked to provide further evidence or complete additional assessment.

14. Credit Transfer Integrity

Credit Transfer may only be granted where valid evidence of prior nationally recognised training is provided and verified.

Evidence may include:

• Verified statement of attainment.
• Verified qualification.
• Authenticated USI transcript.
• Records from another RTO, where appropriate.

Before Credit Transfer is granted, ATI must confirm that:

• The unit code and title match, or equivalence can be confirmed.
• The evidence is authentic.
• The issuing organisation was authorised to issue the evidence at the time.
• Any licensing or regulatory limitations have been considered.
• The decision is recorded.

15. Qualification and Statement of Attainment Issuance

Academus Training Institute will only issue certification when all requirements have been met.

Before issuing a qualification or statement of attainment, ATI must confirm that:

• The student is correctly identified.
• The student has a valid USI unless an exemption applies.
• All required units have been resulted correctly.
• All competency decisions are supported by evidence.
• Credit Transfer or RPL decisions are verified and recorded where applicable.
• Fees and administrative requirements have been checked according to ATI policy.
• The training product is on ATI’s scope of registration.
• The correct qualification, skill set or unit details are used.
• Certification is authorised by the appropriate person.

16. Certification Requirements

All AQF certification documentation issued by Academus Training Institute must comply with applicable AQF and RTO requirements.

Certification documents must include required information such as:

• Student name.
• Qualification or statement of attainment details.
• National code and title.
• Units of competency achieved, where applicable.
• Date of issue.
• Academus Training Institute name.
• RTO Code 46483.
• Authorised signature or approved certification authority.
• Required nationally recognised training wording or logo, where applicable and permitted.
• Any required statements relating to partial completion or industry requirements, where applicable.

Certification must be issued within required timeframes after the student has met all requirements, subject to ATI’s policies and regulatory obligations.

17. Replacement Certification

Students may request replacement certification where an original document has been lost, damaged or requires reissue.

Before issuing replacement certification, ATI must verify:

• Student identity.
• Original issuance record.
• Correct details to be reissued.
• Any applicable fee or administrative requirement.

Replacement certification should be marked or recorded as reissued where appropriate.

ATI must maintain records of certification issued and reissued.

18. Records Integrity

Accurate records are essential to nationally recognised training integrity.

Academus Training Institute must maintain accurate and secure records relating to:

• Enrolment.
• Student identity.
• Training participation.
• Attendance.
• Assessment evidence.
• Assessment outcomes.
• RPL and Credit Transfer.
• Certification issuance.
• Complaints and appeals.
• Academic misconduct.
• Validation and moderation.
• Continuous improvement.
• AVETMISS reporting.

Records must be protected from unauthorised access, alteration, loss or destruction.

19. AVETMISS and Data Reporting Integrity

Academus Training Institute must ensure that training activity and outcome data is recorded and reported accurately.

AVETMISS data must reflect actual enrolment, training activity and outcome information.

Staff responsible for data entry and reporting must ensure that:

• Student details are accurate.
• Course and unit details are correct.
• Commencement and completion information is accurate.
• Outcomes are entered only from approved assessment decisions.
• Credit Transfer and RPL outcomes are recorded correctly.
• Errors are corrected promptly.
• Reporting records are retained.

False or inaccurate reporting may compromise the integrity of the RTO and must be reported to the CEO or Compliance Officer.

20. Marketing Integrity

Marketing and student information must not misrepresent nationally recognised training.

Academus Training Institute must ensure that marketing materials:

• Use correct course codes and titles.
• Refer only to training products on ATI’s scope of registration.
• Do not guarantee employment outcomes.
• Do not guarantee licensing outcomes.
• Do not misrepresent course duration or requirements.
• Do not imply government endorsement unless authorised.
• Do not offer qualifications without genuine assessment.
• Do not mislead students about RPL, Credit Transfer or completion timeframes.
• Do not use the Nationally Recognised Training logo incorrectly.

Marketing integrity supports student protection and public confidence in nationally recognised training.

21. Staff Conduct and Integrity

All staff must act honestly and professionally in relation to training, assessment, records and certification.

Staff must not:

• Alter records without authority.
• Falsify student attendance.
• Falsify assessment outcomes.
• Provide answers to students during assessment.
• Accept gifts or benefits in exchange for favourable outcomes.
• Promise competency outcomes before assessment.
• Issue or request certification without evidence.
• Pressure assessors to mark students competent.
• Hide non-compliance or integrity concerns.
• Mislead students, regulators or other stakeholders.

Staff must report any suspected conduct that may compromise the integrity of nationally recognised training.

22. Reporting Integrity Concerns

Academus Training Institute encourages students, staff and other parties to report concerns about training, assessment, certification, records or marketing integrity.

Concerns may relate to:

• Fraudulent assessment.
• Falsified records.
• Misleading marketing.
• Improper certification.
• Academic misconduct.
• Staff misconduct.
• Pressure to issue competency.
• Delivery outside scope.
• Improper RPL or Credit Transfer.
• Unsafe or unsuitable assessment conditions.

Reports may be made to:

• CEO
• Training Manager
• Compliance Officer
• Student Support Officer
• Complaints and Appeals process

A person may also raise concerns with the relevant regulator or authority where appropriate.

23. Investigation of Integrity Concerns

Where an integrity concern is reported or identified, Academus Training Institute will take reasonable steps to investigate.

The investigation may include:

• Reviewing student records.
• Reviewing assessment evidence.
• Interviewing relevant staff or students.
• Reviewing attendance records.
• Reviewing certification records.
• Checking trainer and assessor files.
• Reviewing marketing materials.
• Reviewing system access or data changes.
• Seeking external advice where required.

Investigation outcomes must be recorded.

Where misconduct, non-compliance or error is confirmed, corrective action must be taken.

24. Corrective and Disciplinary Action

Where an integrity breach is identified, Academus Training Institute may take corrective or disciplinary action.

Actions may include:

• Correcting records.
• Reassessing affected students.
• Withholding certification.
• Cancelling invalid outcomes.
• Updating procedures.
• Providing staff training.
• Reviewing assessment tools.
• Conducting additional validation.
• Notifying affected students.
• Recording continuous improvement actions.
• Performance management.
• Termination of staff or contractor engagement.
• Reporting to regulatory authorities where required.

The action taken must be proportionate to the seriousness of the issue.

25. Continuous Improvement

Academus Training Institute will use integrity-related information to improve its systems and controls.

Continuous improvement may be informed by:

• Validation outcomes.
• Internal audits.
• Complaints and appeals.
• Academic misconduct records.
• Staff feedback.
• Student feedback.
• Assessment review findings.
• Certification checks.
• AVETMISS reporting checks.
• Regulator feedback.
• Integrity investigations.

Improvement actions must be recorded, monitored and reviewed for effectiveness.

26. Roles and Responsibilities

27. Related Documents

This policy should be read together with the following documents:

• Assessment Policy
• Training Delivery Policy
• Validation of Assessment Policy
• Training and Assessment Strategy
• Trainer and Assessor Requirements Policy
• Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy
• Certification Issuance Policy
• Records Management Policy
• Information and Marketing Transparency Policy
• Student Information Pre-Enrolment Policy
• Complaints and Appeals Policy
• Academic Misconduct Procedure
• Continuous Improvement Policy
• Student Handbook

28. Review and Approval

This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier where required due to changes in:

• Standards for RTOs
• AQF requirements
• Scope of registration
• Training package requirements
• Assessment requirements
• Certification requirements
• AVETMISS reporting requirements
• Regulatory guidance
• Internal audit findings
• Complaints, appeals or misconduct matters
• Continuous improvement outcomes

Next Review Date: July 2027