Training Facilities, Equipment and Resources Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Academus Training Institute provides, maintains and reviews training facilities, equipment, learning resources and simulated workplace environments that are safe, suitable, current and sufficient for the delivery of nationally recognised training to domestic students.

Academus Training Institute recognises that training quality depends not only on trainers and assessment tools, but also on the physical learning environment, practical equipment, learning materials, digital systems and access to realistic training conditions. Facilities and resources must allow students to participate properly in training, practise required skills, understand course content and prepare for assessment.

This policy ensures that all facilities, equipment and resources used by Academus Training Institute support the requirements of the relevant training package, the approved Training and Assessment Strategy, workplace health and safety obligations, student support needs and current industry practice.

2. Scope

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

It applies to all facilities, equipment and resources used for training and assessment, including:

• Classrooms
• Practical training areas
• Simulated workplace environments
• Student amenities
• Training equipment
• Learning resources
• Digital learning resources
• Assessment support materials
• Technology and digital systems
• External or third-party training sites, where approved

This policy applies to all staff involved in planning, approving, delivering, monitoring, maintaining or reviewing facilities, equipment and resources, including:

• CEO
• Training Manager
• Operations and administration staff
• Trainers and assessors
• Student support staff
• Compliance staff
• Approved contractors or third-party personnel, where applicable

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

3. Policy Statement

Academus Training Institute is committed to providing domestic students with a safe, professional and appropriate learning environment that supports quality training outcomes.

All facilities, equipment and resources used for training and assessment must:

• Be fit for purpose.
• Be safe and suitable for the intended training or assessment activity.
• Meet the requirements of the relevant training package or accredited course.
• Support the approved Training and Assessment Strategy.
• Reflect current industry practice where required.
• Be available in sufficient quantity for the number of students.
• Be accessible and suitable for the domestic student cohort.
• Support practical skill development where required.
• Be reviewed and updated regularly.
• Comply with workplace health and safety requirements.
• Support fair, valid and reliable training and assessment.

4. Domestic Student Learning Environment

Academus Training Institute will provide domestic students with a learning environment that supports participation, engagement, safety and progression.

The learning environment must be:

• Clean, safe and organised.
• Suitable for classroom and practical learning.
• Appropriate for the number of students enrolled.
• Supported by adequate seating, tables, lighting and ventilation.
• Free from avoidable hazards and unnecessary disruption.
• Suitable for the delivery mode and course requirements.
• Respectful, inclusive and professional.
• Supported by appropriate access to amenities.

Students must be able to reasonably access the facilities, resources and equipment required to complete their training.

Where a student identifies an access or support need, Academus Training Institute will consider reasonable support or adjustment, provided that safety, competency requirements and assessment integrity are not compromised.

5. Facility Standards

Academus Training Institute must ensure that all training facilities are suitable before training commences.

Training facilities must:

• Be large enough for the student cohort.
• Allow students to safely move and participate in learning activities.
• Provide suitable furniture and learning space.
• Provide adequate lighting, ventilation and temperature control.
• Provide appropriate access to toilets and basic amenities.
• Be maintained in a clean and professional condition.
• Meet relevant workplace health and safety requirements.
• Be suitable for the delivery and assessment requirements described in the Training and Assessment Strategy.
• Support privacy and dignity where sensitive matters or student support discussions occur.
• Be checked regularly for hazards, faults or suitability concerns.

6. Practical Training Areas

Where a course requires practical training, Academus Training Institute must ensure that students have access to suitable practical training areas.

Practical training areas must:

• Allow students to practise required skills safely.
• Be suitable for the number of students participating.
• Provide enough space for demonstrations and supervised practice.
• Include appropriate equipment, documents, tools or materials.
• Allow trainers to observe, guide and correct student performance.
• Reflect workplace expectations where practical.
• Meet the conditions required by the relevant unit of competency.

Practical activities must be supervised by a suitably qualified trainer or assessor.

Students must be given clear instructions, safety directions and practice opportunities before being assessed on practical skills.

7. Simulated Workplace Environments

Where training or assessment is conducted in a simulated workplace environment, the simulated environment must be realistic, appropriate and aligned with the unit requirements.

Simulated workplace environments must:

• Reflect realistic workplace conditions as closely as practicable.
• Allow students to demonstrate the required skills and behaviours.
• Include relevant workplace documents, equipment, scenarios or procedures.
• Support the performance evidence and assessment conditions of the unit.
• Be documented in the Training and Assessment Strategy where applicable.
• Be reviewed to ensure ongoing suitability and industry relevance.
• Provide a safe environment for students and staff.

Simulated environments must not be artificial to the point that they remove the real requirements of the task. They must allow students to practise and demonstrate skills in a way that reasonably reflects workplace performance.

8. Equipment Requirements

All equipment used for training and assessment must be suitable, safe, available and aligned with course requirements.

Equipment must:

• Be fit for purpose.
• Reflect current industry practice where applicable.
• Be available in sufficient quantity.
• Be safe and ready for use.
• Be suitable for training, practice and assessment.
• Be maintained in working order.
• Be checked before use where required.
• Be removed from use if faulty or unsafe.
• Be repaired, replaced or substituted with an approved suitable alternative where required.

Where a unit of competency requires specific equipment, Academus Training Institute must ensure that the equipment is available before training or assessment occurs.

9. Equipment Register and Maintenance

Academus Training Institute will maintain an equipment register for significant training equipment where required.

The equipment register may include:

• Equipment name or description
• Location
• Quantity
• Condition
• Maintenance requirements
• Date inspected
• Faults identified
• Repair or replacement action
• Staff member responsible

Equipment must be reviewed regularly to confirm it remains safe and suitable.

Faulty, damaged or unsafe equipment must be:

• Removed from use immediately.
• Clearly identified or tagged where appropriate.
• Reported to the Training Manager or responsible staff member.
• Recorded where the issue may affect safety, training or assessment.
• Repaired, replaced or assessed before being returned to use.

10. Learning Resources

Academus Training Institute must ensure that students are provided with suitable learning resources to support training participation and skill development.

Learning resources may include:

• Learner guides
• Student workbooks
• Handouts
• PowerPoint slides
• Practical activity instructions
• Case studies
• Workplace documents
• Templates and forms
• Legislation and regulatory information
• Videos or visual resources
• Digital learning materials
• Trainer-developed support materials
• Assessment preparation information

Learning resources must:

• Be current and accurate.
• Align with the relevant training package or accredited course.
• Support the approved Training and Assessment Strategy.
• Be suitable for the domestic student cohort.
• Use clear and appropriate language.
• Support the required skills and knowledge.
• Reflect current industry practice where applicable.
• Be available before or during the relevant training session.
• Be reviewed and updated when required.

11. Resource Currency and Review

Academus Training Institute must review learning resources to ensure they remain current, compliant and suitable.

Resource reviews may occur:

• At least annually.
• When a training package is updated.
• When a unit of competency changes.
• When legislation, licensing or regulatory requirements change.
• Following trainer feedback.
• Following student feedback.
• Following industry feedback.
• Following validation or moderation.
• Following internal audit findings.
• When an error, gap or improvement opportunity is identified.

Where a resource is found to be outdated, incomplete or unsuitable, it must be updated, replaced or removed from use.

Resource review outcomes must be recorded where appropriate and entered into the continuous improvement process if action is required.

12. Third-Party Learning Resources

Academus Training Institute may use externally developed or third-party learning resources where appropriate.

Before use, third-party resources must be reviewed to confirm that they:

• Align with the relevant training package requirements.
• Support the approved Training and Assessment Strategy.
• Are suitable for the domestic student cohort.
• Are current, accurate and complete.
• Reflect workplace and industry expectations where required.
• Are legally permitted for use by Academus Training Institute.
• Do not conflict with ATI policies, procedures or assessment requirements.

Third-party resources must not be used without review and approval.

Academus Training Institute remains responsible for the quality, suitability and compliance of all learning resources used in its training delivery, regardless of who developed them.

13. Digital Resources and Technology

Where digital resources or technology are used for training delivery, Academus Training Institute must ensure that they are suitable, reliable and secure.

Digital resources and technology may include:

• Computers or laptops
• Projectors and screens
• Internet access
• Online learning platforms
• Digital learner guides
• Videos and visual resources
• Assessment platforms
• Student management systems
• Communication tools

Digital systems and resources must:

• Support the training activity.
• Be reasonably accessible to students.
• Be reliable during scheduled training.
• Protect student information.
• Be checked before use where required.
• Be supported by staff where practical.
• Comply with privacy and data protection requirements.

Where students are required to access digital materials, they must be provided with clear instructions and reasonable support where needed.

14. Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustment

Academus Training Institute will take reasonable steps to ensure facilities, equipment and resources are accessible to domestic students.

Where a student identifies a need for support, reasonable adjustments may include:

• Providing learning materials in an alternative format.
• Providing additional explanation or clarification.
• Adjusting seating or classroom arrangements.
• Allowing additional time to access learning materials.
• Supporting access to digital resources.
• Providing additional trainer guidance.
• Providing appropriate assistive arrangements where reasonable.

Reasonable adjustment must not:

• Compromise workplace health and safety.
• Reduce or change the required competency standard.
• Remove essential course requirements.
• Compromise assessment validity, fairness, reliability or authenticity.
• Provide an unfair advantage to a student.

Any approved adjustment must be documented where required.

15. Workplace Health and Safety

Academus Training Institute has a responsibility to provide a safe training and assessment environment.

Facilities, equipment and resources must be used in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements.

Trainers must:

• Check the training environment before delivery.
• Provide safety instructions before practical activities.
• Ensure students use equipment correctly.
• Stop unsafe behaviour or unsafe activities.
• Remove unsafe equipment from use.
• Report hazards, incidents or concerns promptly.
• Record safety matters where required.

Students must:

• Follow trainer instructions.
• Use equipment safely and responsibly.
• Report hazards or unsafe conditions.
• Not misuse equipment, facilities or resources.
• Participate in training in a safe and respectful manner.

16. Third-Party or External Facilities

Where training or assessment is conducted at an external or third-party facility, Academus Training Institute must confirm that the facility is suitable before delivery commences.

The external site must be reviewed to confirm that it:

• Is safe and suitable for the training activity.
• Provides appropriate facilities and equipment.
• Supports the requirements of the relevant training product.
• Meets workplace health and safety expectations.
• Provides appropriate access for students and staff.
• Allows training and assessment to be conducted effectively.
• Meets the requirements documented in the Training and Assessment Strategy.

Where required, Academus Training Institute will complete a site review, site checklist or written agreement before using the external facility.

Academus Training Institute remains responsible for ensuring that any external facility used for training or assessment is suitable and compliant.

17. Suitability Before Delivery

Before training commences, Academus Training Institute must confirm that the required facilities, equipment and resources are available and suitable.

This may include checking:

• Room availability
• Room size and layout
• Student seating
• Practical training space
• Equipment availability
• Equipment safety
• Learning materials
• Trainer resources
• Digital access
• Student amenities
• WHS requirements
• Training and Assessment Strategy requirements

If a required facility, equipment item or resource is not available, the Training Manager must determine whether training can proceed safely and compliantly.

18. Managing Deficiencies

Where a facility, equipment item or learning resource is found to be unsafe, unsuitable, insufficient or outdated, Academus Training Institute must take appropriate action.

Actions may include:

• Removing unsafe equipment from use.
• Repairing or replacing equipment.
• Updating learning resources.
• Providing alternative suitable resources.
• Changing the training room or delivery location.
• Rescheduling practical activities.
• Providing additional support to students.
• Recording the issue in the Continuous Improvement Register.
• Escalating urgent matters to the CEO.
• Notifying affected students where required.

Where a deficiency affects training quality, assessment validity or student safety, the affected activity must not continue until the issue is resolved.

19. Monitoring and Review

Academus Training Institute will monitor facilities, equipment and learning resources to ensure they remain suitable and compliant.

Monitoring may include:

• Facility inspections
• Equipment checks
• Trainer feedback
• Student feedback
• WHS checks
• Resource reviews
• Internal audits
• Training and Assessment Strategy reviews
• Assessment validation outcomes
• Industry consultation

Review findings must be documented where required.

Any identified improvement, risk or non-compliance must be recorded and actioned through the continuous improvement process.

20. Records

Academus Training Institute must maintain appropriate records relating to facilities, equipment and resources.

Records may include:

• Facility inspection records
• Equipment registers
• Maintenance records
• Resource review records
• WHS inspection records
• Hazard and incident reports
• Site assessment checklists
• External facility agreements
• Trainer feedback records
• Student feedback records
• Continuous improvement records
• Training and Assessment Strategy resource documentation

Records must be stored securely and retained in accordance with Academus Training Institute’s records management requirements.

21. Roles and Responsibilities

22. Related Documents

This policy should be read together with the following documents:

• Training Delivery Policy
• Training and Assessment Strategy
• Assessment Policy
• Student Support During Training Policy
• Trainer and Assessor Requirements Policy
• Workplace Health and Safety Policy
• Continuous Improvement Policy
• Records Management Policy
• Complaints and Appeals Policy
• Student Handbook
• Course Information Documents

23. Review and Approval

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

• Standards for RTOs
• Training package requirements
• Scope of registration
• Course delivery arrangements
• Facilities or equipment
• Workplace health and safety requirements
• Student cohort needs
• Internal audit findings
• Continuous improvement outcomes

Next Review Date: July 2027