The hearing industry’s newest training organisation, the Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA), has received approval as a NSW Government ‘Smart and Skilled provider,’ saving students significant amounts on their course fees.
Mr Chedy Kalach, AuCA director, said on 15 April 2024 that the college is the state’s first and only independent provider to be approved under the scheme for audiometry.
The move enables government subsidises for eligible students, entitling AuCA to offer reduced fees for those studying audiometry. Kalach said this will help address a nationwide skills shortage in the field.
Smart and Skilled is a NSW Government program that helps people get qualifications in in-demand skills and industries and is a key part of the NSW vocational education and training system.
Kalach said subsidisation meant the college could offer discounted fees saving students thousands of dollars and in some cases, up to $5,000.
“It gives us great pleasure to announce the Australasian College of Audiometry is now a NSW Smart and Skilled provider for both audiometry qualifications,” he told Hearing Practitioner Australia.
“This means eligible students in NSW will receive a subsidised fee, the same as other providers.”
He said fees were standardised and set by the NSW Government. Details are:
Certificate IV in Audiometry (HLT47415)
- The standard fee of $5,900 is now reduced to a maximum of $2,320.
- If an applicant has successfully completed any qualification, post school, in any field, the fee is reduced to $2,320.
- However, no prior tertiary qualification is required and if the applicant has no qualification, the fee is now $1,990.
- For concession holders regardless of qualification it is $240.
Diploma of Audiometry (HLT57415)
- The standard fee is $6,900 but subsidisation has reduced this to a maximum of $4,970.
- If a student has successfully completed any qualification, post school, in any field it is reduced to $4,970.
- If the applicant has no prior tertiary qualification, the reduced fee is now $4,420.
Both certificate and diploma are flexible courses delivered online, and via practical workshops in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. Other locations are available, pending student demand.
Kalach said that for eligible students, AuCA would offer flexible payment plans for the gap and process all required paperwork on their behalf, making it simple and easy to receive the reduced fee.
Eligible students are those who are over 15 years old, no longer at school, living or working in NSW, an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen and meet AuCA admission requirements for the course.
A 40% discount for interstate students
“For students outside NSW, AuCA fees are also affordable, with the Diploma fee being $6,900, compared to a fee of $11,210 for other providers,” he added. “Having a reduced fee will further assist the industry fill this skills gap throughout Australia.
“This means we have the same course fees as the other major training provider for NSW students and close to 40% cheaper for interstate students.
“Students also receive the AuCA level of service, 24 hour replies to emails, access to the trainers’ mobile phone numbers, fast turnaround time on assignments and a user-friendly flexible course program.”
AuCA has offered the courses since December 2023 in the Vocational Education and Training sector as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO.) The NSW Government had only contracted a few RTOs that met its high standard, Kalach added.
He said the college was also considering subsidies in other states in Australia.
Smart and Skilled gives eligible students an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III and government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.
AuCA was established by the founders of the country’s largest trainer of optical dispensers – the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD) – and seeks to deliver quality training and continual professional development opportunities. The college has more than 50 years of vocational education experience in the optical field.
AuCA has a team of audiologists throughout Australia and a newly hired general manager, Ms Heather Joseph who brings years of project and team management experience and is “excited to help lead the team as they start teaching the next generation of audiometrists”.
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