SCHOOL INFORMATION
Established in 1979, ACS has educated thousands of
full and part-time students, many of whom have gone onto successful employment,
both in industry or in their own businesses. Others have used their courses to
develop a hobby, or simply broaden their general education. We currently have
over 2500 students enrolled from Australia and around the world. The school
operates offices in Queensland, Australia and Wallingford, UK. Many of the
courses have been formally accredited or endorsed by industry and/or
accreditation authorities.
The school holds high the ideals of practical education, emphasizing in all
courses those things which are relevant to "real life". Courses offered cater
for hobby interest through to formal training in industry and the professions.
MORE THAN A SCHOOL
The school and it's tutors have always been active in industry.
We believe strongly that maintaining an awareness of current information and
trends enables us to keep our course notes and services to students up to date
and relevant. When you study with this school you are learning from people who
are doing what you are studying on a daily basis.
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A key philosophy of the school, since its establishment, has been that tutors
should not only be tertiary qualified, but also actively working in the
industry. This allows the student to gain the benefits of the tutors
"professional" experiences and up-to-date knowledge of their industry. All
tutors:
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Hold a tertiary qualification (diploma or degree).
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Have a minimum of 5 years of industry experience.
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Hold an appropriate training skills qualification.
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Are still working in industry (at least part time).
We endeavor to employ tutors who have distinguished themselves as leaders in
their respective fields. Current tutorial staff include former presidents and
secretaries from professional associations, former and current managers and
department heads from a variety of organisations (both private enterprise and
government) and successful owner operators of a wide variety of
businesses.
Click here for more information on our staff.
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LOTS OF SUPPORT!
Often the problem with correspondence study is that you feel you are on your
own,and have limited access to resources, to ask questions and obtain
assignment feedback.
ACS provides the highest level of support possible. Students can:
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Talk directly with tutors by phone.
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Fax or email questions and quickly receive a phone call, email or fax back.
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Borrow videos (free if you pick them up, handling charge applicable via
mail in Australia).
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Use the mail order bookshop to get a wide range of excellent books.
WHAT YOU GET AS A STUDENT
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All necessary course notes and required reading materials
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Free Tuition
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Assignments marked
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Questions answered
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Careers and business advice
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Access to our Resource Libraries
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Newsletters
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Bookshop & Workshop discounts
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Video Library membership
RECOGNITION FOR PRIOR STUDY OR WORK EXPERIENCE
If you have already learnt things which are taught in a course, either through
previous study or work experience, you may be able to obtain credit towards
your chosen course, eliminating the need to repeat material, and thereby
reducing the time taken to complete your course.
Credit can be obtained by completing a
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
form
BEFORE commencing your course.
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To apply for RPL, contact the school for an application form. Complete the form
and submit it together with photocopied documentation.
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A nominal fee is charged for Certificate courses and Diploma courses, to make a
standard RPL assessment. A higher fee may apply for more complex submissions
involving large exemptions. The RPL fee will be deducted from the total cost of
your course, plus discounts for any exempted studies, upon enrolment. However,
if you complete an RPL and choose NOT to enrol in a course, this fee is
non-refundable.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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Short courses (ie: Any course below 150hrs duration) - Anyone can enrol, there
are no formal pre-requisites, though year 10 or equivilent is preferable in
most instances
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Certificates & Advanced Certificates - See each course, usually Year 10, 11
or equivalent, or mature age
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Diplomas & Advanced Diplomas - Year 12 or Mature age.
COURSES ARE CONTINUALLY UPDATED
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We're always learning new things, from conferences, magazines and journals,
internet searches, colleagues and of course student's assignments.
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Staff at the school are continually researching and writing new books, magazine
articles and video scripts
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This gathered information is used to update course notes.
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We offer you more up to date information than you are likely to get from many
other schools.
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We encourage feedback from students through newsletter questionaires, and
contact with tutors.
COURSE DURATION
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There are no set starting dates. Start when you want at any time of the year.
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We allow students to work at their own pace. There are no deadlines for
assignments (Austudy students will have a set time frame as dictated by Austudy
Guidelines).
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Cancellation of a registration will only occur if you haven't contacted us for
over 6 months
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See schedule of fees
for estimated hours of study for each course.
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Extensions and deferments may be requested if needed. Please contact the school
for more details.
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If your studies are supported by someone else (eg. Austudy or Employer), they
may require you to finish within a specified period. In such cases check with
the supporting agency before enrolling.
WHEN CAN I START?
As our courses run via correspondence, students can start when they wish; at
any time of the year.
CHOOSING & ENROLLING IN YOUR COURSE
The task of choosing a course can be daunting.
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The courses available menu lists courses according to subject
area. Look through the subject area/s that interest/s you and choose the
particular course/s that most appeal/s to you. The fees for each course are
listed at the right hand side of each course.
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If you need further information then fax, phone, write, visit or email the
school for further advice or information. -As you complete written &
practical assignments, submit your work to the school for comment. Your tutor
provides guidance where needed, and the work is returned to you to keep.
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ACSEdu America
This new institution has been established as a new company in New York State, with affiliations to both ACS in Australia and the UK, and AERO (Alternative Education Revolution Network.) http://www.acseduamerica.com
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Pershore College
Pershore is one of the Uk's most reputable and long established horticulture schools, based in Worstershire, south of Birmingham.
http://www.pershore.ac.uk/ |
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Health Schools Australia
Health Schools Australia is the leading distance learning provider for Naturopathy, Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Remedial Massage and Wellness. ACS is now jointly delivering courses with health schools.
http://www.healthaustralia.com/ |
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Warnborough College ( U.K. )
Based in Canterbury in the UK , Warnborough operates through a network of affiliate institutions in the USA , Asia and elsewhere.
http://www.warnborough.ac.uk/
http://www.warnborough.edu/
http://www.warnborough.ie/ |
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Lifestyle Learning Direct
LLD is a relatively new institution, but part of a 30 year old Gold Coast Company with a reputation for quality and service.
http://www.lifestylelearningdirect.com/
http://www.sackvilleacademy.com.au/ |
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Pacifica School of Horticulture
Pacifica is a small school established and operated by one of America's largest mail order plant nurseries, based in southern Oregon, USA
http://www.pacificagarden.org/
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Writtle College ( U.K. )
Writtle College is one of England's largest Horticulture and Agriculture Colleges, located in Essex .
http://www.writtle.ac.uk/
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NEEF National Ecology and Environment Foundation ( U.K. )
The National Ecology and Environment Foundation (NEEF) is a not-for-profit, non- government organisation registered as a public trust with its main office at Mumbai,India and Centres in other parts of the globe.
http://www.savira.in/
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The Careers Guide.Com Ezine
http://www.thecareersguide.com/ |
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Recognition can mean different things to different people.
If you want to know whether we are reputable the simple answer is "YES".
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We have established formal standing with various government & industry
bodies.
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We are known and supported by professionals throughout Australia &
overseas.
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Graduates have obtained employment and established successful businesses across
a wide range of industries.
Accreditation usually involves a formal process of gaining endorsement of
credibility by an organisation outside of the college (e.g. A government
department/authority). In Australia formal recognition refers to a school not
to courses.Accreditation does not necessarily guarantee improved quality or
standards in a course.
The difficulty with accreditation and recognition systems is that they can
become bureacratic and can often change. This can mean accredited
courses may:
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Become out of date (because accreditation processes may take several years).
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Be changed or lose accreditation before you finish a course.
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Contain things which are considered important by committee members or
bureacrats, but which you may not really need in your situation.
Recognition of the school involves more than just being formally accredited
with the appropriate authorities. The most important things must be:
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People in the industry know of the school and it's courses.
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The school has a good reputation and it's graduates get jobs.
After maintaining high standards for over 18 years, this school has seen great
success in all of these respects. The school has developed a credible identity,
with courses being supported by employeres, industry publications, and
professional groups. Graduates find their studies help them gain employment,
and increased success in their careers. Many of our students have been
sponsored to do courses, or had course costs subsidised by employers.
QUALITY GUARANTEED
This school maintains a quality control system to comply with the standard
AS.NZS ISO 9002, as published by Standards Australia.
INDEPENDENT ACCREDITATION SYSTEM
We are involved with a group of well respected colleges in a system
of course endorsement, to provide students and industry with an assurance of a
quality of course content and delivery which is appropriate to the future. For
more information, please visit http://www.iarcedu.com
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LETTER OF COMPLETION
At the completion of any course, the school will, on request issue you with an
official "letter of completion" acknowledging your satisfactory completion of
all assignments.
STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT
To formally complete all course assignments, then sit and pass the required
examinations. You can arrange to sit your exam close to your home, with someone
such as a police officer, minister of religion, J.P. or college lecturer acting
as a supervisor.
CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS
Your official certificate or diploma is awarded when you successfully complete
all course requirements. The official document is yours to display. As a
graduate, you are also entitled to use an appropriate abbreviation of your
qualification after your name.
ASSESSMENT
All assignments and exams are assessed as either 'C' (competent) or 'N' (Not
Yet Competent). This system is a requirement for accredited vocational courses.
Tutors will also write comments and advice on your work.
NO HECS!
Thats right! Our courses are not burdened with future HECS payments. Note:
Graduates from other Australian institutions may have payments for their
studies extracted from their income after they graduated. ACS students pay all
of their course fees up front, so they do not have to pay HECS fees.
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
The following services are provided free to students of our school.
- Professional advice on finding work in your area of study.
- References are provided on request to support job applications.
- We will review and comment on job applications on request.
- Assistance in writing a C.V. or Resume to support job applications.
- Advice on where to promote your new business.
- Referrals to employers, when approached.
- On your request, a free listing on our student internet directory.
- We will promote you or your business for free!
- Careers Guides are available through the bookshop.
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WHAT IS APPROVED WORK EXPERIENCE
Credits may be achieved through a recognition of prior learning assessment
which determines that you have developed appropriate skills through experience
in industry. Such credit must be based on a fully documented, formal
submission. The following situations are generally approved:
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Work under the direction of a qualified person.
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Under the direction of a long term member of an appropriate professional
association.
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Work which you can be refereed by a qualified or well recognized professional.
WORKPLACE PROJECTS
A workplace project may involve developing and undertaking a research project
in liason with a tutor. A typical project will involve a series of
communications (by phone, fax, email or in person), interspersed with periods
of work and preparation of written reports.
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Q. If I do a shorter course first can I get credits towards a certificate or
diploma later?
A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits. Doing
it this way will probably take a little longer and cost more in fees though.
Q. When can I start my course?
A. Anytime of the year
Q. Can I pay in instalments
A. Not for online courses but you can for our traditional correspondence courses
Q. Do we get a discount if we enrol in a second course.
A. Yes, you may claim a 5% fee discount when you enrol in a second course.
This does not apply however to the second stage or part of the same certificate
or diploma.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while?
(eg. Get sick, go on holidays, have a baby).
A. Apply for an extension. It's OK to take a break and start up your study at a
later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Write, fax, email or phone the school.
Leave a message if your tutor isn't available and they will phone, write or fax
back; whatever you wish.
Q. How long does a shorter course (ie. 80-120hrs) take to complete?
A. Commonly no more than one year. Some students finish in less than 6 months.
Q. How long does a certificate take to complete?
A. Commonly around 6-9 months, if studying full time; or around two years if
studying part time. With dedication, part time students can complete a
certificate in one year.
Q. How does recognition of the school compare with other colleges?
A. We have the same formal standing as vocational colleges such as TAFE (in
Australia) or a Polytechnic (e.g. in N.Z. or the U.K.). In addition, in many
respects we are more widely recognised, due to the fact that we have been
established and training students for so long throughout Australia and in many
overseas countries. Most other colleges tend to operate only in one state or
region, and may be poorly recognised outside of that area.
