SCOPE

This policy applies to all students at the Wooden Boat Centre - Tasmania (WBC), including the 1-Year Wooden Boatbuilding Course and various short courses.

POLICY STATEMENT

This policy outlines the principles for student course fees collection and granting fee refunds.

COURSE FEES

Course fees are determined annually for our boatbuilding training and on establishment of our range of short course offerings.

PAYMENT OF FEES

Students must pay all fees by the due date specified on their fees invoice.

Students must make all fees payments into the nominated bank account by direct debit as per the fees invoice (referencing the invoice number), or if that is not possible, by payment directly to the Wooden Boat Centre at the front counter.

NON-PAYMENT OF FEES

The Wooden Boat Centre issues a fee reminder where payment has not been made by the due date of the invoice. If the outstanding debt is not paid, the WBC may take the following action:

·        cancel a student’s enrolment

·        not allow a student to graduate or receive a certificate until all outstanding debt is paid.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE ENROLMENT

Course withdrawal without a fee penalty other than an administration fee applies to:

·        the 1 year Boatbuolding course at least 60 days prior to course commencement

·        short courses at least 30 days prior to course commencement.

The course holding deposit will be retained by the WBC as an administrative fee.

Where an enrolee can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances beyond their control impacted their decision, a full or part refund of the course fee (less administration fee) will be considered.  See ‘Refunds Under Exceptional Circumstances’ below.

FEE PAYMENT PLAN FOR 1 YEAR BOATBUILDING STUDENTS

Eligible students may apply for a fee payment plan to pay their tuition fees in a manner other than stated on the invoice, where the student:

·        makes an application before the fees due date

·        does not owe any fees from a previous teaching period or course when the application is made.

All approved fee payment plans must be finalised, and all fees paid by the beginning of the final week of the teaching period the fees were charged for.

SHORT COURSES

A full refund of course fees (tuition and materials, but not administration fee) will be made where, notification in writing is provided one month (30 days) prior to the commencement date of the short course.

The WBC reserves the right to occasionally cancel short courses due to tutor unavailability, low student numbers, lack of a sponsor or other unforeseen circumstances.  In this event the option will be given to students of a full refund or carrying their enrolment forward to a future course of identical/similar content, duration and price.

REFUNDS UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Students may be eligible for a full or part refund on course fees (other than the administration fee) under exceptional circumstances.  The Wooden Boat Centre reserves the right to refuse a full or partial refund.

Applications for a refund of your tuition or course fees should be addressed to liz@woodenboatcentre.com and outline your circumstances and:

·        not be due to the student’s action or inaction (either direct or indirect), and

·        noting that the student was not responsible for, and

·        the circumstances are unusual, uncommon, or abnormal.  

Examples of exceptional circumstances include:

a) Medical – where a student’s medical condition has changed to such an extent that they are unable to begin or continue the course

b) Family/personal reasons – for example death or severe medical problems within immediate family or unforeseen family financial difficulties, so it is unreasonable to expect a student to continue the course 

c) Employment – where a student’s employment status or arrangements changed unexpectedly due to circumstances beyond their control, and they were unable to complete the course.

Supporting documents

Students need to attach documents to support their application.  Supporting documents can be from a doctor, counsellor, or employer, but not from family of friends.

In support of your application the following aspects must be addressed:

·        The circumstances

·        How they were beyond the student’s control

·        When they occurred

·        Why the student was prevented from withdrawing from the course earlier.

Notification of outcome

The WBC will email you with an outcome within 14 days of receiving your application for course fees refund.  Students can apply for a review of a decision not to grant a refund of fees by contacting the President, The Wooden Boat Centre – Tasmania Inc. by email president@woodenboatcentre.com

Scam warning

To protect yourself from fraudsters and scams, pay using the payment method outlined on your invoice and never pay through a third party.