Student Support Services

At Bedford we understand that there may be times when learning and/or personal issues may affect students ability to undertake training effectively. The College offers a range of support services to all students in order to maximise their opportunity to meet milestones and achieve satisfactory course progression and enhance the learning experience.

Students with special needs, or those who require additional support, can utlise the support services offered at Bedford to ensure that they are able to perform at their best and achieve their personal best learning outcome.

The College provides students with mentoring, coaching and guidance on course content and effective learning and study techniques. We can also help with personal problems or concerns by referring students to the appropriate person and/or external organisation.

At Bedford College we aim to provide a warm, friendly environment for students. Students find that they make friends very quickly and are supported by teachers, student services, our Chaplain, senior staff and other students. The College provides the opportunity to access welfare-related support services to assist with issues relating to course progress and attendance and accommodation issues. The following support is available to all learners:

Student Support Policy
Student Support Procedure

STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER (SSO)

On commencement of the course each student is allocated to a Student Support Officer (who may also be the Head Teacher in your course of study). The SSO is the first point of contact for students and is responsible for:

  • Implementing LLN tests for learners
  • Monitoring and support of students’ progress and attendance
  • Disability/special needs support
  • Identification and ongoing monitoring of Students at Risk
  • Preparation of Individual Learning Plans for students with additional needs
  • Recognition of Prior Learning
  • Coordination of complaints and appeals
  • Mediation and referral to third-party services
  • Academic and non-academic counselling

The SSO will provide each student with a Learning Plan at the commencement of the course and regular meetings are scheduled to ensure that milestones in learning are being met and course progression is on track.

ACADEMIC COUNSELLING

Bedford College provides assistance to all students who require help in the learning process. Apart from your SSO, advice on academic issues can also be provided by individual teachers who may initiate a Student at Risk Form for students who are not making satisfactory academic progress in the course and will work with your SSO to monitor progress and attendance.

PERSONAL COUNSELLING

Some students may experience unexpected personal problems when studying and counselling may be beneficial – particularly if the student is new to Sydney and living away from home, friends and family. Counselling can be for a variety of reasons, such as difficulty structuring a study routine, problems adjusting to living away from home, or other personal issues. Your SSO will be able to provide advice in the first instance and may recommend that you seek further advise from an external counselling service. Note: A list of counselling services is available in the Student Portal on Bedford Online (Moodle).

LANGUAGE, LITERACY AND NUMERACY (LLN) SUPPORT

All students undertake a LLN test prior to commencing their Bedford course which helps us to identify those students in need of additional support. Based on the results of the test a meeting is arranged to discuss the LLN assistance available at Bedford with a view to creating an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) that addresses the individual student’s needs. (Also see Reflection Class information below)

Should the student’s assessment result – and subsequent meetings with teachers – indicate that external help is required, students can access information about their nearest external LLN provider by calling The Reading Writing Hotline on 1300 655 506 or refer to their website at www.literacyline.edu.au. Costs incurred for external training will be the responsibility of the student.

ONLINE CLASSROOM (MOODLE)

Information and resources for every unit delivered at Bedford are uploaded onto Moodle (the Online Classroom). This allows students to supplement their classroom activities and provides opportunities for revision and research of the unit. Moodle is used by students to access their classrooms remotely outside normal class hours and perform the following:

Access the Unit Outline which includes:
• unit information
• unit descriptor
• hours of study
• required textbooks
• assessment/assignment conditions, dates, methods/ modes & weighting, marking criteria
• trainer’s/assessors name
• Participate in forums, chat with the trainer or other students
• Leave/collect messages, etc.

SUPERVISED STUDY PERIOD

An optional Supervised Study Period is available every College day from 3.00pm – 4.00pm. It is designed to assist students to catch-up on missed work, revise or review work or speak one-on-one with a teacher about any concerns or questions regarding your course/unit. This service is provided to all students free of charge and every teacher is available during this period.

REFLECTION CLASS

A specialised reflection class is offered one afternoon per week for students who require extra assistance with course work, Language, Literacy & Numeracy or tuition in English terminology. Reflection Class supports learning and contributes to students increase in LLN skills.

INTERVENTION (STUDENTS AT RISK)

The following process will be applied for students considered to be ‘At Risk’ of non-completion of the course:

• A Student Intervention Form is initiated by the trainer who identifies the Student at Risk e.g. failing to demonstrate competence and/or insufficient academic progress or unacceptable attendance. The Form is given to your Student Support Officer (SSO)
• Your SSO arranges a meeting with the student to discuss ongoing learning options
• An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) may be devised by the SSO
• A Special Consideration Form Request may be initiated by the SSO or the student – seeking adjustments to the normal training and assessment plan to better suit the individual student’s learning needs (specialist medical evidence of a disability must be provided)
• The student signs an agreement to abide by the conditions as per the ILP
• Student is given a copy of the IPL agreement
• Regular feedback meeting are arranged between the student and the SSO to monitor progress and to ensure that the student gets back on track and achieves satisfactory progress thereafter.

Students identified as ‘At Risk’ are discussed during course staff meeting – and if necessary the monthly Management Team Meeting – where strategies are discussed for implementation and ongoing monitoring of the student.

ADDITIONAL HELP WITH ACADEMIC MATTERS

• Discuss with your Head Teacher/SSO your options for further language literacy and numeracy development.
• Adult Migrant Education https://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/amep/
• Reading Writing Hotline http://www.readingwritinghotline.edu.au/ Phone: 1300 655 506