Indigenous tutorial assistance scheme policy

ITAS is the provision of resources and instructional strategies that give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students the one-on-one support to develop underpinning knowledge, language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to improve their commitment and outcomes in the teaching and learning environment.

ITAS funding is only available to Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.

Funding for ITAS is provided through a funding agreement with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (the department).

Mandatory requirements for ITAS funding include:

• the registered training organisation (RTO) must comply with the current national VET regulators standards for RTO
• compliance with the Training and Skills Development Act
• ongoing compliance with department policies and procedures as they relate to VET, and
• compliance and cooperation in matters relating to audit.

Funding is based on performance data from the previous year and is capped at the maximum amount agreed in the funding agreement.

A final achievement report will be generated by the department based on the registered training organisation's (RTO) final AVETMISS data.

The department will forward the achievement report to the RTO for approval / signing.

Funding is calculated based on the number of eligible full-time equivalent (FTE) students.

Eligible FTE students are Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are residents of the Northern Territory and undertaking one of the following:

• a VET course leading to the attainment of a qualification at Certificate III or higher, or
• an Australian apprenticeship.
• a Certificate level I or II qualification only if those units are being undertaken as prerequisite work, and part of a course of study, towards attainment of a Certificate III or above qualification.

The FTE is determined by dividing the total actual hours delivered by 540 (average contact hours).

The maximum hours to be claimed per FTE is 282 and is based on up to two hours per week per subject (maximum four subjects per semester) over 34 weeks plus up to five additional hours in total during examination preparation breaks.

The FTE is then paid at the rate of $228.42 per FTE.

The following codes and formulae must be used to calculate the outcomes under AVETMISS at:

20 - Competency achieved / pass
30 - Competency not achieved / fail
40 - Withdrawn
51 - Recognition of prior learning (granted)
52 - Recognition of prior learning (not granted) 
81 - Non-assessable enrolment - satisfactorily completed
82 - Non-assessable enrolment - withdrawn or not satisfactorily completed

Signed on 23 April 2020 by:

Tracy Clark
Executive Director
Strategy and Partnerships