8
33. Members agree to raise legitimate concerns about other members and about ACPET staff in the complaint
and dispute resolution framework provided in this Code and the By-laws. All complaints and concerns will be
dealt with confidentially and expeditiously. Any complaints that are deemed by ACPET not to be legitimate
or made for nefarious reasons shall be subject to disciplinary review.
34.
Members will co-operate with fellow members in upholding and enforcing this Code.
35. Where members also have Tuition Assurance Scheme coverage, they have specific obligations in the event of
another ACPET member closing their operations and entering provider default. In these circumstances, TAS
members are required to take all reasonable measure to accept displaced students where they have similar
courses on their scope of registration and are within the same geographic location.
36.
In the event of another ACPET member entering provider default, other ACPET members are not to accept
any inducements to accept students where these are offered by agents, students or other parties and are
offered in a manner contrary to the National Code.
37.
On relinquishing ACPET membership or having their membership terminated, former members will refrain
from claiming ACPET membership or the grant of any licence from, or accreditation or recognition by, ACPET.
38.
Members agree to provide accurate and timely information when requested, in accordance with the ACPET
By-laws and/or Constitution. Members must also notify ACPET within 48 hours if regulatory sanctions or
conditions are placed on the organisation’s registration by a national or State regulatory body.
Complaints
39. Members will adopt clearly defined procedures for dealing with complaints that involve alleged breaches
of this Code or any internal code. They will ensure that students and clients are made aware of these
procedures and, where a complaint is not able to be resolved internally, there are other avenues available
to them to resolve it. Members will ensure that students or clients are not penalised or victimised for pursuing
a complaint in good faith.
40.
Complaints relating to an alleged breach of a provision of this Code may be made to the ACPET designated
officer or to a member of the ACPET Board by a student, staff member or client of a member, or by a member
other than a member to whom the complaint relates, or to an ACPET staff member.
Sanctions
41. Complaints to ACPET about a breach of the Code by a member will be dealt with in accordance with the
Constitution and By-laws. Members recognise that it is their responsibility to be informed about the impact
that a failure to uphold the requirements of this Code of Ethics may affect them and their business. Failure
to act in accordance with the Code of Ethics may result in their membership of ACPET being terminated.
Depending on the nature of their business and of their ACPET membership, termination of membership
may include termination of membership of an ACPET Tuition Assurance Scheme, and may have a negative
impact on their business operations, including the potential withdrawal of approval by government and
regulatory bodies for members to offer courses to Australian or overseas students and the cancellation
of their registration as approved providers.