To all future students,
I just wish to warn you of the (many) problems of doing a distance education course through Gold Coast Tafe. Normally I would consider these things a 'one off', but as friendships have developed with other students and the problems are repeated and still going, you should know. I wish this forum was available to me before I signed up.
I have just finished, signed up as it offered VET fee, and worked out cheaper than the daily commute. As well as being covered for student allowance through centre link.
Keep a screen shot of all exams finished - yes they do lose exams! - sat one exam 3 times due to computer errors at their end.
Do not expect timely placememts, unless of course you live on the Gold Coast. I had positions offered to me that where over 2 hours drive away. Refuse these and check on policies, Tafe's at the time was a max of 1 hours travel.
I was also 'missed' on placement allocations, not due to my efforts of speaking to the placement teams by phone, in person and by email.
Keep accurate records of placement hours. Tafe come up with 9 different hour totals for me - extremely frustrating.
Keep records email, registered mail reciepts or otherwise. Just because it has been acknowledged recieved, does not mean it will stay that way. Thank goodness that I am lazy with emails and do not delete them.
Unable to log in to my student portal, due to incorrect information (dislexia) being originall put in by Tafe staff, as well as a doubling of my account (that I got blamed for???).
A culture of Bullying exists in all except the teaching staff - who are amazing and wonderful. So be firm and hold your ground. As a middle aged lady, who no longer 'gives a s*&t, this was not a problem for me, but I did find that it realy distressed the younger students.
Expect to be used as free labour and not realy experience a lot on placements, other students who went through the associated teaching hospitals spoke of great experiences. I too did find this on about 3 of the placement weeks - the rest of the time was showing and toileting patients in excess. Learn to 'fib' and brown nose and you will be fine - this is so very sad to even be typing this in this day and age. Even the 'facilitators can be a little odd.
So in all - The X-files sums it up.... TRUST NO ONE!
