Starting your studies

What if I have additional learning or assessment needs?

Additional Support

If you have an identified disability, learning difficulty, or other special circumstances, you may need an individualised AccessAbility or a Training and Support Plan developed for you. 

This may involve a review of:

• Medical/diagnostic documentation
• Language, Literacy & Numeracy test results
• Previous support arrangements

Reasonable Adjustment or Alternative Assessment

Depending on your circumstances, Reasonable Adjustment or Alternative Assessment may be considered. It’s best to advise TAFE Queensland about your learning needs or special circumstances either before you enrol, or as part of your admission process, so that we can assess the type of support you may need, and determine our capacity to support these needs.

Inclusive technology

Inclusive technology plays a key role in making learning accessible for everyone:

• text-to-speech allows students with learning disability to access reading materials;
• FM hearing transmitters allow many students who are hearing impaired to access what a lecturer is saying in class;
• screen-reading allows students who are blind to use a computer; and
• voice recognition allows many students with muscular difficulties to use a computer with greater ease.

There are many more technologies that assist students in accessing their studies as well as achieving their goals in the workplace and in their personal lives. Talk to your support person about how you can use inclusive technology to participate in your studies.

Learning Support

Additional learning support is available from qualified teachers for all TAFE Queensland students with the exception of:

• Secondary school students enrolled in VET in Schools (VETiS) programs, and
• Students enrolled in TAFE Queensland Adult Literacy & Numeracy or English Language training programs

You may benefit in learning support if you have difficulty in writing original content.

Plagiarism (borrowing ideas and content without acknowledging the source) is an issue across the Australian education system. The biggest challenge for some students in addressing academic integrity is in understanding plagiarism. Students may copy texts because they (wrongly) believe that the original text was written better than they could express the idea themselves. Some learners may sometimes struggle to convey complex thoughts and ideas that are usually required in an academic writing. Always approach your teacher and seek help early to determine if you need learning support in writing your original thoughts.

Identification of Language, Literacy & Numeracy (LLN) needs

All students enrolling into TAFE Queensland qualification courses (excluding Higher Education courses with partner universities) are requested to complete an English and Maths initial assessment using the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB).  The tests help us to understand your academic capabilities and provide an indication of areas where you may need additional support to achieve your goals. 

Depending on your course, completion of the BKSB may be required prior to enrolment for funding arrangements, or to meet specific prerequisites for the qualification.

You will learn more about additional learning support services during your orientation, but to find out about the range of services provided and/or to make an enquiry, visit our student support policy page.