SCOPE

This policy covers all fees payable for training services provided within THINK REAL ESTATE'S scope of registration.

PURPOSE:

To provide for appropriate handling of a student's payments and to facilitate refunds in the case of cancellation by either party. The refunds process will allow students the option to disengage from training in a manner in which a negative impact may be negated or reduced, depending upon notification time frame.

PROCEDURE:

The following reflects THINK REAL ESTATE’s refund process:

An initial deposit or fee which may specified in the course information material is to be made to confirm a position on the course nominated by the student.

Prior to the commencement of any course, any fees or deposits paid cannot exceed $1,500.

Payments of up to $1500 can be made prior to or at the commencement of the course or as specified in the course information material distributed to persons making inquiries about the course.

If full payment is not received prior to course commencement, or in accordance with course information material, the student will not commence the course, unless approved by the Chief Operating Officer or the CEO.

Full payment as specified in the course material or training plan must be paid prior to the issue of any Statement of Attainment or Qualification/Transcript.

Non-attendance, unless otherwise specified below, will incur full course cost.

If students wish to transfer to another course, then greater than 7 days’ notice is to be given (unless specified otherwise depending on course).

If students wish to cancel, then greater than 7 working days’ notice must be given to receive a refund, however, an administration fee is payable which is specified under each course as below.

If a student commences a course, but does not complete the course, the full course fee is still payable.

Where circumstances warrant, an agreement may be made with the COO or CEO of THINK REAL ESTATE for a reduced fee to be paid.

GENERAL RULES

The following general rules apply

The refund process reflects the commitment by THINK REAL ESTATE to hold places as booked by students or their employers and the amount of administrative resources consumed at the various stages.
Refunds must be requested in writing by completing THINK REAL ESTATE’s Refund Request Form (see annexure A) and given to the Course Co-Ordinator for the course the student was enrolled in. This form must be signed by the person who made the original payment.
Refunds will be made by the same method used for payment and will be paid to the entity that made the original payment.
The Course Co-ordinator will process refund requests within 5 working days from the day of receipt.
All requests for refunds will be processed on an individual basis, taking into account the impact on follow on units/modules if applicable.
The term “commencement” in this policy refers to the first day of the first program attended by the student. In the case of distance/online learning, commencement refers to the material being issued or made available online.
Issues with regard to payment are to be handled at the first available opportunity and directed to the COO of THINK REAL ESTATE. All refunds are to be logged in the Refund Log.
If the applicant requesting the refund disagrees with the ruling given by a Course Co-ordinator of THINK REAL ESTATE, they may appeal to the COO in writing and such appeals are subject to THINK REAL ESTATE’s Complaint and Appeals process.

Details concerning the scope of THINK REAL ESTATE Refund Policy are to be clearly disseminated to prospective students prior to contractual arrangements being made, this dissemination is in the form of the Student Handbook (hard or electronic copy).

QUESTIONS of HARDSHIP

If in THINK REAL ESTATE's opinion, the student would be unreasonably disadvantaged if not granted a refund, for example, a student meets with a serious misadventure and is unable to continue their enrolment, then THINK REAL ESTATE at its discretion may refund the full tuition fee and any other fees and charges paid by or on behalf of the participant. If a participant withdraws from only part of a course, or if only part of the course is cancelled, THINK REAL ESTATE will only refund the portion of the tuition fee and materials fee applicable to that part of the course.

The following examples are indicative of appropriate circumstances for granting a refund:

Extended hospitalisation or illness (two week period minimum) supported by a medical certificate and resulting in extended absence from training.
Childbirth.

The following examples are indicative of inappropriate circumstances for granting a refund:

Too busy
job change
change in work hours
inconvenience of travel to class
moving interstate
retrenchment

RULES for SPECIFIC COURSES

In regard to specific courses, subject to the above rules, the following Refund Policies apply where a student withdraws from the course or does not attend:-

CPD COURSES

i. Face-to-Face & Interactive Zoom Workshops:

All CPD face to face workshops will proceed subject to minimum numbers. If a workshop is cancelled for any reason, any people who have booked will be advised at least two business days prior to the date of the workshop. They can either ask for a full refund in accordance with this policy or transfer the booking to another date, or undertake the course by distance learning or online. If they choose to proceed by distance learning or online, they will be refunded the difference of the fee charged for the workshop and the standard distance learning/online fee.

All fees must be paid at the time of booking the course, which is done by completing the enrolment form. Once enrolment is completed, paid fees will be refunded as follows:

If the course is cancelled or postponed by Think Real Estate then a full refund of the course fee will be given.
If the student cancels 3 business days or more before the course date a full refund will be given.
If the student cancels 2 business days or less before the course date no refund will be given. The participant may transfer to another course date or complete the course via distance learning or online.
If a student does not attend a course they are booked into, and they do not advise THINK REAL ESTATE beforehand, no refund will apply, however the participant my transfer their booking to another course or undertake the course by distance learning or online.
If a student transfers their booking to another person less than 3 business days before a workshop a transfer fee of $25.00 will be payable in addition to the course fee. Transfers requested more than three days before a workshop will not incur a charge.

ii. Online Courses:

If a person enrols online to undertake online CPD training, once the student has received access to the Learning Management System (LMS), no refund will be given under any circumstances.

CERTIFICATE of REGISTRATION/AGENT’S REPRESENTATIVE COURSES

i. Face-to-Face & Interactive Workshops:

A deposit of an administration fee, specified in the course information material, (or the full fee) can be paid at the time of booking the course which is done by completing the relevant course enrolment form or completing the on-line registration process. If a deposit is paid on enrolment, the balance of the funds must be paid on or before the first day of the course. Once enrolment is completed, paid fees will be refunded only as follows:

If the course is cancelled or postponed by Think Real Estate a full refund of the course fee and administration fee will be given.
If the student cannot attend the course and written notice is given more than 7 days of the course commencement date, a full refund will be given less the administration fee as specified in the course information material.
If the student cannot attend the course and written notice is given less than 7 days prior to course date a fee of 75% of the full price (up to a maximum of $500.00) will be charged and the remaining 25% will be refunded to the person who made the payment.
However, the applicant may elect to transfer their booking to another course date (transfer can only be done by completing a course within six months of cancellation). No extra charge will be made if the request of transfer is made more than 7 days of the course commencement date, if the transfer is accepted. If the request for transfer is made less than 7 days from the commencement date a transfer fee of $50.00 will be payable, in addition to the administration fee.

ii. Online Courses:

Once a student has enrolled online and accessed material, there will be no refund or transfer of enrolment irrespective of the circumstances.

LICENSING COURSES

When a student enrols in a course that includes Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), the course fee includes an enrolment/administration fee and an RPL fee as set out in the Schedule of Course Fees and Student Handbook.

If a THINK REAL ESTATE assessor needs to assess a student in an on-site visit under Recognition of Prior Learning, a non-refundable RPL site visitation fee as specified in the Schedule of Course Fees must be paid at the time of booking the visit. This fee is in addition to the standard RPL fee.

If a student enrols in a course that does not include Recognition of Prior Learning assessment (RPL) and later decide they would like an RPL assessment, they can request an RPL assessment be added to their course enrolment. An RPL fee will be payable prior to the RPL assessment as set out in the Schedule of Course Fees.

If a student registers and pays for a course online which includes Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), they will be entitled to a refund if they cancel as follows:

- If they cancel prior to completing the enrolment process and prior to any RPL documents being assessed, then a full refund will be given

- If they cancel after uploading RPL documentation and prior to their RPL conversation/assessment meeting, a refund of the full course fee, less the administration fee and the RPL fee will be given.

- If they cancel the course after an RPL assessment has taken place and any training material has been issued then the refund will consist of the full course fee less the administration fee, RPL fee and the fee for training and assessment material for each cluster released to the student in the (learning management system)LMS. IF all clusters have been released then NO refund will be payable

- If the student chooses not to proceed with the course after an RPL meeting has taken place, a "Statement of Attainment" will be issued for the units of competency assessed. If competency is not recognised, then the statement to that effect will be issued, along with the reasons why competency was not given. If the enrolment/administration fee and RPL fee have not been paid, no Statement of Attainment will be issued until they have been paid in full.

Face to Face & Interactive Workshops: Where a student registers to attend a workshop tutorial, a fee will be payable which is set out on the Course Schedule of Fees. If the student fails to attend the workshop and has not notified Think Real Estate in writing before the workshop day commencement, then the fee paid will be forfeited. If notification is made before the workshop/support day date the fee may be applied against -attending another workshop day.

If a student wishes to cancel the course after any training material has been issued, or access has been given to the full Learning Management System then NO refund will be given under any circumstances.

Students should refer to Think Real Estate’s Cancellation Policy for circumstances where a refund may or may not be granted.

NOTE: A Statement of Attainment or Qualification and Transcript will not be issued until such time all fees and charges that have been agreed to or as set out in the course information brochure are paid, and a verified USI number has been provided.

OTHER TRAINING COURSES

For all other training courses, fees are payable at the time of booking. Once enrolment is completed, paid fees will only be refunded as follows:

If the course is cancelled or postponed by Think Real Estate a full refund of the course fee will be given.
If a student cannot attend the course and they do not advise THINK REAL ESTATE within 7 days of the course, no refund will apply, however the student may transfer their booking to another course, as long as they have advised Think Real Estate prior to the commencement of the course/workshop.

APPEALS

NOTE: The above refund policies are subject to review. If the student or payee disagrees with the ruling given by THINK REAL ESTATE they may appeal to the Chief Operating Officer and such appeals are subject to THINK REAL ESTATE’s Complaint and Appeals process.

Cancellation Fees and Refund Policy