Vocational Training Institute has a range of facilities and services to support learning and to help you get the most out of your time with us.
Visit our Student Support Service office to get face-to-face support, advice and information.
International student support
Our International Student Support team will support you from your initial inquiries through to your course completion. We want to ensure that your time as a student at Vocational Training Institute is as rewarding as possible.
Support available
We will work to make your experience at Vocational Training Institute positive. We understand the challenges international students face as you adjust to a new culture and environment, make new friends, and successfully complete your studies. Be assured you are not alone. We are here to help.
We offer you:
- Airport reception service on your arrival in Melbourne (this must be pre-booked).
- An Orientation program to assist with your transition to living in Melbourne and studying at Vocational Training Institute.
- Assistance and support on cultural issues, transition to life in Melbourne, study concerns and general questions.
- Support and encouragement.
- A range of social activities and programs.
- An after-hours contact number.
Academic support
Vocational Training Institute provides a range of academic support programs to all students,
- Improving LLN Skills
- Report writing skills
- English Grammar
- Effective Note taking skills
- Reference Sources
- effective ways to study and manage your time.
Financial advice
If you are having a hard time financially we have professional staff who can provide you with financial advice and assistance with study and living costs.
- General budget help
- Accommodation & your finances
- Transport & parking costs
- Tax return advice
Housing & accommodation
We can provide you with free advice and assistance with housing, tenancy problems and your finances.
Our Student Support Service provides students with:
- free advice and assistance when looking for housing
- Housing Options
- Rental advice
- advice on tenancy issues
Career services for students
We also offer career and employment services for students.
We also regularly runs workshops on career development skills such as:
- Help search for part-time and casual jobs
- job applications
- interview skills
- planning co-curricular activities
- developing career resilience.
Disability support
Support and resources available for students with a disability.
Academic and in-class support
Course adjustment
To make sure you are able to fulfil your course requirements, we can provide adjustments such as:
- inclusive teaching methods and practice
- provision of copies of overheads/notes
- allowing classes to be audio taped (where appropriate)
- negotiating alternative assessment arrangements
Alternative arrangements
We can arrange special or alternative support to enhance your learning or performance in your assessments through:
- special seating arrangements
- extra time for assessment tasks
- extensions for assignments
- adjusted or alternative assessments tasks where necessary
Health advice
We can provide advice and information.
Doctors and other health service providers:
Where possible, it is a good idea to call first and make an appointment. It is also worth asking the health practitioner if they offer a discount to students.
Always take your OSHC card and student ID card:
City precinct (Flinders, King and Queen campuses)
There are a number of hospitals and general practitioners:
Dr Marguerite Hall and Dr Jill Morison (William Angliss Medical Centre)
Level 2, Building C, 555 LaTrobe Street, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 9606 2208
Hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Fee information:
- Direct Billing for Overseas Student Health Care (OSHC) & Medibank
- No gap fee
Medical One
292 Swanston St, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 8663 7000
Fee information:
- Direct bills OSHC & Medibank – $15.00 gap fee will be charged
Union Health Service (Swanston Street Medical Centre)
393 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 9654 2722
Fee information:
- $15 gap payment for overseas students with Medibank Private, OSHC (Allianz), AHM and BUPA overseas student health cover.
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Grattan St, Parkville
Phone: +61 3 9342 7000
St Vincent’s Hospital
41 Victoria Parade Fitzroy
Phone: +61 3 9288 2211
Melbourne Dental Clinic (MDC)
Level 1/723 Swanston Street, Carlton
Phone: +61 3 9035 8402
Email: info@umdc.com.au
Treatment fees are based on the training level of the attending dentist and the complexity of the treatment.
Union Health Dental Service (Swanston Street Medical Centre)
393 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 9662 2466
Fee information: 25% discount off basic fee
LifeCare Physiotherapy – Mark Opar
Level 8, 140 Queen St, Melbourne
Phone: +61 3 9670 3051
After hours medical care
Home Visiting Doctors are doctors that come and treat you and your family at home every night, weekends and public holidays
They visit on behalf of your GP when they are closed, and visit every suburb across Melbourne, Geelong and surrounds daily.
Home Visiting Doctor is not an appointment service. All home visits are scheduled according to their urgency.
International students with current OSHC (Allianz) will be ‘Direct billed’.
Phone: +61 3 9429 5677
Nurse-on-call
NURSE-ON-CALL puts you directly in touch with a registered nurse for caring, professional health advice around the clock
For emergencies you should always call 000 – but at other times Nurse-on-call may be your best choice for health advice.
Phone: 1300 60 60 24
Complaint resolution
Find out how you can resolve your issue or make a complaint.
Vocational Training Institute has a Student Complaint Resolution Policy o guide you through the steps you can take to resolve problems. Our process encourages students to be independent and effective problem solvers.
Before lodging a complaint
You should try to resolve the problem yourself before lodging an official complaint. We have a three step process to help you.
Step 1 – identify the problem and a solution
Clarify your problem and, if you can, think of some possible solutions. You can then approach the most appropriate staff to talk about your concerns.
Who to talk to:
- academic – if your problem is related to your, you can contact your course coordinator,
- non-academic – for problems not directly related to your study you can the student support service officers.
Step 2 – seek assistance
You have free and confidential access to our support services to assist you with your problem:
Step 3 – initiate action
Speak to the relevant staff member and try to work out reasonable and realistic solutions.
Lodging a complaint:
If you are unable to resolve your issue after using the three step process you can:
- Lodge a written complaint.
Appeals:
if you are dissatisfied with the decision about your complaint by a Vocational training Institute Officer, you may lodge an appeal by following the Student Appeals Procedure
External complaint options:
The Victorian Ombudsman independently investigates complaints about RTO’s. They are impartial and do not act on behalf of students or RTO.
The Ombudsman will encourage you to use the internal complaint resolution procedures first.
Contact the Victorian Ombudsman
Phone: +61 3 9613 6222 or 1800 806 314
Fax: +61 3 9614 0246
Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Address: Level 9, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000.
Emergency Services
- Is someone seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help?
- Is your life or property being threatened?
- Have you just witnessed a serious accident or crime?
If you answered YES, call Triple Zero (000). Calls to Triple Zero are free
Emergency services are provided to help all Australians, including international students. The staff who work for these services are highly approachable and helpful.
If you ever find yourself in an emergency you can call ‘000’ for:
- police
- fire
- ambulance
This is a free call and can be dialed from all mobile phones, even those without credit. If you place a call to any of these services, the telephone operator will provide assistance until help arrives.
To speak to someone in your own language ask the operator for a translator.