Important Course Information

General Course Requirements

Foundation Skills

• Our short courses require you to have fundamental reading, writing and numeracy skills. In general, this means you will:
  • have completed Year 10 in the Australian school system or equivalent; and
  • have language, literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to ACSF Level 2.

  If you need further support, please contact our Client Services Team.

• Many of our courses involve both practical and theoretical elements. Both are assessed, which is what makes a course competency-based. For example, if you are studying the Certificate III in Business, you would be expected to apply your learning to the activities you undertake at work — identifying how you can enhance your performance, and thinking through other elements of the activity as fully as possible. This improves your thinking skills as well as the outcomes for your business.
• Some courses take your background and work experience into account. In the Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, for example, whether you can complete the requirements within five days, or whether additional workplace-based projects are needed, is determined with consideration of your work experience.
• For more advanced courses such as Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications, you should have:
  • literacy at a Year 11 or 12 standard, or equivalent professional or work experience;
  • the ability to research and articulate discussions, drawing from your work insights;
  • skills to navigate and discuss formal texts, such as legislation and Codes of Practice; and
  • capabilities in completing forms and writing detailed responses.

General Course Entry Requirements

For most courses, all participants must be at least 15 years of age, able or willing to provide a Unique Student Identifier (free to obtain and managed by the Australian Government), and able to provide Australian legal photo identification for assessment purposes. Variations apply — for High-Risk Work Licences you need to be at least 18 years old.

Where course-specific requirements exist we make every effort to provide this information on each relevant course page. Once you enrol, you will receive an enrolment email setting out all important information specific to the course you are enrolling into. For any additional questions, submit an enquiry through our contact page or phone us on 1800 427 637.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Training and Assessment

Harness supports the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a learning aid. Learners may use AI to support study and understanding, however AI must not be used to generate or complete assessment evidence unless explicitly authorised in writing. Harness does not use AI to make assessment or competency decisions. All assessment judgements are made by qualified human assessors. Unauthorised use of AI may result in assessment integrity action under Harness’s Student Conduct and Assessment Integrity processes.

Equipment, Tools, Clothing and PPE

• Most courses include a classroom component, so bring stationery such as a notebook and pen or pencils.
• HSR, multi-day and qualification courses require you to bring a laptop.
• If your course is outdoors, please bring suitable sun and insect protection, plus water for hydration.
• PPE relevant to your course is to be worn — for example, high-visibility clothing or closed-in shoes for all practical courses.

High-Risk Work Licences

• A range of training courses exist as a prerequisite to applying for a particular class of High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL), such as forklift. Where a course is being done for a HRWL, successful completion does not, of itself, give you that licence — there is a separate licence application process.
• Depending on where you trained, optional additional support with the licence application process may be available. You will receive the information necessary to self-apply or update your HRWL.

General HRWL information to be aware of

• Once you pass your HRWL National Assessment you have 60 days to apply for your licence. You must renew your licence within 12 months of its expiry, otherwise:
  • your licence can’t be renewed;
  • you need to repeat the course and re-apply for your licence; and
  • you need to enrol in the course again and be supervised by somebody who has a current licence for the same class.
• You can still do high-risk work without a licence, as long as you are enrolled in a high-risk course for the class and you are being supervised by somebody who holds a licence for the same class. Any licensed worker must take reasonable steps to make sure the way they work does not impact on the safety of themselves or any other worker. This is their legal duty of care.
• Failing to work safely can result in the health and safety regulator:
  • suspending or cancelling your licence;
  • refusing to renew your licence; or
  • ordering that you are reassessed to ensure you are competent.
• Your employer might ask you for evidence that you hold a high-risk licence before you start any high-risk work. You can show them:
  • your licence;
  • proof from the training organisation that you have passed your assessment; or
  • proof that you are currently completing a course for high-risk work.

Technology Requirements for Virtual and Self-Paced Online Courses

If your course is delivered Virtually (for example, via Zoom) or Self-Paced Online through our online learning platform, you will need:

• Reliable internet — broadband, either wired or mobile. Ideally a bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps up and down, though 600 kbps up and down will suffice.
• Microphone — your device’s in-built microphone is fine, but external USB or Bluetooth microphones work equally well.
• Headset — to ensure clear sound without feedback. Any standard headset with a 3.5 mm plug is suitable.
• Webcam — built-in or USB-connected, for those moments when face-to-face communication elevates your learning.
• Zoom — for Virtual sessions, have Zoom set up on your computer beforehand. A trial run, perhaps a chat with a friend, is a smart move ahead of the course start.

Your optimal online learning experience matters to us. Should you need guidance, we stand ready to assist.

Student Handbook and Feedback

Our website has two essential resources to support you: a Student Handbook, containing information to help you make an informed decision about your choice of course and learning; and a mechanism to provide constructive feedback or submit a complaint. Information on both is located in the Terms and Conditions section of our website.

Financial Considerations

• GST — nationally recognised and accredited training is GST-free. Non-accredited courses are subject to GST, and prices for those courses are shown inclusive of GST unless otherwise indicated. The GST treatment applying to each course is shown on the relevant course page.
• Course payments — all courses should be paid for in advance, unless you have an existing credit account with us where payment on invoice can apply. For any queries, we’re here to assist.
• Cancellations and non-attendance — please review our Student Handbook for full details. In general, 75% of the fee is payable if cancellation is within 24 hours of the course start date, and the full fee is payable if you don’t attend on the day of training.
• Resits — fees may be charged at full rates, depending on the course, and you may be required to undertake the full training again.

Understanding Funding Options

For each course we indicate the general funding options available, however these vary because of eligibility requirements or your prior courses. Accessing funding may require our involvement, or may be up to each course applicant to pursue. Key funding options include:

• Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) — CSQ funding is applied for based on information you supply. It is important to be honest and provide all requested information to support your application for a CSQ subsidy. We complete the application process on your behalf.
• Career Start and Career Boost — Queensland Government funding options for those undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship in a workplace-based setting. There is an application process involving the Group Training Organisation (GTO).
• Employer support — financial support from your employer is an option you can explore, but is something you need to pursue yourself.

Third Party Arrangements

Harness Energy Services Pty Ltd may engage appropriately qualified third parties to assist in the delivery, assessment, recruitment, student support or administration of selected training products and services. Where third-party arrangements apply, Harness remains responsible for the quality, compliance and issuance of all nationally recognised training delivered on its behalf.

VET Information Standard Privacy Notice

Why we collect your personal information

As a registered training organisation (RTO), Harness Energy Services Pty Ltd (RTO 40521) collects your personal information so we can process and manage your enrolment in a vocational education and training (VET) course with us.

If you do not provide the required personal information, we may be unable to process your enrolment, deliver training, issue certification or meet our regulatory and reporting obligations.

How we use your personal information

We use your personal information to enable us to deliver VET courses to you and otherwise, as needed, to comply with our obligations as an RTO.

How we disclose your personal information

We may be required by law, under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth) (NVETR Act), to disclose the personal information we collect about you to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER).

We may also be required to provide personal information to a state training authority, which may then disclose that information to NCVER.

NCVER is the National VET Data Custodian and is responsible for collecting, managing, analysing and communicating research and statistics about the Australian VET sector.

How NCVER and other bodies handle your personal information

NCVER will collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the law, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), the NVETR Act and the Student Identifiers Regulation 2014.

NCVER may use and disclose your personal information for purposes that include populating authenticated VET transcripts; administration of VET; facilitation of statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage; and understanding the VET market.

NCVER may disclose your personal information to the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), other relevant Commonwealth authorities, State and Territory authorities (other than registered training organisations) that deal with matters relating to VET, and VET regulators for the purposes permitted by the legislation above.

NCVER may also disclose personal information to persons engaged by NCVER to conduct research on NCVER’s behalf. NCVER does not intend to disclose your personal information to any overseas recipients.

Commonwealth and State and Territory government authorities that deal with, or have responsibility for, VET also have contracted IT operators that design, build, test, operate, maintain and host VET data systems used to collect and/or store VET data.

VET data system operators are subject to strict privacy, security and confidentiality obligations. Your personal information may be used by VET data system operators to fulfil their contractual obligations, including ensuring that the VET data system operates properly. VET data system operators and their contractors are required to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.

Data submitted through a VET data system may undergo validation and quality assurance checks. This may involve checking the submitted data against information held in other systems, such as the Unique Student Identifier Registry or Australian Business Register.

For further information about how NCVER handles personal information, refer to the NCVER Privacy Policy.

How DEWR handles your personal information

DEWR is authorised by law, including the Privacy Act and the NVETR Act, to collect, use and disclose your personal information to fulfil its functions and activities, including:

• administration of VET, such as program administration, regulation, monitoring and evaluation;
• facilitation of statistics and research relating to education, including surveys and data linkage; and
• understanding how the VET market operates for policy, workforce planning and consumer information.

DEWR may be authorised by law to share “public sector data” with third parties, including under the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 (Cth) (DAT Act).

“Public sector data” is defined in the DAT Act to mean “data lawfully collected, created or held by or on behalf of a Commonwealth body…” and therefore includes data collected by the department as part of performing VET-related functions.

For further information, refer to the DEWR VET Data Privacy Notice.

Queensland Government-funded training

Where your training is subsidised by the Queensland Government, your personal information may be provided to the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training for the administration, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of government-funded training.

The department manages personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) and the Queensland Privacy Principles.

For further information, refer to the Department of Trade, Employment and Training Queensland Privacy Principles Privacy Policy (PDF).

Surveys

You may receive a student survey from a government department or an NCVER employee, agent, third-party contractor or another authorised agency. You may opt out of the survey when contacted.

Contact information

You may contact Harness on 1800 427 637 at any time to:

• request access to your personal information;
• request correction of your personal information;
• make a complaint about how your personal information has been handled; or
• ask a question about this VET Information Standard Privacy Notice.

Last updated: 17 August 2026