5.2 Additional Tuition (see 5.2 of the Instruments)

Part 5.2 of the VCES and MRCAETS Instruments provide the Board or Commission with the power to grant additional tuition funding to students where there is a discrepancy between the student's intellectual potential and their actual academic achievements.

This discrepancy must be established by the relevant education authority.  The relevant education authority is the school, university or other education institution where the student is currently undertaking study.  A request for additional tuition must be accompanied by an appropriate assessment from the education authority establishing the value of the proposed tuition.  An 'appropriate assessment' is the DVA form 'Application for Additional Tuition', which is located on the VCES and MRCAETS Collaborative Tools site.  In most instances, the student's lecturer, teacher, special education coordinator, or school deputy principal will provide the information requested in the form.

Additional tuition is granted for a prescribed period as determined by the Education Scheme Secretary.  If the student is applying for additional tuition for subsequent periods, the appropriate assessment form must outline the continuing need for such assistance.  Requests for continuing additional tuition must be accompanied by a report from the tutor outlining the work covered, progress made by the student, and the value in continuing tuition.

Part 5.4 of the VCES and MRCAETS Instruments state that the Commission will determine the maximum value of additional tuition which may be available to a student in any year.  As at 1 June 2010 the maximum amount payable is $2,000 per year (see Departmental Instruction 2007 C16).  If there is a need for funding to be provided beyond this limit, up to an additional $2,000 may be granted by the appropriate National Manager and approved by the Repatriation Commission (for VCES students) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (for MRCAETS students).

Additional tuition is intended for those students who are experiencing a genuine discrepancy between their intellectual potential and their actual academic achievement.  The education authority should identify the particular discrepancy that exists.  The authority should establish a student's academic ability by, for instance, producing previous school reports that indicate higher levels of academic achievement.  The report should identify any factors other than learning difficulties which may be affecting the student's progress (e.g. medical, domestic situation).

Additional tuition is intended to provide short-term assistance to students who are struggling in their studies where their usual performance has been hindered by circumstances beyond their control.  For example, additional tuition may be provided to students who have been absent from school for long period due to illness, who have transferred schools and are struggling to maintain their previous academic achievements, or who have experienced a loss of a parent or family member and this loss has impacted their studies.  In such cases additional tuition can assist the student to make sure that these circumstances do not permanently disadvantage their education.

Additional tuition is not intended to aid students who have achieved lesser results due to a lack of effort.  Additional tuition is not intended to be used to provide tutoring to students to enable them to produce a higher level of result than would normally be expected.  Additional tuition is also not intended to assist students who have never shown a particular aptitude in a subject to improve their results in that subject.

Before approving such funding, the education authority must be satisfied that appropriate remedial teaching facilities have been utilised by the student (through the institution or another source), or that such facilities have not achieved the desired result.  Additional tuition funding is intended to be utilised in addition to assistance available through the institution, not instead of that assistance.

In cases where students have identified learning difficulties which may be of longer term duration, additional tuition can be provided where it is shown that academic improvements can be made.  In such cases, a professional assessment may be required to establish the student's intellectual potential and determine what assistance can be provided or adapted to best target their learning difficulties.  It is recommended that students with long-term learning difficulties be monitored by the Board to establish if any other education based assistance can be offered to the student.

The Board or Commission does not arrange the additional tuition, but can allocate funding for that tuition.  Tutors are located and engaged by the student, their parent, guardian, or the school.

Tutors are required to provide a brief report on the work covered by the student and an assessment of the student's progress during the tuition period.  Tutors may invoice directly for payment.  However they are also required to submit the VCES/MRCAETS Claim for payment which includes the parent's/guardian's signature confirming that the service has been received.