Complaints Policy

Checking Bridging the Gap’s Credentials as an RTO

If you would like to check Bridging the Gap’s Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status, the National Register, www.training.gov.au, lists all RTOs in Australia and the qualifications, courses, and units of competency they are registered to provide (i.e. their scope of registration). You can use the training.gov.au search function to confirm that Bridging the Gap is an RTO.

Once you have used training.gov.au, you can check Bridging the Gap’s scope of registration (select the ‘Scope’ tab to see the qualifications, courses and units of competency your provider is registered to deliver).

Our Promise

Bridging the Gap is committed to providing a quality service and achieving the highest standards of conduct. One of the ways we can continue to improve our service is by listening and responding to the views of our customers.

We aim to ensure that:

•  lodging a grievance or making a complaint is as easy as possible
• we treat a complaint as any clear expression of dissatisfaction with our service which calls for a response
• we treat it seriously whether it is made by telephone, by letter, email, or via the ‘contact us’ page on our website
• we deal with it promptly, politely and, where appropriate, informally (for example, by telephone)
• we respond in the right way – for example with an explanation, or an apology where we have got things wrong, or information on any action taken; and
• we learn from complaints, and use them to improve our service.

Complaints / Grievance Procedure

Bridging the Gap acknowledges the right of participants to complain and implement grievance procedures.  We encourage informal raising of minor issues so they can be dealt with immediately where possible and not allowed to escalate.

We undertake to ensure procedural fairness and natural justice is adopted at every stage of the process; as such, the following will occur:

• We encourage any participant with a complaint to advise their Trainer in the first instance, and they will then endeavour to resolve the issue within a timely manner.
• Should the participant be reluctant to speak personally to their Trainer, they can lodge their complaint to training@bridgingthegap.org.au where it will be managed by a Coordinator or Manager. The participant will receive acknowledgement of their email and be advised of the next steps.
• If the Trainer is unsuccessful in resolving the issue, the participant should submit their grievance in writing. A staff member, or other third party, can assist with completing any written documentation if requested to do so.  The complaint will be escalated to a Coordinator or Manager who will investigate.
• It is common procedure for the Coordinator/Manager to conduct separate interviews with all parties concerned as part of the investigative procedure.
• The Coordinator/Manager will review all of the evidence and information and make a decision on how best to manage the situation.
• Within 10 working days of the written complaint, the participant will be contacted in writing with an appropriate response and notification of the outcome.
• Should the complaint still be unresolved then the issue will be referred to the CEO.
• Where it is considered that more than 60 calendar days are required to process and finalise the complaint, Bridging the Gap will clearly state in writing the reasons why the extended period is needed and ensure there are regular updates to the complainant.
• The participant will be advised of external options to seek outside assistance to pursue the complaint.
• All complaints, related documentation and records will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• Actions to resolve the complaint will be recorded in writing, securely stored and used for continual improvement of service.

Please note that a complaint may be withdrawn at any time.