FAQs

Please choose carefully and read our policy on refunds before enrolling.

This page has been created to assist you in understanding the terms and conditions of enrolment in our short courses and activities. You can read the complete policy on our Fees, charges and Refunds policy page. 

For information about MakerSpaces see the MakerSpaces FAQ page.

Bookings and enrolments

Q. How soon do I need to book for a course/activity?

A. To avoid disappointment early enrolment is advisable as places are limited. The decision as to whether a course or activity will go ahead or be cancelled is generally made one week prior to the start date.

Q. Can I enrol at any of your centres regardless of where the course/activity is held?

A. Yes, all of our centres are equipped to take enrolments and payments for short courses and activities during advertised business hours.

Q. When do enrolments close for a course/activity?

A. Enrolments close as soon as maximum numbers are reached.

Q. Can I enrol in a course or activity after it has started?

A. Where a course or activity has started, online enrolment closes, however, in some cases there may still be places available.  Depending on the activity, late enrolments may be possible.  Check the course description or contact us (ph. 9433 3744) to enquire. If there are spaces available and late enrolment is possible, you will be able to enrol over the phone or in person. 

Q. How many people are in a course/activity?

A. This will vary based on the tutor’s recommendations, room size, facilities required etc.

Q. When can I enrol for the next term or course/activity?

A. Enrolments for each course/activity open as soon as it is placed on our website. You can find term dates and when enrolments open for each term here.

Q. Will you remind me to re-enrol in an ongoing course/activity?

A. Generally, no. It is the responsibility of the participant to re-enrol. The decision as to whether a course or activity will go ahead or be cancelled is generally made one week prior to the start date.

Q. Why are courses and activities cancelled sometimes?

A. Living & Learning Nillumbik may at any time cancel, postpone or alter course/activity schedules, locations, fees and tutors due to unforeseen circumstances. Cancellations due to insufficient enrolments are usually made one week prior to the start date. 

 

Who can attend?

Q. Do I have to live in the Nillumbik Shire to be able to enrol?

A. No, you do not have to be a Nillumbik shire resident to enrol at Living & Learning Nillumbik.

Q. Who can attend?

A. Short courses and activities are for people 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise stated. Please check the individual course page for details.

Q. Can I bring my child or baby to the class or activity in which I am enrolled?

A. Our courses and activities are for people 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise stated. For health and safety reasons, we can’t accommodate children or babies in adult classes or activities.

Our Eltham and Panton Hill centres have Playhouses on site which provide occasional child care during school terms for children aged from three months to six years. Contact Eltham Playhouse on 9433 3755, or Panton Hill Playhouse on 9433 3795 for more information. 

Q. If I have a carer can they attend the course/activity with me?

A. If you hold a Companion Card your carer may attend with you at no cost to the carer.  You can find more information about Companion Cards by visiting their website or phoning the Information Line 1800 650 611 or by emailing.

Q. How do I contact a specific Living & Learning centre?

Call 9433 3744 and one of our administration team will be able to assist you.

 

Courses for children

Q. Do all children’s courses/activities tutors have a Working with Children Check?

A. Yes.

Q. Do I need to supply more details about my child before she/he starts the course?

A. Yes. Parental consent must be provided by parents or guardians on enrolment. See Terms and Conditions for further information.

Q. Do you provide an allergy-free environment?

No. We cannot guarantee that our centres are allergy-free.

 

Holding a place

Q. Can you hold a place for me without payment?

A. No, full fee payment must be made at time of enrolment.

Payment of fees

Q. Do I have to pay for sessions I can’t attend?

A. Yes. Short courses/activities must be paid for in full before the start date.

Q. Can I just pay for the sessions I can attend?

A. No. No reduction in fees can be made for any sessions of the course or activity that you may not be able to attend.

Q. I am only able to attend the first few sessions of a course. Can I pay for just those sessions?

A.  No. No reduction in fees can be made for any sessions of the course or activity that you may not be able to attend.

Q. I am not able to attend the first few sessions of a course. What are my options?

If you wish to secure your place in the course, you must enrol and pay in full. 

Alternatively, you could wait until a time when you are able to attend and enrol then (i.e. after the course has commenced).  The course fee would be a pro rata fee for all sessions from the enrolment date (excludes courses where the fee is $20 or less).  This option is only possible where a course can accommodate additional participants after commencement and where places are still available.  Depending on the nature of the course, not all activities can accept late enrolments.

Q. Can I pay when I start the course or activity?

A. No.  Short courses/activities must be paid for in full before the start date.  The decision as to whether a course/activity will go ahead or be cancelled is usually based on the number of enrolments one week prior to the start date.

Q. Can I leave a deposit to hold my place in a course/activity?

A. No, full fee payment must be made at the time of enrolment.

Q. Can I pay in instalments?

A. For short course and activities, payment by instalment is not available and fees must be paid in full at the time of enrolment.

Q. Do I have to buy the course/activity materials or textbooks?

A. Yes, these are required for your course or activity unless expressly stated as “optional”.

Concessions

Q. Can I use my Seniors Card for Concession fees?

A. No, concessions, if stated, are only available to holders of Health Care Cards, Pension Concession Cards, and Veterans Gold Card.

Refunds

Q. Can I get a refund if I withdraw from a course/activity more than a week before the start of the course/activity?

A. If withdrawing a week or more prior to the advertised commencement date of the course, you may:

  • request a refund of your course or activity fees less an administration fee (currently $30) and less any materials costsalready incurred. (If the course/activity fee is less than $30, no refund is available) or
  • transfer your course activity fees (less any materials costs already incurred) to a new enrolment in another course or activity within three months. If the transfer option is not taken up within three months a refund less the administration fee is available. 
Materials fees can only be reimbursed if Living & Learning Nillumbik or the tutor has not already incurred a cost.  Where materials have already been purchased these will be supplied to you wherever possible.

Refunds / credit notes will only be paid / issued to the the person enrolled unless the person enrolled is under 18 (in which case the refund will be paid to the parent or guardian of the person enrolled) or the payment has been made by arrangement through a third party organisation e.g. an employer, NDIS. 

Q. Can I get a refund if I withdraw from a course/activity less than a week before it starts or during the course/activity?

A. If notice of withdrawal is received less than a week before the start of the course/activity or during the course/activity no refunds are available.  Participants can apply for consideration in relation to fees (see below).

Q. What if I’ve paid for materials but can’t do the course/activity?

A. Materials fees can only be reimbursed if the tutor has not already incurred a cost.  Where materials have already been purchased by the tutor, these will be supplied to you where this is possible.

Q. Can I get my refund in cash?

A. Refunds are processed according to the original method of payment.  Credit Card payments will have a direct credit made to your credit card; EFTPOS payments will have a direct credit to your account and cash/cheque payments will be refunded by direct deposit to your nominated bank account.

Q. Do I get a refund if you cancel a course/activity?

A. Yes.  If there are not enough enrolments in a course/activity, it will be cancelled usually one week prior to the start date. All fees will be refunded if this occurs.

Transfers

Q. Can I transfer from one course/activity to another?

A. If notice of withdrawal from the course/activity you are enrolled in is received at least a week prior to its start date, you may transfer your fees to a new enrolment in another course/activity if a place is available. The new enrolment must be processed at the time of withdrawal and in this case the usual $30 administration fee will be waived.

If you seek to withdraw from the course/activity you have enrolled in less than a week prior to its start date, no refunds are available however transfers may be possible at the discretion of the Neighbourhood House Coordinator.

Q. Can I transfer from a course/activity I have not completed and complete it in the next term?

A. If you seek to withdraw from the course/activity you have enrolled in later than a week prior to its start, no refunds are available however transfers may be possible at the discretion of the Neighbourhood House Coordinator.

Q. Can I transfer my enrolment to a friend or family member if I am unable to attend?

A. Substitution of attendees - before the start of the course - may be acceptable in some courses/subject to approval by the Neighbourhood House Coordinator. Enrolment details for the new person must be provided at the time of the substitution being requested.

Cancellation / waiting lists

Q. Can I go on a waiting list?

A. We do not have waiting lists; however, we can put you on a cancellation list for a course/activity that is full. If a place becomes available it will be offered to people on the cancellation list in order of listing.

Q. If I am on the cancellation list for a course/activity, will you contact me for the same course/activity being run at a different time (e.g. the following term or semester)?

A. No. The cancellation list is only for a specific course/activity. Please check the Program or website for information about additional course/activities.

 

Special consideration 

Living & Learning Nillumbik is committed to fairness and supports participation by all members of the community.  Participants may apply for special consideration in relation to fees and charges if they are experiencing genuine, significant hardship.

Participants must complete an Application for Consideration form and provide supporting documentation and evidence (e.g. medical certificate) where applicable. You can find this form on the Terms and Conditions page of this website.