All higher education students in Australia will require a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to enrol into the course.

To apply for a USI please go to the Australian Government website. Applications are processed online and take 5-10 minutes.

Please note:

• The deadline for enrolment into each Term is the Wednesday prior to the date on which the Term commences. Applications received after close of business (5pm AEST/AEDT) on the Wednesday will be processed for the following Term.
• *ACN is required to set a census date for each course it offers. The census date cutoff time is 5PM AEST/AEDT. This is the final day students can withdraw from a unit of study without financial liability and academic penalty.
• **After the census date, you will still have an opportunity to withdraw without academic penalty. If you withdraw before the Academic Withdrawal date by 5PM AEST/AEDT, you will be financially liable for the unit fees. The unit grade (WD = Withdrawn) will appear on your transcript and will not affect your academic standing. If you withdraw after the Academic Withdrawal date, you will receive a Fail grade for the unit, which will appear on your transcript.

How to pay

Once you have accepted the offer, an invoice will be sent to you. You can pay for the fees via bank transfer (details are on the invoice) or over the phone. Students are reminded that fees are payable in advance. You will only be enrolled into the course once we have received payment of fees. Students supported through scholarship or alternative arrangements (such as FEE-HELP) must submit these details on application.

Withdrawal from a course or units of study

Notification of a student’s intention to withdraw either before or after the commencement of a course/ units of study must be made in writing. Withdrawal by telephone or by implication is not acceptable under any circumstances.

If withdrawal occurs after the census date there is no refund and academic penalties may apply unless under extenuating circumstances.

Extenuating circumstances are to be beyond a student’s control, the situation should be that which a reasonable person would consider is not due to the student’s action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the student is not responsible. The situation must be unusual, uncommon, or abnormal to be considered extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances do not include:

• Students change of mind to complete the course or unit of competency
• Pre-existing condition supporting documentation must be provided to demonstrate extenuating circumstances.

Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• a medical certificate or specialist report
• a statutory declaration or personal statement
• an official letter from relevant source/authority.

See the Student management policy and the Course Withdrawal and Refund policy for more information.

Refund policy

Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the Refund policy.

Administrative fees

Please find the list of common administrative fees at ACN.

Collection of unpaid fees

Students with unpaid fees who have been notified of the amount owing will be referred to a debt recovery agency for further action. Students are responsible for any recovery costs incurred. Please note that ACN reserves the right to withhold course completion certificates until all outstanding fees are paid.

Enrolments for GC courses and single units of study are made through Customer Services. Application forms can be obtained online at the individual course or unit page.

How to apply

1. Seek course advice: If you would like advice on which course you should attend or whether you meet the selection criteria for a particular course, please refer to the course descriptions or contact the course coordinator.
2. Submit an application form: Available on the website at the individual course and unit pages. Applications received after the deadline will be processed for the next available course intake.
3. Await confirmation of course offer letter: Successful applicants will be sent a course offer letter and link to accept the offer and select your units and elective (if applicable).
4. Accept your position: Students are required to complete the Acceptance of Position form to confirm their place (link provided in the course offer letter). Students wishing to withdraw or defer after submitting an acceptance of position MUST notify ACN at customerservices@acn.edu.au in writing and before the census date.

Enrolment in units of study

After admission, students must select the units of study for their enrolment by referring to the course outlines. Correct enrolment is the student’s responsibility.

• Changes to enrolment can be made by contacting customerservices@acn.edu.au before the Census Date.
• Failure to notify ACN of withdrawal from units of study before the Census Date will incur financial liability and potentially a fail grade if notification is after the Academic withdrawal date.

Students are responsible for ensuring:

• Their personal details, including email address, postal address, and contact numbers, are accurate and updated with ACN as needed.
• Their enrolment details are correct.
• Their unit enrolments comply with the course completion rules.

Advanced standing/ Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

Advanced Standing, RPL, and Credit Transfer

• Applications for Advanced Standing/RPL and Credit Transfer must complete the RPL Request Form (available here), sign it, and upload it along with supporting documents when submitting your application.
• Limits: Advanced Standing/RPL or Credit Transfer cannot exceed 50% of a Graduate Certificate course, unless the units were previously completed at ACN and directly map to the course.
• Formal RPL request can only be made for units/courses completed withing the last 5 years.
• For requests exceeding 50% credit or RPL, submit a written application to the MHE via customerservices@acn.edu.au.
• Students granted exemptions for ACN units (6 credit points per unit) will not be charged for those units.
• Refer to the Administrative Fees section for applicable fees for RPL requests.

Credit transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Information/Application Package

Students with Advance Standing or RPL, may complete their study earlier, but will not be provided an early release of the course certificates (Transcript, Testamur or AHEGS). You will received the electronic certificates via MyEquals after the official course complete date (within 4-6 weeks after the Grade Release date). A hard copy of the Testamurs will be issued at the Graduation Ceremony, if you are unable to attend the Graduation event, the Certificate will be posted to students can request a hard copy of the certificates (Transcript or Testamur) by emailing customerservices@acn.edu.au. A fee of $150 applies for these requests.

Workshop/units of study/course cancellation

ACN reserves the right to cancel a GC course or unit of study if there are insufficient enrolments. A full refund will be made of all fees paid. A decision to cancel will be made ten working days prior to commencement.

Applicants who receive the Contracted Postgraduate Course (HETI Scholarship) for 2024 and 2025 must complete the course within the one (1) year period.

Deferral or Leave of absence

There is no funding provision for deferral or leave of absence for the 2024 and 2025 course intake. If students need to take a leave of absence and or need to retake a unit due to failed grade, students would be responsible for covering the costs of the unit(s) taking outside of the normal 1-year period.

Graduate certificate courses and single units of study

ACN is an Institute of Higher Education, registered and accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) – Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector.

Our Graduate Certificate courses and single units are delivered online, offering flexibility for students to balance study with work and family commitments (excluding the Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Re-entry]). Students receive full support from dedicated education staff and tutors, as well as access to specialist library resources, including e-books, journals, database searches, inter-library loans, and more.

Our courses prepare nurses for a rewarding career in the health and community services sector. Designed to meet contemporary industry needs, the courses provide the knowledge, skills and attitudes directly suited to working in specialist areas of health care. We offer programs that are academically challenging and professionally relevant in an environment that encourages independent learning and interaction amongst peers, in an environment of individual student support from tutors and nurse educators.

Graduate Certificate qualifications awarded by ACN are of an equivalent standard to a qualification at other Australian higher education institutions, including universities. ACN’s courses may be recognised by universities, enabling advanced standing towards higher degrees, under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

ACN offers a flexible learning environment, with our GC courses and single units of study being delivered online with some units of study encompassing clinical placement experience. ACN’s online learning platform is CNnect and can be accessed directly at cnnect.acn.edu.au (excluding Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Re-entry]).

Single units of study are supported by learning guides, resources, and relevant, often work related assessment.

Students have the option of undertaking an individual single unit of study from our GC courses. This is useful for people who wish to develop in-depth knowledge in a specific speciality area, or those who want to sample a GC units of study prior to enrolling in a full GC course.

Structure of courses

(excluding Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Re-entry]. Please refer to the course page for the course structure)

The GC courses are professional development programs for nurses currently employed in the health care sector. They are designed to be undertaken part-time.

In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all the requirements for the course. The courses are usually structured around a number of core (compulsory), specialty and elective units of study. Each GC course contain four units of study, each worth six credit points (total of 24 credit points). Usual part time progression means students study one unit of study per 10 week term. Students wishing to vary this study pattern will need to seek approval and is considered on a case-by-case basis, for more information please see the Student management policy.

Course sequence

Courses are designed to build and develop students’ skills and knowledge. As the student progresses through the course they are encouraged to think more widely and more critically. All students at this level are required to demonstrate an understanding of evidence based practice and basic research principles. Students are responsible to check their enrolment is correct regarding the sequence of units of study, prerequisites and co-requisites as required for their specific GC.

Resource requirements

ACN will provide all students involved in this course with:

• Accesses to the latest version of training and assessment resources for each unit via the CNnect online learning portal
• Online and phone support from their educator and ACN staff
• Access to ACN’s virtual and physical library

ACN requires students to have a current email address and access to a computer and the internet.

Recommended minimum system requirements:

Please bear in mind these are minimum system requirements and a better resourced PC or MAC will provide much better performance.

Office 365

ACN students have access to Office 365 Education for free, throughout the duration of their course and 30 days after the course completion.

• New students: Access begins on the term commencement date.
• Late enrolments: Access will be provided by the Friday of Week 1 of the term.

If you have any issues with your office365, please contact Microsoft Support.

Library fines

Fines imposed by the Library will result in the imposition of sanctions and may halt your progression within a course. These sanctions remain until such time as proof is received that the debt has been paid. If a sanction is imposed, a student is not permitted to graduate from any course or receive a transcript or testamur.

Policies and guidelines

The policies and guidelines of ACN have been written to provide guidance on the responsibilities of students to their studies. Students should read and be familiar with the policies and guidelines, especially the Student management policy.

Electronic Transcripts, Testamurs and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements (AHEGS) are available to students through the My eQuals platform. The certificates will be sent to students via the preferred email provided to ACN within 4-6 weeks from the Grade Release date of your final unit. For more information about MyeQuals, on how to create an account, view and share your certificate, click here.

A physical copy of the Testamur will be presented to students during the Graduation Ceremony.

If students do not attend the graduation ceremony, they can opt-in to receive a physical Testamur mailed to the postal address recorded in the student management system (free of charge). An administrative fee of $150 will apply if students wish to request the hard copy of the Testamur outside the normal graudation ceremony period.

Replacement of Transcripts and Testamurs (hard copy)

There is a charge for the issue of a replacement copy of the Testamurs and transcripts. Please note replacement documents will marked as “Duplicate”.

• Transcript, and/or Testamur $150 (flat fee)
• Reissuing of documents for conversion of qualification for international recognition $150

A replacement Testamur can only be issued upon receipt of a written request, proof of and a statutory declaration stating that the student has lost or is not in possession of the document. Three forms of identification are necessary upon request to verify your identity such as your full name (or proof of name change), student ID, email, address or phone number used at the time of study at ACN.

Applications and enquiries should be made to customerservices@acn.edu.au.

Visit our clinical placement page for more information.

1. Continuing professional development program

ACN offers an extensive range of continuing professional development (CPD) offerings, both online and face to face.

To request emails updating you on upcoming CPD courses contact cpd@acn.edu.au.

2. Training and assessment – Non-award courses

Our professional development courses provide opportunities for RNs and ENs to expand their individual scope of practice with courses such as:

• 347 National Immunisation Program for Healthcare Practitioners
• Principles of Emergency Care for Registered Nurses (PEC RN)
• Principles of Emergency Care for Enrolled Nurses (PEC EN)

3. Further study

Did you know that your qualification can articulate into a Masters of Nursing Program at an Australian university with advanced standing? By completing an ACN graduate certificate, Western Sydney University, School of Nursing & Midwifery invites you to further your post graduate studies by enrolling into a Master of Nursing program.

The School of Nursing & Midwifery offers a diverse range of study areas that will provide you with the opportunity to diversify your skillset in a supportive and flexible learning environment to enable you to thrive in your chosen specialty.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of Australia, you can apply for postgraduate program studies either: Directly to Western Sydney University (it’s free) or through the Universities Admission Centre  (application fees apply).