Legal
[stm_color_separator]The follow paragraphs will outline some of the key terms that you agree to when you engage with PIA, this includes students, visitors and staff to either the website, campus or event run by PIA. The information on this page also relates to how we manage privacy, intellectual property and how we interact with third parties.
PIA offers undergraduate (diplomas and bachelor degrees) and postgraduate (graduate diplomas and certificates and masters) award qualifications (Degrees).
The range of our degrees means that different terms and conditions may apply, depending on features such as:
- whether you are an Australian or International student; and
- how the Course is paid for.
These terms here set out some of the conditions applying to your relationship with PIA, however, depending on the Degree and your status as a domestic or overseas student, specific terms will apply in relation to fees, cancellations, leave of absence, transfers or deferrals and other important matters.
In addition to these terms, a number of policies apply to you when studying with PIA. These Policies are here. Our Policies may be updated from time to time, and we may develop new policies. We will publish new policies and any updates on this website. Where appropriate, we will notify you of important changes to policies, either by email, with a notice on our site, or as an item in our news section. We recommend you check our site regularly for any updates, as they will apply to you from the time they are updated.
All degree fees are published as indicative fees and should only be used as a guide. Our fees typically increase each year and may change without notice.
The total amount you will pay for a degree will vary, depending on:
- the subjects you choose to study (as some subjects have higher fees than others);
- whether you’re required to pay for other fees and expenses related to your Course, such as field trips, equipment and textbooks;
- your study load and the time it takes you to complete the Course; and
- whether you receive any approved credit for prior learning.
All anticipated degree tuition and non-tuition fees are listed on the fees page of this website; fees are indicative for each unit and each degree.
For more details on the fees please refer to the Fees and Refunds Policy and Procedure.
Although PIA does not use third parties to deliver any of its degrees or perform any of its recruitment process it does however use Education Agents to market its courses.
PIA does however use different organisations to enhance our students’ learning experience and in doing so we may need to provide the students personal information to comply with the serves that is offered. For some of our degrees these organisations play a critical role in supporting PIA in delivering high quality programs, and you are unable to complete the program without agreeing to the terms and conditions outline by each service provider.
Some of our providers include:
- ZOOM to enable class participation. See ZOOM’s terms and privacy policy.
- Microsoft Office 365 suite of applications for student email accounts (Outlook), and online meetings, as well as other collaboration tools (eg Teams).
- ReadyTech – Student Management System Terms of Service – https://readytech.io/legal/terms
These are the supporting documents referred to in above
- ReadyTech – Acceptable Use Policy – https://readytech.io/legal/aup
- ReadyTech – Data Processing Addendum – https://readytech.io/legal/dpa
- ReadyTech – Shared Responsibility Model – https://readytech.io/legal/srm
- ReadyTech – SLA https://readytech.io/legal/sla
- Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/business
Each of the degrees may use course specific software, where course specific software is used these will also be subject to company’s terms of use and privacy policy which will be available on their website.
This website may contain links to the websites of other organisations. We do not necessarily endorse or support the views, opinions, standards or information contained within these linked websites.
You will not hold us liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense you might incur as a result of the use of, or reliance upon, the materials which appear at any linked site. Your access to and use of linked websites is solely at your own risk.
We respect the intellectual property rights of others. You should be aware that material found on linked sites may contain intellectual property protected by law, including that it is likely to be protected by copyright and may also contain trademarks. It is your responsibility to use the material on each linked site in accordance with the site’s specific terms and conditions of use and any other laws or requirements which may apply.
We may make changes to the content of this website in whole or in part at any time without notice to you. We may also make changes to this page at any time without notice, and such changes are effective immediately upon posting the changes to the use on this website. Therefore, your continued use of this website is deemed to be your acceptance of these changes from time to time.
Nothing in these terms affects any warranties or liabilities which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law. Your use of the site and participation in any activities are at your own risk. The site, its content, and any activities are provided by us on an “as is” basis, without any warranties, either express or implied.
Neither us nor anyone associated with PIA makes any warranty or representation in relation to the completeness, security, reliability, quality, accuracy, or availability, of the site or our activities. In no event will we or any of our licensors, service providers, employees, agents, officers or directors be liable for damages or any kind (including under contract, tort or negligence), arising out of or in connection with your use (or inability to use) the site, or any websites linked to it, any content on the site, or any activities or events, including any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, which includes, but is not limited to personal injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss or revenue or profits or business or anticipated savings, loss of use or goodwill, loss of data, even if such loss was foreseeable (loss).
Neither us nor our affiliates involved in the site or activities will be liable for any loss you incur in connection with the site or activities. You agree you will take reasonable precautions in your use of the site and engagement in activities.
Further, the site and content may not always operate uninterrupted, or be error- or defect-free. It may not be compatible with your device, internet access type or limits, or browser.
We will do our best in light of technical constraints, but we can’t warrant that the site or content is free from viruses, worms, harmful code, Trojans, or similar, or that it will be free from hacks, denial of service attacks; and we are not liable for any damage or losses you might incur as a result of any of these.
Given we do not continuously monitor all site activities, we are not responsible for content provided by third parties – including other students, staff, alumni or other visitors.
These terms are governed by the laws of NSW, Australia. If any of these terms are or become invalid, at our option, the relevant part is severed or to be read down; and doesn’t affect the validity of the remaining parts. Neither of us, nor you, is (or can you represent yourself to be) an employee, agent or other authorised representative of the other. A waiver has to be in writing and signed. We don’t waive a right if we fail to exercise it or delay exercising it.
| Term | Definition |
| Bullying | Bullying is a form of discrimination which may include jokes, teasing, nicknames, emails, pictures, text messages, social isolation or ignoring people, or unfair work practices. |
| Business Continuity | the ability of PIA to deliver services at an acceptable level following a disruptive event or circumstance. |
| Business Continuity Management | a coordinated organisational approach to the management of operations which seeks to ensure that core functions can continue or be resumed in a timely way. |
| Business Impact Analysis | the process of analysing activities and the impact a disruption to business might have. |
| CoE | Confirmation of Enrolment |
| COPHE | Council of Private Higher Education |
| Critical incident | A critical incident is a sudden or developing event which causes disruption to an organisation, creates significant danger or risk and which creates a situation where staff and/or students feel unsafe, vulnerable and under stress. Critical incidents require immediate attention and decisive action to prevent or to minimise any negative impact. |
| Designated Officer | Any PIA staff member who is either a witness to, or first to be informed about, an actual or potential critical incident |
| Disability | PIA uses the definition of disability as set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). |
| Discrimination | Discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavourably because of a personal characteristic protected by the law, such as sex, age, race or disability. |
| Feedback | the statement of an opinion on, or personal reaction to, a product, service, or experience. |
| LMS | Learning Management System |
| OHS | Occupational Health and Safety |
| Principal course | The principal course of study would normally be the final course of study where the overseas student arrives in Australia with a student visa that covers multiple courses. |
| PRISMS | Provider Registration and International Student Management System |
| Reasonable Adjustment | adjustments that can be made to any area of learning which allows a student to participate in education on the same basis as other students. |
| Sexual Harassment | Sexual harassment is a specific and serious form of harassment which relates to any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behaviour, which could be expected to make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. |
| Six months | The first six months is calculated as six calendar months from the date an overseas student commences their principal course. |
| Survey | measuring the views or opinions of a discrete group through a set of identical questions. |
| Victimisation | Victimisation is subjecting or threatening to subject someone to a detriment because they have asserted their rights under equal opportunity law, made a complaint, helped someone else make a complaint, or refused to do something because it would be discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation. |