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CADENCE HEALTH AND NUTRITTION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

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How do I enrol?

What is the difference if I enrol via a Community College?

What is an RTO?
Why has Cadence Health chosen not to become and RTO?

Why are other organisations offering similar courses?
Direct credit versus direct entry
What are the benefits of studying with a large RTO
What do the codes on the training package units mean?

How will I know what to study?

Do I have to do an exam?

Do I have to attend any lectures?

Do I have to attend an exam or assessment?

What sort of questions will I have to answer in my assessment?

Can I get help with assessment questions?

Can I talk to someone about topics that I don't feel are clear to me?

Can I complete my course in less than the specified hours?

What if I can't complete my assessment before the due date?

Can I practice as a nutritionist once I have passed a nutrition course?

Can I enrol if I don't live in Australia?

What about qualifications from doing a Cadence Health course?

How long are the courses?

How quickly can I finish a course?

Are there other costs such as a text book?

What is on the student web page?

What is the eclassroom?

Does Cadence Health provide talks and seminars?

Can I contact Cadence Health about presenting to our group?

What if English is not my first language?

How are course packs delivered?

Paying from overseas

Why is Cadence Health the preferred distance learning organisation?

 

How do I enrol?

- Direct: To enrol direct with Cadence Health contact the office for a prospectus which details all the information you need about us and our courses as well as an application form.  Complete the application and mail or fax it back to us with a cheque or credit card details. 

- Via a partner:  Prospective students can enrol in a number of ways.  Enrolling with one of our partners enables you to enrol in person, credit card, online, cheque, cash or postal order.  Alternatively we can enrol you directly over the telephone using a credit card.  TMS account holders are able to use their account.

 

What is the difference if I enrol via a Community College?

If you enrol via one of our many partners the only difference is that they will process your enrolment fees.  They then contact us and we in turn contact you straight away.  Cadence Health runs the course and supports you every step of the way.  You can also pay in person and by cash via our partners.

What is an RTO?
An RTO is short for a Registered Training Organisation. These can be a one-person businesses, partnerships or large companies and colleges; each has undergone an extensive audit of their quality assurance procedures and is able to purchase or create courses and sell them as units in the Government approved training courses. These courses do not relate to univesity courses, and tend to be more industry based qualifications such as Certificate IV in Fitness as apposed to a bachelor degree in Nutrition.

Why has Cadence Health chosen not to become an RTO?
RTOs can range from 'one man operations' to large organisations with extensive infra-structure. We recognise our strength which is in delivering short courses tailored to our students needs. In order to offer our students relevant courses and qualifications, we opt to collaborate with large, reputable RTOs that offer accredited diplomas which also lead directly into degrees. Ideally, what ever course you take should offer you personal and/or professional relevance, for example a qualification that leads to a profession. At Cadence Health we offer our students units in training packages, plus full subject exemptions in accredited nutriton diplomas and automatic entry upon successful completion to such courses (which then lead onto degrees). It is worth keeping in mind that where a college does not have a relationship with a diploma provider you may be required to undertake a process of RPL (recongition for prior learning) which in many cases can be expensive.

Why are there other organisations offering similar courses?
Leanne Cooper was the founding creator of her business in 1998, the concept came about from just one healthy eating course she taught face-to-face between 1997-1999. Competitive forces can sometimes mean similar businesses have overlap, so you may see companies roll-out similar strategies or even use similar course names and details. However, the team at Cadence Health all have an approach of differentiation not emulation, we pride ourselves on being original. So while we are complimented by others emulating us, we can assure you that our focus is not what others do. Rather, our focus is on what we do - our core business - and how we can expand and improve on that. Cadence Health is a team of professionals, we pride ourselves on fantastic staff, creating unique courses, resources and services, based on our students and clients needs. Ideally, we recommend you choose a quality provider (of which we are lucky to have many in Australia and New Zealand) that best suits your individual needs. Happy studies no matter where you go!

Direct credit versus direct entry
Cadence Health has an agreement with a large RTO which enables us to offer the Accredited Certificate of Diet and Nutrition which holds a full exemption for the year one subject, Nutrition One, in the Advanced Diploma of Nutrition. Students in our course gain direct entry into our partners Advanced Diploma of Nutrition. In essesnce our students are already studying a subject in the diploma of nutrition and upon successful completion are able to make a seemless transition. You may see the term 'direct credit' to diplomas and degrees used by some providers; we highly recommend you ask the course provider who the direct credit is with. It is best to be clear about the difference between the option to apply for a credit (using RPL, that can cost several hundreds of dollars), which is at the discretion of the college you apply to. As apposed to a full credit that has been agreed to by the two organisations (as is the case with our course), also saving you a great deal of time and money. In addition, we recommend you go on and talk with the diploma provider, ensure you ask about the cost of RPL and the likelihood that you will get a subject exemption, this may provide you with the 'big picture' and can help make a smooth transition.

What are the benefits of studying with a large RTO?
Large RTO's such as our tertiary partner WEA Hunter may provide students with a larger infrastructure, resources and support. While all RTOs undergo similar quality processes the way in which they are administered can differ; larger RTOs with extensive staff and hence extensive resources are potentially able to offer more opportunities and options.

What do the codes on the training package units mean?
You may see
codes such as HLTNUT610A used on course descriptions, these are called Units of Competency. There are a number of packages and you can use the code to determine which package a course belongs to. For example HLT = Health Package, NUT is a nutrition competency, or NAT is a naturopathy unit. Other packages include SRF which is the Sports Recreation and Fitness Package used for courses such as personal training courses. In some cases just having certificates for units may not be sufficient to articulate to a subject exemption as the unit of competency may not cover a full subject, it may only cover a small part of it. We recommend you check just what the units entitle you to.

How will I know what to study during my course?

Aside from the Student Manual we supply with every course, our courses are structured so that you can read a topic, check your understanding via our study guide and answers and then complete that section of your assessment.  This way there is an added bonus of not having to wait until you finish the course before you undertake your assessment.

 

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Do I have to do an exam?

Strictly speaking no.  In order to meet accreditation requirements all of our courses have one assessment, however you do not need to take the exam if you choose not to.  Only students who complete and pass the assessment are eligible for a certificate. 

 

Do I have to attend any lectures?

No, there is no lecture, tutorial or residential attendance required.  However, we recognise the importance of not feeling isolated while studying so we provide a number of ways of staying in touch with both staff and other students, including a discussion forum.

 

Do I have to attend an exam or assessment?

No, everything you need in order to complete your course is included in your course pack including your assessment.  All our assessments are high quality open-book assessments.

 

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What sort of questions will I have to answer in my assessment?

All our assessments are high quality learning tools.  They comprise true or false, multiple-choice, short answer and case study questions.  The only exception to this is the Paediatric Nutrition courses which are more clinically based examinations.

 

Can I get help with assessment questions?

Absolutely!  We are on hand to assist you no matter what your question is.  We encourage students to call, Email or log on to the discussion forum to get assistance.  All questions are handled with the utmost confidentiality.

 

Can I talk to someone about topics that I don't feel are clear to me?

Definitely!  In fact we even have specialists such as fitness experts, early childhood consultants and more who can can clearly explain difficult concepts and topics as well as give you loads of useful examples and case studies.

 

Can I complete my course in less than the specified hours?

Yes!  All our courses provide you with the expected number of study hours which is often a better estimate of how long a course will take than the weeks duration.  For example if you are taking a 14 week course which has 28 hours of study (two hours per week) and you allotted four hours a week you would finish this course in just seven weeks.  You can send in your assessment at anytime during your course.

 

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What if I can't complete my assessment before the due date?

At Cadence Health the emphasis is on quality learning.  We recognise that life can throw 'curve balls' at times and so we encourage students to simply call our office if they encounter any difficulties with due dates.

 

Can I enrol if I don't live in Australia?

Absolutely!  We have many students from New Zealand, Europe, Asia and America.  If you reside outside of Australia our courses are perfect for you.  In fact our Director has taught nutrition in Japan.  With our enhanced correspondence learning approach the 'distance' in distance learning is taken away.  Our discussion forum, extended resources and highly personalised service makes learning via distance a close and personal experience no matter where you are!   Students residing outside of Australia will be required to pay a small postage and handling fee.

 

Students wishing to enrol into our Childhood Nutrition course from NZ can enrol via our NZ partner, Parents Centre NZ.  You will gain additional information relevant to NZ, save on postage, and can pay in NZ dollars.

 

How do I pay if I am an overseas student?

Some students choose to have a bank draft made up in Australian dollars others simply use their credit card.  When using a credit card from abroad, the fees (in Australian dollars) will automatically be converted to your local currency by your credit card provider and appear on your next statement.

 

What if English is not my first language?

The nutritionist who designed our courses has lectured nutrition at an International College for over five years and has taught nutrition in Japan.  We are very considerate of language barriers, our increasing range of student support options means that for those where English is not their first language, learning with Cadence Health is not an issue.

 

Can I practice as a nutritionist once I have passed a nutrition course?

The short answer is no.  However, if you are already qualified to provide nutritional advice our courses will provide you with added skills and knowledge.  In order to legally provide a service where you charge a fee for nutrition advice you need to have undertaken a number of years relevant study (for example in health science), gained a relevant qualification (e.g. nutritionist, dietitian, naturopath, GP, pharmacist) and gained registration via a peak industry body and secured relevant insurance.  If you are unsure if you are eligible to provide dietary advice you should contact your industry body, for example personal trainers in NSW would contact Fitness Australia.

 

However, Cadence Health provides students with not only a VETAB Statement of attainmnet to use Australia wide as evidence of learning, but you can gain an exemption of the year one subject Nutrition One of the Advanced Diplmoa of Nutrition which also feeds into a degree. See our information on 'How to become a nutritionist'.

 

Some links to bodies include:  

 

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What about qualifications from doing a Cadence Health course?

When you take a course with us you are gaining a vocational education qualification for life, many of which relate closely to elements of National Training Packages.  See above Direct Entry section also with regards to our pathway into a diploma of nutrition.

 

The endorsement that our courses hold ensures a high education standard with recognition across Australia.  Your certificate also opens doors for you in terms of: 

  1. Health, sports and childcare, continuing education points for ongoing professional development and registration

  2. Admission into other courses

  3. Exemptions

  4. Recognition of prior learning for employment and training 

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Mapping to National Training Packages

An increasing number of our courses are mapped to National Training Packages and while we are not currently an RTO, this does mean that you can use our courses for recognition of prior learning or advanced standing in further training.

 

A further advantage is that our college partners, who are RTOs, are able to offer our courses as accredited courses as units in diplomas which lead onto degrees.

 

 

Qualification in Child Care

Our RTO partners such as St George and Sutherland Community College are able to offer our courses as accredited courses for you to gain qualifications and advanced standing.

 

 

How long are the courses?

The length of our courses are shown in hours and weeks, they range from six weeks to eighteen weeks and are designed according to the content not our preferred length and costing.  The number of weeks is a guide to the expected length of a course given two hours study per week. 

 

 

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How quickly can I finish a course?

Courses can be completed in less time if you are able to set aside more time each week.  For example a 14-week course equivalent to 28 hours of study can be completed in just seven weeks if you study four hours a week. 

 

Why is Cadence Health the preferred distance learning organisation?

We have worked hard to become one of the best.  There are many reasons why we are the preferred organisation for many students.  Unlike a lot of other organisations our service doesn't stop once you are enrolled, that's where it begins for us.  We go out of our way to make sure ALL of our students feel confident and supported right throughout their studies.  We offer more support, more course options, more learning resources, better in depth texts, quality learning guides and assessments.  Just compare what we offer to our competitors, we guarantee our courses are top quality.

 

Are there other costs such as a text book?

NO!  Cadence Health courses are completely inclusive of ALL costs* this includes a comprehensive text, learning guides, assessment, reply paid return envelope*, learning resources, access to discussion forum and support.

 

* Overseas students may be required to pay a small postage fee, we charge only what the postal service charges us

 

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What is on the student web page?

All our students have ongoing access to our private web page.  It is designed to support and extend your learning, ideal for both personal and professional use it is your key to expanding your knowledge and staying up-to-date.  It offers dozens of fact sheets on food safety, meal planning, fitness, functional foods and more.  You can access nutritionally assessed recipes, the latest government and world surveys and reports on health and nutrition, nutrition journal articles, government, support and research web links, Cadence Health documents and much more.

 

What is the eclassroom?

As part of our efforts to make distance study less remote we offer all students and members access to our private eclassroom.  The online classroom is where you can ask questions (either generally to all participants or to our experts) as well as share your experiences and knowledge by answering questions.  In essence it is collective knowledge.  You also have access to a range of experts as we have profiled professionals hosting monthly specialised forums, ranging from skin care, early childhood issues, fitness, nutrition, fertility and natural medicine. Its great fun and easy to use.

 

Does Cadence Health provide talks and seminars?

Yes, we regularly present to groups on a wide range of topics.   A number of our advisory panel are nutrition lecturers.  We have provided corporate health talks to small and large groups, given regular talks at child care groups and to health care professionals on healthy eating for children as well as feeding infants, spoken to elite athletes on sports nutrition and presented at a number of conferences.

 

Can I contact Cadence Health about presenting to our group?

Yes!  Simply call or email the office and we can assist you over the phone.  One of our friendly staff will take your details, discuss your requirements and book you into our presenting calendar.  If you like we can meet to discuss the session in person.

How are course packs delivered?

Where ever possible course packs are delivered via courier services (Australia wide) or Australia Post, occasionally your course pack may be hand delivered if you are enrolling in our local area, and for overseas students packs are sent via air mail.

 

Still have an unanswered question?

> Email us so we can place your question and our answer on this page.

 

 

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Educating and supporting optimum community health

 

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Cadence Health 2005  |  PO Box 313 Manly NSW AUSTRALIA   |   61 2 9400 9759  info@cadencehealth.com.au

Last update: 5/4/10