ACSPRI's 2024 Winter Program will be offered entirely online.
Courses will run over three weeks and some popular courses will be offered more than once.
Courses will run over the following dates:
- June 24 - 28
- July 1 - 5
- July 8 - 12
ONLINE
- We will use the Zoom platform to deliver our online courses.
- You will need access to the internet and a computer with a webcam and ideally a headset with a microphone (for your comfort).
- Classes will run across 3 - 5 days in blocks of 'online time'.
- Online classes will be restricted to 12 people to maintain the interactivity and applied nature of our courses.
- Depending on the course, you will receive reading, notes and general information about the course in advance.
- All other software requirements will be listed on the course page & we will contact you in advance to make sure you have what you need.
- We understand that networking is a very important part of your ACSPRI experience, over the week, there will be ample opportunities to interact with your fellow classmates and instructor as well as work on applied exercises.
- Please note: Courses will run on Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10)
Please visit individual course pages to find out the structure of your online week, and what you will need to participate.
All enrolments must be made on-line via the Online Winter Program page. Full Program details and a list of course descriptions can be found on this page by scrolling down or referring to the subject headings above (Dates, How to enrol, FAQs, etc). Prices listed include course notes and depend on whether your organisation is an ACSPRI Member, and also whether you book and complete payment before the Early Bird Deadline. For more information, scroll down or click on FAQs or you can call us on 03 8376 6496 or email info@acspri.org.au.
** If there is a demand, extra courses may be scheduled. Please look at the individual course pages for dates.
Step 1: Log in to the ACSPRI website (you can create an account or request a new password if required). The account should be in the name of the person taking the course. Alternative billing details (e.g. for a Finance Officer) can be entered later if need be.
Step 2: Check the status of the desired course. If places are available the status will show up as "Open". If the course is "Full" you will be able to join the waiting list for that course. You would then be contacted via email or phone if a place becomes available.
Step 3: Select the title of the desired course to see the course outline page. Select "Add to cart" and proceed to checkout.
Step 4: Enter billing details (e.g. yourself or an admin/finance officer) and either finalise payment by credit card or request an invoice by selecting 'Direct Deposit' (please keep in mind the relevant payment deadlines).
Step 5: Click "Review Order" to check the details and then submit order.
Step 6: Check your invoice/receipt (under the course title) to see if your course has been confirmed to run at the program. If it has not yet been confirmed, you will receive an email when a sufficient number of bookings has been received and the course has been confirmed.
ACSPRI courses are graded at different levels (1 to 5) according to the pre-requisites of that course. Generally speaking, a course at level 2 (e.g. Applied Statistical Procedures) will have a relevant level 1 course (e.g. Fundamentals of Statistics) or an equivalent level of knowledge or experience as a pre-requisite. Similarly, those attending a level 5 course, such as Advanced SEM, are expected to have completed an applied SEM course (level 4) or hold an equivalent level of competence in SEM as someone who has completed such a level 4 course.
Without the pre-requisite background, you are likely to get little value from the course and could adversely affect the experience of others in the course. You should check the pre-requisites of your desired course in the course outline page. If you are still unsure about your level of preparedness for the course, you can contact the course instructor, whose email address you can find via the course outline page, or contact us with your questions at info@acspri.org.au.
1. BOOKING - ACSPRI does not accept ‘expressions of interest’ for course places, i.e. all bookings, are considered firm, and a $250 cancellation fee is charged if you cancel your booking after the early-bird date. Your fee is forfeited entirely if you cancel in the week before the course.
2. DISCOUNT RATE – The discounted rate for ACSPRI members is available to all staff and students of member organisations. To be eligible for this rate:
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- The course fee must be paid by either the member organisation or by you. Where fees are paid by a non-member organisation the non-member rate applies:and
- You must either have a valid email address issued by the member organisation; or you must hold, or have a right to hold, a current staff or student identity card from the member organisation.
In addition, to be eligible for a full time student discount the participant must:
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- Hold, or have a right to hold, a current student identity card from the member organisation;
- Be enrolled as a full-time student;
- Make payment in full with your application, arrange electronic funds transfer (EFT), or contact ACSPRI to advise credit card details for payment, by the early-bird closing date;
- Provide ACSPRI with contact details of your supervisor, so we can request them to confirm your eligibility for the full time student rate.
The early bird rate applies to all bookings paid in full by the early bird close date, otherwise you will be charged at the standard rate.
3. ACSPRI accepts payments via Visa and Mastercard or direct deposit as noted on all invoices
- To be eligible for the early bird rate payment must be received by the close of business on the advertised date deadline. If payment is not received by this date then the standard rate applies
- All requests for other payment arrangements should be sent via email to info@acspri.org.au
4. REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS - Course fees are not refundable unless:
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- we cancel the course in which you have enrolled; or
- you cancel your enrolment before the early-bird closing date.
A cancellation fee of $250 will be charged if you cancel within the period from the early-bird closing date of and one week prior to the commencement of the program. The full course fee will be charged if you cancel within 1 week of the beginning of your course.
5. COURSE NOTES are generally provided as part of your enrolment. If additional course notes are required, there will be a fee.
6. PRE-REQUISITES - Course descriptions specify course pre-requisites. You must undertake to meet the pre-requisites of the course(s) in which you enrol. If in any doubt, you should contact ACSPRI prior to enrolling (info@acspri.org.au).
Delivery of this course is online - via Zoom.
Please ensure you have the following:
- Reliable Internet connection with at least 5Gb per day of data available (i.e. a 5 day course will use about 25Gb of data just on the Zoom application)
- A computer/laptop with the Zoom application installed (free)
- A webcam (built in to most laptops)
- A headset with a microphone (not required but ideal)
- A second monitor/screen if possible
Please also check the course page for specific software requirements (if any).
1. FAQs re Course Info
1.1. I'm not sure which course I should do. Where should I start?
The program page has a list of courses being offered at the current program. This list also shows the course levels and whether the course is 'Open' to bookings or is full, in which case a waiting list will operate. If you click on the course title, that will bring up the outline for that course, including a detailed syllabus. It is important to check the level of the course as well as the pre-requisites, to ensure that you are at the expected level of preparedness. A full list of courses, including some infrequently-offered ones, is available at www.acspri.org.au/courses.
1.2. Will the same courses be offered at every program?
No, but many courses are are the same, especially the popular ones. Course offerings are typically announced on the website and via our mailing list three to four months prior to each program.
1.3. I have read the course outline/s but I have specific questions about this course. Who can I ask?
Program-related questions can be directed to info@acspri.org.au.
1.4. Do I need to bring text books for my course?
Usually not, but you should check the course outline. Course notes are generally provided and, in most cases, other background reading listed is useful but not essential.
1.5. Will I need a laptop and/or software for my online course?
- Yes, you will need access to the internet and a computer with a webcam and ideally a headset with a microphone (for your comfort).
- A second monitor, while not essential, may be very useful.
- You will will need to download the Zoom application.
- We will provide you with a zoom link to join your virtual classroom.
- All other software requirements will be listed on the course page & we will contact you in advance to make sure you have what you need.
- Prior to to the course, we will offer you an opportunity to test your setup with ACSPRI support staff.
1.6. What else do I need to bring to my course?
Unless your instructor contacts you in advance of the course, it is safe to assume that you do not need to bring anything specific. In some courses you may be asked to bring your data, as you'll have the opportunity to discuss your research with the instructor or in class.
2. FAQs re: Enrolment, Invoices and Payment
2.1. Can I enrol in more than one course?
Yes, at multi-week programs you can enrol in up to one course per week. The system will not allow you to enrol in more than one course per week as each course runs for the full week.
2.2. I need an invoice for payment or funding approval. How can I obtain one?
If you select 'direct deposit' during the booking process, this will defer payment and you will automatically receive an invoice when you complete the booking (instead of a receipt). This invoice does not necessarily need to be paid by direct deposit; there are a number of methods available. If you do defer payment by selecting 'direct deposit', you will need to keep in mind the relevant due date or Early-Bird Deadline and/or late cancellation date, and the ways these will affect your order.
2.3. What does 'Open' mean as a course status?
This simply means that there are places available in this course. If a course becomes full or is cancelled, this will change accordingly.
2.4. When I update my shopping cart the course keeps disappearing. What am I doing wrong?
You need to make sure you do not check the box to remove the course from your order. If the problem is something else, please email ACSPRI staff and let them know which step you are having trouble with.
2.5. My organisation is an ACSPRI Member but the non-member rate keeps showing up for me. What should I do?
You may not be logged in as yourself or you may not have selected your institution from the list of ACSPRI Members when you first created your account. If you head to 'view my account' to the right of screen, you can update your 'groups' (i.e. your ACSPRI Member institution/organisation) from there.
2.6. I am not sure if my booking worked. How can I tell?
If you have received an official invoice or receipt, then your booking is in the system.
2.7. I have made my booking. When will I hear from ACSPRI and/or my instructor?
If this course has not yet been confirmed (refer to your invoice), you will receive an email when it is. You will also receive at least one bulk housekeeping email in the lead-up to the program - around a week before the course. Some instructors also like to contact their class in advance of the course but in most cases your first contact with your instructor will be on the Monday morning of your course.
2.8. I have an 'ACSPRI Credit'. How can I redeem it.
If you have an ACSPRI Credit, it should show up as an additional payment option in the billing screen when you make a booking. If the credit amount is less than the course booking amount, you will first need to select either "Direct Deposit" or "Credit Card" as the payment method and then underneath the credit card or direct deposit details enter the "Discount Amount (in AUD)". The new billing amount should then appear.
2.9. My invoice says my course is 'not yet confirmed'. Do I have a place in this course?
Yes, you do have a place in this course (subject to payment by the due date), however this means we still require some more enrolments before this class is of a sufficient size to go ahead. As a not-for-profit organisation, we require courses to be of a certain size before they are viable. If we cannot reach this number, we will offer a refund (or credit if preferred) on any paid course fees. Most courses are typically confirmed a few weeks either side of the Early Bird Deadline. We try to make these decisions as early as possible and inform the course participants straight away via email.
Participants who enrol in a course that is already confirmed will be able to see this on their invoice.
2.10. If my course is not yet confirmed, should I hold off on payment?
This is not recommended, because the number of paid enrolments received is a factor in deciding if a course will go ahead. There is no risk in payment for an unconfirmed course. In the rare case that a course is cancelled, a full refund is offered straight away (or the credit can be held for 2 years if preferred).
2.11. Can I enrol and pay for multiple staff members/students?
Yes, but it is usually easier to have each person enrol themselves and then forward an invoice to you.
A separate on-line account must be created in the name of each course participant using their email address. This is important for a number of reasons, including contacting participants re: course details. If you are responsible for paying for several bookings, it may be easiest to have each of your colleagues make their own enrolments but defer payment during the booking process (by selecting 'direct deposit' instead of entering credit card details), and then forward the invoice to you. To pay multiple invoices see the payment details here.
Alternatively you may decide to log in separately for each booking/payment, using each participant's login details.
3. FAQs re Venue and Housekeeping Matters
3.1. Where do I find my course?
To participate in your online course, you will need to download or have access to the zoom application on your computer. The week before your course, ACSPRI staff will send you a link, and a time for you to log in and access your 'virtual classroom' on the Monday morning of your course.
3.2. What does my course fee cover?
The fee covers course attendance and a copy of the course notes.
3.3. What is the course timetable?
Your timetable will generally be located on the course page, and if there are any changes, you will be advised in advance or during the course. We will run blocks of sessions throughout the week, allowing you time to attend to matters in your own workspace in between sessions. Please check your course page for specific details about your course.