ENROLMENT & FEES
1. Enrolment
1.1 Enrolment at VDC is for the full term unless otherwise stated.
1.2 A student's place in a class is confirmed once their enrolment has been accepted by VDC.
1.3 Class placement is determined by VDC based on factors including age, experience, ability, developmental readiness, class dynamics and the requirements of the program.
1.4 VDC may recommend a different class or level where we believe this would be more appropriate for the student's development, safety or overall experience.
1.5 Parents/caregivers are responsible for ensuring contact details, emergency contacts and relevant information provided to VDC remain current.
2. Fees & Payments
2.1 Tuition fees are charged for the full term and divided across the payment schedule communicated to families.
2.2 Enrolment is a commitment for the full term. Classes cannot ordinarily be dropped partway through a term.
2.3 Withdrawals for the following term must be communicated to VDC by the withdrawal deadline advised to families.
2.4 Fees remain payable for classes missed due to illness, family commitments, holidays or other personal circumstances.
2.5 Where VDC cancels a class and cannot provide an appropriate replacement or alternative arrangement, a credit or adjustment may be provided.
2.6 Accounts must remain up to date and applicable late fees may be charged in accordance with VDC's current fee information.
2.7 Families experiencing genuine financial difficulty are encouraged to contact VDC privately.
3. Attendance
3.1 Regular attendance is encouraged to support student learning, confidence and class consistency.
3.2 Parents/caregivers should notify VDC where possible when a student will be absent.
3.3 Performance Team students may have additional attendance expectations due to choreography, formations and competition preparation.
3.4 VDC may discuss a student's participation with their family where ongoing attendance significantly affects the student, their class or their Performance Team.
OUR STUDENTS & FAMILIES
4. Student Behaviour
4.1 Students are expected to treat teachers, Student Teachers, other students, volunteers and venue property with respect.
4.2 VDC uses age-appropriate behaviour management strategies designed to guide and redirect behaviour rather than embarrass, intimidate or unnecessarily punish children.
4.3 VDC staff and Student Teachers are expected to communicate with children respectfully and appropriately.
4.4 Children are encouraged to ask questions, seek assistance and communicate when they feel uncomfortable, overwhelmed or unsafe.
4.5 A child will not be considered disrespectful simply for appropriately communicating a personal boundary, asking for privacy or telling an adult that something is making them uncomfortable.
5. Parent & Caregiver Conduct
5.1 Parents and caregivers are expected to contribute to a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all VDC students.
5.2 Parents/caregivers must follow reasonable directions from VDC staff relating to supervision, child safety, class operations, performances and venue requirements.
5.3 Aggressive, abusive, threatening, intimidating or inappropriate behaviour towards students, staff, Student Teachers, volunteers or other families will not be accepted.
5.4 Concerns involving another child should be raised with VDC staff rather than addressed directly with that child.
5.5 Concerns regarding teaching, behaviour management, safety or another VDC matter should be raised directly with VDC management.
6. Uniform & Presentation
6.1 Students are expected to attend classes in the appropriate VDC uniform or class attire.
6.2 Hair, footwear and other presentation requirements may apply depending on the class or activity.
6.3 Performance students may have additional costume, hair, makeup, footwear and presentation requirements.
6.4 VDC may introduce specific clothing requirements where reasonably necessary for safety, privacy or appropriate coverage.
SAFETY, SUPERVISION & WELLBEING
7. Supervision & Class Ratios
7.1 VDC considers the age of students, type of activity, class size, physical requirements and level of supervision required when determining class sizes and staffing.
7.2 Class numbers are intentionally managed to allow teachers to appropriately supervise and engage with the children in their care.
7.3 Additional teachers, assistants or Student Teachers may be rostered depending on the age of students, class numbers and activities being undertaken.
7.4 Acro classes operate with particularly careful consideration of ratios and supervision due to the physical nature of the activity.
7.5 VDC may adjust class structures, staffing or activities where necessary to maintain appropriate supervision and safety.
8. Child Safety & Safeguarding
8.1 VDC is committed to providing an environment where children and young people feel safe, respected, supported and able to speak up.
8.2 Child safeguarding is an ongoing part of staff development. Staff participate in dedicated child protection and safeguarding training annually as part of VDC's Back to Dance staff training, with expectations reinforced throughout the year.
8.3 Training and internal procedures cover areas including professional boundaries, appropriate communication and physical contact, supervision, children's privacy, recognising and responding to concerns and responding appropriately to disclosures.
8.4 VDC staff, Student Teachers and volunteers are expected to comply with the child safety requirements applicable to their roles.
8.5 VDC maintains clear expectations around professional boundaries and aims to avoid unnecessary situations where a child is alone with an adult.
8.6 Children are encouraged to communicate personal boundaries and tell a trusted VDC staff member if something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
8.7 Child safety concerns raised with VDC will be taken seriously and followed up appropriately.
8.8 Where accounts of an incident differ, VDC may gather information from the child, relevant staff, parents/caregivers or others involved before determining what further action is appropriate.
8.9 A child raising a genuine concern in good faith will not be disadvantaged for doing so.
8.10 Some VDC safeguarding practices may be more conservative than those traditionally seen within recreational dance. This is intentional and reflects our commitment to prioritising children's safety, dignity and wellbeing.
9. Working with Vulnerable People
9.1 Adult VDC staff and volunteers are required to hold current Working with Vulnerable People registration where required for their role.
9.2 Relevant registrations are verified by VDC and appropriate records are maintained.
9.3 At VDC-run events, adult parent helpers or volunteers given backstage access or responsibilities involving children are required to hold a current WWVP registration which has been provided to VDC prior to the event.
9.4 Being the parent/caregiver of a VDC student does not automatically make someone an authorised VDC volunteer or supervisor.
9.5 Approved volunteers and parent helpers must comply with VDC's child safety expectations and staff directions.
10. First Aid, Medical Information & Emergencies
10.1 VDC maintains First Aid coverage during regular classes.
10.2 At least one First Aid qualified staff member is rostered to be present while regular VDC classes are operating.
10.3 VDC currently has three First Aid qualified staff members within our team of five staff.
10.4 First Aid equipment is available onsite.
10.5 Parents/caregivers are responsible for providing accurate and current information regarding medical conditions, allergies, injuries, medications or other information relevant to their child's participation.
10.6 Where VDC reasonably believes urgent medical assistance is required, parents/caregivers authorise VDC to seek appropriate emergency assistance.
10.7 Reasonable attempts will be made to contact the child's parent/caregiver or emergency contact as soon as practicable.
11. Injury, Illness & Safe Participation
11.1 Children should not attend class where illness makes participation inappropriate or creates an unreasonable risk to others.
11.2 Injuries that may affect safe participation should be communicated to the teacher before class.
11.3 VDC may modify or restrict a student's participation where a teacher reasonably considers an activity unsafe for that student.
11.4 VDC may recommend medical or allied health clearance before returning to particular activities following an injury.
OUR TEACHING TEAM
12. Staff Qualifications & Professional Development
12.1 VDC teaching staff have different qualifications, accreditations, training and experience depending on their roles and the classes they teach.
12.2 VDC values ongoing professional development and staff are expected to undertake training relevant to their roles.
12.3 Relevant staff qualifications, registrations and professional development records are maintained internally.
12.4 Individual staff documentation, including qualification certificates, First Aid certificates and WWVP documentation, contains personal information and is maintained internally rather than distributed publicly.
12.5 Families are welcome to pask VDC about the qualifications and training relevant to the programs their child participates in.
13. Student Teachers
13.1 VDC operates a structured Student Teacher Program providing young dancers with supervised experience in teaching and leadership.
13.2 Student Teachers are learners and assistants. They are not replacements for VDC teachers. Student teachers who graduate the program before they turn 18 will always be supervised by an adult teacher.
13.3 Student Teachers are never left solely responsible for a class or group of children.
13.4 A VDC teacher remains responsible for the class and supervision of students at all times.
13.5 Student Teachers may assist with demonstrations, activities and individual students and may occasionally lead an appropriate activity such as a warm-up while supervised.
13.6 Responsibilities are determined by the Student Teacher's age, maturity, experience, training, program level and demonstrated competency.
13.7 Student Teachers receive ongoing training and mentorship.
13.8 Student Teachers are not treated as adult supervisors of children.
14. Physical Contact & Hands-On Teaching
14.1 Dance and acrobatics are physical activities and appropriate physical contact may sometimes be required for teaching, spotting, correcting alignment, demonstrating technique, preventing injury or safely assisting a student.
14.2 Physical contact must have a legitimate teaching or safety purpose and be appropriate to the student's age and activity.
14.3 Staff and Student Teachers are expected to respect children's personal boundaries and respond appropriately when a child expresses discomfort or asks not to be touched.
14.4 Where immediate physical assistance is reasonably necessary to prevent injury, a teacher may intervene for the safety of the student.
15. Acro Safety & Teacher Competency
15.1 Due to the physical nature of acrobatics, VDC maintains additional training and competency requirements for staff teaching or spotting acro skills.
15.2 VDC teaching staff participate in internal acro training twice annually.
15.3 Teachers are individually trained and signed off on the acro skills they are permitted to teach and/or spot.
15.4 Staff must work within their approved competencies and must not teach or spot a skill for which they have not been appropriately trained and approved.
15.5 A teacher's permitted skills may increase as further training and competency are demonstrated.
15.6 VDC's Director undertakes ongoing professional development in acro teaching and safety to support both her own teaching and the ongoing development of the teaching team.
15.7 Teachers may determine that a student should not attempt a particular skill where it is not appropriate for their current strength, flexibility, control, technique or physical readiness.
PRIVACY & COMMUNICATION
16. Children's Privacy, Dignity & Personal Boundaries
16.1 VDC recognises every child's right to privacy, dignity and appropriate personal boundaries.
16.2 Staff, Student Teachers and approved volunteers are expected to respect children's privacy and communicate appropriately when assisting with clothing, costumes, injuries or other situations involving personal space.
16.3 Children are encouraged to appropriately communicate when they require privacy, do not understand something, feel uncomfortable or would like assistance from another trusted adult.
16.4 VDC will take reasonable steps to provide age-appropriate privacy where students are required to change clothing or costumes.
16.5 Concerns relating to a child's privacy or personal boundaries should be reported to VDC management.
17. Photography, Video & Social Media
17.1 VDC may photograph or film classes, performances and studio activities in accordance with permissions provided by families.
17.2 Families who do not consent to their child's image being used must notify VDC via email
17.3 Parents/caregivers must comply with photography and filming restrictions imposed by VDC, venues, competitions and event organisers.
17.4 Photography or filming must never take place in circumstances where children are changing or where doing so would reasonably compromise a child's privacy or dignity.
18. Communication
18.1 VDC uses approved communication channels to provide families with information regarding classes, events and studio operations.
18.2 Parents/caregivers are responsible for monitoring relevant communications and ensuring VDC has current contact information.
18.3 Staff and Student Teachers are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries when communicating with students.
18.4 Significant concerns relating to a child should generally be communicated through their parent/caregiver unless doing so would be inappropriate from a safeguarding perspective.
PERFORMANCES & EXTERNAL EVENTS
19. Performances, Competitions & Events
19.1 Students participating in VDC performances, competitions, eisteddfods and other events are expected to follow instructions provided by VDC staff.
19.2 VDC will take reasonable steps to supervise students while they are under the studio's care.
19.3 Parents/caregivers must follow instructions relating to arrival, collection, supervision, restricted areas, costumes and backstage arrangements.
19.4 Some competitions, eisteddfods and performances are operated by independent third parties. VDC does not control all aspects of the venue, event management, shared facilities, public access or the conduct of people who are not associated with VDC however will always take all reasonable steps to protect children enrolled at VDC.
19.5 VDC cannot vet or supervise every person who may be permitted into a shared or general backstage area by an external event organiser.
19.6 VDC will take reasonable steps to manage the safety and supervision of its own students within areas and circumstances reasonably within VDC's control.
19.7 Concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of a VDC student at an external event should be reported to VDC as soon as possible so they can be appropriately followed up.
20. Arrival, Collection & Responsibility for Students
20.1 Parents/caregivers are responsible for ensuring children arrive and are collected in accordance with arrangements communicated for their class or event.
20.2 Younger children must not be left unsupervised before VDC has assumed responsibility for them.
20.3 Parents/caregivers should notify VDC where someone other than the usual caregiver will collect a child where relevant to the child's age or collection arrangements.
20.4 VDC's responsibility for supervision applies during the period in which the child has been placed in VDC's care for their class, activity or designated event arrangements.
CONCERNS, POLICIES & ENROLMENT
21. Concerns & Complaints
21.1 Parents/caregivers are encouraged to raise questions or concerns directly with VDC management.
21.2 Concerns will be considered respectfully and VDC may seek information from relevant people before responding.
21.3 Child safety concerns will be prioritised and followed up in accordance with VDC's safeguarding procedures.
21.4 Families raising a genuine concern in good faith will not be treated adversely for doing so.
21.5 Where a concern relates to another child, parents/caregivers should allow VDC to manage the matter rather than questioning or confronting the child themselves.
22. VDC Policies & Updates
22.1 Enrolment is subject to VDC's applicable policies and procedures in addition to these Terms & Conditions.
22.2 Current-family policies and internal studio information are made available through VDC's parent-only resources and family communication channels.
22.3 Parents/caregivers are responsible for familiarising themselves with policies relevant to their child's participation.
22.4 VDC may update policies, procedures and operational practices where required due to legislative changes, risk assessments, incidents, venue requirements or the ongoing development of the studio.
22.5 Where a change materially affects families or student participation, VDC will communicate the relevant change to families.
23. Suspension or Termination of Enrolment
23.1 VDC reserves the right to suspend or terminate an enrolment where there is a serious or ongoing breach of these Terms & Conditions or VDC policies.
23.2 This may include serious safety concerns, abusive or threatening conduct, repeated disregard of reasonable staff directions, significant non-payment of fees or behaviour creating an unreasonable risk to students, staff or other families.
23.3 Wherever reasonably appropriate, VDC will attempt to discuss concerns with the parent/caregiver before terminating an enrolment.
23.4 VDC may take immediate action where reasonably necessary to protect the safety or wellbeing of a child or another member of the VDC community.
24. Acceptance of Terms
24.1 By completing enrolment, the parent/caregiver confirms that they have read and agree to VDC's Terms & Conditions and applicable policies.
24.2 Parents/caregivers confirm that information supplied regarding their child is accurate to the best of their knowledge.
24.3 Continued enrolment is subject to compliance with these Terms & Conditions and applicable VDC policies.