Education and training allowance policy

Objective

Strathfield Sports Club (the Club) encourages employee development through skills training and learning development opportunities.  This policy sets out the type of financial study assistance support that is available to employees.

Learning & Development at the Club

The Club seeks learning and development as the acquisition of knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes which enhance employees’ ability to meet current and future job requirements and to perform at higher levels. 

The Club will provide financial support for approved programs and courses which aligns with the objectives of the Club, the employee’s current job role and improve the employee’s ability to perform in their current role and/or promote their growth potential with the Club. 

Eligibility

The Clubs training needs are identified through employee performance reviews; skills gap analysis; feedback and surveys; observation; industry benchmarking; technology and process changes; member feedback; future Club goals; regulatory compliance; employee requests and team discussions.

1.1. Probation 

• As a general guideline, new employees must have passed their six (6) month probation period before they become eligible for receiving financial assistance however, in certain circumstances relevant training may be approved within the probation period, if the training develops skills necessary for the job. 
• New employees who, at the time of their commencement, are already undertaking a program of study within the scope of this Policy may be considered for study assistance. This will be at the discretion of the Club and with written approval. 

1.2. Performance 

• Employees applying for study assistance must consistently meet or exceed work expectations, observed by their Senior Manager and demonstrated through work performance.

1.3. Relevance 

• The program of study should be directly relevant to an individual’s employment at the Club as working in the Tennis training/coaching department.
• The program of study will likely improve employee performance as a tennis coach/coordinator.

1.4. Commitment 

• Employees must continue to meet performance expectations – that is the employee meets the required standards for their roles and responsibilities, the quality of their work is satisfactory, and goals are generally achieved as expected.

1.5. Approval  The employee must have written approval by the General Manager.

Financial Assistance

All training or programs of study must be approved, in advance, by the General Manager. 

Note: The level of support provided by the Club will be adjusted to reflect when the tennis program commences during the year and the financial support that may be provided by another source, for example, an external grant. 

1.6. Training allowance 

• Training requests must be approved by an employee’s manager prior commencement.
• The employee must meet the eligibility requirements (as set out in this policy). 

1.7. What is covered 

• The Club will reimburse the full amount of the relevant program or course fee inclusive of GST. 

1.8. What’s not covered 

• Fees associated with failed or repeated subjects; 
• employees who decide to defer or discontinue study once the semester or course has commenced (other than due to a significant change in work commitments or due to significant personal reasons beyond your control, such as a long -term illness, primary carer responsibilities etc); or 
• any other expense deemed by the General Manager as not covered by this Policy.

Clawback

The Club is supportive of further education and encourages learning. Some types of study assistance, particularly development courses, often represent a significant investment in our employees. The Club understandably wishes to also benefit from this investment. For this reason, this Policy includes a “clawback” provision. 

If an employee receives financial study assistance from the Club for any education or tennis program of study and within any time between commencement of the program of study and 12 months’ of completion of the program of study: 

• resigns; 
• is terminated for poor performance, misconduct, or serious misconduct; or 
• decide to defer or discontinue the program of study. 

The employee must repay the Club the whole amount provided for the Study and any associated fees, within two (2) weeks of receiving a written repayment notification from the Club, all amounts received as financial assistance from the Club under this Policy.

Scope

This policy applies to all permanent full-time and part-time employees of the club.

Failure to complete the course in time

All courses are provided with strict time lines If an employee undertaking a study or development course and fails to complete all the units to a competent standard, the Club reserves the right to charge an administrative fee of $350 (inc. GST) to the employee and a course extension form will be issued. The payment of the extension will not be covered by the Club.

Cancellation of the financial assistance agreement

The Club may, at its discretion, at any time, withdraw part of or all financial assistance for a program of study based on one or more of the following factors: 

• subject failures associated with the program of study; 
• achieving less than meeting expectation in the employee’s performance review by the Club; 
• performance management issues, such as being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan or misconduct or disciplinary action; or 

for any other reason deemed necessary by the employee’s General Manager, and clawback conditions will apply.

Compliance with this policy

All employees are required to comply with the terms of this Policy. If an employee does not do so, they may be subject to disciplinary action including up to termination of employment.

Other relevant documents

Code of Conduct

Disclaimer

This policy does not form part of an employee’s contract of employment. The Club reserves its right to change, terminate or amend this policy at any time.

Further Information

For further information please contact the General Manager.