Do You Want to Study Online and Become a Graphic Designer?

Answer these questions honestly. If you say YES to most of them, you’re likely a great fit for our courses.

Creative & Visual:

• Are you a creative person?
• Do you notice layouts in magazines and books?
• Do you have a good eye for colour?
• Do you admire website designs?

Photography & Digital Skills:

• Do you like to take photographs?
• Have you ever operated a DSLR camera?
• Would you like to learn how to digitally manipulate photographs?
• Do you enjoy working with computers?
• Are you interested in computer arts?

Design Interest:

• Do you have a genuine interest in graphic design?
• Do you have an interest in packaging, logos, and corporate identities?
• Would you like to master design programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign?

Learning Style:

• Do you have good communication skills?
• Do you have the ability to work independently and seek assistance when required?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, you’re on the right track.

If you’re unsure: Email us at admin@thegraphicdesignschool.com or call (02) 9918 3285. We’ll help you decide if our courses are right for you. No pressure, just honest advice.

When you enrol with TGDS, you’re joining a community of learners. We expect certain standards of conduct and responsibility.

1. Provide Accurate Information

• Give us correct contact details (email, phone, address)
• Notify us immediately if your details change
• Be honest on your enrolment form (age, prior learning, language proficiency)

Why it matters: We need to contact you about assessments, support, and important updates. If your details are wrong, you might miss critical information that affects your progress.

2. Communicate When You’re Struggling

• Tell us if you’re having difficulties with staff, procedures, or training
• Ask for help early—don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed
• Use the forum, email, or phone to reach out

Why it matters: We can’t help if we don’t know you’re struggling. Early intervention leads to better outcomes. Students who ask for help early are far more likely to succeed.

3. Submit Your Own Work

• Never submit work that’s not yours (plagiarism is a serious breach)
• Don’t claim work done by another person or copied from the internet
• AI tools are allowed for research and inspiration, but final work must be yours
• Disclose AI usage when required

Why it matters: Plagiarism undermines your learning and devalues qualifications. We’re here to teach you skills—you can’t learn if you’re submitting someone else’s work.

Consequences of plagiarism:

Offense	Consequence
First	Warning + mandatory re-submission
Second	Fail the unit + formal warning on record
Third	Expulsion from course (no refund)

4. Keep Backups of Your Work

• Save copies of all assessments before submitting
• Use cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or external hard drives
• Don’t rely solely on The Schoolyard to store your work

Why it matters: Technical issues happen (file corruption, system glitches, accidental deletion). If you lose your work and don’t have a backup, you’ll need to redo it from scratch. We can’t recover lost files.

We’re not just here to deliver training—we’re here to build a community of respectful, engaged learners.

1. Create a Positive Learning Environment

Contribute to learning in a harmonious and positive manner, regardless of gender identity, race or ethnicity, sexual preference, political affiliation, marital status, disability, or religious belief.

In plain English: Don’t be a jerk. Treat everyone with respect. Discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated—ever.

Consequences: Warning, suspension, or expulsion (depending on severity). Zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment.

2. Follow Our Rules

• Comply with TGDS policies (outlined in Student Handbook and Terms & Conditions)
• Be honest—don’t falsify work or information
• Communicate respectfully (no offensive language or behavior)

Consequences for breaching rules:

Breach	Consequence
Minor	Warning and guidance
Serious	Suspension from forum or course
Repeated	Expulsion (no refund)

3. Take Ownership of Your Learning

• Participate actively in modules and forum discussions
• Maintain progress—don’t let months go by without logging in
• Monitor your own progress by submitting assessments in a timely manner
• Set your own schedule and stick to it (within your enrolment period)

In plain English: This is self-paced study, not self-directed study. You set your own schedule, but you’re still accountable for making progress.

4. Respect Intellectual Property

• Don’t distribute course materials to unauthorized people (friends, family, social media)
• Respect our copyrights (content, videos, templates are for enrolled students only)
• Honor our publications—they’re our livelihood

Consequences: Warning, suspension, or expulsion + potential legal action for serious breaches.

5. Respect Privacy & Confidentiality

• Don’t share other students’ work or personal information publicly
• Respect staff privacy and confidentiality
• Keep forum discussions professional and appropriate

We hold ourselves to high standards too. Here’s what you can expect when you study with TGDS:

A Supportive, Inclusive Community

• Kind, respectful staff and students: We’ve never had an abusive or rude comment on our forum in years—we’re proud of that and work hard to maintain it.
• Open, honest communication: We don’t hide behind jargon or bureaucracy. We speak plainly and answer your questions directly.
• Zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment: You’ll be safe here. If you experience or witness discrimination, report it immediately—we’ll act fast.

Flexible, Compassionate Support

• No judgement: Struggling with a concept? Behind on assessments? Life getting in the way? Tell us. We’ll help without judgement.
• Extensions available: Need more time? We offer paid extensions and free extensions for genuine hardship (illness, family emergency, etc.).
• Mental health awareness: We understand life is complex. Mental health is as important as physical health. We’ll work with you.
• Disability accommodations: Extra time, alternative formats, assistive technology—we provide reasonable adjustments for any learning needs.

Transparent Policies

• Clear refund policy (see Fees & Payments page)
• Fair complaints process (see Complaints page)
• Accessible student records (log in to The Schoolyard anytime to view your progress, grades, and certificates)

If we expect X from you, you can expect X from us. Respect, honesty, fairness—it goes both ways.

TGDS is committed to ensuring the training and assessment environment is free from discrimination and harassment.

Our Commitment

We are:

• Caring and egalitarian: Everyone gets fair treatment, regardless of background or circumstances
• Religiously and politically neutral: We don’t push agendas or favor particular beliefs
• Kind, inquisitive, informative, and often humorous: We make learning enjoyable, not stressful

Our forum culture: Open, honest communication. Students and staff are supportive, helpful, and respectful. We’ve built something special here.

If You Experience Discrimination or Harassment

1. Report it immediately:

Channel	Contact
Email	support@thegraphicdesignschool.com
Phone	(02) 9918 3285
Forum	Private message to a tutor or admin

2. We investigate:

• Your complaint will be handled fairly, transparently, and confidentially
• We’ll speak to all parties involved
• Decisions are made based on evidence, not assumptions

3. Your rights are protected:

• No victimization for making a complaint
• Complaints don’t affect your grades or enrolment status
• You have the right to learn in a safe, respectful environment

Cyber bullying exists online—we know that. If you experience it from another student or see it happening, report it. We take it seriously and act quickly.

Good English skills are important in graphic design—you’ll read briefs, communicate with clients, and research concepts. But we know not everyone starts at the same level, and that’s okay.

Minimum English Proficiency

If you can read and understand this Student Handbook and our website, you’ll be fine.

Not sure? That’s what we’re here for.

LLN Support We Provide

If you need extra help with language, literacy, or numeracy:

• Simplified readings and glossaries for complex terms
• Extra tutor time (no extra cost—we’re here to help)
• Writing assistance for assessment submissions
• Slower pacing if that helps you learn better
• No judgement—ever. Everyone learns at their own pace, and we respect that.

We identify needs early: During enrolment, we conduct an LLN assessment. This isn’t a pass/fail test—it’s so we can support you properly from day one.

Contact us if you’re unsure: support@thegraphicdesignschool.com or (02) 9918 3285

We’ll help you decide if the course is right for you and what support you might need.

We provide reasonable adjustments for any learning needs. Our online format is a huge advantage—you learn from a quiet, comfortable environment without the stress of commuting or classroom dynamics.

What We Offer

• Extra time for assessments (no questions asked—just let us know what you need)
• Alternative assessment formats where possible (e.g., video presentations instead of written reports)
• Assistive technology recommendations (screen readers, dictation software, etc.)
• Flexible deadlines when you need them
• Quiet, adaptable learning environment (because it’s online—you control your space, lighting, noise level)

How to Access Support

Email us before you enrol (or anytime during your course):

Channel	Contact
Email	support@thegraphicdesignschool.com
Phone	(02) 9918 3285

We’ll discuss your needs confidentially and put adjustments in place. Simple as that.

You don’t need formal documentation to request support (though it can help us understand your needs better). We take you at your word and work with you.