Terms and Conditions

Terms & Conditions

Please take the time to read these Terms and Conditions (the Terms) carefully before using the www.fols3.forestworks.com.au website and the FOLS Skills Verification Service operated by ForestWorks Ltd.

Your access to and use of the Service is conditional on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms and Conditions. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who access of use the Service.

By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you disagree with any part of the Terms, then you may not access the Service.

The FOLS Service

The FOLS Skills Verification Service (the Service) is operated by ForestWorks to gather evidence that a forest worker has been trained and assessed as competent in skills required for their job role; and that their skills are recognised as being current by others in the industry. The Service also allows for reporting of the forest workers' skills to employers and forest managers in the chain of responsibility for workplace health and safety.

FOLS holders can store electronic copies of evidence of their training and assessment. This substantiates the skills listed on their FOLS card or electronic FOLS.

A FOLS card or electronic FOLS is evidence that a person had obtained a relevant skill as at the date of attainment of that skill.

A FOLS card will be renewed where the FOLS holder provides evidence that these skills are current. ForestWorks is unable to process a new or renewed FOLS without third-party skills verification.

Verification of skills currency is provided by the FOLS holder's employer. Where the FOLS holder is not employed, or is self-employed, evidence of currency is provided by another person who has seen the FOLS holder use their skill in the preceding 3 year period.

Where a FOLS holder is Tasmanian, has only one skill (Chainsaw Non-forest Harvesting), and is not employed, or is self-employed evidence of currency is satisfied by the declaration of the FOLS holder.

ForestWorks is unable to process an application for a new or renewed FOLS without the FOLS holder consenting to the collection notice.

Upon receiving payment for a renewal or new application, ForestWorks will approach the applicant four times over a period of 6 months to obtain consent and the verifier contact details, after which the application will be marked as Pending.

ForestWorks will then inform the applicant in writing of this change of status and will no longer approach the applicant for the information. Applications can be completed at any time after this, provided that the necessary information is submitted to ForestWorks.

Usage and Data Collection

If you wish to share and/or access information through the Service, you may be asked to supply certain information to:

verify your identity;
verify the identity of your staff that use the FOLS system;
Indicate the contractors that you engage

Subscriptions

Some parts of the Service are billed on a subscription basis. You will be billed in advance if you opt for one of the following subscriptions:

Any FOLS product (trainee, new, renewal or add skill);
Forest Contractor business;
Forest Manager

ForestWorks Ltd. does not accept refunds for change of mind. Once you have opted for a FOLS subscription, and the payment is processed, ForestWorks Ltd. retains the right to refuse a refund request.

Refunds may be granted to individuals:

who have, by accident, applied more than once to purchase/renew a FOLS for the same purchase/renewal period;
who experience technical issues during payment and incorrect amounts are billed;
in exceptional circumstances, for example where the applicant has become unable to work before the FOLS is issued.

You may be contacted by ForestWorks Ltd. to provide evidence of the above requests for a reimbursement to be processed.

Sharing of Information via the FOLS Portal

FOLS holders may share their information with Employers or Prospective Employers or Forest Managers using the FOLS portal. A FOLS holder may only share their information:

For compliance with workplace health and safety obligations; and/or
For skills development and/or training

Employers may share a FOLS holder's information with a Forest Manager using the FOLS portal. An employer may only share a FOLS holder's information where the FOLS holder has provided informed consent; and

For compliance with workplace health and safety obligations; and/or
For skills development and/or training

An employer or forest manager may access a FOLS holder's information using the FOLS portal. The employer or forest manager may only access and use this information

For compliance with workplace health and safety obligations; and/or
For skills development and/or training

Information that is shared with the employer or forest manager is limited to Information that is contained on the FOLS card:

Name
Residential suburb
Year of birth
FOLS identification number
The FOLS holder's skills and date those skills were obtained.

Links to Other Web Sites

The www.fols.forestworks.com.au website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by ForestWorks Ltd.

ForestWorks Ltd. has no control over and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. ForestWorks Ltd. is not responsible or liable, directly, or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, by or in connection with, the use of, or reliance on, any third-party websites or services.

Changes

ForestWorks Ltd. reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change these Terms and Conditions at any time. If a change is material, we will try to provide at least 30 day's notice prior to any new Terms and Conditions taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.

Contact us

Alternatively, you can write to us at:

ForestWorks Ltd

PO Box 612

North Melbourne, VIC 3051

Freecall number – 1800 177 001