A new minimum literacy and numeracy standard will be required for award of the HSC from 2020.

The minimum standard will give employers, universities, colleges and the community, confidence that students have the literacy and numeracy skills needed for life beyond school.

The standard is set at a practical level that enables students to: follow operating instructions in equipment manuals; write a job application; prepare an invoice.

Students will show they have met the standard by passing new online reading, writing and numeracy tests taken at school. They will have two opportunities each year to take the tests. The tests will be available next year for year 10 students.

Students who achieve Band 8 or above in the 2017 year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests will not have to take the tests. Students will have multiple opportunities after year 9 to take the tests, and schools will provide support for students to meet the standard.

For more information, see the demonstration site with sample questions is at: http://hscliteracynumeracy.bostes.nsw.edu.au/

Illegal No Refund signs

Retailers are reminded it is illegal to post no refund signs. Under Australian Consumer Law, retailers cannot post these signs in their shops or print similar messages on receipts or invoices, as this can imply a refund is not possible, even when a product is defective.

Consumers aren’t always entitled to a refund - e.g. if they have just changed their mind. However, they do have the right to a refund if there is a problem with a product.

One hundred and twenty businesses – or about one in five – across metropolitan and regional NSW were recently recorded as having illegal messaging about refunds on signs, invoices or receipts.

Clothing shops were the worst offenders, with non-compliance detected in 68 – or more than half – the premises visited; followed by discount variety shops (13) and pharmacies (six).