Students’ money safe: AGB

Many feel ‘ripped off’

AGB Training has four days left to lodge an appeal against the loss of its registration as a training provider.

However, it has assured students they will not be left out of pocket should the worst case happen.

AGB Training, which has training centres in Belmont, Geelong and Melbourne, runs courses for more than 1200 Australian and international students.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority, which regulates courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met, last month moved to cancel AGB Training’s registration.

It says the provider was non-compliant with the requirements of the VET quality framework and national code of practice for providers of education and training to overseas students 2018.

The cancellation is due to come into effect on August 19 leaving many students fearing for the future of their courses.

ASQA said it had yet to receive confirmation the provider had submitted an application for review, but it had until August 13 to do so.

“An application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of the decision must be submitted within 28 days of receiving notification of ASQA’s decision,” a spokeswoman said.

“Until the decision in respect of AGB Group Pty Ltd takes effect on August 19, the RTO is permitted to continue delivering training and trading as usual.”

Meanwhile, a whistleblower said many international students were “upset and angry” at finding out about the pending cancellation through the media.

“There are concerns from international students as the next lot of fees is due before there is an expected outcome,” they said. “So potentially more money paid for a course that cannot be delivered.

“Many expressing feeling ripped off.”

An AGB spokesman said information about the ASQA decision was emailed to all domestic and international students on August 2.

He said most students were on a payment plan and therefore the fees they paid was in relation to training already delivered.

“International students who do pay their fees up front equate to less than 3 per cent of the total international students,” he said.

“International student fees are kept separate from the dayto-day account into a holding account.

“This requirement is in accordance with the standards all international institutions are required to follow.”

Should there be an adverse decision about AGB, the spokesman said the organisation had paid a levy for each international enrolment it receive into a Federal Government scheme called the tuition protection scheme.

“This fund is used to assist international students to be relocated to another institution,” he said.

“Students can rest assured that the investments that they are making into themselves are safe.”