Mum left to count cost of collapse
paramedics arrived at her family’s Brisbane townhouse to find her unconscious.
Detective Inspector Tim Trezise says Maddilyn- Rose had suffered severe burns from her lower back to her feet several days earlier. A TOWNSVILLE woman fears a $ 20,000 student loan may be all for nothing after being caught in the collapse of one of Australia’s largest vocational education providers.
Nickie Clayton, of Kirwan, enrolled for an online dual degree with Careers Australia earlier this year and found out via the media the company had been placed in administration.
“I am both shocked and lost for words as this big step was supposed to change my life with new qualifications to get a better job to support my family,” Ms Clayton said. “I am single mum to five kids.”
More than 15,000 students, including about 8700 in Queensland, and 1100 staff have been impacted by the collapse.
The directors of Careers Australia Group Ltd appointed administrators PPB Advisory on Thursday night after the Federal Government’s Department of Education and Training refused to approve an application by the group as a VET Student Loans provider.
Careers Australia has been dogged by controversy includ- ing that it targeted vulnerable students using door- to- door sales brokers offering free computers as inducements.
Yesterday, a Department of Education and Training spokesman said the group did not meet its provider criteria on financial performance, management and governance and student outcomes.
Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham blamed the former Labor government for a “failed” VET feehelp scheme and a $ 3 billion funding blowout.
“An enormous waste of money, of taxpayer money, and vulnerable people targeted for debt and completion rates below 20 per cent in so many instances, including in many of the instances with Careers Australia,” Mr Birmingham said.
Ms Clayton said she took out a $ 20,000 VET Student Loan to pay for her online courses in legal services and early childhood education.
But she found the online course difficult to understand or navigate and received little or no help from Careers Australia. “I now have a $ 20,000 debt and have nothing to show for it,” Ms Clayton said.
“I’ve heard nothing from Careers Australia. I received a couple of text messages from VET Student Loans saying they are not giving more student loans Australia.”
It is understood as many as 500 students are affected in Townsville, while an industrial warehouse at Mount Louisa used for courses in aged care and assistant nursing was locked yesterday.
PPB Advisory partner David McEvoy said they were working to determine whether the business could be sold or restructured.
“Regrettably, we have had to suspend all classes and stand down employees while we assess all options,” Mr McEvoy said.
The Department of Education and Training spokesman said that under a tuition assurance scheme VET feehelp students had the option to complete their course at another provider or request to have their VET fee- help debt remitted for commenced but uncompleted units of study.
For VET student loans students, the tuition assurance operator would seek to match and offer students with a similar replacement course.
“If there is no similar course available, the student may be eligible for fee repayment,” the spokesman said.
Students with any queries can contact TAFE Directors on 02 9217 3180 or the Department of Education and Training on 1800 020 108. for Careers