Be on the money

BUDDING vocational education students should carefully consider their choice of course and training provider following the introduction of a new student loans scheme.

The federal government scrapped the VET-FEE HELP program late last year, replacing it with a new VET Students Loan package that started on January 1.

Under the new scheme, students who meet eligibility criteria will be able to borrow $5000, $10,000 or $15,000, depending on their chosen course. Institutions can charge more than this but students must pay the difference themselves.

Australian Council for Private Education and Training chief executive Rod Camm says new students should carefully research their course and provider options to ensure they are not paying too much outof-pocket.

“Some colleges may have no fees, some colleges may have a range of upfront fees,’’ Camm says.

“Students really need to do some homework and have due diligence.”

Not all courses are eligible for loans, with the federal government excluding so-called “lifestyle’’ courses and those it says employers should be expected to pay for.

BCA National chief operating officer Rachel Burke says those wanting to study ineligible courses should investi- gate other, state-based, funding options.

Kellie Herden (pictured) last year completed a diploma in child, family and youth intervention and had hoped to enrol in a Diploma of Counselling course this year to help her become a youth case manager at a group home.

However, the 28-year-old, who is currently employed as a nanny and childcare worker, has delayed her study plans while she researches her options.

“I definitely need to research things a bit more but I’m not in a rush to study again at the moment … I will probably only study again if it’s required (by an employer),’’ she says.