A Room For Reform

The Australian government’s perspective on the country’s productivity level and the
growing number of lack-skilled workers is put to an end. The government moves
toward addressing the issue by providing the VET FEE HELP for those students who
are financially challenged, but gives importance to gaining a higher education
course. But there are institutions which take advantage of this program--instead of
helping the students--they put more burdens to them. That is why, a reform was
released for the new vocational education and training guidelines. The guidelines
implement the reforms needed to safeguard the program and the students as well.

Reforms are made to prevent the deceitful marketers from exploiting the taxpayers to
the line of billions of dollars, and targeting those vulnerable Australians to sign for the
program. Some of the program providers, the schools, have put on packages along
with the program to catch the students’ attention, which is not approved by the
government. Thus, it is necessary to stop the unethical performance and practices
that may break the reputation of this VET FEE HELP program of the government. So
what are these reforms made by government to ensure the protection of the students
who aim to have a better future by the help of the program? The new reforms and
measures are the following: (1) It will ban the providers from proposing incentives or
inducements to students such as cash, free meals, prizes, and even laptops so as to
get their approval on signing up for the course that actually don’t fit the student. (2)
Before the VET FEE HELP debts are incurred, students must be provided more
opportunity to think deeply and consider the options instead of charging all the fees
in a one transaction up front. The fees will be divided evenly for four periods each
course, while the students are given invoices weeks before the census date so as to
ensure they are informed and they can make decisions in terms of study and
payments. (3) It will shorten diploma and advance diploma courses, requiring only a
minimum number of units to be taken up. (4) It will require the program providers to
appropriately assess each student for their educational capabilities before the
enrolment so as to protect the students from getting wrong courses. (5) It will
eliminate those deceptive practices such as ‘nursing home’ package if the students
will enrol in the school. (6) It will stop the marketing agents from getting students to
sign up without the responsibility of the training provider. (7) It will give clear
information to students to help them deeply understand that VET FEE HELP loans
are not ‘free’ but real debts that will expect them to repay. There are training
providers that offers the VET courses by telling the students that it is free education
for all, which therefore is a lie. Before signing up, students will be informed of how
much debt they can incur when they take up the VET courses. In this way, they can
make decisions whether to take up or not. (8) Lastly, it will strengthen the duties and
responsibilities of training providers in offering VET FEE HELP assistance. It will also
be easier for the government to withdraw student debts from the training providers
who breach the reforms or the new guidelines set by the government; they are then
required to reimburse the taxpayers for the cost of it.

With these reforms in VET FEE HELP program, students are assured of better
quality education and will set the training providers to the right track.