More allegations against Australian education providers emerge
Updated
As Australia continues its efforts to restore its dented international reputation as an education provider, more damaging allegations against private colleges have emerged. International students say they were forced to pay in advance for courses which, in the end they never received, when their colleges suddenly closed.
Presenter: Alison Caldwell
Speakers: Hardeep, Indian student; Gaurav Sharma, Indian student; Robert Palmer, Director of the Overseas Students Support Network Australia; Chris Tulloch, International Students Online; Jacinta Allan, Victorian Skills and Workforce Participation Minister.
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ALISON CALDWELL: Hardeep is a young Indian student who came to Australia to study community welfare. She was two thirds of the way through her course Sydney's Sterling College when suddenly the fees went up.
They were required to pay the fees in advance and if they didn't, she says they would be marked down as absent or banned from handing in assignments. Then in late July, her world fell apart when the College suddenly closed.
HARDEEP: I'm one of the student's whose visa has already expired and whose health insurance coverage has already expired. And I can't renew both because I don't have my CUE (phonetic) from my new provider.
And if something will happen tomorrow with me, then who is going to be responsible for that?
ALISON CALDWELL: To make matters worse she's being denied her results and academic records - to start over again at a new college is virtually impossible without them.
HARDEEP: I have spent 25,000 for my course, at the end of the day what I have in my hands? Nothing.
GUARAV SHARMA: If you don't pay your fee at once they won't let you into the class and they won't accept your assignments. It's not fair you know, you're charging thousands of dollars up front and asking students to pay for it otherwise you won't be able to attend the class and won't be able to submit your assignments.
ALISON CALDWELL: The same thing happened to Gaurav Sharma when the Melbourne International College suddenly closed its doors. He'd paid his fees in advance only weeks before.
He's found a new school but says the provider is charging him fees over and above the fees he'd already paid in advance at the other college.
GUARAV SHARMA: Their still asking for upfront fees like couple of thousand dollars, I have no idea why.
ALISON CALDWELL: They're not alone when it comes to feeling tricked and ripped off by education agents and providers. Since the start of the year, the Overseas Students Support Network Australia has received around 1500 legitimate and serious complaints. Director Robert Palmer.
ROBERT PALMER: We've had six, seven students that we have had to help out who were in a very bad way, thinking of suicides.
ALISON CALDWELL: A Senate inquiry is looking at the welfare of international students. Chris Tulloch is with International Students Online.
CHRIS TULLOCH: The rate of depression and suicidal tendencies would be quite high, and the college is holding the golden egg, they're holding really the student visa in their hand.
ALISON CALDWELL: He wrote a submission for the Senate inquiry. He recommends the establishment of what he describes as a totally independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and appeals.
CHRIS TULLOCH: An independent ombudsmen needs to be totally independent of state or federal government, one of the major key factors in dealing with complaints and appeals with these students is gaining their trust.
ALISON CALDWELL: The Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard wouldn't comment. Victoria's Skills and Workforce Participation Minister is Jacinta Allan.
JACINTA ALLAN: I think adding another layer into that combination will not necessarily be of assistance when you consider that the actions that are being taken already at a state and national level are the strongest possible actions.
