Government promises to weed out ‘bottom feeders’ in VET provider crackdown

Key PointsSkills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor has announced a crackdown on “dodgy” training providers. A new confidential tip-off line will allow current and former students, staff and employers of international students to report fraud.The announcement is in response to recommendations made by reviews of the migration system and exploitation of Australia’s visa system.

“Dodgy” training providers who exploit international students could soon face suspension, expulsion or criminal prosecution.

The nation’s vocational education and training (VET) regulator will get a $37.8 million boost under a federal government crackdown on unethical and illegal behaviour.

An integrity unit to be established within the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will be equipped with the latest technology and data-matching capability to find and stop providers who are doing the wrong thing.

The unit will work with law enforcement agencies to conduct “intense” compliance checks on high-risk providers in a bid to improve protections for all students.

A new tip-off line and expanded powers for ASQA

The confidential VET tip-off line will allow current and former students, staff, homestay hosts and employers of international students to report fraud.

People will be able to anonymously report misconduct by training organisations by phone or through the regulator’s website.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor announced the measures at an address to the National Press Club on Tuesday.

Though ASQA already has powers to deal with some matters, the government will ensure the regulator can suspend, expel or deregister a provider, O’Connor told ABC Radio National.

The vocational training measures announced today are “aimed at stopping domestic and international students and graduates from being exploited by unscrupulous operators,” says Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor (left). Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“It will also send a message to others contemplating acting in the same way,” he said.

“We can’t be distracted by this conduct and we can’t allow students to be exploited in the way they have been historically.”

“We are working to weed out the minority of non-genuine VET providers, the bottom feeders, who seek to exploit people and traduce the integrity and reputation of the entire sector in the process,” O’Connor said in a press release issued this morning.

When asked at the National Press Club about how many “dodgy operators” he expected would get shut down, he said, “I would say probably more than a dozen, but under a hundred”.

Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor discussed the measures during an address at the National Press Club on Tuesday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Ministers pledge to restore integrity, crack down on ‘shonks’

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government’s move sought to restore integrity to the nation’s international education and migration systems.

“Dodgy training providers have no place in VET, international education and our migration system,” she said.

Education Minister Jason Clare said the “shonks” seeking to exploit international students had returned.

The measures announced today were an “important next step in strengthening the integrity of our tertiary education sector,” he said.

The announcement is in response to recommendations made by reviews of the migration system and exploitation of Australia’s visa system.

Australia’s skills ministers will meet next month, where they will consider further changes to strengthen Registered Training Organisation legislation.

Peak body says satisfaction with independent providers is high

The fact independent skills providers lead on critical student and employer satisfaction measures also shouldn’t be overlooked, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) warns.

While integrity enhancements are welcome, the government shouldn’t make it harder for students to use private sector training, the peak body representing independent providers says.

“When nine in 10 students choose to study with an independent skills training provider rather than public TAFE colleges, it’s a pretty good sign of high student satisfaction levels,” chief executive Troy Williams said.

“As the Australian government approaches the issue, it also needs to be cognisant that when it comes to delivering quality outcomes, ITECA members achieve the best results.”

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