{"id":99068,"date":"2015-03-11T21:41:43","date_gmt":"2015-03-11T11:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=99068"},"modified":"2020-06-27T17:27:08","modified_gmt":"2020-06-27T07:27:08","slug":"tafe-tells-students-its-not-too-late-to-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/03\/11\/tafe-tells-students-its-not-too-late-to-change\/","title":{"rendered":"TAFE Tells Students: It’s
Not Too Late To Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 11, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following recent “horror stories” about some vocational education training providers, Queensland TAFE has begun a hard sell itself … telling students it’s not too late to change to a reputable training provider.<\/p>\n

A TAFE spokesman said today that each year, thousands of students enrol with vocational education training (VET) providers who promise outstanding opportunities, only to begin their course and realise they\u2019ve made a major mistake.<\/p>\n

Reports of unsatisfactory vocational training have increased over the past year, damaging the reputation of the VET sector.<\/p>\n

“The increase in the number of training providers using pressure selling and inducements means that it is now more important than ever for prospective students to do their research and know their rights before making a commitment, particularly when this involves a study loan,” the spokesman said.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

An example provided by TAFE: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beauty student Georgie* switched to TAFE Queensland after spending two weeks at another provider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI rang up to inquire about the beauty course, just to make inquiries,\u201d she said.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that initial inquiry I was called twice a day as well as receiving several emails hounding me to enrol. I felt very bombarded.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe classes were extremely big and the teachers were patronising; they weren\u2019t helpful and weren\u2019t supportive and a little bit nasty.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my two weeks there, I only ever did one beauty treatment and it was a facial and that was all I did in two weeks \u2013 it was not hands-on at all.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why I left and TAFE was such a wonderful surprise. [Teacher] Lizy is amazing.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI would recommend TAFE to anyone because it\u2019s a great learning process and because it is so hands-on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

TAFE Queensland CEO Jodi Schmidt said all registered training organisations had\u00a0 a legal obligation to inform prospective learners of their rights as a consumer, in accordance with State or Territory laws.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a student, you do have rights,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a range of things students need to be aware of if they are doubtful of their training provider and they want to make the switch to a provider of better repute.\u201d<\/p>\n