2018-19 Pre-Budget Submission
Every year, The Australian Treasury calls for ideas to feed into the budget process. We have focussed our submission for the 2018/19 Budget on three areas where budget action could make an immediate a...
Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act). Consumer Action ha...
iTutor Learning Systems
Consumer Action has assisted a Somali woman to file a complaint relating to education software, iTutor Learning Systems. The software was sold to the woman in her home by a salesperson representing Vi...
Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill 2016, the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 and the VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to make this submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment in relation to the Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill...
Speech to the ACPET National Conference 25 August 2016, Hobart
On Wednesday, 18 May 2016, Consumer Action's Director of Policy & Campaigns Denise Boyd gave a speech to the ACPET National Conference on telling the stories of our clients who have been impacted...
Legal action against Get Qualified Australia
Consumer Action has assisted a 34 year old migrant to take legal action against Get Qualified Australia. GQA claims to assist people with the process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an...
Redesigning VET FEE-HELP – responding to the Discussion Paper
Consumer Action is pleased to comment on the Australian Government's discussion paper outlining a raft of proposed changes to the VET FEE-HELP system. We have responded positively to a number of key s...
A VET FEE-HELP Ombudsman will help victims of Australia’s VET scandal
Australians duped by Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers and brokers into signing up to dodgy courses are a step closer to receiving justice today. The Federal Government has released...
Submission to The Treasury on priorities for 2016-17 Federal Budget
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into The Treasury’s budget development for financial year 2016-17. The stated aim of the Government in inviting s...
Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (QLD)
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (Bill) (QLD) Read o...
Training Provider Open Colleges sued for breach of consumer law
As the crisis in Vocational Education deepens, another student is fighting back by taking on education provider Open Colleges in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Tanea Ferris (a 52...
Reforming vocational education: it’s time to end the exploitation of vulnerable people
Mary Leahy, University of Melbourne Australia’s vocational education sector is a mess. Tightening regulation and tweaking some of the settings will contain the damage, but these measures alone w...
VET Sector needs a national ombudsman: Consumer Action
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes reforms announced today by the Federal Government for the vocational education and training (VET) sector and calls for the establishment of a national ombudsman sch...
Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 Inquiry
Consumer Action Law Centre provides free legal advice and pursues litigation on behalf of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria. In recent years we have built up substantial experienc...
Acquiring a long list of complaints on privacy
The privacy commissioner has been called in to investigate allegations that the Privacy Act is being flaunted by an education company targeting job-seekers to sell vocational courses. Consumer Acti...
Senate inquiry backs VET Industry Ombudsman
Consumer Action Law Centre reiterates its call for the establishment of an Industry Ombudsman in the vocational education sector as recommended in a Senate report released today. The release of "Th...
Who do I complain to about a private college or education provider?
Do you have a problem with a private college or education provider? Below explains who to go to depending on your circumstances. The role of regulators If you have a complaint about a Registered Tra...
VET Funding Review – Issues Paper Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on consultation questions on the future directions outlined in the VET Funding Review Issues Paper. Download our f...
Private VET providers: Supplementary submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide a supplementary submission on the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (V...
New protections for VET students welcomed
New vocational education & training guidelines will protect students enrolled in courses involving VET FEE-HELP student loans. From 1 January 2016, students will benefit from new protections safeg...
Students will be better off with new VET complaints body
The Victorian Government’s decision to establish a new body with the power to resolve vocational education disputes is a win for students, according to the Consumer Action Law Centre. The dispute r...
Submission: VET Funding Review
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on how to improve the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market. Read our full submis...
Media release: Proposed ban on enrolment inducements a welcome step
Consumer Action has welcomed an announcement from Assistant Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham this morning about reforms designed to crack down on dubious marketing practices by tra...
Submission: Private vocational education and training providers in Australia
Consumer Action has provided comment to the Senate Education and Employment Committees on the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (VET) providers in Australi...
Consumer Affairs Victoria issues warning about maths tutoring software
Consumer Affairs Victoria says parents of school children should be wary about aggressive selling methods of maths tutorial software. Some of these programs cost nearly $8000 and are marketed by sale...
Private Colleges
Common themes emerging in consumer complaints about some private colleges and training institutions has prompted the Consumer Action to publish a guide about common problems, how to avoid them and wh...
Media release: Linked credit case could cast doubt on more NAB student loans
The Consumer Action Law Centre has lodged a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) against the National Australia Bank (NAB) and is seeking to have its client’s NAB student loan terminat...