Education Brokers still up to their old tricks
May 22, 2015 3 Comments
I have just watched for the last 20 minutes or so, two people wearing T-shirts from one of the large education brokers, standing outside of the Strathpine Centrelink, both on the footpath and in the car park, going up to people entering and leaving the offices and attempting to sign them up in courses and being very unclear about what the details of VET-FEE HELP were, how it worked and what the costs were. I know this because I spoke with them as they approached me while I was walking into the offices for a meeting I had there.
This is absolutely appalling behavior, particularly from a broker who, when there marketing activities were called into question in a number of forums last year, vigorously defended themselves and stated publicly that their staff did not do things like that. So in my mind there are only two things that can possibly be happening;
1. Management has absolutely no idea of what their staff are doing, or
2. Management endorse these kinds of activities privately but refuse to admit to them publicily.
Both are equally abhorrent. I find it particularly abhorrent when a number of the the providers listed on their website are members of ACPET, who have also been vocal about this activity not occurring.
This needs to be addressed.
And that is why the regulators should use their existing powers of deregistration. Instead it seems that the doubtful continue and the rest get lumbered with more regulation and reporting. Often seems to be a case of hammer the innocent and let the guilty roam free.
Exactly right Jim.
Well stated Paul.
I suppose one can only report to ACPET what has occurred and hope that they take action.