Residents have been warned to be aware of “unscrupulous training providers”, including a vocational training organisation that was deregistered in June.
Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins told State Parliament earlier this month she had been contacted by two concerned residents about their dubious courses.
“[They] were convinced by a salesperson to study a certificate III in children’s services at an organisation called BAWM,” she said.
“The qualification was recalled by BAWM due to concerns about the quality of the education.
“Another … was studying for a diploma of nursing in the hope of transferring into a bachelor degree to become a nurse or paramedic,” Ms Hutchins said.
“[She] was meant to finish this course by February 2015, but it was pushed back by the provider to May 2015.
“When May came around, there was no update from the organisation.
“This meant that [she] could not continue her studies in the field, through no fault of her own,” she said.
BAWM wrote to a number of students in April recalling qualifications in children’s services, aged care and business administration.
Parent body Vocation chief executive Stewart Cummins said BAWM, its wholly-owned subsidiary, stopped operating early this year and was voluntarily deregistered in June.
He said several thousand students were affected by BAWM’s practices, and it had repaid more than $27 million in funding to the state government.
“Vocation became aware of issues with its BAWM RTO [registered training organisation] subsidiary in mid 2014 and has worked co-operatively with the relevant Victorian government authorities to address all concerns raised, and to ensure the welfare of students,” he said. “Vocation has learnt from the past,” Mr Cummins said.
“The new Vocation is committed to be the best vocational training business in Australia.”
Concerned students who studied with BAWM in 2014 can call 1300 842 754 for assistance.
