Tuition Assurance Scheme Activation for the Austech Institute for Further Education, NSW
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) was advised on Wednesday 24th March 2010 of the activation of the Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) process for the Austech Institute for Further Education due to the inability of the college to continue delivering courses to students.
It is important for creditors, students and other people affected by the closure of this college that:
ACPET is not the Austech Institute for Further Education
ACPET is not the Administrator and
ACPET does not have any student fees, or other money from the Austech Institute for Further Education.
However, ACPET does manage the TAS of which the Austech Institute for Further Education was a member.
Shortly ACPET will be providing students with information on how they can be assisted via the ACPET TAS. Our priority is to assist students with a suitable alternative placement as soon as possible.
A student meeting has been organised to inform you of your rights and responsibilities under the legislation, see details below. ACPET will inform you at this meeting of the ways ACPET can assist you. Note: This meeting is for Austech Institute for Further Education students only.
To be allowed entry into this Student Meeting you must bring photo ID (e.g. student ID card, passport).
Student Meeting Details:
Contacting ACPET
Students may contact ACPET in writing via:
Click here for a Relocation Request Form.
Please note: Only requests in writing will be responded to.
By collecting information in writing ACPET is better able to respond accurately and quickly to your requests. Students who phone ACPET will be directed back to this email/fax number. If you email, you will receive an acknowledgement of your email within 48 hours during normal business days. ACPET guarantees to reply to you, therefore if you do not receive a reply back please check your junk mail folders to see that the email came from.
Information ACPET Needs
When contacting, please provide the following information:
1. Title
2. Full Name
3. Date of Birth
4. Email Address
5. Phone Number
6. Mobile
7. Address
8. Student Number
9. Name of Course enrolled at the Austech Institute for Further Education
10. Commencement of Studies
11. Expected completion date of studies
12. Fees paid in advance for tuition that has not yet been received
Visa Issues
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is aware of the Austech Institute for Further Education situation and will respond to your enquiries. Please contact Immigration with your queries on visa issues on 13 18 81. A list of immigration offices can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/index.htm
About the ACPET Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS)
In 1994, the ACPET Board established an Overseas Student Tuition Assurance Scheme (OSTAS). The scheme is in compliance with the requirements of the Commonwealth's Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. The purpose of the ESOS Act is to protect the interests of students studying in Australia on student visas, by providing students whose college has closed a suitable alternative course.
The Scheme ensures that overseas students displaced from any course conducted by an ACPET member participating in OSTAS, due to the member's inability to continue the course, will be efficiently relocated with minimal disruption to studies in a comparable course with another ACPET member participating in OSTAS or other approved provider.