MEDIA RELEASE

Prue Car MP
Shadow Minister for Skills

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TARGETED BY SHONKY PRIVATE

EDUCATION PROVIDERS
An extensive NSW Labor investigation has revealed that almost 3,000 students with disabilities have been
left high and dry by shonky private vocational education providers in the last 2 years.

Labors investigation uncovered alarming figures showing 2,965 students with disabilities have been
impacted by terminated or suspended providers.

Terminated providers burdened 511 students with disabilities while suspended providers affected a
staggering 2,454 students.

Despite impacting thousands of students with disabilities the Berejiklian Government is refusing to name the
suspended providers that have had their Smart and Skilled funding withheld.

NSW Labor is demanding the Government name the suspended providers to protect prospective students
currently enrolling in new courses from signing up to diplomas and certificates with dodgy operators.

Certificates in business administration, driving operations and warehouse operations have been the most
targeted courses amongst shonky providers.

The Governments attack on TAFE has resulted in 14,567 fewer students with disabilities enrolling in TAFE
than 2012.

In addition to naming the suspended providers, Labor is urging the Government to adopt its policy to
introduce a Private Provider Investigation Unit to look into dodgy training providers and ensure that
taxpayer money is only given to reputable providers.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley announced the policy during his 2016 budget reply speech.

The six month investigation by Labor involved freedom of information requests and courtroom battles to
finally force the Government to reveal a list of the 11 terminated providers but was unable to force the
release of the suspended providers.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Skills Prue Car

The inability to protect the vulnerable members of our community from shonky businesses is a categorical
failure of the Baird Government.

Instead of helping vulnerable students navigate their way past the empty promises of charlatans Ms
Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro are leaving them to fend for themselves against predatory providers.

Media Contact: Prue Car 0450 659 811

The Government should adopt another Labor policy and start cracking down on these providers to protect
the hopeful individuals looking to better their lives.

Quotes attributable to Member of the Legislative Council Daniel Mookhey

The Berejiklian Governments Smart and Skilled funding program has given the green light to shonky
operators to flourish at the expense of the taxpayer and thousands of students in NSW.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro would rather save the shonky providers from a headache than protect tens of
thousands of students from potential heartache.

The Governments war on TAFE has robbed the public provider of millions of dollars in funding; costing more
than 5,200 teachers and support staff their jobs and resulting in 126,000 fewer enrolments.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Disability Services Sophie Cotsis

Students with disabilities looking to get a head start in life or usher in a career change should receive every
encouragement.

Its the role of Government to protect and provide for the most vulnerable members of our community yet
its a responsibility that is consistently sidelined by the Berejiklian Government.

Media Contact: Prue Car 0450 659 811