1 July 2017: Commonwealth Ombudsman now handles complaints about VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans

Statement

Commonwealth Ombudsman now handles complaints about VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans 1 July, 2017

The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman can now handle complaints about VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.

The VET Student Loans Ombudsman function is operational and available to the public.

Commonwealth Ombudsman Michael Manthorpe, said the new function will be available to assist in the resolution of disputes between vocational education and training (VET) providers and students.

‘We provide an independent, impartial and free service. We can help people who believe they may have a VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loan debt they should not have, as well as students who feel they have been treated unfairly by a VET provider offering VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans,’ Mr Manthorpe said.

‘We will also provide advice and training to VET providers in relation to best practice complaint-handling, and lead the development, promotion and review of a code of practice in collaboration with industry.’

‘We have been working with the VET sector and community groups in the lead up to the commencement of this function. We intend to continue this process to ensure that our new role is known and understood, and effective in the delivery of training, advice and investigation of disputes,’ Mr Manthorpe said.

Further information is available here.

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