Avondale approved to offer VET FEE-HELP
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
VET FEE-HELP means Avondale students such as Trent Keegan now have the option of completing a Diploma of Outdoor Recreation and having the Australian Government pay all or part of their tuition fees.
Approval to offer an Australian Government student loan scheme means Avondale College is now the Hunter’s only provider of VET FEE-HELP in outdoor recreation.
The decision adds credibility to Avondale’s claim to be the premier provider of outdoor recreation training in the region, says Dr Wayne Miller, senior lecturer in health and outdoor education and coordinator of Vocational Education and Training at Avondale. “Having VET FEE-HELP associated with our diploma is further indication of our standing in the industry.”
The VET FEE-HELP offered to Avondale, which is subject to disallowance by Parliament, allows eligible students to have all or part of their tuition fees paid by the Australian Government. Students repay their debt through the tax system once their income is above the minimum repayment threshold.
“It removes a financial barrier,” says Dr Peter Beamish, dean of the Faculty of Education. He adds this gives students the opportunity to complete the course and have the so-called Avondale experience—a holistic education that includes emphasis on service and spiritual growth. “No other course offers this integrated experience,” he says.
However, it is the quality of the education that appeals to Andrew Thompson. The final-year Diploma of Outdoor Recreation student speaks highly of the knowledge of the lecturers, the variety of the activities—including abseiling, bushwalking, rock climbing, sea and white water kayaking—and the practical component of the course. Leading high school students on expeditions to Bungonia National Park in New South Wales and to Alpine National Park in Victoria gives Andrew and his classmates experience in teaching the students not only outdoor recreation but also life skills. “A natural setting evens the playing field, which has an impact on the way the students interact with each other,” says Andrew.
Credit for the VET FEE-HELP approval is due largely to Wayne, who put “more than my allocated time” into the submission of the application. “I’m delighted, not for me, but for the students who’ll benefit from this.”