Who Should I Report This Affair to?

LMike33 on 26/04/2017 - 01:52

Hi all. I have been here for one year but never posted anything before. So this is my first post. Please forgive me if I made any mistakes.
So I know there is an affair now and I would like to end this and avoid further damage to other people. However I am not sure whom I should speak to as a foreigner. Please give me some advice. If you happened to deal with this kind of things as your job, please help me and others.

I am not sure how much people know a program called "Professional Year" here. It has nothing to do with local people but oversea students.
TL;DR In this program, oversea students pay PY schools (around 12k-16k dollars depends on PY school and major) and get trained by PY schools regarding to OZ work culture, law etc. After the 28-week training, students should be placed in a company that is related to the student's major for a 12-week professional internship without wage by PY school. During the internship or placement, the companies are supposed to train the students with real works. The companies get money from the PY school (around 2k-3k per student).

I know this looks good. A student can get both 5 point and experience from true industry. I thought exactly the same and joined this program. However recently I found I was cheated as well as most of my classmates in PY school. A lot of us (if not most of us) from my PY school are placed into very unprofessional companies. Taking myself as an example, I am an IT student so I am supposed to be placed into an IT company or at least a company that has an IT department that has programming works. However, I am placed into a retailing company that just has an eBay store and totally nothing to do with programming, not even coding a webpage. My daily work is to delete their Gumtree listings and relist all products again and some labour work such as cleaning and setting up booths. A lot of my classmates are in similar situation. Accounting students are asked to work as salesperson etc. And we are not paid (we actually pay for the internship to those companies).

After talking to many students and workers, I found that this is really an affair. Everyone involves in this industry knows this but just keeps it going further and further. My PY school does not check the companies' eligibility. They do not want to check either because they know the companies cannot pass. The companies know it as well and just want some FREE 3-month manpower and MONEY from these manpower. So in this industry the students are totally bullied. They PAY PY school and the company. But they do not get whatever they paid for and should get plus they have to give out their labour for free.

However I also found this situation just happen in some PY school. Some PY school, such as Monash and Navitas, really do their job and place students into good companies (major related companies). A lot of them are even placed into big companies. I do not ask to be placed into companies like Google or Microsoft, but just a company that really do IT work and train me following the guide.

I want to raise this issue to the public in order to save students. If you know whom I should speak to and how to, please help me. I think I should speak to public Medias or government. But not sure which one and how to contact it.

Thank you for reading. Thank you so much. If I can make it happen, I believe I will help hundreds of students by letting them intern at serious companies and really learn something.

PS. You might want to ask why I do not speak to my PY school. My answer is that it is not useful because they know everything. So I would like to speak this directly to a higher level, like government or public media.

Education & Work

Comments

  • CMH on 26/04/2017 - 02:26
    +2

    Unfortunately because your issue doesn't affect locals, public media will not be interested. Feel free to prove me wrong though.

    However, you might have an avenue through a government agency of some sort: I'm thinking an ombudsman of some kind, maybe Fair Trade or something.

    These companies probably have done their best to cover their behind, so check the agreement you signed when you joined.

    I'm also guessing that rather than go to Monash or Navitas, which you say has a good track record, you have decided to go with your current PY school. Have you done any research on their programs, or just happy to find one that charges peanuts?

    • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 02:54

      Can understand what you think. But still will try to fight.
      I do not think those companies have done their best to cover their behind. I am also very sure that this is not allowed by the agreement between the companies and school because I recentlly heard that one company's eligibility has been canceled due to been reported and I also talked to some students and companies who confirmed this. This is also the reason I want to report it.
      Regarding to schools, I actually had no idea of this situation before. Someone told me all PY schools share similar companies plus I got a chance to group buy here. So I am here.
      If I knew all these things, I would not bother to go to my current PY school. I would just go to the most expensive one.

      • Ughhh on 26/04/2017 - 03:24
        +1

        There's a thread on Whirlpool about the same situation, except it was written in 2015.

      • IVI on 26/04/2017 - 12:29
        +1

        Several, if not many, sour stories in AU's Overseas Student "scheme"
        have been investigated (& found to be true, in many cases), so there
        are precedents, that you can find & learn from how the students got
        either reassigned, compensation (refunds) or other reasonable results.

        Better YOU initiate the Complaint, than someone reporting You for be-
        ing in a sham training program, I think, so you won't be sent home,
        as if you knowingly entered into the deal (eg, to stay longer in AU,
        or generate false experience credits to support a future visa or PR
        application (or do I miss the point of the PY programs?).

        EITHER WAY, I'd guess you'll first need to Request Reassignment (by
        your shoddy school), & see what they say & do.

        After you do that - if you're still unhappy with their "solution" -
        you have legal recourse, eg:

        • Try to find a "Training Ombudsman" either at C'th gov't OR State level

        • Since you bought this "service" in AU,
          your state's Consumer Affairs dep't should be able to advise & help.

        If you want to warn others, anonymous use of Social Media may be an option:

        • app Yelp!

        • Whirlpool's &/or OzB's are likely read by others, in your position

        • Find (& Tweet to) the PY school's Twitter ID, to share details
          of your dissatisfaction & ask the school (& Tweet readers) for solutions

          (A non-responsive supplier often begins to respond, when their reputation
          is on the line.)

        • Find out it the PY School is receiving Govt funding, & report issues to funder(s)

        There may be some political parties, who care enough about AU's reputation
        to want to help Fix the problem (yours now, others later). Speak to the
        MP who represents your home and/or the School's location.

        Maybe report the school's poor performance (or your dissatisfaction with it)
        to Local Govt, & let 'em know it besmirches the reputation of the local, State
        & Australia's reputation in the world.

        And - why not? - get rthe story on your HOME-COUNTRY's media (esp. TV), & send
        copies of the segment, dealing with your issue to lots of govt's & (if you can
        find one) the umbrella organization of that type of school.

        Be careful how & what you say, so you can't be help to have made any Liabelous
        statements to 3rd parties… You don't want to be sued. :-)

        Good luck, and let us know the results.

        • Mike33 on 27/04/2017 - 14:00

          Thank you for all the information. This will really help me a lot.
          I will follow this. Thank you .

        • IVI on 18/06/2017 - 21:15

          @Mike33: I am -Not- an expert in this area, so seek others' advise, as well.

          Good Luck

    • lgacb08 on 26/04/2017 - 08:02

      I'm pretty sure the last 7Eleven wage scandal and MyMaster essay cheating only affected Indians, Pakistani and Chinese mostly and still made it to the news.

  • CMH on 26/04/2017 - 03:09
    +3

    I'm not saying you can't fight it. You just need to know where to start the fight.

    Given that you paid for the service, Fair Trading or the state equivalent might be able to help.

    http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Buying_servi…?

    Complaints

    If you have a problem with your VET provider or course about the delivery of training, assessment, marketing and student information, or receiving proof of national qualifications obtained, try to resolve it with the training provider first. If you are unsuccessful, lodge a complaint with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) at www.asqa.gov.au/complaints/complaints.html or call 1300 701 801. ASQA will use information provided in complaints to regulate VET providers but does not provide a dispute resolution or advocacy service.

    If you are seeking a refund of the course or enrolment fees, or need help with your consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law, including misleading and deceptive conduct, call Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or lodge a complaint online at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

    If you have other questions and concerns about your VET provider or course, you can also contact the national training complaints hotline by phone on 13 38 73 or by email at [email protected]

    Looks like your best bet.

    • Qroozn on 26/04/2017 - 07:01

      I like the above ideas best.
      If you went to media (such as A CURRENT AFFAIR) then you too may be portrayed badly (e.g. taking jobs from locals).

  • dogboy on 26/04/2017 - 03:31

    Not sure if this helps but I am pretty sure interns have to be paid under Australian law.

    • lupiter on 26/04/2017 - 08:08

      Depends. Genuine internships where associated with a recognised education institution and where they provide more to the student than the company are legal, e.g. civil engineering internships, medical internships. Most internships are not that kind, they are the illegal kind.

      OP could try reporting them to Fair Work.

  • altomic on 26/04/2017 - 06:56
    +2

    Bikies

  • xoom on 26/04/2017 - 07:10
    +1

    ACA/Today tonight

    • [Deactivated] on 26/04/2017 - 08:09

      they wont care.

  • Braintrain1000 on 26/04/2017 - 07:42

    I have done Pro-Year and didn't help me through anything.

    Its a scam as govt. Wants students to pay more fee and because many Asians have funds available by just calling their Mamas doesn't mean all others will have such luxuries.

    I am in Australia since last 6 years and studied and worked on side. Hvibg overseas experience in banking sector didn't belp as i had to pay a hefty fee to enroll in this PY bullshit where teachers teaches you the very basics about the culture and work through out the year.

    • Findo on 26/04/2017 - 08:59
      +1

      I've heard through the grapevine that China is tightening the amount of money leaving the country. I've heard that from my parents and from less wealthy Chinese international student friends too. Two weeks ago I overheard a conversation between two guys about their cousin who couldn't afford to pay his lease on his BMW, the two guys were saying it was a big shame because it was a nice car. I'm hoping it's true and that there'll be loads of newish secondhand European cars flooding the market soon.

  • Braintrain1000 on 26/04/2017 - 07:44

    By the pay PY os bullshit as performance education institute in CBD offer that "industry experience" for $1800/-

  • toniyellow on 26/04/2017 - 07:50
    +8

    Try the Overseas Student Ombudsman. This is their job.

    http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/about/overseas-student-ombudsman…

  • Findo on 26/04/2017 - 08:12
    +14

    I thought you were posting about a juicy affair :(

    • [Deactivated] on 26/04/2017 - 08:19
      +4

      was too much to read, i came here for the comments

    • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 11:25
      +1

      Sorry for the mistake. I guess maybe I should use "scandal"?

      • toniyellow on 26/04/2017 - 12:01
        +2

        Scandal is more appropriate. Even better would be 'scam', or could could call it a 'fraudulent' internship. These word choices focus on the fact that what the company are offering is not what is advertised, not just that it is shocking. Regardless you have done well, I could not type up that much in any other language.

        Best of luck pursuing this. I think a lot of providers rely on the fact that the students they serve may not have the language abilities to file a complaint, or may have grown up in a culture where it is not encouraged to complain about someone more senior.

        There is a difference between a internship that has some valuable duties mixed with menial tasks, and someone exploiting free labour with only menial tasks. Posting gumtree ads every day as your only IT exposure is definitely exploitative.

        A lot of people are saying that people may not care about overseas students. Education is our third largest export. If our reputation for education drops, the number of students coming here will fall and it will be bad for the whole economy, as well as for anyone who has ever been educated in Australia, as the reputation of education in Australia as a whole will drop. There definitely will be people that care, you just need to get in touch with the right person. Definitely pursue this.

        I think it is definitely the OSO, and they will have resources in other languages if that helps http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/about/overseas-students/translat…

        • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 21:20

          Thank you so much for both teaching me and encouraging me.
          I understand that people from some culture are not encouraged to complain, such as Chinese and Japanese. So do I.
          But I will do this because I think this is way too unfair and unjust.

          As I am finishing my placement soon, I do not expect to benefit from this at all. But still hope someone else will benefit from this if I success.

  • bobbified on 26/04/2017 - 08:56

    There's really two ways to look at it:

    One, being the prof-year should be in a company in a position that's related to your field so you can get some hands-on experience and;

    Two, placing you in a company that makes you realise that an IT role in a smaller company isn't necessarily focussed on IT itself. In the real world, you're expected to be able to be flexible and be able to adapt to multiple roles.
    I think there's a lot of reality in exposing people with no experience to these sorts of things. Whether it's worth your while or not, I don't know.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/04/2017 - 09:29

    Is it a current affair?

  • JIMB0 on 26/04/2017 - 09:46

    The ABC Four Corners program. They run stories on this sort of thing.

  • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 09:59
    +2

    Thank you all. I will try to caontact all those you mentioned here. I really hope this will help people.
    Lets see what will happen.

  • Baysew on 26/04/2017 - 10:06

    Make an appointment and speak with your local federal member of parliament.

  • hell0 on 26/04/2017 - 10:48

    A Current Affair

  • yatong2008 on 26/04/2017 - 11:01

    Are you sure the PY school do pay the hosting companies money?
    I think it is the other way, the company pay the school money, because they received free labours!
    I was placed in an "Internship company" three years ago, for 12 weeks. However, I left after the first week, I complained to the school, the "IT" company has Indians only, except me, they speak the language I do not understand at all, which is not a proper Aussie company at all.

    • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 11:23

      They do receive money from PY schools. A part of you tuition fee went to them plus your free labour.
      They actually are supposed to train student as another school, not just an employer. That is why they receive money.

      • yatong2008 on 26/04/2017 - 16:09

        Well, the reason I thought that PY receives money was one of the classmates in our class, she was very lucky and been placed an internship in K company, her internship was a paid one. She was the only one that I heard as a paid internship.
        I have heard different kinds of stories that from the class I studied PY. But most of the cases are: the companies received PY students only wanna some free labours, they almost never care about the quality of the students. You can also do some investigations on this, you will hear some companies always have internship students, a few just left, new ones are coming.

        • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 21:04

          I actually know this. A lot of companies just want some free labours.
          I wont be surprised if there are some companies that only use student as staff in order to cut their cost.

  • Braintrain1000 on 26/04/2017 - 12:18

    Funny part. Accounting students are paying for the same course compared to I.T students.

    Same techer, same class but a price difference of nearly 2000-4000 dollors.

    Haha (profanity) scam.

    • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 13:15

      Arounds $3000 are paid to ACS.

      • Braintrain1000 on 26/04/2017 - 15:35

        Don't you find it crazy? Or is it an o.k thing for you?

        • Mike33 on 26/04/2017 - 21:06

          I do. They are just ripping us off.

  • san0675 on 27/04/2017 - 09:26

    Have you tried to speak to ACS about this? They may be able to help?

    • Mike33 on 27/04/2017 - 14:04

      Will do this. But dont really think they will help. They benefit a lot from this and certainly know everything.
      I dont think I can wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.

      • Ineedfair on 01/03/2022 - 18:02

        Sadly I am in the same situation now, I want to build a group chat for whoever has experienced the same thing, can you contact me? And my experience is with Navitas

  • san0675 on 27/04/2017 - 15:28

    i know people who have been helped by them. Worth a try!

  • Ineedfair on 02/03/2022 - 12:12

    How does everyone solve the issue in the end? I am currently experiencing this, it really tortures me, every time I speak to them, they make me feel anxious and they always blame me for everything, I really want to find someone who is in the same situation and give each other some support in dealing with this. Please contact me if you see this post, please.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join