February 22: In the wake of the crisis that Nepali students are facing in Australia, the Australian Embassy in Nepal has advised any student studying at the Australia Institute of Business and Technology (AIBT) under Brighton Pacific Pty Ltd to remain enrolled and continue to attend classes.

The embassy said so in a statement arguing that the AIBT can seek review against the cancellation of the registration of its vocational education training by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

The embassy advised the students to continue attending classes also to ensure that the conditions of their visa are met and their recourse to the Tuition Protection Service is assured should the provider cease delivering its courses.

The embassy said it is aware of the February 19 decision that could have significant impacts for the hundreds of students enrolled in the institute, many of whom are Nepalese.

According to the embassy, Brighton Pacific Pty Ltd has 28 days from February 19 (the day the provider was notified of ASQA’s decision) to seek a review of this decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).  

“Brighton Pacific Ltd Pty may also seek to have ASQA’s cancellation decision stayed while the AAT determines the review. Unless Brighton Pacific Pty Ltd seeks a review and is granted a stay of ASQA’s decision, the cancellation decision will take effect from March 26, 2019,” the statement said.

The embassy said that it would be the responsibility of AIBT to find students an alternative course or pay them a refund of their unspent tuition fees in the event that AIBT does stop operating. 

“If an alternative placement is not possible, the TPS will seek to place the institute’s students with an alternate provider or if that is not possible, consider refund of the students’ unspent tuition fees,” the statement added.

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs would also allow a grace period of at least 28 days and up to three months for students to transfer to alternate providers before it would consider visa cancellation. Further extension may be possible on a case by case basis, the embassy further said.

The Australian Embassy Nepal said that prospective students intending to enrol in courses in Australia should do as much research as possible on education institutions, courses of interest, costs, lifestyle in Australia and any other relevant factor, including by visiting the website www.studyinaustralia.gov.au.