In my last year I watched as my Diploma of Community Welfare students were given the option of taking up VET Fee Help loans. As fees had increased substantially, this became attractive to students, many of whom were single parents and/or on disability or other pensions.
My understanding is that the spread of VET Fee Help courses increased after I left.
There have been stories of rorts by 'cowboy' training providers over the past decade and of the efforts made through accreditation and audit policies and procedures to ensure standards.
I read an article today by Paddy Manning 'I'm not a cowboy': Phoenix Institute investor maintains private college did nothing wrong which somehow, through the use of a case study, cuts through the obfuscating jargon filled discussion to highlight that this is a question about education and the public good and the role of markets in the provision of education.
The Background Briefing program on Sunday which this article precedes is definitely on my listening agenda!