A Maryborough training and education centre was forced to pay back funds to the Victorian state government after an audit revealed it had claimed funds for non-existent student positions.
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The Goldfields Employment and Learning Centre (GELC), a not-for-profit organisation which has provided training in the Central Goldfields Shire since 2002, has since asked the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to cancel its registration as a Registered Training Organisation, denying it the ability to provide various state government programs and courses.
An examination of the financial reports of GELC reveals the revenue for the body in 2017 was $429,785. In 2018 this was reduced to just $9,466, with the organisation reporting a loss of $288,751.
At the end of 2018, the net cash decrease for GELC was $306,908.
In the annual report for 2017-2018, GELC chairperson John Williamson referred to the result as being the outcome of 'some unusual claims practices.'
In 2017 the Victorian Department of Education and Training received a complaint raising concerns about claims made for training services reported and paid to GELC via the Skills Victoria Training System.
Subsequently the department undertook a data review and identified several concerns regarding the integrity of the data and associated funds that were claimed and paid.
Department audits in November 2017 identified failings in GELC's compliance with the Victorian Education and Training (VET) funding contracts, resulting in the repayment of funds to the department in February 2018.
In a statement provided to The Courier, the Department of Education and Training said it monitors all Skills First contracted training providers, 'to ensure all Victorians have access to a high-quality training and TAFE system.'
"The department has cracked down on providers who cannot demonstrate quality training or financial viability," the statement said.
"Through the Victorian Government's ongoing training contract monitoring and enforcement, 40 training contracts have been terminated for performance reasons and more than $48 million has been identified for recovery. Skills First funding contracts with training providers now go beyond national minimum standards and have been better aligned to workforce needs.
"Each year the Department conducts a Provider Selection Process for training providers that wish to be considered for a VET Funding Contract to deliver government-subsidised training. Goldfields Employment and Learning Centre is not currently contracted with the Department to deliver accredited training under the Skills First program."
The Courier has contacted the Goldfields Employment and Learning Centre for a response to the department's decision. None was received by deadline.