Shadow Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Steph Ryan today heard first-hand the issues affecting local students by the closure of a number of local Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
Ms Ryan along with Member for Morwell Russell Northe and Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath, met with Graeme MacReadie who is advocating on behalf of three local students, to discuss the students concerns following the failure of the Andrews Labor Government to adequately support students impacted by these closures.
Ms Ryan said the Government had committed to providing support for students and staff but the reality was many students’ issues remained unresolved and students felt helpless.
“This has had a devastating impact on local students and the Government needs to come to the table and provide real support and not just lip service,” Ms Ryan said.
Mr Northe said he had invited the Shadow Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Steph Ryan to meet with Graeme so she could hear first-hand the issues these students are enduring.
“The Shadow Minister is prepared to meet with students affected to hear their concerns but the Minister is still missing in action after numerous requests to meet with those impacted from myself and my colleague Melina Bath.” Mr Northe said he had raised the issue in Parliament and written to the Minister on many occasions, but requests for assistance had fallen on deaf ears.
“The students I have spoken and met with are feeling completely frustrated and forgotten,” he said.
“This comes at a time when unemployment in Latrobe City Council has risen to 10.7 per cent and youth unemployment now sits at 14.1 per cent, 2.9 per cent higher than when Daniel Andrews came to office.”
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath said the decision to close the RTOs had had a devastating impact on students’ lives with many unsure where to turn next.
“Recently in Parliament I requested the Minister meet with impacted students but at this point in time we have not had a response to this request,” Ms Bath said.
“It is imperative that the minister hear first-hand the plight of these students and find solutions to their multifaceted and unresolved issues.”
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