TSLS changing contract conditions
I've graduated 2 years now and currently working and have inquired authorities before on this but got no response, what are your thoughts?
A few years ago, major changes were unilaterally made without any discussion with students who were most affected by the changes, I was under the TELS scheme, where concessional payments were set up.
Then about 2 years ago,, without any notice this scheme was changed to a different one - with very different conditions - such as:
lower allowances
requirement to serve a bond was added
Then in the new budget, Govt announced further changes, which are more confusing - but something along the lines of putting up a significant 50% penalty if a student wants to pay back back their tuition instead of serving their bond.
Worse is that there have been not even a single formal notice of these changes, which seem to be happening on an yearly basis. We just had to figure it all out by ourselves.
As someone who had been swayed in the direction of the much-promised change, we have been very let-down by the actions of the current government on this issue.
My question is:
With the Govt constantly and continuously says that they are consulting the public and listening to our views - where is the evidence of this happening in the case of TELS for us students when so many of us are affected by it?
All these new rules should apply for new students - there is a TSLS contract in place that we sign, which lists the conditions. There has been no new contract, so how are these changes legal?
In the spirit of fairness and transparent, those of us who wish to go back to our previous contract should be allowed ot do so? And those who wish for the change in contract should also be allowed to choose to do so if they so wish. New changes should be effected only for new students.
Why are the allowances for former TELS students who have been put on a different and new scheme been reduced if we are also required to serve the same bond period.
I feel like we've been hoodwinked big time by the current government.