Royal Gurkha's Hobart college vows to fight deregistration as students mull future

The Royal Gurkhas Institute of Training (RGIT), which also has campuses in Melbourne and Sydney, was told by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) it would "cancel" its accreditation as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) effective June 27, 2017.Two-thousand mostly international students of a private training college that has been stripped of its registration are waiting to hear if they can continue their studies and stay in Australia.

In a statement, chief operating officer Jonathan Hampton said RGIT was "surprised and disappointed" after learning of the ASQA's decision and would take legal action.

"RGIT intends to apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for review of ASQA's decision and also to stay its operation pending the hearing and determination of its review application," he said.

"It is business as usual at RGIT. All classes will continue to run as per the scheduled timetable. All day to day business operations will remain the same."

The college, which offers certificate and diploma courses in business and management, English, health sciences, hospitality, information technology and short courses including coffee art, barista, responsible service of alcohol and food handling.

ASQA said it audited RGIT in 2015 and after it found concerns, which the college addressed at the time, imposed conditions including a monitoring into the future.

A second audit in 2016 found "continued areas of non-compliance including":

• Enrolment practices that did not take into account the individual learner's existing skills and competencies;
• Insufficient resources and facilities, including in work placement, for all learners; and
• Assessment practices that did not meet all requirements.

Visa worries among some RGIT students

RGIT's Hobart campus opened in 2015 and has about 450 mostly international students and 40 staff, with total RGIT student numbers at about 2,000.

In Tasmania, international students are often funnelled into RGIT before or after they complete their studies at the University of Tasmania.

RGIT's lawyer Nick Galatas said his client would apply for a stay on the ASQA decision so it can remain open during the appeal process.

"RGIT looks forward to the opportunity to demonstrate to ASQA and AAT that is is a full compliant Registered Training Organisation."

Mr Galatas said RGIT was proud of it record in vocational training.

Iranian RGIT student Saba Heidari said she was not worried about the deregistration.

"They are appealing it and I am confident it will be fine because they are really good here," she said.

But Chinese international student Janine, who did not want to use her real name, said she felt like she was "in limbo".

"We are shocked, we like it here, the course is great and the trainers are responsible."

She said students feared their visas would be cancelled if RGIT closed.

"Personally, I don't know what the future will hold."

Migrant Resource Centre CEO Alison O'Neil said the visas of some international students could come under threat if RGIT closes.

"We would be concerned about vulnerable students who may not potentially be aware of that to do and where to go next," she said.