By Catherine Watson
THREE weeks after Bass Coast Adult Learning (BCAL) went into administration, the future of adult learning in Bass Coast remains uncertain.
While some students have transferred to alternative courses, staff are still waiting on their entitlements and the State Government has yet to provide a long-term plan for post-secondary training.
The BCAL committee appointed insolvency specialists Worrells after concluding there was no viable path through financial difficulties that had dogged the community-run learning centre for more than a decade.
THREE weeks after Bass Coast Adult Learning (BCAL) went into administration, the future of adult learning in Bass Coast remains uncertain.
While some students have transferred to alternative courses, staff are still waiting on their entitlements and the State Government has yet to provide a long-term plan for post-secondary training.
The BCAL committee appointed insolvency specialists Worrells after concluding there was no viable path through financial difficulties that had dogged the community-run learning centre for more than a decade.
Worrells closed BCAL on June 29 and informed 12 part-time staff their jobs had ended. At the time, chief administrator Ivan Glavas said he was optimistic a positive outcome could still emerge.
"We are talking to other like-minded organisations that are local and are very interested in taking on students and potentially staff as well."
Apart from a creditors meeting at BCAL on July 7, Worrells has not made any public statements since then.
The Post asked Mr Glavas how many students had been transferred and whether any providers had expressed interest in taking over BCAL operations, but did not receive a response by deadline.
Alternative providers
The abrupt closure of BCAL has intensified calls for the State Government to map out the future of post-secondary training in Bass Coast.
The Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale has stated the Government is working with TAFE Gippsland and Chisholm TAFE to explore future options to give the Bass Coast community access to high-quality vocational education and training.
The Post understands Skills and TAFE Minister Colin Brooks was in Wonthaggi yesterday to meet TAFE providers and stakeholders.
TAFE Gippsland, which operates campuses across Gippsland including nearby Leongatha, has expressed interest in establishing a purpose-built campus on the Bass Coast College Senior Campus site. Given the current crisis, it could be asked to step in to fill the void in existing premises.
With campuses across Gippsland and Melbourne's south-east, Community College Gippsland has also shown interest, although it is not immediately positioned to fill the gap left by BCAL.
Chisholm Institute's Wonthaggi campus, adjacent to BCAL, offers courses in early childhood education, accounting and bookkeeping, education support, and individual support for ageing and disability, as well as a short course in pathology collection. It currently has about 50 students.
"We have capacity to take on additional enrolments from semester two and encourage members of the community to consider their local study options," a spokesperson said.
Finances
When the BCAL committee appointed an administrator on June 25, BCAL president Graeme Charles said they were confident reserves would cover staff entitlements and other bills.
However, under insolvency law, the first call is for the costs and expenses of the liquidation itself and the Post understands most of the funds have been spent.
Staff will be covered by the federal government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee, which pays leave and redundancy pay if an employer goes bankrupt or into liquidation, although that will mean a delay in payment.
More than certificates
While TAFE Gippsland or Chisholm TAFE may pick up the certificate courses, finding a home for the pre-accredited and Local Learn courses will be more difficult
Much of BCAL’s funding was tied to helping disadvantaged adults, jobseekers, migrants and people with disabilities build foundation skills and pathways into employment.
Former BCAL staff and volunteer tutors have stepped in to ensure the English as an Alternative Language class at least doesn’t miss a beat. When the students – many of them refugees – returned this week after the winter break, it was to a temporary home in the Wonthaggi library.
Maddy Harford, a former BCAL president and member of the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group, said the original plan was to relocate back to BCAL – but the students love their new home and they will likely remain there at least until the end of the year.
“The library has been so welcoming and their public liability insurance covers the students.”
The other tenants
The White Road site is owned by Bass Coast Shire Council. BCAL was the principal lessee and South Coast FM, Wonthaggi Woodcrafters and Wonthaggi U3A were sub-tenants.
After the administrators closed BCAL, the White Road site was handed back to the council and locks on all the buildings were changed.
The council will now offer separate leases to the other tenants, who will also have to obtain their own public liability insurance cover.
"We are talking to other like-minded organisations that are local and are very interested in taking on students and potentially staff as well."
Apart from a creditors meeting at BCAL on July 7, Worrells has not made any public statements since then.
The Post asked Mr Glavas how many students had been transferred and whether any providers had expressed interest in taking over BCAL operations, but did not receive a response by deadline.
Alternative providers
The abrupt closure of BCAL has intensified calls for the State Government to map out the future of post-secondary training in Bass Coast.
The Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale has stated the Government is working with TAFE Gippsland and Chisholm TAFE to explore future options to give the Bass Coast community access to high-quality vocational education and training.
The Post understands Skills and TAFE Minister Colin Brooks was in Wonthaggi yesterday to meet TAFE providers and stakeholders.
TAFE Gippsland, which operates campuses across Gippsland including nearby Leongatha, has expressed interest in establishing a purpose-built campus on the Bass Coast College Senior Campus site. Given the current crisis, it could be asked to step in to fill the void in existing premises.
With campuses across Gippsland and Melbourne's south-east, Community College Gippsland has also shown interest, although it is not immediately positioned to fill the gap left by BCAL.
Chisholm Institute's Wonthaggi campus, adjacent to BCAL, offers courses in early childhood education, accounting and bookkeeping, education support, and individual support for ageing and disability, as well as a short course in pathology collection. It currently has about 50 students.
"We have capacity to take on additional enrolments from semester two and encourage members of the community to consider their local study options," a spokesperson said.
Finances
When the BCAL committee appointed an administrator on June 25, BCAL president Graeme Charles said they were confident reserves would cover staff entitlements and other bills.
However, under insolvency law, the first call is for the costs and expenses of the liquidation itself and the Post understands most of the funds have been spent.
Staff will be covered by the federal government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee, which pays leave and redundancy pay if an employer goes bankrupt or into liquidation, although that will mean a delay in payment.
More than certificates
While TAFE Gippsland or Chisholm TAFE may pick up the certificate courses, finding a home for the pre-accredited and Local Learn courses will be more difficult
Much of BCAL’s funding was tied to helping disadvantaged adults, jobseekers, migrants and people with disabilities build foundation skills and pathways into employment.
Former BCAL staff and volunteer tutors have stepped in to ensure the English as an Alternative Language class at least doesn’t miss a beat. When the students – many of them refugees – returned this week after the winter break, it was to a temporary home in the Wonthaggi library.
Maddy Harford, a former BCAL president and member of the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group, said the original plan was to relocate back to BCAL – but the students love their new home and they will likely remain there at least until the end of the year.
“The library has been so welcoming and their public liability insurance covers the students.”
The other tenants
The White Road site is owned by Bass Coast Shire Council. BCAL was the principal lessee and South Coast FM, Wonthaggi Woodcrafters and Wonthaggi U3A were sub-tenants.
After the administrators closed BCAL, the White Road site was handed back to the council and locks on all the buildings were changed.
The council will now offer separate leases to the other tenants, who will also have to obtain their own public liability insurance cover.