Students to access range of services via IPEAL

Representatives from across the education industry along with students gathered to celebrate the opening of the IPEAL office on Level 10, 123 Queen Street Melbourne recently. Speeches by Tony Lupton MP, Cabinet Secretary and Peter Hall, Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills & Workforce Participation and Leader of the Nationals in the Legislative Council confirmed that this was a step in the right direction, to offer a recognized and industry-supported support framework to international students who choose Australia as their destination for education.

IPEAL (International Private Education Alliance Limited) is a not-for-profit membership-based organisation set up to enhance the welfare of students and to provide forums for, and advocacy on behalf of its members and the private education industry. IPEAL is governed by a Board of Directors and operates through memberships, subscriptions, sponsorships, donations and volunteer services.

The aims of IPEAL are to enhance the welfare of students of all member organisations by organising social inclusion activities, student support services and academic monitoring services as well as facilitating ongoing consultation with all stakeholders within the private education sector.

Membership is open to private Registered Training Organisations (RTOS), Education Agents (who have been in operation for at least three years), and their elected student representatives. If a student’s college or agent is an IPEAL member, the student is entitled to basic support services. All referral services of IPEAL are free and third party services may be free or fee for service depending up on the type and level of service.

IPEAL’s range of services include free referral services, welfare and support counselling, social inclusion activities, listing and access to free welfare services offered by the Federal, State and other not-for-profit organizations, access to IPEAL forums, recreational activities, study seminars, discussion forums, cultural and community activities, legal support including free advice and options, referrals for the areas of social inclusion, student support and academic monitoring. There is also a requirement to provide a more focused forum for the different stakeholders in private education – students, private RTOs, and education agents – to enhance student welfare, and for all stakeholders to interact and learn. IPEAL has taken the lead to be the first organisation of its kind (sadly with no government funding) and will no doubt play a crucial role in shaping the future of this vital industry.