The numbers tell a sobering story. In the last three and a half years, cumulative inflation in Australia has reached approximately 20%—driven by the staggeringly above-trend inflation during and after the COVID period. This represents a nearly 20% erosion in purchasing power in less than four years. For many Australians, particularly those in entry-level positions or looking to break into new careers, this hasn’t just meant tighter budgets—it’s meant watching opportunities slip further out of reach.
The dream of investing in property? For many, that’s been shelved indefinitely. But increasingly, even the ability to invest in yourself—to upskill, retrain, or pursue the qualifications needed for a better job—has become a luxury that feels out of reach when you’re choosing between rent, groceries, and your future.
The skills gap is widening, but so is the access gap
Here’s what keeps us up at night: Australia desperately needs more skilled workers in service-based industries. From beauty therapists, farmers and photographers to animal care specialists and tattoo artists, there’s genuine demand for qualified professionals across the sectors we serve.
But here’s the catch. When you’re already working full-time in an entry-level role, barely keeping pace with rising costs (especially rent), battling the rental crisis, how are you supposed to find $3,000 or more upfront for the training that could transform your career prospects and earning potential?
For too many Australians, the answer has been: you don’t. You stay where you are, watching inflation erode your purchasing power year after year, because the upfront cost of change feels insurmountable.
Enter the game-changers: our payment partners
Let’s face it, University or TAFE would be impossible for so many over our teenagers if there wasn’t the HELP fee system to defer payments. Our Higher Education system would crumble without it.
But what about Vocational Education for the skills you can’t teach in a lecture hall? Skills based learning doesn’t have the soft landing of HELP fees to support it. So much for the right to education being a right for all!
This is why our partnerships with providers like Elevant and Payright aren’t just convenient payment options—they’re fundamentally about fairness and access.
These partnerships allow our students to do something radical in today’s economy: invest in their future without sacrificing their present.
The earn-and-learn model in action
With our payment partners, students can:
- Begin their studies immediately, without waiting to save thousands of dollars upfront.
- Spread course costs over manageable instalments that fit within their budget.
- Continue working while they study, earning income as they build new skills.
- Start putting their newly acquired skills to work before they’ve finished paying for their training. Earning while they’re learning!
This isn’t just about making payments easier—it’s about recognising that people shouldn’t have to choose between eating well this week and building a career for their future.
Real skills, real outcomes, real support
Our students aren’t pursuing vague credentials or theoretical knowledge. They’re learning practical, job-ready skills that have immediate earning potential. Whether they’re mastering lash extensions, building a photography portfolio, or qualifying as a dog grooming specialist, these are skills they can monetise quickly.
And with the support of Elevant and Pay Right, they have the breathing room to do it properly—to complete their studies thoroughly, to practice their skills, and to launch their careers or businesses without the crushing pressure of a massive upfront debt.
Why this matters more than ever
In an economy where entry-level wages haven’t kept pace with a 20% increase in living costs over the last three and a half years, the traditional barriers to education and career advancement have become walls. Without flexible payment options, online education—no matter how accessible or affordable we try to make it—remains out of reach for the very people who would benefit most.
Our payment partners understand something crucial: investing in education is investing in economic participation. Every student who completes our courses and enters the workforce isn’t just improving their own circumstances—they’re filling critical skills gaps, serving their communities, and contributing to economic growth.
Looking forward
We’re proud to work with payment partners who share our commitment to making education accessible. As the cost of living crisis continues to impact Australians, particularly those in entry-level positions, these partnerships become even more vital.
Because here’s what we believe: your current financial situation shouldn’t dictate your future career options. The skills you need to build a better life shouldn’t be locked behind a paywall you can’t scale.
With the support of our payment partners, we’re not just offering vital skills based education—we’re offering genuine pathways to more secure, more satisfying, and more prosperous futures.
And in today’s economy, that’s not just important.
It’s essential.
