Last week, it was announced a major education agent with a focus on European and Latin American student recruitment had suspended operations, with senior management confirmed now no longer part of the company.
The announcement, while an initial shock, comes as an anticipated further blow to the wider International Education ecosystem in Australia. Many the Koala has spoken with saying last year’s IH Sydney Training services fall was ‘the first of many’. This is a feeling that remains, and GrowPro’s announcement late last week confirms that the sector is struggling to cope with the federal government’s interventions.
The message sent out to students and partners demonstrates the gravity of the situation. It says:
We are deeply sorry to have to share this news with you. GrowPro’s operations have been suspended, and due to this situation, we are no longer part of the company. We just found out about this news at the same time as you, and we have also been affected—we have not been paid our salaries.
We understand that you may have many questions and concerns, and we want to be completely transparent: we are no longer part of the company, we have no jobs, salaries, or income, and legally, we cannot provide you with any further information. We would love to do more, but we no longer have access to work channels or the ability to handle any requests.
We fully empathize with you and know that this situation is difficult for everyone—we are going through the same thing. Our onshore team has simply done its job and followed orders during this time.
In the coming days, those in charge will send you an official statement with more details about the next steps. In the meantime, here are some important instructions:
🔹 Payments: If you have pending payments, you will need to make them directly to your schools.
🔹 Visa Renewals: Those in the process of renewing their visas are the top priority at the operational level, so you will soon receive more information from the corresponding department.
We deeply regret this situation and understand what you are going through. We appreciate your understanding and hope you receive all the necessary information soon.
Best regards,
GrowPro Onshore Team
The Koala understands its suspension is having severe effects on students and staff of the company. Many of them are uncertain if they will receive money back, their next steps or be paid. El Diaro De Madrid recently published this story “The fall of GrowPro: from billing millions to bankruptcy and the abandonment of employees and students.” For those interested in further information it is a great read, its introduction stating:
The study abroad agency GrowPro , which in 2023 boasted a turnover of 45 million dollars , has gone bankrupt, leaving thousands of students without their money and its employees without their salaries. The collapse of the company has not been notified to those affected in Latin America, and only in Spain has a legal liquidation process been initiated.
Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, made the statement, “The ELICOS and VET sectors have been on a rollercoaster since 2020. While details of this closure are still coming to light it is clear that we urgently need more clarity and fewer ill-conceived, disruptive interventions from government. Otherwise, we will see more businesses fail in coming months.”
At the time of publication, the GrowPro website remains unchanged.
