Lots of students change their minds, and the Swinburne Uni ads speak to that. But the changes to the TAFE system mean changing your mind just got a lot more expensive.

I've just been looking though the On-Track data for school-leavers from 2004.

18% of entry-level VET students on Certificate I-III courses dropped out of their studies by 2008. I think that figure will rise once Allan's full eligibility requirements kick in.

From the start of 2011 virtually all students aged over 20 will have to train at a level higher than one already achieved if they want to avoid paying full course fees.

Say you've started a course and realised it's not for you. Some students will drop out, but lots keep going, get a qualification under their belts and then decide what to do next.

But there doesn't seem to be much incentive to see it through when it means the next course you take will cost the full course price.

To use an example from the limited range of full course fees available on the Skills Victoria website, I found that a Certificate III in hairdressing could cost between $6,500 and $12,750 depending on where and how long you study!

The On-Track report acknowledges that "young people change direction and pursue different activities as they work out what it is whey want to do as a career". Only Jacinta Allan doesn't seem to know this.

- Posted by Justin Bowd, AEU research officer