Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697633686929.pdf (Australia)
My experience with the Green Loans program has not been a positive one.

I did quite a bit of research prior to investing time and money into the training and accreditation process, and late last year was starting to feel good about the future again.

However, like many I am now in the very difficult position of having finally received my accreditation from ABSA, but my contract with DEWHA has not been acknowledged.

I am over $2000 out of pocket and the ripple effect from all of this is significant.
I was really impressed with how the Green Loans scheme was positioned and promoted, and I was proud to be telling family and friends that I was joining a Government program that was going to make a difference in changing peoples behaviour and a positive contribution to tackling environmental issues.

My background is in Recruitment and Corporate Sales.

I also have a degree from UNSW (Arts/Asian Studies), speak Japanese and have lived abroad for a number of years.
So although I did not have any specific training or background in this area, I felt that I was going to be very successful in this field and I was really motivated to use this opportunity as a springboard into a new career.

I have spent a great deal of time over and above the training in self-study and preparing to speak with others in line with the programs goals and objectives.
My Father joined me and together we did the training course in December 2009and submitted our paperwork in the first week of January 2010.

We had an understanding with a new business venture that was going to have a well-known TV personality as its ambassador that we would be receiving assessments from them, and that beyond the Green Loans program work opportunities would continue.
In this respect we felt we had covered as best as we could the important aspect of not going solo and having a viable business plan.

This business it turned out has also not had its contract with DEWHA signed and so never made it to the stage of actually operating.
Still, with my Father still needing to work for quite a few years to come, we were and still are hoping that we can be receive our contracts from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and earn a little extra money to manage our affairs.
With the best of intentions, both myself and my highly intelligent and giving Father, made a calculated decision based on the sum total of information that we were receiving from ABSA, DEWHA and the Training Organisations, together with a Business that had intended to do everything by the book and would make a very positive contribution to Government and community goals.

In mid-march we received our ABSA accreditation cards/authority/letter – 6 weeks after submitting applications.
So we are now just waiting on a contract from the Government.

It is obvious that the program has suffered from poor decisions made by senior management in DEWHA.

We are intently looking forward to what DCCEE will do next with the program as we want the opportunity to either recoup our investment by actually being able to do dome assessments, or we will be joining the call/action for compensation.