At least 39 Canberra students owed thousands after outer space-themed tour company collapse

At least 39 families of Canberra Catholic high school students have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after booking overseas study tours with a company that collapsed last week.

Actura Australia, which has provided educational camps to places such as NASA since 2014, went into liquidation last Friday (14 June).

CEO Charles Chung sent a letter to schools informing them that all 2024 and 2025 study tours were cancelled and that the company did not have the financial resources to provide refunds.

Actura’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages have since been removed, although its YouTube channel was active this morning (21 June).

Hundreds of families across Australia and New Zealand were left owing up to $14,000 each for tours they’d either paid for in full or reserved through deposits.

Canberra’s Merici College told Region they have 32 students who are owed money. Some 18 students booked a marine biology-theme ‘Ocean tour’ that was due to depart within weeks while an additional 14 students booked NASA tours.

St Clare’s College confirmed seven of its students have been left out of pocket.

Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CECG), the administrative body for Catholic schools in this area, said no other schools within their remit were impacted.

“Merici College and St Clare’s College are the only schools in CECG impacted by the liquidation of Actura Australia,” a spokesperson said.

“Thirty-nine students at the colleges are affected by the collapse of the company.

“The Catholic Education Office has reviewed the available information on this very disappointing situation. Parents are encouraged to contact the managers of the company’s liquidation about their legal rights.”

Region understands that no ACT public schools have been affected.

“The ACT Education Directorate is not aware of any impact on ACT public schools or ACT public school students as a result of the liquidation of Actura,” an Education Directorate spokesperson said.

Parents in Australia and New Zealand have been forming groups across social media to share information about Actura and to swap ideas on what action they may be able to take.

Gold Coast parent Mrunal Tarekh, who says he lost $12,000 on his son Adway’s NASA tour, formed a Facebook group called Actura CASE space liquidation Australia.

“My son is devastated,” he said. “We were all planning on going to America with him.”

The NASA tours offered students simulated space missions and astronaut training exercises.

“I’ve talked to other parents, but we’re struggling to get information. Some schools are not responding,” Mr Tarekh said.

“The schools advertised these tours through their school portals, so the schools have a duty of care to us,” he said.

Some parents have been looking into the financial history of the tour company and its CEO.

According to documents filed with the federal business regulator, Actura Australia is owned by Actura International Corporation, which is based in the tiny East African nation Seychelles. In 2023, the European Union added Seychelles to a list of 16 nations and territories deemed “non-cooperative” on taxes.

Shumit Banerjee, the appointed liquidator, is investigating Actura Australia’s financial affairs.

“A report to creditors [those owed money] will be issued before 28 June 2024,” he said.

He said anyone owed money by Actura can fill out a proof of debt form and return it to his office with supporting documents of their claim.

“I can appreciate the sensitivity associated with the company’s failure. We intend to investigate the company’s affairs and the matters leading to my appointment. We ask that affected parties be patient as we conduct our investigations,” he said.

If you know more about this story, contact ojacques@region.com.au.