No Regulation or Bad Regulation – has ASQA failed as a VET Regulator?
We are starting this article by quoting the now very famous speech of MP Laming in the Australian Parliament: I rise after a nationwide investigation into the performance of ASQA … This is not just a domestic issue; this is about brand Australia … This aggressive and adversarial conduct is an enormous concern”. The […]
Read MoreASQA’s Regulatory Strategy 2019–21
Highlights: The strategy identifies two target areas and five strategic initiatives Target area 1: Trainer and assessor capability, identified as a critical concern for the VET Sector in three consecutive years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018 -2020) Target area 2: VET in Schools Strategic Initiative 1: Recognising and supporting quality in the VET sector Strategic Initiative […]
Read MoreThe VET regulator Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) gone rogue
The national vocational education and training (VET) sector regulator Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), has been criticised by the Chair of the House of Representatives Employment, Education and Training Committee, Andrew Laming, LNP (QLD) Member for Bowman in a hard-hitting speech to parliament. According to the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body […]
Read MoreYour trainer and assessor files (Part 4 of 5)
In the last newsletter, we discussed the following: ASQA Guidelines on “industry currency.” How to stay up to date in terms of “industry currency.” Factors that influence “industry currency.” What is “industry current or currency period.” The definition of vocational education and training currency. Licensing requirements for trainers and assessors. In part 4 of the […]
Read MoreThe Quality Indicator data
The Quality Indicators provide valuable data for RTOs to identify areas for improvement in training and assessment services and to gauge how well it is meeting its clients’ needs. The Quality Indicator data that is collected will also be used by the registering body in its monitoring of the quality of the RTOs’ operations to […]
Read MoreFirst aid training under review after the death of a footballer from heat stress
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) urged registered training organisations (RTOs) that give first aid training to revise their practices in the wake of the decision of the West Australian coroner on the death of a young soccer player. The coroner found that the 15-year-old died after heat stroke during a rugby-league session. He received […]
Read MoreHow to avoid becoming another ASQA statistic
There are currently 3837 RTOs in Australia, down from over 4,400 RTOs in October last year. If your ASQA audit is scheduled in the next 12 months we would strongly recommend that you conduct an internal audit to identify your compliance risks, The best way to prepare for an ASQA audit is to have an […]
Read MoreYour trainer and assessor files (Part 3 of 5)
In the last newsletter we discussed the following: The definition of vocational competency ASQA Guidelines on “vocational competence” The three C’s of Vocational competency related to demonstrating skills and knowledge in an “industry area” Skills and knowledge in an “industry area” In this part of the series, we will discuss industry currency, vocational education and […]
Read MoreWays to make the vocational education system more effective
The review led by the Honourable Steven Joyce, the former Skills Minister in New Zealand, looked at ways to improve the effectiveness of the vocational education system in providing Australians with the skills they need throughout their working lives. The report is available at https://pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/strengthening-skills-independent-review-australia-vets.pdf. Considering 192 valid submissions from individuals and organisations, the VET Review […]
Read MoreCan I sue ASQA for damages?
Published with written permission from the author. Reference: Zhouand, Z. (2019, April 09). Can I sue ASQA for damages? Retrieved April 09, 2019, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-i-sue-asqa-damages-zmarak-zhouand/ In the current environment, an increasing number of people feel that they and their Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) have suffered loss and damage due to what they believe are wrongful acts […]
Read MoreYour trainer and assessor files (Part 2 of 5)
In the last newsletter (published in November 2018) we discussed the following: Legislative and regulatory requirements Requirements for all trainers and assessors Trainer CVs In part 2 of the series, we will discuss the vocational competency requirements. The quality of your training and assessment is dependent on the skills and knowledge of your trainers and […]
Read MoreDifferent phases of assessment and learner validation processes (Part 4 of 4)
This is Part 4 of the article, where we are discussing the different phases of the validation processes an RTO should be following to ensure they meet regulatory requirements and industry expectations. In the previous articles, we discussed the following regarding the validation of assessment resources: Explanation of assessment validation Typical benchmarks used during the […]
Read MoreYour trainer and assessor files (Part 1 of 5)
Compliance of your trainer records is a must for any Registered Training Organisation. If you do not know what you are looking for, you will always have difficulty finding it. The purpose of this article is to provide you with the required information and resources to ensure you can audit and review your trainer and […]
Read MorePrivate training colleges face too much scrutiny, says ACPET
Excessive scrutiny of detailed regulatory issues by the national skills regulator is forcing private colleges into legalistic compliance, according to the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). ACPET has called for a review of the quality standards for VET following the latest annual report of the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Independent RTOs were […]
Read MoreThe VET Sector Newsletter – Edition 1, April 2018
The official Newsletter from Compliance and Quality Assurance (CAQA) OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER By Anna Haranas Welcome to The VET Sector, our official newsletter for the Australian VET education and training sector. This monthly publication is an initiative of the team at Compliance And Quality Assurance (CAQA). The newsletter will be a vehicle for news and […]
Read MoreVET Industry News 11-Sep-2018
New course accreditation application lodgement fee On 6 July 2018, ASQA introduced an application lodgement fee of $500 for all initial and renewal applications submitted for course accreditation by ASQA. At time of lodgement, a completeness check of the application will be conducted to review: Sufficiency of evidence demonstrating industry support Sufficiency of evidence demonstrating […]
Read MoreHow does quality assurance differ from compliance (Part 3)
In this third and final part of our “compliance and quality assurance,” articles, we are continuing to discuss compliance and quality assurance requirements, standards, expectations and the differences between them. How does quality assurance differ from compliance? It can be overwhelming trying to keep track of all your organisation’s compliance obligations. That’s why many businesses […]
Read MoreASQA Regulatory strategy 2016–17 and ASQA’s Regulatory Risk Framework
ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), VET regulator has recently released its regulatory strategy for 2016-2017. ASQA’s Regulatory Risk Framework, which is part of the published Regulatory Strategy outlines how ASQA fulfils its responsibility by managing risk on two levels: Operational (provider risk), and Strategic (systemic risk) Provider risk continues to be a key focus […]
Read MoreHeavy penalty for bogus qualification
A former trainer has been ordered to pay $120,000 for providing her employer with 11 bogus vocational education and training (VET) qualifications, providing another two bogus qualifications to a co-worker and submitting false qualifications to the national regulator as proof of her competency. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) successfully obtained declarations from the Federal […]
Read MoreASQA News 14-Aug-2018
ASQA given additional powers to seek civil penalties and issue infringement notices On 12 July 2018, the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC made the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Regulations 2018(NVR Regulation Amendment 2018). The NVR Regulation Amendment 2018 allows ASQA to seek civil penalties for breaches of the […]
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