VET International Engagement Strategy 2025 launched
17 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

VET International Engagement Strategy 2025 launched

The Morrison Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure Australian VET sector continues to play a significant role in contributing to the development of a highly skilled workforce by lodging Vocational Education and Training International Engagement Strategy 2025. Australia’s first National Strategy for International Education 2025 enables Australia’s international education sector to be more innovative, […]

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The rapid review of ASQA announced by Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
17 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

The rapid review of ASQA announced by Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

A rapid review of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has been announced. We are sharing the details of the review with this article.  Two recent national reviews have focused on the VET sector, including the role of ASQA – the 2019 Expert Review of Australia’s VET System (the Joyce Review), and the 2018 review […]

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2019 Australian Training Awards winners announced
4 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

2019 Australian Training Awards winners announced

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the VET sector recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia. On 21 November the awards were presented and the winners are:  Lifetime Achievement Award — Wayne Collyer Wayne Collyer was Managing Director at Polytechnic West (now South Metropolitan TAFE) […]

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Communiqué for the COAG Skills Council Meeting – 22 November 2019
4 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Communiqué for the COAG Skills Council Meeting – 22 November 2019

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Skills Council (the Council) held its second meeting today in Brisbane to agree on an ambitious approach to enhancing vocational education and training (VET). Council congratulated the winners and finalists recognised at the Australian Training Awards on their outstanding achievements. The winners and finalists offer a shining example of […]

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ASQA’s slash and burn approach on Registered Training Organisations
3 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

ASQA’s slash and burn approach on Registered Training Organisations

  An approach that is not very well thought out can cause significant knee jerk reactions. This is exactly what we all are experiencing from ASQA. The poor implementation and monitoring of VET FEE-HELP scheme and the way a few private and public organisations took advantage and rorted the funding is still causing significant nightmares […]

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Victims of ASQA: The Real stories (Part – 1)
3 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Victims of ASQA: The Real stories (Part – 1)

In this section we explore stories of how a regulatory body is destroying Australia’s education and training sector, the livelihood of people and causing immense stress and loss to the individuals working in the training organisations. Our first guest in this series is Brett Hilder.  Brett Hilder is a businessman with extensive experience drawn from […]

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Has the Australian Skills Quality Authority taken Australia back 30 years?
3 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Has the Australian Skills Quality Authority taken Australia back 30 years?

The effects of the VET regulator’s actions on our industry and Australia’s reputation with regards to innovative learning has been detrimental to what is internationally seen as best practice.  The attitude towards learning methods that are applied outside traditional face-to face classroom based training have put our education system at risk.  We are not reaching […]

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The drop in traineeships and apprenticeships. Why is it happening?
3 December, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

The drop in traineeships and apprenticeships. Why is it happening?

A recent figures revealed that the federal government over the last five years has underspent close to $1 billion of its budget on TAFE, training and apprenticeships. This is on top of previous cuts. At the same time, that these budgets cuts are happening, Australia is still experiencing critical skills shortages in several industries.  A […]

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Where are we going and why are we here?
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Where are we going and why are we here?

If you have followed the recent discussion on social media ASQA’s practices, RTO closures, TAFE non-compliance, rorting of government funding (by now this is historical data being republished) it is one thing that stands out; students are not part of the discussion. How did we arrive where we are at this point in time? ASQA […]

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Is natural justice or procedural fairness possible with the current set up of ASQA?
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Is natural justice or procedural fairness possible with the current set up of ASQA?

We have evaluated how fair and transparent the internal workings of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is. Where can an RTO go to complain and seek justice? How effective are the “external avenues”?  ASQA’s auditors on the day of the audit  Please note: ASQA has engaged some very professional officers and auditors as well and […]

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Concerns about the competency levels of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) officers and auditors
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Concerns about the competency levels of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) officers and auditors

The VET industry has some serious concerns regarding the competency of ASQA’s officers and auditors. We would like to look into this with some facts, records and figures.  Qualified auditors with Senior VET Experience – are they qualified enough? Unfortunately, the regulatory body has moved away from recruiting officers with a background in the education […]

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Industry consultation form released to assist development of VET accredited courses
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Industry consultation form released to assist development of VET accredited courses

ASQA has released a tool to assist in the development of VET accredited courses. The following media released has been published by Australian Skills Quality Authority:  The Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 require a course developer to provide: evidence of an industry need and supporting evidence that industry consultation and validation of course content […]

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Financial Viability Risk Assessment (FVRA) tool has changed again, version 3.1.
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Financial Viability Risk Assessment (FVRA) tool has changed again, version 3.1.

The financial viability risk assessment (FVRA) tool has been changed again by ASQA to make it more user friendly. The latest change was implemented on October 4, 2019. The changes have been made to make the FVRA tool more user-friendly and in cases where it is incomplete, provide additional guidance to identify items missing. The […]

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I want to voice my opinion – your letters and emails to us
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

I want to voice my opinion – your letters and emails to us

In this newsletter, we have selected this email received from one of our subscribers genuinely questioning the current regulatory environment of Registered Training Organisations: “It has been my experience as an RTO Manager that everyone except the RTO is protected in the current environment.  Students and staff can complain to ASQA and Smart and Skilled […]

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Review of Australian Qualifications Framework (Part 1)
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Review of Australian Qualifications Framework (Part 1)

The AQF review, chaired by Victoria University tertiary education professor Peter Noonan, recommended a shake -up of Australia’s qualification system.  Under the recommended changes senior secondary students would also be able to study subjects at school that would count towards a vocational training qualification or university degree. The new changes will enable students to mix […]

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Who is there to support training organisations and what RTO representatives should know. (Part 1)
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Who is there to support training organisations and what RTO representatives should know. (Part 1)

In this article, we will discuss the issues registered training organisations are experiencing in their day-to-day operations. You have the following help available:  RTO consultants Extend your own understanding and get an unbiased evaluation of your training and assessment from a consultant who can evaluate your practices and give you feedback.  Contact a few and […]

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ASQA has changed the rules for purchase and sale of RTO’s
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

ASQA has changed the rules for purchase and sale of RTO’s

Australian Skills Quality Authority has made it crystal clear that “Registered training organisations (RTOs) and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) providers are not permitted to transfer their registration from one legal entity to another. However, where a change of company shareholdings occurs, but the ABN/ACN of the entity registered with […]

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The Australian Government is investing $41.7 million to pilot Skills Organisations in human services care and digital technology (including cyber security) industries
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

The Australian Government is investing $41.7 million to pilot Skills Organisations in human services care and digital technology (including cyber security) industries

The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business has published the following media release:  The Australian Government is investing $41.7 million to pilot Skills Organisations in two key industries; human services care and digital technology (including cyber security). The Skills Organisations Pilots will drive innovative ‘end-to-end’ training solutions and enhance the role and leadership […]

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Beware of FAKE certificates and unregistered providers
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Beware of FAKE certificates and unregistered providers

ASQA published the following media release on October 4 2019:  ASQA is aware that unfortunately, there are unqualified organisations issuing fake certificates in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. Whether you are a student signing up for a course in VET or a business seeking a training provider for your employees, make sure to […]

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Updates to USI transcript for closed registered training organisations
18 November, 2019

Sukh Sandhu

Updates to USI transcript for closed registered training organisations

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) published the following news on October 4 2019:  As part of a collaboration between the Australian Department of Education, ASQA and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), ASQA is now able to upload the academic results from closed RTOs to students’ Unique Student Identifier (USI) transcripts outside the […]

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