Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) the peak body representing independent providers in the higher education, vocational education, training and skills sector has welcomed the appointment of Emeritus Professor Tracey Horton AO as Chair of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC). ITECA Chief Executive, Mr Troy Williams has stated that the independent tertiary education sector is looking forward to working with the new Chair and AISC to ensure that Australia’s vocational qualifications provide the skills that students and their employers are looking for.
The recently published review of the AQF has suggested micro-credentials could be recognised for credit towards other qualifications in an updated system.
As the Australian Government sets about reforming the way the Australian Skills Quality Authority (AQSA) interacts with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), its Chief Commissioner, Mark Patterson AO, has decided the proposed shift in direction for ASQA provides an appropriate time for him to step down.
Key Issues for providers —
The Australian Government today announced reforms to the agency responsible for regulating the vocational education and training sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the reforms respond to key recommendations of the Braithwaite and Joyce Reviews, including supporting ASQA to expand its scope to adopt a more educative approach to lift quality in the delivery of vocational education and training (VET).
The Minister said improving the quality of VET is a priority of the Australian Government, and this includes ensuring the sector’s regulatory environment is reasonable, transparent and effective.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon. Steve Irons MP, said the Government has set a strong direction for the future of VET. His view was that with appropriate regulatory reforms, the nation can have a vocational education sector that provides workforce skills and relevant up-to-date qualifications that are well-matched to the evolving opportunities of Australia’s modern economy.
As the national regulator for Australia’s VET sector, ASQA regulates training providers to ensure they meet nationally approved quality standards.
The Australian Government’s priority is to to ensure that training organisations are well placed to understand their requirements and that the regulator has the right tools and information to regulate them effectively.
It’s been announced that as part of these changes the Chief Commissioner of ASQA, Mr Paterson, has decided the proposed shift in direction for ASQA provides an appropriate time for him to step down and pass responsibility for managing the next phase of ASQA’s evolution to others.
ASQA Commissioner Saxon Rice will act in the role of Chief Commissioner as of 7 October 2019.
Member Engagement:
ITECA’s ability to play a lead role in matters associated with this issue rests on the advice and guidance of individuals serving on the ITECA Vocational Education Reference Committee.
When a government announces a policy review there is often scepticism amongst stakeholders that not much will eventuate. Perhaps a few media releases and minor announcements, but that’s it. The response to the expert review of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, commonly referred to as the Joyce Review, is shaping up to be something entirely different, with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to get a new direction and a new Chief Commissioner.
The Joyce Review was announced in November 2018 in the shadow of the federal election that most expected the Coalition Government to lose. As a consequence many key stakeholders didn’t even tender a submission. The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), with a more nuanced approach to policy advocacy and commitment to working with the government of the day, both made a submission to the enquiry and was extensively engaged throughout the Reviews’ consultation processes. The report from the Review was released alongside the budget and most expected it to disappear along with the Coalition Government at the election … except the government survived and with it a landmark roadmap that sets a positive direction for ASQA.
The Joyce Review made a number of valid criticisms concerning the work of ASQA. It noted the views put forward by ITECA about the high levels of disquiet about the way ASQA currently conducts its regulatory activity. The report observed that there is always some tension to be expected between ASQA and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), but that in the current environment these go beyond that sort of healthy tension. This wasn’t the first observation of this nature, it was also referenced by Professor Braithwaite in her review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth).
One of the key finding of the Joyce Review was that there is a concern held by RTOs as to whether ASQA will treat them fairly and reasonably during the audit process. This was attributed to, in part, a feeling that there is often little understanding of the approach ASQA will take when it comes time for their next audit. This was put down to the lack of information and guidance provided by ASQA. The Joyce Review noted concerns there was limited proactive engagement and guidance by ASQA and this left RTOs confused and worried about meeting requirements. Given that ASQA has made it clear that it does not see its role as providing additional guidance and education to RTOs on its auditing process and compliance, it’s hardly surprising.
A key recommendation arising from the Joyce Review was that ASQA should provide more information and guidance to RTOs as to how it conducts its regulatory activities in order to improve ongoing understanding of, and compliance with regulatory compliance. Naturally, ITECA backs this step that will reduce the cost and compliance burden placed on RTOs.
Another recommendation supported by ITECA was that the Australian Government should consider whether ASQA should be specifically resourced to provide broad education and guidance to the VET sector, and to engage more proactively and positively with providers to build trust and understanding between the regulator and the regulated.
The recommendations go further than that, suggesting that ASQA be required to publicly release all concluded audit reports to ensure all RTOs can be fully informed about the regulator’s activities. ITECA also supports this with the qualification that all commercially sensitive information not be published.
The Australian Government’s response to the Joyce Review has been positive. It’s stated publicly that reforms will ensure that training organisations are well placed to understand their requirements and that the regulator has the right tools and information to regulate them effectively. The reform agenda was embraced at the recent COAG Skills Council meeting.
It’s in this context that the Chief Commissioner of ASQA, Mr Mark Paterson AO, has decided the proposed shift in direction for ASQA provides an appropriate time for him to step down and pass responsibility for managing the next phase of ASQA’s evolution to others. ASQA Commissioner Saxon Rice will act in the role of Chief Commissioner as of 7 October 2019.
These reforms haven’t come about by accident. The advocacy of ITECA over many years, made possible thanks to the significant contribution of our members, have helped build the case for reform and shaped the recommendations. In the past six months, ITECA has been involved in more that fifty meetings with Ministers, their advisors, and senior public servants on matters associated with reform of ASQA. That we’re moving in the right direction shows what member-driven advocacy can achieve.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has released a new regulatory strategy to address systemic risks to the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
The national regulatory agency’s latest strategy has been designed to inform Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and the broader VET community of the risks that will receive greater regulatory focus.
The evidence-informed strategy outlines ASQA’s priorities to 2021, with a focus on international education, trainer and assessor capability, and VET in schools.
ASQA Chief Commissioner and CEO Mark Paterson says future regulatory activity will focus on tackling the most significant risks in a sector largely made up of quality providers.
“ASQA’s risk-based approach to regulation allows us to target efforts to address serious non-compliances that risk damaging the reputation of our world-class VET sector,” he said.
Paterson maintained that ASQA does not impose regulatory sanctions for minor administrative or technical non-compliance, despite “claims to the contrary”.
“All of ASQA’s regulatory activity, including audits, investigations and reviews of specific training areas or products is informed by our assessment of risk that RTOs or potential RTOs represent—ASQA does not conduct regulatory activity unless we have determined a potential threat to quality.”
The commissioner’s comments refer to growing complaints from the VET industry about the approach taken by the regulator, which was also criticised by education experts for being too soft in its first few years of operation under Paterson’s predecessor.
Last week the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, a peak body representing private-sector education and training providers, said federal government MP Andrew Laming had expressed these concerns in a “hard-hitting speech” to a near-empty federation chamber.
The body claims “award-winning RTOs are being accused of failing to meet regulatory standards for minor technical breaches of the legislation or on matters that have no bearing on student quality such as the colour of a logo on a website” in a statement.
Troy Williams, ITECA’s chief executive, said “good people running quality RTOs” were worried that they would face serious penalties for “compliance issues that have little to no outcome on the provision of quality providing of training to students”.
“ITECA isn’t calling for the regulatory system to be wound back, simply that the approach of ASQA be modified to focus less on what Mr Laming correctly called administrivia,” Williams said.
“ITECA and our members are supportive of the board direction set out in the Joyce report and we’re comforted by the engagement that we’ve had at a ministerial and departmental level to assist the government develop an appropriate response,” said its CEO.
While recent reports have raised concerns over VET courses delivered in secondary schools, “there has not yet been national scrutiny of this area”, the regulator said.
Courses provided in schools give students “valuable opportunities” to prepare for the workforce and learn specific technical skills. However, this value is diminished when courses do not meet the required standards, according to ASQA.
Mark Paterson
The agency has planned to conduct a study and consult with other government agencies to respond to this issue.
For a fourth consecutive year, ASQA has said it will “continue close scrutiny” of trainers and assessors.
The strategy has also outlined the second phase of an initiative which aims to improve how quality VET delivery is recognised and support providers through engagement and advice.
The report found that some VET providers have failed to fulfil their obligations, including ensuring overseas students receive accurate course information and meet their required outcomes. It recommended that international students be required to attend courses full-time, strengthening cross-agency collaboration to prompt consistent access to data and intelligence, and ensuring offshore students have the same protections as domestic students.
ASQA’s new strategy outlines plans to implement the recommendations of the review, including close monitoring of providers delivering to overseas students in Australia and offshore.
The re gulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority
(AS QA), has been criticised by Andrew Laming MP in a hard -hitting speech to parliament. According to the
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (I TECA), the peak body representing independent providers
in the higher education, vocational education and training sector, the v iews of Mr Laming echo those of most
quality independent providers in the VET sector.
Mr Lam ing ‘s speech canvassed the experience of many providers in dealing with ASQA. It highlighted how
award -winning RTOs are being accu sed of failing to meet regulatory standards for min or technical bre aches of
the l egislation or on matters that have no bearing on student quality such as the colo ur of a logo on a website.
ITECA encour ages all with an interest in t he challenges facing quality RTO ‘s to list en to the speech. It was
made in parliament on 31 July 2019 and can be found online at.
www. youtu.be/bNnwn5gY8OM
“The experience of many ITECA members can be found in Mr Lami ng’s comments. He ‘s drawn attent ion
to how ASQA ‘s app roach keeps good people running quality RTO s up at night,” said Troy Williams, ITECA
Chief Ex ecutive.
Mr Lam ing ‘s speech h ighlighted how many quality RTO ‘s face the wrath of ASQA for compliance issues that
ha ve little to no outcome on the provision of quality providing of training to s tudents.
“ITECA isn ‘t calling for the regulatory system t o be wound -back, s imply that the approach of ASQA be
modified to focus less on what Mr Lam ing c orre ctly called a dmi nistrivia,” Mr Williams said.
In his comments Mr Laming said “Ever y provider I spo ke to said that if there were to be another provider
engaged in fraud, mismanagement or irrespo nsible training practice of course they should be driven from the
training system “. ITECA supports this view without qualification.
The work of ASQA was consider ed in the report Strengthening Skills: Expert Review of Australia’s Vocationa l
Education and Training System autho red by Mr Stephen Jo yce and commi ssioned by the Australian
Government. ITECA believes this report sets a roadmap for reform that will help quality RT Os.
“ITECA and our members are supportive of the board direction set out in the Joyce report and we ‘re
comfo rted by the en gagement that we ‘ve had at a Ministerial and department al l eve l to assist the
government develop an appropr iate response,” Mr Williams sa id.
The regulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), has been criticised by Andrew Laming MP for its approach to regulatory compliance that appears to be less focussed on protecting students and more on being critical of minor compliance issues.
Key Issues —
In parliament on 31 July 2019, Mr Andrew Laming MP, made a speech that canvassed the experience of many providers in dealing with ASQA. It highlighted how award-winning RTOs are being accused of failing to meet regulatory standards for minor technical breaches of the legislation or on matters that have no bearing on student quality such as the colour of a logo on a website.
The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) has been in regular contact with Mr Laming in the past weeks. Indeed, the ITECA Chair and ITECA Chief Executive meet with Mr Laming in his parliamentary office in the days before the speech.
ITECA encourages all with an interest in the challenges facing quality RTO’s to listen to the speech. It was made in parliament on 31 July 2019 and can be found online at:
The experience of many ITECA members can be found in Mr Laming’s comments. He’s drawn attention to how ASQA’s approach keeps good people running quality RTOs up at night.
Mr Laming’s speech highlighted how many quality RTO’s face the wrath of ASQA for compliance issues that have little to no outcome on the provision of quality providing of training to students.
First elected to the seat of Bowman in 2004, Mr Laming is the current Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training. Those interested in meeting Mr Laming should attend the ITEC19 Conference over 21-23 August 2019 on the Gold Coast as Mr Laming will be coming to listen to the views of ITECA members. For more information on the conference visit:
ITECA has listened to its members and formed the view that the VET sector is supportive of the board direction set out in the Joyce report. ITECA has been engaged at a Ministerial and departmental level to assist the government develop an appropriate response.
Member Engagement:
ITECA’s ability to play a lead role in matters associated with this issue rests on the advice and guidance of individuals serving on the ITECA Vocational Education Reference Committee.
The re gulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority
(AS QA), has been criticised by Andrew Laming MP in a hard -hitting speech to parliament. According to the
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (I TECA), the peak body representing independent providers
in the higher education, vocational education and training sector, the v iews of Mr Laming echo those of most
quality independent providers in the VET sector.
Mr Lam ing ‘s speech canvassed the experience of many providers in dealing with ASQA. It highlighted how
award -winning RTOs are being accu sed of failing to meet regulatory standards for min or technical bre aches of
the l egislation or on matters that have no bearing on student quality such as the colo ur of a logo on a website.
ITECA encour ages all with an interest in t he challenges facing quality RTO ‘s to list en to the speech. It was
made in parliament on 31 July 2019 and can be found online at.
www. youtu.be/bNnwn5gY8OM
“The experience of many ITECA members can be found in Mr Lami ng’s comments. He ‘s drawn attent ion
to how ASQA ‘s app roach keeps good people running quality RTO s up at night,” said Troy Williams, ITECA
Chief Ex ecutive.
Mr Lam ing ‘s speech h ighlighted how many quality RTO ‘s face the wrath of ASQA for compliance issues that
ha ve little to no outcome on the provision of quality providing of training to s tudents.
“ITECA isn ‘t calling for the regulatory system t o be wound -back, s imply that the approach of ASQA be
modified to focus less on what Mr Lam ing c orre ctly called a dmi nistrivia,” Mr Williams said.
In his comments Mr Laming said “Ever y provider I spo ke to said that if there were to be another provider
engaged in fraud, mismanagement or irrespo nsible training practice of course they should be driven from the
training system “. ITECA supports this view without qualification.
The work of ASQA was consider ed in the report Strengthening Skills: Expert Review of Australia’s Vocationa l
Education and Training System autho red by Mr Stephen Jo yce and commi ssioned by the Australian
Government. ITECA believes this report sets a roadmap for reform that will help quality RT Os.
“ITECA and our members are supportive of the board direction set out in the Joyce report and we ‘re
comfo rted by the en gagement that we ‘ve had at a Ministerial and department al l eve l to assist the
government develop an appropr iate response,” Mr Williams sa id.
