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Newbery Consulting VET News – 11th December 2019

Hello and welcome to VET News,It seems like every fortnight at the moment there are big announcements coming through from the VET reform process. Of note this newsletter, is the media release from the government to confirm that they have now endorsed all recommendations from the recent AQF review. That is quite significant because it means that the naming conventions of the various qualification levels is going to completely change.

The other big announcement this week is the release of the proposed amendments to the National VET Regulator Act 2011. This has some significant changes to the regulation of RTO’s. I have provided a little summary below. I don’t have any violent objections to any of the proposed amendments, but I am particularly pleased that all reviewable decisions will be subject to reconsideration. This means that the regulator will be required to offer the RTO a proper reconsideration opportunity before the RTO has no other option other than appealing the decision in the administrative appeals tribunal. I think this is an excellent reform and will help to restore some balance to regulation.

It has been a long year with many peaks and troughs. I am quite optimistic about the training market in 2020. I think the combination of tighter requirements on the registration of RTO’s, changes to third-party arrangements, changes to transfer of ownership requirements will all help in strengthening the market for those who are currently registered. There also seems to be a momentum building for greater funding for the VET sector to address many of the critical skills gaps that we currently experience. I would expect all of these factors to result in a better operating environment next year.

On a personal note, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday break. I will be escaping with the family to Coffs Harbour for our usual Christmas holiday. I am absolutely going to try and read a book this year between some very amateurish body surfing and spending time with the family. I hope you all have a restful break and spend some quality time with your family and friends. Our next VET News should be in late January.

Merry Christmas,

Joe Newbery
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Compliance & Regulatory News

ASQA’s approach to managing complaintsOn Monday 2nd December, ASQA  launched asqaconnect. This is a new online portal to receive complaints, or reports alleging provider non-compliance, from all members of the community. As a result, ASQA will no longer investigate and substantiate individual complaints received. Instead, ASQA will look at the provider’s pattern of behaviour identified throughout complaints and use this information to inform our decisions on when and if further regulatory scrutiny of a provider is required.

Read more here.
Webinar recording available

ASQA hosted a webinar on Tuesday 3 December on proposed changes to ASQA fees and charges 2020-21 as part of its consultation with the vocational education and training (VET) sector. The recording and slides from the webinar are now available online.

Read more here.

Latest version of ASQAnet released

The latest version of asqanet has launched and will provide services for:

  • third party arrangements: providers are now able to create and cease third party arrangements via asqanet
  • delivery locations: asqanet is now better able to differentiate between VET & CRICOS locations
  • business names: will be sourced directly from the Australian Business Register (ABR)
  • asqaconnect: ASQA’s new online portal for complainants
  • portal user verification: asqanet users will no longer need to respond to secret questions and answers. A verification code will be sent to their registered email.

Read more here.

AVETMISS Reporting

AVETMISS Reporting – 2019 annual activity due by 28 February 2020.

The collection window for direct reporting of 2019 AVETMISS fee-for-service activity to NCVER opens at 8:45am (ACT) on 2 January 2020 and closes at 5pm (ACT) on 28 February 2020.
Note: Check the deadlines for reporting fee-for-service activity via a state training authority (STA) as reporting may be due earlier.

Read more here

Other VET News

National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2019The Government has proposed to amend the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act) to improve its efficiency and effectiveness by strengthening the regulatory framework. The National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2019 includes some significant changes to the powers of the national regulator including:

  • enhanced material change notification requirements
  • the publication of audit reports
  • a genuine commitment and capability test for RTO applicants
  • all reviewable decisions are subject to reconsideration
  • the regulator can stay it’s own decisions
  • the regulator can cancel qualifications without informing the RTO
  • changes to offense provisions for third-parties
  • the regulator can impose enforceable undertakings
  • the regulator can request any information from the RTO necessary to perform its function and can retain that information for as long as is necessary

Read more here.
AUSkey is changingAUSkey will be replaced by a new whole of government digital identity service andall Registered Training Organisations (RTO) accessing the USI Registry system will be affected. From 1 April 2020, myGovID andRelationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) will replace AUSkey.

Read more here.
Australian Apprenticeship Support Network 2020 – 2022 tender outcomes announced

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash announced the providers who have been chosen to deliver the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network nationally. Seven successful providers have been chosen to provide services to employers and apprentices across 10 regions from 1 February 2020.

Read more here.
Smart and Skilled Behavioural Insights Grant

The Smart and Skilled Behavioural Insights Grant Program (Grant) is an initiative of the NSW Skills Board and the NSW Department of Education (Department). The Grant will support Applicants to leverage behavioural insights to improve outcomes for Smart and Skilled (NSW government-funded) VET students.

Read more here.
New Employment Services Trial Service GuaranteeThe New Employment Services Trial Service Guarantee reflects the Australian Government’s expectations for employment services providers that deliver services to job seekers. It sets out the minimum level of service each job seeker can expect, as well as the requirements they need to meet while looking for employment.

Read more.
All recommendations from the AQF review accepted by governmentStudents will get a post-secondary education that better serves their needs with stronger alignment between the higher education and VET sectors. The Morrison Government accepted all recommendations in relation to AQF review. These recommendations include:

  •  Senior secondary students can study subjects at school that count towards a vocational training qualification or university degree
  • Recognition of microcredentials to allow providers to offer short, highly-targeted courses
  • VET and higher education to have clear and flexible entry and exit points, as well as pathways within and between, to allow students to mix and match the subjects they study to meet their education requirements.

Read more.

Articles and Papers

National government funding of VET reportThe report Government funding of VET 2018 provides insight into the flow of funding in the public VET sector, including what activities were funded and how funding is distributed to training providers.  It also shows the Australian Government provided VET Student Loans and VET FEE-HELP loans to the value of $297.3m (down 40.8%) and Trade Support Loans to the value of $212.2m, up 13.9% on 2017.

Read more here.

Generation Z: leaving school 

New data reveals around 69% of Australian 17-year-olds who planned to go to university when they finished school were at university one year later. Generation Z: leaving school report explores young people’s experiences as they reach the end of their schooling years and begin to transition into post-school study and enter the workforce.

Read more here.
TAFE not recommended as a good place to workThe TAFE NSW Organisational Health 2019 Survery Results show that fewer than half of TAFE NSW employees who responded to an internal survey would recommend it as a workplace to family and friends. Only 15 per cent of 6773 staff who completed the survey agreed with the statement that TAFE NSW has effective plans for developing and retaining its people, 43 per cent of staff said they would recommend TAFE NSW as a workplace to family and friends and overall, staff engagement has fallen from 56 per cent last year to 49 per cent this year.

Read more more.

Training Package Updates

Changes to training package: TAE: Training and Education Training:

  • 3 Qualifications updated
  • 2 Units of competency added

Further information, click here.

Opportunities

RTO CRICOS Audit

Newbery Consulting is pleased to offer a full internal compliance audit with site visit over two days to provide a detailed understanding of your RTO’s compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 and the National Code 2018.

Read more here
RTO Audit

Newbery Consulting is now taking bookings for compliance audits in 2020. There are a range of audit services to select from including CRICOS, RTO Standards, RTO Visit and Desk Audit. Check out the options and select the service that is best for your RTO. If you are approaching your renewal of registration, please plan in advance.

We recommend completing an internal audit with us at lease 12 month prior to your renewal of registration application being submitted.

Read more here

Copyright © Newbery Consulting 2019, All rights reserved.This publication was researched and prepared by Newbery Consulting.

Our emailing address is:
enquiries@newberyconsulting.com.au

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