Changed data provision requirements will be in effect from 1 March 2021. A new legislative instrument has simplified and clarified the existing requirements for providers. by:

• establishing reporting obligations for permanent VET delivery sites and campuses
• clarifying the type and format of information which must be provided to ASQA
• clarifying when changes to a provider’s business must be notified to ASQA
• clarifying information requirements when notifying ASQA of a third party arrangement
• clarifying that RTOs must inform ASQA of changes resulting in non-compliance with Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements and Fit and Proper Person Requirements.

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ASQA has recently approved an extended transition period for AHC31316 Certificate III in Sports Turf Management. The extended training, assessment and certification issuance period for this qualification ends on 20 December 2021.

The AHC31316 Certificate III in Sports Turf Management will remain on RTOs scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period, unless the RTO chooses to withdraw it from scope prior.

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RTOs must use the new Privacy Notice when enrolling students from 1 January 2021 onwards. You can find the Privacy Notice at Schedule 1 of the National VET Data Policy on the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s website. The Privacy Notice will need to be customised before including it in your enrolment materials. Existing students continuing their studies into 2021 should also be made aware of the new Privacy Notice. 

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The collection window for direct reporting of 2020 AVETMISS fee-for-service activity to NCVER opens on 2 January 2021 and closes at 5pm (ACDT) 26 February 2021.

As reporting need to be as at 31 December 2020, NCVER encourages RTOs to validate data and fix errors prior to the end of the year so that RTOs can submit when the window opens and before RTOs make updates to students outcomes occurring in 2021.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has made the decision to delete zero-enrolment units of competency (UoC) and qualifications from the national training system. Following a directive from skills ministers to delete training products that have not had enrolments in the past three years from the national training system, the AISC has agreed 975 UoC and 46 qualifications for immediate deletion.

Industry Reference Committees have been asked to delete these products from the national register by 15 February 2021, including through removing references to these products in training product documentation and ensuring skill sets containing deleted units are also removed. A full list of the UoC and qualifications agreed for deletion is available on the AISC website. 

Recognising the importance of a high quality VET system that works for everyone, Australian governments (both at the national and state and territory level) have agreed to immediately progress reforms in the following key areas:

• Strengthening the role of industry and employers
• Improving VET qualifications
• Raising the quality of training

These reforms are the next step in improving the VET system, continuing the work undertaken through reviews and consultations over the past 18 months.

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The South Australian Consumer and Business Services has published guidelines for RTOs that wish to conduct RSA training. Clause 7 of the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 Code now requires licensees to ensure that all those engaged by the licensee (paid staff and volunteers) to sell, offer for sale or serve alcohol have successfully completed nationally accredited responsible service of alcohol (RSA) training by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) approved by the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner (Commissioner) and published on a website maintained by the Commissioner.

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This paper explores the benefits and challenges associated with work-based education that have been identified in prior research. It also sets out best practices for training providers, employers and policy makers to support quality work-based education across the VET system. A review of the evidence suggests that targeted training policies and appropriate financing could create more incentive for employers to provide work-based education, while employers can create value by increasing how relevant their programs are to industry.

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Latest NCVER paper shows apprentice and trainee commencements were down 35.8% in June 2020 (compared with the same quarter in 2019). Commencements and completions both decreased significantly this quarter. This was largely reflected in non-trade occupations, with commencements down 44% and completions down 26.3%.

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In 2019, government funding of the Australian VET system totalled $6.4 billion, up 3.2% compared with 2018. In 2019, compared with 2018, the Australian Government also provided $275.9 million for VET Student Loans (including grandfathered VET FEE-HELP loans), a decrease of $21.3 million (down 7.2%) and   $222.4 million for Trade Support Loans, an increase of $10.4 million (up 4.9%).

In 2019, VET funds distributed totalled $6.4 billion, an increase in nominal terms of $334.6 million (5.5%) compared to 2018.

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The November 2020 Vacancy Report (Preliminary) and associated data files show that job advertisements increased by 7.8% (or 12,300 job advertisements) in November 2020 to stand at 169,900.

This represents the seventh consecutive month on month increase in job advertisements which now stand 11.2% (or 17,100 advertisements) above the level recorded in November 2020. Recruitment activity increased across all states and both territories during November 2020. Victoria, up by 24.2%,  recorded the strongest increase in recruitment activity over the month followed by Tasmania at 7.2% and Queensland at 4.5%. Over the year, job advertisements have now increased in all jurisdictions except for the ACT.

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The National Skills Commission has developed an occupational resilience framework which focuses on the latest labour market data for occupations that reflect the recovery path the labour market is taking, and complements the pre-COVID employment growth projections.

The list of resilient occupations will be updated following the release of detailed ABS Labour Force Survey data on occupational employment every quarter.

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The webinar will cover:
• what the sector told ASQA in their recent consultation on self-assurance
• ways ASQA will strengthen their focus on self-assurance in 2021
• how ASQA will support providers as you make this shift together

Register