Need a good news story?
Once upon a time there was a man named Brian. Brian is a mild mannered man who wanted to deliver industry training to the next generation. You see, Brian really believes that if you give a person skills and knowledge to perform a job, this is the best gift of all. But, Brian was finding that the regulatory requirements were making it very difficult to concentrate on the actual training he wanted to deliver. He is constantly buried in paperwork and compliance. Something needed to change!! Watch the video to see how this story ends. 🙂
Newbery Webinars
Newbery Consulting is please to offer our pre-recorded webinars on compliance and training and assessment best practice. These webinar sessions allow you to access professional development aimed at those who manage compliance in their RTO and for trainers and assessors. Participants will receive a certificate of achievement following the session which will assist in meeting their professional development compliance obligations. Once you have registered, you will receive an email that provides you a link to register for the webinar and what follows, is pure PD bliss! Check out the next scheduled session.
Designing your own RTO system?
For over a decade now, Newbery Consulting has been developing and improving our RTO System for the benefit of clients. Comprised of policies and procedures, forms and tools and RTO Data, our system is perfect for those starting an RTO or renewing an RTO operation. These products are exposed to regulatory audits about 2-3 times a week. This means that, if there is feedback available, we get it and this is used to constantly improve these products. Designed to comply with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. Check it out today and get started with RTO System.
VET News – 31 January 2017
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VET News – 31st January 2017
Hello and welcome to VET News
Just a reminder, that we are entering the reporting season. Over the next five months the following reports are due in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations:
Total VET activity reporting, Due no later than 28 Feb, Click Here for more information
Annual CEO Declaration on Compliance, Due no later than 31 Mar, Click Here for more information
Quality indicator reporting, Due no later than 30 Jun, Click Here for more information
Ok, I have some important news to share. My two big sisters that have been sharing my journey in Newbery Consulting for many years are both leaving the business for other pursuits. It is a sad day for us, but at the same time we are all excited for both Cathy and Anne Maree. Cathy started with us in 2013 assisting me with responding to our many enquiries we receive each day. Cath then moved into a project coordination role assisting our clients moving through to their initial registration. As our Applications Manager, Cath has been instrumental in working with clients to prepare their application evidence. Cath has decided it is time to retire from the workforce and spend more time with family/friends and on the golf course! Anne Maree has been with us a little longer starting in 2009. Anne Maree has performed work for Newbery Consulting as a Training Developer, Compliance Consultant and Auditor (not to mention VET News Editor!). Anne Maree has decided to take on an education leadership role in the Middle East. That is the brain drain at work right there!
To both of my beautiful sisters, I want to thank you so much not only from me but on behalf of all the staff at Newbery Consulting for your tireless and valuable contribution to our business. I appreciate you putting up with me all of these years and for your sometimes-candid advice. You will both be missed dearly and we hope you enjoy the next stage of your journey in life.
Good Training
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 20 December 2016
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Hello and welcome to VET News
Well 2016 is almost done and dusted. I think it’s fair to say that it has been a tough year for our sector. We look forward to 2017 with hope that the business environment will improve. I feel that the new year will be a year of innovation as RTOs attempt to find efficiencies in a tough environment.
Newbery Consulting is closing for two weeks over the period 24th Dec 2016 to 3rd Jan 2017. I would like to personally thank our hard working staff and contractors for their efforts in 2016. I would also like to thank you for your continued support. We receive so many nice emails from our readers of VET News. We are pleased that our newsletter has been useful to you.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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TAE50211 – Diploma of Training Design and Development
[course code=”TAE50211″]
VET News – 30 November 2016
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VET News – 30th November 2016
Hello and welcome to VET News
I hope you are all well. We are waiting to hear the outcomes this week of the Senate vote with respect of the VET Student Loan Bill. The proposed amendments to grant TAFE institutes a 12 month exemption has already been announced. I also understand that there is some fierce lobbying going on the obtain a 6 month delay for all providers to properly assess the likely impact on the sector. I hope this eventuates but it is already too late for many RTOs. The uncertainty has already led to many staff being laid off. We should all spare a thought for those who have lost their employment particularly this close to Christmas. We will send out a final VET News before we break for Christmas and provide an update then.
Just as a heads-up to all of our clients, we have changed our main office number. We had our reception service outsourced to a service provider who really was dropping the ball so have taken control of this in-house. The new number you can reach us on is (02) 8005 8029. The best we to contact us is always via email either to the staff directly or to enquiries@newberyconsulting.com.au for new or existing client enquiries. For our RTO Data users, the best way to get support is to email support@newberyconsulting.com.au.
Just a prelude to some exciting news I will announce next month, in 2017 we will be launching a webinar based professional development service. This will commence in January and will be scheduled to occur once per week. The sessions will have a duration of an hour and will be very affordably priced (cheap, some would say!). These will be advertised on the Newbery Consulting website were you can register to attend or purchase a subscription. All participants will receive a digital certificate to contribute to their PD evidence. The sessions will focus on all things training and assessment and the Standards for Registered Training Organisations. More to follow in December!
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 28 October 2016
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VET News – 28th October 2016
Hello and welcome to VET News
Well, I have been sounding the alarm bells on the VET Fee Help program since 2012. The government made some changes at the fringes in 2015 to clean this sector up. However, this month has brought down the hammer like a blunt instrument on the private providers operating in this sector. I won’t repeat here the information you can read in the news below. I think many of the reforms in the VET Student Loans scheme are appropriate. One reform that hasn’t received much publicity is restriction applied to third party delivery of training. This will only be allowed in circumstances where the third party is also an approved VET Student Loan provider. That will have an immediate effect of consolidating this portion of the sector down to the actual organisations which are approved under the scheme and not the hybrid network of partners. The Government will also have greater powers to take disciplinary action against training providers who breach requirements of the program and its associated guidelines. All these are good.
But the measure that I think will have the greatest positive effect is the requirement for current VET Fee Help Providers to reapply to become a VET Student Loan provider. Provisional approval will be provided for a period of six months if those providers meet key selection criteria which among other things include demonstrating appropriate student outcomes. The government have identified that this will include evaluating data on completion rates at the course and unit level, data on student outcomes and student satisfaction. So, if you are a provider that has been doing the right thing and applying robust student engagement during enrolment and providing meaningful support services to support your students to completion, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. My true hope is that the government are serious about this evaluation and we weed out all the current providers who are still in the system collecting fees from students and then doing little or nothing to deliver on their promised services.
I mentioned before that the government brought down the hammer. Well in regards to its qualification selection and allocation of payment cap it is simply a dumb blunt instrument. The allocation of funding to some courses particularly in the management and commerce category just is beyond belief. Let’s have a look at one example. The Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management SIT50116 has been allocated an amount of $5,000.00. It is a complex course to deliver requiring 23 units of competency. It is an important qualification for the continued growth and management of the tourism sector. It cannot be delivered in a quality way for that amount of money and still meet the Governments mandated volume of learning. The RTO will need to seek a substantial co-payment from the student which is unlikely to occur. Not counting public providers and enterprise RTO’s there are only 16 private providers in the country with this qualification on their scope. We have already had clients tell us that they will discontinue to offer that qualification (among many others). The government’s reform have absolutely punished good private providers and will see the delivery of these courses consolidate to the public providers. But, if you want to do a Diploma of Horse Breeding – Stud Management (22308VIC), it will cost you a VET Loan amount of a whopping $15,000.00. The only problem is that no RTO in the country has it on their scope! It makes no sense and needs to be reconsidered.
The reforms must yet be approved by the Senate. My hope is that some common sense is applied and there is some consideration for the many very good private providers that are out there supporting our communities. The reforms overall are good, but the tiered payment arrangements have not properly considered the cost of delivering quality vocational education and training or the effect it will have on good providers. The inequality it creates for those lower socio-economic sections of the community who rely on a vocational pathway into the workforce is patently wrong.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 21 September 2016
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VET News – 21st September 2016
Hi there,
I hope this finds you well. Hello to all of our new subscribers! Fairly sure we had the largest growth in a single month over the Aug/Sep period, so very happy with that. We also attended the National VET Conference on the Gold Coast 14-16 Sep 2016. It was great! I was a little let down that none of our staff competed in this year’s “dance off competition”. We were a little hampered this year by pregnancy and shyness,,, but we will be back next year in Sydney and Newbery Consulting (not me:) will be out to win the title. 🙂
The conference was great fun and very valuable professionally. We collected information on some great new products that have been released in the last 12 months and will be recommending these to clients. I really enjoyed my presentations as well and valued the opportunity to contribute. Congratulations to the guys at Velg again on a great conference. Bring on Sydney 2017.
I hope you enjoy the news.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 26 August 2016
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VET News – 26th August 2016
Hi there,
Thanks to everyone regarding the wonderful feedback on last month’s newsletter. It is amazing that almost five years ago we had this crazy idea to launch a free monthly newsletter. We wanted to cut through all of the information clutter out there and present a concise news report on the things we feel are worth focusing on in our wonderful VET sector. Our five year anniversary for VET News is in Nov 2016! I get emails every week from our subscribers thanking us for the work we do to publish VET News. We thank you for that feedback and will continue to support the sector in the future. I would like to personally thank my big sister Anne Maree who undertakes the research and prepares the news each month. The work Anne Maree does to review every item that comes in over the month, discard the noise and publish the important news items is huge. Thanks Anne Maree, you are a champion and a true professional!
So, with our five year anniversary approaching we are on a recruitment drive to spread the the love of VET News. We invite you to distribute VET News to your work colleagues and recommend they subscribe. We love new subscribers! The link to subscribe is below or click here.
For those going to the National VET Conference on the Gold Coast this year please come up and say hi. I am presenting a Master Class session on the 14th Sep relating to Assessment Design and then a session at the end of day one (15th Sep) relating to VET Regulation, trends, stories and lessons learned. Should be fun. I really enjoy the National Conference held by Velg each year. It is always presented very professionally. I particularly enjoy the trade area to see what is new and identify products that can be recommend to our clients. You can get a lot of research done in a short space of time. For our RTO Data users, Sarah and Bree will be also attending so be sure to come up and meet those lovely ladies. We look forward to seeing you there.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 28 July 2016
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VET News – 28th July 2016
Hi there,
It is a packed VET News this month. If you have previously missed it, ASQA made an announcement this month about changes to the audit process. It is worth taking a look at that. It seems to be a step back from allowing for procedural fairness. The key change in my view is the option for the regulator to move straight to issuing “Notice of intent to impose administrative sanction” without first allowing the RTO to rectify a non-compliance. It does say that this action may be taken when highly concerning non-compliance are identified. It will be interesting to see how this new power is applied by the regulator. It certainly will require auditors to make accurate findings as the consequences for the RTO are significant. It will likely result in more RTOs taking their appeal to the AAT where they definitely will get procedural fairness.
Before I go, I want to do a big shout out to one of our fantastic clients the Australian Careers Business College (ACBC). Last week on Thursday I attended a great event to celebrate ACBC’s 20th Year Anniversary and to mark the official opening of their new campus in Liverpool NSW. The Minister for Regional Development, Skills, and for Small Business, the Hon. John Barilaro, MP attended and did the honours and gave a great speech. I just want to again congratulate Ann and Nick Elisha on a great achievement. Too often we dwell on the bad apples in our industry. These guys are the good apples. They run a wonderful RTO that produces outstanding results for their students. The staff and trainers at ACBC are passionate and committed to the quality of the training and assessment they provide. These guys really do set the bar for a private college in our industry and Newbery Consulting is very pleased to have shared their journey. Well done guys!
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 22 June 2016
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VET News – 22nd June 2016
Hi there,
Hope you are all well. Just thought I would share this gem with you all.
Back on the 3rd June I sought clarification form ASQA about what I assumed was a very simple question: Can a domestic provider who is not a registered CRICOS provider deliver unit only courses such as first aid, RSA or Construction Safety (White Card) to international students.
Now this happens all the time. International students can work under their visa conditions 40 hours per fortnight. If they secure work in say, a cafe that also serves beer and wine, they will need to hold a competency in RSA. Equally, if they require first aid to work for a specific employer, then they need the competency in first aid. There are many 100s of providers delivering these services and many would not even consider it an issue if the student is from overseas or not. They have a USI (which they can create on the USI portal with a Visa number) and they have a need to obtain a competency for work. Makes sense! Well according to ASQA unless the provider is an approved CRICOS provider to deliver that course at an approved location, then the provider is breaking the law and the maximum punishment is Imprisonment for 2 years!
I have published the response I received from ASQA on our site with some commentary Click Here. It has some interesting implications. Enjoy the news.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 18 May 2016
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VET News – 15 April 2016
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VET News – 9 March 2016
Hi there,
Welcome to our March VET News. A very interesting ASQA update this month with ASQA publicising its decision to cancel the registration of a number of RTOs following the investigation into some VET Fee Help providers. It will be interesting to watch if these RTOs challenge the regulators decision in the Federal Court and if they succeed in reversing the decision. The regulatory framework the ASQA operate under mean that it must comply with procedural fairness and its decisions are always subject to review. It was a bold and brave decision by the Commissioner to cancel these registrations. Time will tell if that decision is durable.
Enjoy the news and thanks to those who sent positive feedback on my “CEO Annual Declaration” article. It is good to give these things some perspective.
Good training,
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA update
ASQA cancels registration of Cornerstone Investment Aust Pty Ltd
Cornerstone Investment Aust Pty Ltd (RTO 5500), trading as Australian Institute of Commerce and Language and EMPOWER INSTITUTE, was audited as part of ASQA’s review of 21 VET FEE-HELP providers. ASQA has made the decision to cancel the RTO’s registration with effect from 11 March 2016.
MEDIA RELEASE>
Information for Vocation Limited students
ASQA has published a fact sheet to assist students enrolled with the liquidated RTOs owned by Vocation Limited. The RTOs were:
- Training & Development Australia Pty Ltd (91246)
- Avana Learning Pty Ltd (90976)
- Learning Verve (21766)
- Real Corporate Partners Pty Ltd (91669)
ASQA training providers briefing sessions
ASQA will be hosting 28 briefing sessions for training providers around Australia from March through June 2016. The sessions will cover a range of topics including trends in compliance since the introduction of theStandards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 and other important subjects. READ MORE>>
….and due to strong demand, an additional live webcast provider briefing has been announced. READ MORE>>
ASQA course accreditation briefing sessions
In addition to the training provider briefings, ASQA will be hosting six sessions focused on providing owners and developers of VET accredited courses with the information and guidance needed to ensure their courses fully comply with the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012.
READ MORE>>
VET Reform
New Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
On 13 February 2016, the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, announced several changes to his Ministry. In relation to the Education and Training portfolio, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, has been appointed as Minister for Vocational Education and Skills. Senator Ryan replaces the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP.
READ MORE>>
SkillsIQ Limited – New Skills Service Organisation (SSO)
As reported last month, the Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) was defunded and ceased to trade on 31 December 2015. Its joint Expression of Interest with Service Skills Australia, however, to operate as a Skills Service Organisation (SSO) has been successful. The result is SkillsIQ Limited.
This is not a merger of these organisations, but a new not-for-profit company which will work to support training package development with a range of IRCs allocated by the AISC.
READ MORE>>
Councils and committees
Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) meeting
The AISC held its sixth meeting on 18 February in Melbourne, the first meeting under the new arrangements for training product development that commenced on 1 January 2016. No communiqué is currently available for this meeting.
At the meeting the AISC endorsed the following eight training packages for implementation:
- SIT Tourism, Travel and Hospitality
- MSF Furnishing
- PSP Public Sector
- FWP Forest and Wood Products (R2)
- AV1 Aviation (R3)
- MAR Maritime (R4)
- TL1 Transport and Logistics (R2)
- MSL Laboratory Operations.
NCVER update
AVETMISS reporting reminder
The NCVER has issued a reminder to RTOs about meeting their VET data reporting obligations: the collection of total VET activity data is now underway and the deadline (29 February 2016) for reporting 2015 nationally accredited fee-for-service training activity is rapidly approaching.
If you haven’t already provided your AVETMISS data to either NCVER or your state training authority, now is the time to start validating and submitting your data.
AVETMISS SUPPORT>>
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the links below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
UPDATE 3/02/2016>>
UPDATE 17/02/2016>>
UPDATE 02/03/2016>>
VET funding declines
In the Report on Government Services (RoGS) published by the Productivity Commission in January, recurrent funding for the VET sector by Commonwealth, state and territory governments totalled $5.2 billion in 2014, which was a 12 percent cut from 2013.
READ MORE>>
Five-Point plan for North Queensland
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Queensland Government’s five-point plan to stimulate jobs in North Queensland. The expansion of retraining and skills initiatives, including Skilling Queenslanders for Work, forms part of the plan.
READ MORE>>
Webinar: Supporting students with disabilities
Register now for NCVER’s and ADCET’s webinar showcasing the findings from the recently released NCVER report Supporting tertiary students with disabilities: exploring the use of individualised and institution-level approaches in practice. The webinar, on Thursday 10 March from 1-2pm AEDT, will be presented by Dr Annie Venville and Professor Ellie Fossey.
REGISTRATION>>
Recent VET Publications
What the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) Didn’t Say About Skills and Jobs
Craig Fowler
The recent launch of the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) sets out four interrelated clusters of initiatives with a collective purpose to increase productivity, support high wage jobs and the next wave of economic prosperity. But, writes Dr Craig Fowler NCVER’s Managing Director, other initiatives essential to an effective national innovative system are largely overlooked.
OPINION PIECE>>
Building learner foundation skills is your responsibility
Allison Miller
All VET practitioners using units with foundation skills explicitly included in them need to assess their learners’ required foundation skills. This blog has useful tips and resource suggestions for doing this.
BLOG>>
Graduate programs for VET students: is there a need?
Bridget Wibrow & Laura Jackson
This ‘at a glance’ looks at whether graduate programs – a type of employment program targeted at recent graduates – are feasible for vocational education and training (VET) students. These programs are more common in higher education but could have the potential to improve the number of VET students employed in their intended occupation after training. However, to improve their uptake, the benefits of employing recent graduates need to be promoted to employers. It also touches on work-integrated learning to improve the work experience of VET students.
RESEARCH SUMMARY>>
Other News of Interest
New VET law in Queensland
In a media release on 25 February, QLD Minister for Training and Skills, the Hon Yvette D’Ath, welcomed the passage of the Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) and Another Act Amendment Bill 2015, saying it would support a robust quality VET system for students, apprentices, trainees and employers. The Act establishes an independent Training Ombudsman for the VET sector, to act as a watchdog.
READ MORE>>
Australia attracts international students
In a media release on 29 February, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Tourism and International Education, noted that international education delivered almost $20 billion into the economy last year, confirming its importance to the economic and social future of Australia. Almost half a million international students from nearly two hundred countries studied in Australia in 2015, demonstrating Australia’s strong global-competitiveness in education.
READ MORE>>
Federal government asked to cancel student debts after college collapse
The federal government is being asked to cancel the VET FEE-HELP debts of thousands of students impacted by the collapse of Aspire College of Education and three related entities.
Victorian Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said he will be writing to the federal minister asking that students have their loans cancelled and offering assistance from Victorian TAFEs to help place students into alternative courses.
READ MORE>>
Pam Christie joins ASQA
Pam Christie has joined ASQA as the agency’s acting Executive Director, Regulatory Operations. Ms Christie has held a number of senior government positions in the education and training sector over the past 20 years, including Managing Director of TAFE New South Wales and Deputy Director-General of the New South Wales Department of Education. In that time, she has led policy, regulatory and funding reforms across public, community and private training organisations.
In her role at ASQA, Ms Christie will assist Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson and Commissioner, Risk, Intelligence and Regulatory Support, Michael Lavarch, with a range of strategic and operational priorities and responsibilities while the Australian Government undertakes a recruitment process for the position of Commissioner, Regulatory Operations.
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © Newbery Consulting 2016, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
enquiries@newberyconsulting.com.au
VET News – 1 February 2016
Hi there,
I have been getting many questions about the approaching requirement for RTO Chief Executive Officers to submit an annual declaration to the National Regulator about their compliance. So, I have put my thoughts down in a Blog to address these questions. You can access that on our website at the following page: http://newberyconsulting.com.au/ceo-annual-declaration. The declaration is due by the 31st Mar 2016 (see here) for the details on the ASQA website.
There are some other significant news in this edition. Of note is the announcement of the new Skills Service Organisations. Only five announced some who have a massive span of responsibility across many training packages. It will be interesting to look back in 2-3 years and see how this model goes. We have effectively tendered out the maintenance and development of training packages. I don’t know how the tender will work, but if those businesses get paid on the basis of the amendments they make to the training packages (which is a reasonable assumption) then we could be in for a very turbulent time in regards to responding to changes published on TGA. I sincerely hope that a KPI in the contract is to provide RTOs some stability in the training products being delivered. Watch this space.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA update
Reminder—New Standards clauses came into effect on 1 January 2016. Additional clauses in the Standards for RTOs 2015 (the Standards) came into effect for all RTOs on 1 January 2016.
These clauses relate to the competency requirements for trainers and assessors and RTOs applying for—or delivering qualifications or the assessor skill set from—the Training and Education Training Package.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2992/reminder-new-standards-clauses-come-into-effect-from-1-january-2016.html
Annual declaration on compliance. ASQA has now released the form and instructions for an RTO’s annual declaration on compliance with the Standards. This declaration can be made using an online form.
The first submission of the annual declaration will be required by 31 March 2016.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news/3005/declaration-of-compliance-form-now-online.html
Security industry strategic review. ASQA has published the findings of its national strategic review of training for the security industry.
ASQA Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson said inconsistent licensing arrangements across states and territories and poor quality training and assessment were posing fundamental challenges to ensuring licensed security personnel were equipped to safely carry out their duties.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news/2994/security-report.html
A new ASQANET portal is coming soon. ASQAnet is a web portal that allows RTOs to lodge applications and other information with ASQA.
At present, ASQAnet is limited to VET application services; however, this will soon be changing. ASQA is currently developing a system that will replace ASQAnet and provide users with a much broader range of services and cater for the needs of more of our external stakeholders.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news/3004/a-new-asqanet-portal-is-coming-soon.html
Email scam alert. ASQA has received a number of calls regarding a possible email scam using the details listed on training.gov.au (TGA).
It appears an email is sent from the listed RTO’s CEO email address to another contact person listed on TGA advising there is an urgent request. Once the email is responded to, a request is received from the ‘CEO’ for urgent transfer of funds. RTOs are advised to report the scam to Scamwatch and contact TGA.
USI update
Extension to ‘single-day course’ exemption from USI requirements. The USI initiative became mandatory from 1 January 2015 for all nationally recognised VET delivery, except where specific exemptions apply.
The temporary partial exemption for ‘single-day courses’ from the USI was scheduled to lapse on 31 December 2015.
Following an amendment to the Student Identifiers (Exemptions) Instrument 2014 this exemption has been extended until 31 December 2016.
VET reform
Narrowing the range of VET FEE-HELP courses. The federal government is looking at narrowing the range of courses that are eligible for VET FEE-HELP.
In an interview on Sydney radio 2UE, the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Luke Hartsuyker said the government was looking at curtailing public funding for courses of “dubious value”.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/hartsuyker/interview-tim-webster-2ue-and-changes-vet-coming-effect-today
New Skills Service Organisations announced. The Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Luke Hartsuyker, has announced the five organisations selected as Skills Service Organisations to work with Industry Reference Committees to develop modern and relevant training packages.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/hartsuyker/new-skills-service-organisations-announced
Quality of VET assessment. At the 20 November 2015 meeting of the COAG Industry and Skills Council it was agreed the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP, would consult with VET stakeholders and all jurisdictions on reform options to improve assessment in VET.
To support this consultation process, the Quality of assessment in vocational education and training – Discussion Paper has been released to seek stakeholder views on reforms to improve the conduct of assessment in VET.
http://www.education.gov.au/improving-quality-assessment-vet
Change control document for VET FEE-HELP reform. On 21 January 2016 the Department of Training and Education published a change control document that provides a comparison table to identify the changes from VET Guidelines 2015 to Higher Education Support VET Guidelines 2015.
https://docs.education.gov.au/node/39416
Recovering student loans from overseas residents. From 1 January 2016, Australian graduates residing overseas are required to notify the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to arrange repayments.
Minister Birmingham said recouping debts under the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) or Trade Support Loan (TSL) scheme would ensure Australia’s world-class, income-contingent student loans scheme was fairer and more sustainable into the future.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/recovering-student-loans-overseas-residents-0
Councils and committees
Video message from John Pollaers. In a short audio-visual message, Mr John Pollaers, Chair of the AISC, reflects on the Committee’s progress during its first six months of operation.
Mr Pollaers also emphasises the importance of gathering stakeholder views and the critical role of Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) in helping to identify the skills needed to maximise Australia’s productivity, innovation and competitiveness.
https://www.education.gov.au/videos/audio-visual-message-chair-australian-industry-and-skills-committee
AISC 2016 meeting dates
- 18 February 2016: Melbourne
- 21 and 22 March 2016: Sydney
- 5 May 2016: Darwin
- 15 June 2016: Canberra
- 28 July 2016: Brisbane
- 8 and 9 September 2016: Sydney
- 20 October 2016: Adelaide
- 1 December 2016: Hobart
NCVER update
AVETMISS reporting. The collection window for reporting 2015 AVETMISS data opened on the 4 January 2016. All RTOs who delivered nationally accredited training in 2015 are required to report their training activity by 29 February 2016.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/supportContent/!
Training Package News
TGA updates
Training package changes. There are new releases of the following training packages:
- ICT Release 2.0: 14 January 2016
- ICT Release 3.0: 18 January 2016
- ICP Release 2.0: 15 January 2016
- CUA Release 2.0: 15 January 2016
- BSB Release 2.0: 14 January 2016
- FNS Release 2.0: 14 January 2016
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the link below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/c7c3874b-6388-4686-bddc-1e33ed806789/file.aspx
Sydney Build 2016 Expo
The CPSISC is taking part in the Sydney Build 2016 Exhibition on 10-11 March 2016 at Australian Technology Park, Sydney and has issued an invitation to attend the two-day event for free.
http://www.sydneybuildexpo.com/register/
Recovering funding from providers
The Victorian government is in the process of recovering $30 million paid to training providers following a quality audit.
The Department of Education and Training says it has investigated 36 providers, resulting in the termination of eight government-funded training contracts. A further four providers have been issued with an intention to terminate notice while another four have been allowed to continue training but with restrictions imposed.
The Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said the government is introducing stricter contracts for 2016 and will spend $30 million over the next three years to identify high risk training providers.
http://www.steveherbertmp.com.au/media-releases/quality-blitz-recovering-30-million-in-government-funds/
Recent VET Publications
Towards more effective continuing education and training for Australian workers
Stephen Billett, Sarojni Choy, Darryl Dymock, Ray Smith, Amanda Henderson, Mark Tyler, Ann Kelly
A more holistic continuing education and training system, one that acknowledges, supports and recognises the value of work-based learning, would better address the ongoing needs of Australian workers. But a widespread learning culture with support from policy-makers, employers, training providers and employees is required to make the most of such a system. These are some of the findings to emerge from a three-year program of research that aimed to investigate what might form the basis of an effective continuing education and training system. This report discusses the final stage of the project and proposes ways forward.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Government-funded students and courses – January to September 2015
NCVER
This publication provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, training providers and funding in Australia’s government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system (broadly defined as all activity delivered by government providers and government-funded activity delivered by community education and other registered providers).
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Balancing consistency and flexibility in student training entitlements: research overview
Kaye Bowman, Suzy McKenna, Tabatha Griffin
This research overview summarises the work undertaken by Kaye Bowman and Suzy McKenna that explored the jurisdictional approaches to student training entitlement funding and associated provider quality standards and the implications for the fundamental principles of the national training system.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Related reports are:
- Jurisdictional approaches to student training entitlements: commonalities and differences (Research report)
- Student entitlement models in Australia’s national training system: expert views (Occasional paper)
- The development of Australia’s national training system: a dynamic tension between consistency and flexibility (Occasional paper)
Other News of Interest
CS&HISC closure. The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) has announced they have been defunded and their office closed its operations on 18 December 2015, as their contract ceased on 31 December 2015.
http://www.cshisc.com.au/media-centre/latest-news/closure-of-cshisc/
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © Newbery Consulting 2016, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
enquiries@newberyconsulting.com.au
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VET News – 23 December 2015
Hi there,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. Well it’s been a big year (as always!) in the VET sector. We have seen some significant changes including the following:
- The introduction of the Unique Student Identifier (USI) from 1 January 2015
- The first compulsory Total VET Activity report submitted in February 2015
- The introduction of the new Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 in April 2015
- Introduction of the VET FEE-HELP Guidelines from 1 July 2015
- Commencing the process of replacing Industry Skills Councils with Skills Service Organisations in August 2015
Of course there were many other less significant reforms throughout the year. Overall it has been a relatively turbulent year for change. Of significance has been the impact of the problems in the VET Fee Help market. You will know that I have been a vocal critic of those profiteering in this area of our sector at the expense of students. I am pleased with the steps taken by the Government and Regulatory Authorities to clean up this market. I am hopeful that those RTOs who have been investigated and found to have acted unlawfully or unethically are brought to account. I am also hopeful that, in this process of reform that those responsible for administering the VET Fee Help program are also looking at their own processes.
Is someone asking the question, how a brand new RTO can get access to the VET Fee Help contract and within two years of their initial registration collect over 100 million dollars in HELP fees whilst achieving very poor completions? I mean,, why was there not checkpoints or mechanisms to flag these providers at say the 5 or 10 million dollar mark? Clearly there were problems with the contract management arrangements in the Department. I acknowledge that the VET Fee Help Amendment Bill will prevent some of these things happening in the future. But seriously!! What was happening in the Department over the period 2012-2014 when everything got out of control? It is fine for the media to blame private providers, but what about the responsible Department and the individuals in the Department that had personal responsibility for overseeing these contracts? This article published in the Herald yesterday Click Here includes a great graphic that also explains how these scams work and how the money is distributed throughout the student recruitment chain.
I sincerely hope that we are now on the down cycle of cleaning up this sector. It has been a very damaging period for the reputation of the VET sector generally. This is frustrating as we have some fantastic providers who are delivering very high quality education and training to their students. We must work harder at getting the good stories out there as the regulator cleans out the bad providers. I hope that 2016 is a year when the reputation and integrity of our sector will start to repair. We can have such a positive impact on the lives of our students and on the industries we support.
Newbery Consulting is now closing for a well-earned break. Some staff will return on the 4th Jan 2016 as we have an update going out for RTO Data. In closing, I would like to just publically thank our wonderful team of staff and contractors. It has been another great year for us. I am so inspired by their commitment and hard work to support our clients.
I hope you all have a safe and restful time over the Christmas and New Year period.
Good training,
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA update
First annual declaration of compliance due in March 2016. Clause 8.4 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 require each RTO to provide ASQA with an annual declaration on compliance with the Standards. An RTO must confirm to ASQA that it:
- systematically monitors the RTO’s compliance, and
- implements preventive and corrective improvements where considered necessary.
The first submission of the annual declaration is required by 31 March 2016.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2978/first-annual-declaration-of-compliance-will-be-due-in-march-2016.html
Aged and community care webinar recording. During November, ASQA and the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) hosted a series of free webinars for RTOs offering qualifications in aged and community care.
The interactive webcasts provided an update on what has been achieved since the release of ASQA’s strategic review, including the implementation of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 and revisions to the training package.
A video of the webinar can be viewed on ASQA’s YouTube channel;
https://www.youtube.com/user/ASQAvideos
Strategic review of equine training. ASQA has released the findings of its national Strategic Review of training in equine training programs, which was prompted by the tragic death of a young student in a horse riding accident whilst undertaking training.
Eleven recommendations have been made to address the concerns that ASQA identified during the review.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2973/eleven-recommendations-to-enhance-equine-training1.html
Update on targeted audits of VET FEE-HELP providers. ASQA has released additional details following the report of its findings on 20 October 2015.
This includes information on five RTOs were still subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny by ASQA at the time of the report’s release.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2968/update-on-targeted-audits-of-vet-fee-help-providers.html
Statement regarding Phoenix Institute of Australia Pty Ltd. On 23 November 2015 ASQA cancelled the registration of Phoenix Institute of Australia Pty Ltd (RTO 21582) as a provider of vocational education and training (VET) services, including to overseas students.
ASQA’s decision will take effect from 6 January 2016. The provider is able to seek a review of ASQA’s decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2959/statement-regarding-phoenix-institute-of-australia-pty-ltd.html
New CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support. On 6 August 2015 CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support superseded the Certificate III qualifications in Aged Care, Home and Community Care and Disability. The new qualification now has these three areas of care as specialisations.
ASQA advises that the new qualification and its three specialisations are not equivalent to any of the superseded qualifications. RTOs will therefore have to apply to ASQA to add this qualification to scope if they wish to deliver it.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2958/new-chc33015-certificate-iii-in-individual-support.html
VET Reform
Amendment Bill for VET FEE-HELP (VFH) reform. The Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 was finally passed by both Houses of Parliament on 3 December 2015, with an effective date of 1 January 2015.
On 8 December 2015 the Department of Education and Training issued VFH providers with an update (not publicly available) that provided no indication of any transitional period for the implement of the changes. Needless to say it has been a busy month for VFH providers. As at the date of writing no formal amendment to the VET Guidelines 2015 has yet been published.
The amendment will include:
- A range of student protection requirements
- A freeze on loan growth at 2015 levels
- Changes to approval criteria for new providers
- Changes to financial viability requirements for providers
- Changes to payment arrangements.
One of the most significant changes, especially for new VFH providers, will the freeze on loan growth. VET providers will only be able to offer VFH loans up to the maximum of their 2015 loan amounts, providing no opportunity for expansion.
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r5535_ems_70f921f2-7cd5-40b5-99d0-90ddf526f2e8/upload_pdf/504005-b.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf
VET sector stakeholders endorse government’s deregulation agenda. In a media release on 13 November 2015, the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP said that a recent survey by ASQA showed that 74 per cent of industry stakeholders agreed or strongly agreed that VET regulatory reforms implemented in 2014 had reduced the regulatory burden on the sector.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/hartsuyker/vet-sector-stakeholders-endorse-governments-deregulation-agenda
Councils and Committees
COAG Industry Skills Council Communiqué – 20 November 2015. The skills session of the Council of Australia Governments (COAG) Industry and Skills Council met in Hobart on 20 November. This was the first session chaired by the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP, Australian Government Minister for Vocational Education and Skills.
To ensure high quality within the system, the CISC agreed that further reform options be developed to improve the quality of assessment of student training outcomes. CISC agreed that Minister Hartsuyker will consult with VET stakeholders and jurisdictions on options to improve assessment in VET and report back to CISC with possible reform options in 2016.
https://docs.education.gov.au/documents/communique-coag-industry-and-skills-council-meetings-skills-ministers-20-november-2015
Australian Industry Skills Committee Communiqué – 1 December 2015. The Australian Industry and Skills Committee held its fifth meeting in Hobart on 1 December 2015 chaired by Mr John Pollaers.
https://docs.education.gov.au/node/39001
COAG Communiqué – 11 December 2015. At its 41st meeting today in Sydney, COAG focussed on reforms to drive economic growth, improve living standards and make our community safer.
The Council noted that further work will be undertaken on options to reform vocational education and training, for initial consideration at COAG’s first meeting in 2016.
https://www.coag.gov.au/node/529
USI Update
In the latest update from the Unique Identifiers Registrar on 1 December 2015 it was reported that we have officially reached over 3.8 Million USIs.
The update includes:
- Fresh new look website!
- New USI helpline
- Transcripts are coming – Get your data right!
- Inform, Create/Collect, Verify and Report!
http://usitaskforce.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/t/EE784D54C8CD169E/20DDE2CF102209CDF6A1C87C670A6B9F
Student Identifiers Registrar appointed. Minister for Vocational Education and Skills the Hon Luke Hartsuyker has welcomed the appointment of Mr Jason Coutts as the Unique Student Indentifiers (USI) Registrar, responsible for overseeing the USI initiative nationally. Mr Coutts has over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, including the role of Head of the USI Taskforce.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/hartsuyker/student-identifiers-registrar-appointed
Training Package News
TGA Updates
Training package changes. There are new releases of the following training packages:
- MSM Release 1.0: 15 December 2015
- RII Release 2.0: 14 December 2015
- HLT Release 3.0: 8 December 2015
- CHC Release 3.0: 8 December 2015
- NWP Release 1.0: 7 December 2015
- SIS Release 2.0: 7 December 2015
- MEA Release 1.3: 17 November 2015
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the link below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/41c14afd-6aa8-4f07-87db-20e83dd31658/file.aspx
Victorian VET funding review
The Victorian government has released the Final Report of The VET Funding Review (Mackenzie Report) with 109 recommendations.
Skills minister Steve Herbert says the government accepts the “general thrust” of the report and its recommendations. It will take the next year to work through design and implementation issues and to consult with stakeholders ahead of the introduction of a new funding model in 2017.
http://vetfundingreview.vic.gov.au/docs/VET_Funding_Review.pdf
Recent VET Publications
Financial information 2014
This publication provides information on how government-funded vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is financed and where the money is spent. The publication is based on 2014 data provided by the Australian government, and state and territory government departments responsible for administering public funds for Australia’s VET system.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Supporting tertiary students with a disability or mental illness: good practice guide
Through the implementation of the principles outlined in this good practice guide, teaching staff and disability services staff in tertiary institutions will be better positioned to provide additional supports for students with a disability or mental illness. Based on two research reports, which consider the perspectives of students, disability services workers and teaching staff, this guide offers a wide range of individual and institution-level learning supports with the aim of improving the educational experience and rate of course completions for students with a disability or mental illness.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Interpreting total VET activity data
Following the release of total VET activity (TVA) data, NCVER has added to the information available about this important data collection, including information about interpreting TVA data. NCVER will continue to add fact sheets and other information to the range of TVA products to help further understanding of this significant release of data.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/newsEventsOpinionpieces/
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Industry restructuring and job loss: helping older workers get back into employment
Restructuring in the Australian manufacturing industry has resulted in many Australians being displaced from their jobs. This particularly impacts older, lower-skilled workers. Involving an extensive review of past research and case studies in four states, this research identifies practices that can assist with the successful skills transfer, re-skilling and the attainment of new jobs by displaced older workers in the manufacturing industry.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery
VET News – 19 November 2015
Hello everyone,
I hope this newsletter finds you all well. I highly recommend reviewing the VET Fee Help audit report released by ASQA recently. I think that we must keep in mind that the majority of providers in the VET Fee Help market are providing great services. I am certainly please however that ASQA is taking action to clean up this sector of the industry.
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA update
Findings from VET FEE-HELP audit. On 20 October 2015 ASQA released the findings from its VET FEE-HELP audit project. The project was launched in April following an increase in the number of complaints against RTOs approved to participate in the VET FEE-HELP scheme.
ASQA undertook 21 targeted audits and interviewed more than 400 students.
You can read the media release here;
http://asqa.gov.au/news-and-publications/regulator-releases-findings-from-vet-fee-help-audit-project.html
You can read the report here;
http://asqa.gov.au/verve/_resources/VET_FEE-HELP_audit_report.pdf
ASQA Deputy Chief Commissioner to retire. Dr Dianne Orr has announced that she will retire from her statutory office as Commissioner with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) next month.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2951/asqa-deputy-chief-commissioner-to-retire.html
ASQA annual report 2014-15. ASQA released its annual report in Federal Parliament on 22 October 2015.
The report covers key achievements and developments for ASQA for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015, including its regulation of training providers and the implementation of reforms aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on high performing providers while targeting activity toward poor quality providers.
http://asqa.gov.au/verve/_resources/ASQA_Annual_Report_2014-15.pdf
ASQA welcomes ACCC action. The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Unique International College for allegedly making false or misleading representations and engaging in misleading or deceptive and unconscionable conduct when enrolling students into VET FEE-HELP funded courses.
ASQA announced last week that it had cancelled Unique’s registration as a provider of vocational education and training and educational services, including to overseas students.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2936/asqa-welcomes-accc-action-against-training-provider.html
Article 2 in ASQA’s guidance series for VET accredited course developers. The standard addressed in this second article is VAC 7.2. This standard relates to the use of nationally endorsed units of competency where these are available, and where these are not available, the development of units of competency or modules.
http://asqa.gov.au/course-accreditation/standards-for-vet-accredited-courses/demonstrating-compliance-standard-7.2.html
Free webinar for aged and community care training providers. RTOs offering qualifications in aged and community care will shortly receive an invitation from ASQA to register for one of three free webcasts being hosted later this month by ASQA and the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC).
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2950/asqa-and-skills-council-to-host-free-webinar-for-aged-and-community-care-training-providers.html
VRQA update
Employers lose ability to employ commercial cookery apprentices. The VRQA has investigated 76 employers employing 152 commercial cookery apprentices to check that apprentices were being properly supervised and trained as part of a regulatory campaign.
A range of problems were uncovered and as a result of the investigation 93 training contracts have been cancelled (including 29 voluntary cancellations) and 45 employer approvals have been revoked.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/enews/Pages/Edition-48/article1.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VRQA%20e-news%20-%20Edition%2048&utm_content=VRQA%20e-news%20-%20Edition%2048+CID_eba4d21b79ce3e1b4498dd724bcbb6f7&utm_source=VRQA%20electronic%20newsletter&utm_term=Read%20more
VRQA Annual Report 2014–15. The report provides details of significant achievements during the 2014–15 financial year, as well as operational and financial data.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/enews/Pages/Edition-48/article4.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VRQA%20e-news%20-%20Edition%2048&utm_content=VRQA%20e-news%20-%20Edition%2048+CID_eba4d21b79ce3e1b4498dd724bcbb6f7&utm_source=VRQA%20electronic%20newsletter&utm_term=VRQA%20Annual%20Report%20201415
VET FEE-HELP reform
On 15 October 2015, the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills the Hon Luke Hartsuyker, introduced legislation that will strengthen the protections for students in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and push unscrupulous training providers out of the market.
The Higher Education Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and seeks to prevent inappropriate enrolments and debts by:
- introducing a two day cooling off period between enrolment and the application for a VET FEE-HELP loan so that course enrolment is no longer confused with the loan application process;
- introducing minimum pre-requisites such as literacy and numeracy to ensure students can complete the higher level VET courses (diploma level and above) for which VET FEE-HELP is available; and
- requiring a parent’s or guardian’s signature before a student under 18 years can request a VET FEE-HELP loan to protect younger students.
The Bill will also further protect students and taxpayers by:
- making it easier for a student to have their debt cancelled where they have been signed up for a loan inappropriately and for the Government to recoup the cost from providers;
- introducing minimum registration and trading history requirements to ensure new VET FEE-HELP provider applicants have a proven history of delivering quality training;
- introducing infringement notices and financial penalties for breaches of the VET FEE-HELP Guidelines; and
- technical amendments to strengthen the Department’s administration of the scheme and its partnerships with ASQA to monitor and enforce compliance.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/hartsuyker/vet-fee-help-bill-push-dodgy-providers-out-market
TAC Update
The latest publication from TAC includes the following updates:
- Maximum registration period increased from five to seven year
- Addition of new training products
- Removal of superseded training products and removed / deleted qualifications
- Inclusion of Skill Sets in RTOs’ implicit scope of registration
- Planning for 2016/Christmas Shutdown
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/newsandevent/Pages/TAC-Update—Issue-34—November-2015.aspx
New standards for higher education
A new Higher Education Standards Framework legislative instrument has been made by the Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham and was tabled in Parliament on 12 October 2015
http://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/Media-Centre/Media-Releases/ID/2856/New-Standards-Raise-the-Bar-on-University-Student-Experience
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the link below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/c7c3874b-6388-4686-bddc-1e33ed806789/file.aspx
New National Work Experience Programme
A new National Work Experience Programme is now available to help job seekers gain experience and confidence while demonstrating skills to potential employers.
The work experience programme will give employers the opportunity to see if a job seeker is a good fit for their organisation and offers employers the opportunity for a wage subsidy where they offer a job seeker paid employment.
You can read the media release here;
http://ministers.employment.gov.au/work-experience-help-job-seekers-work-0
You can read the programme here;
https://www.employment.gov.au/national-work-experience-programme
Australian Government training resources
The Australian Government Department of Social Services has funded the development of complimentary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Training Resources to address the need for culturally appropriate training resources suitable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
http://resources.hktc.com.au/login-form/
Recent VET Publications
Total VET students and course 2014
This publication gives a summary of vocational education and training (VET) delivered in 2014 by Australian training providers. This picture of training activity is otherwise known as ‘total VET activity’, to reflect that the information is now collected from all types of providers and not merely the providers receiving Commonwealth and state funding. In this publication, information is provided on the number of training providers, students, enrolments in programs, enrolments in subjects, hours of delivery and program completions.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Employers’ use and views of the VET system 2015
This survey collects information about employers’ use and views of the vocational education and training (VET) system and the various ways employers use the VET system to meet their skill needs. Information collected is designed to measure employers’ engagement and satisfaction with the VET system.
The 2015 survey data show that while employers’ overall use of VET remains steady, the proportion of employers with apprentices and trainees continues to decline. Despite this decline, 81.7% of employers were satisfied that apprentices and trainees are receiving the skills they require through training, a similar proportion to 2013.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent
Government funded students and courses – January to June 2015
From January to June this year, 1.07 million students enrolled in Australia’s government-funded VET system newly reported data indicates. For the second time, NCVER has published a quarterly report on government-funded training; it shows 63.4% of students were enrolled at TAFE and other government providers, 31.5% at private training providers and 4.5% at community education providers. In terms of qualifications, 37.2% of all students enrolled in certificate III qualifications.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Alternative pathways to apprenticeships – good practice guide
This good practice guide collates the relevant key findings for education practitioners and workplace supervisors from three research reports that look at different aspects of earlier completion such as competency-based progression and recognition of prior learning. Although the research highlights the benefits of completion, it also identifies gaps in communicating and supporting alternative pathways between policy-makers and program administrators, as well as communications between the training provider and the workplace. (NB. The three research reports can also be accessed from the link below.)
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Other News of Interest
Queensland Government establishes Training Ombudsman
On 14 October 2015, the Minister for Training and Skills, Yvette D’Ath, outlined the remit of the Training Ombudsman, as part of the government’s commitment to providing quality training and reinvigorating the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Queensland.
http://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/pages/trainingombudsman.html
Launch of Total VET Activity report
A more comprehensive picture of national training is emerging with the first release of new data that indicates almost a quarter (23.3%) of working-aged people (15 to 64 years) undertook some form of vocational education and training (VET) in 2014. The data, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), was reported by 4601 Australian providers following the introduction of mandatory reporting of training activity.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/media/!
Victoria training market half year report
The latest Victoria training market half year report shows a marked decline in government subsided training, with 12% fewer enrolments in 2015 compared to the same time in 2014. TAFE enrolments were at their lowest point in five years.
http://the-scan.com/2015/10/28/vic-tafe-enrolments-hit-5-year-low/
Federal government summit focuses on skills training
As reported in The Australian on 2 October 2015, the Turnbull government’s summit of business, trade union and community groups identified an overhaul of the training and education sector, a federal takeover of TAFE and changes to the work-for-the-dole scheme as key priorities. (The following link may require a subscription.)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&mode=premium&dest=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/turnbull-summit-make-focus-on-skills-training-our-business/story-fn59nlz9-1227552994155?sv=464c7e7f835ee05cff21442c5c5bb708&memtype=anonymous
Recovering student loans from overseas students
The federal government expects to recover up to $30 million a year following the passage of laws that will require people living overseas to repay their student or trade support loans. Until now, people who took out a loan under the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) or a Trade Support Loan (TSL) and moved overseas were under no obligation to repay it. The new legislation will make it necessary for anyone earning above the $54,126 threshold to repay the loan, no matter where they live.
http://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/Media-Centre/Media-Releases/ID/2866/Recovering-student-loans-from-overseas-residents
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery
VET News – 9 October 2015
Hello everyone,
Hope you are all well. Welcome to our October VET News and welcome to all of our new subscribers that have joined us this month. The big event for us in September was the National VET Conference in Adelaide which was staged by Velg Training. Velg as always did an amazing job and the conference was a great success. We used the conference as a point to celebrate our 10th year anniversary in business. We had so much fun and met up with many existing and new clients. We will definitely be attending the conference next year which is on the Gold Coast 15-16 Sep 2016.
I want to just make a special note to thank Sarah Funke our Operations Manager who completely planned and implemented all aspects of Newbery Consulting’s participation at the conference. This was no small task and involved many moving parts to coordinate and liaise with the conference organiser, suppliers, etc. The result was amazing and really is a credit to Sarah’s hard work and professionalism. It’s great to have such committed staff in our organisation. Enjoy the news.
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA update
Two new fact sheets. With its new capacity to issue infringement notices for breaches of relevant civil penalty provisions, ASQA has published a fact sheet to explain how infringement notices are issued, and to ensure RTOs understand their rights and obligations. The new fact sheet relating to third parties helps to clarify what constitutes a ‘third-party arrangement’ under the Standards, and provides guidance to RTOs in meeting the requirements of the Standards.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/media-and-publications/infringement-notices.html
http://www.asqa.gov.au/media-and-publications/third-party-arrangements.html
Strategic Review: Early childhood education and care training. ASQA has released a report on the findings from its national Strategic Review into early childhood education and care training. It has made 10 recommendations to address the issues that were identified in the sector, including the inclusion of minimum training requirements for each unit of competency and qualification across the whole vocational education and training sector.
You can read the report here; http://www.asqa.gov.au/verve/_resources/Strategic_Review_2015_Early_Childhood_Education_Report.pdf
You can read the media release here;
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news-and-publications/review-of-childcare-training-makes-10-recommendations.html
More guidance for accredited course developers. Over the coming months, the ASQA Accreditation team will be publishing information about each of the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 to provide guidance to course developers on demonstrating compliance. ASQA are also planning to publish a range of fact sheets and a Users’ Guide to the Standards for VET Accredited Courses.
In its first edition, ASQA covers VAC 7.1—VET accredited courses are based on an established industry, enterprise, education, legislative or community need.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/course-accreditation/standards-for-vet-accredited-courses/demonstrating-compliance.html
RTO compliance is on the increase. ASQA’s Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson announced that compliance rates since new national Standards were implemented showed that 87 per cent of RTOs were compliant at the end of the audit process. This compares to 82.4 per cent compliance rate under the previous Standards. Mr Robinson attributed the increase in compliance rates to the new Standards being clearer, as well as ASQA’s efforts to increase the information and guidance it provides to RTOs. He said ASQA was planning to undertake another round of information sessions/briefings targeted specifically at RTOs in the first half of 2016.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news-and-publications/compliance-with-training-standards-increasing.html
VRQA update
New powers for the VRQA. A number of new powers for the VRQA under the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Child Safe Schools) Act 2015 (the Act) were proclaimed on 1 July 2015 and are now in effect.
The new powers relate to the regulation of school education including the ability to accept an enforceable undertaking from the proprietor or principal of a registered school. An amended VRQA Enforceable Undertaking Policy has been published.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/enews/Pages/Edition-47/article1.aspx?
Closing date for applications to amend scope. Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are reminded that all Form B applications to amend the scope of registration must be received by the VRQA no later than Monday 19 October 2015 in order for any required site audits to be scheduled in 2015.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/enews/Pages/Edition-47/article3.aspx?
NCVER update
The September edition of NCVER’s Data Support Bulletin has information on the following:
- Classification and validation updates
- Data retention & the Australian Privacy Principles
- Fixing validation errors
- Student Enrolment Form update
- Tips for 2015 submissions to NCVER
- Review of the AVETMIS Standard – call for feedback
- SMS vendor update
- Unique Student Identifier – tips when creating USIs for students
https://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/supportContent/
Training Package News
TGA updates
Training package changes. There are new releases of the following training packages:
SFL Release 1.0: 25 September 2015
MSF Release 1.3: 10 September 2015
CPP Release 2.0: 8 September 2015
MAR Release 3.0: 7 September 2015
AVI Release 1.0: 4 September 2015
Change to the way skill sets are displayed on training.gov.au (TGA). Back in July all RTOs had their TGA scope of registration automatically updated to show the skills sets they could deliver. This was based on the implicit units of competency for their existing scope of registration. The issue was that unlike implicit units, TGA automatically displayed the implicit skill set registration on an RTO’s scope. From 2 September, TGA will only display implicit skill set registration when the ‘Include implicit skill set scope’ option is selected.
http://www.asqa.gov.au/news/2883/listing-skill-sets-on-training.gov.au-will-soon-be-an-option.html
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the links below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/e998b2c9-36da-4fc9-99c3-f46fed1a18a2/file.aspx
Keynote presentations: National VET Conference
The 2015 National VET Conference in Adelaide on 17-18 September 2015 included keynote presentations from ASQA’s Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson who presented on Day 1 of the event, and Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training who presented on Day 2. Velg have posted videos of both presentations for your viewing pleasure.
Chris Robinson: https://vimeo.com/140376440
Simon Birmingham: https://vimeo.com/140280347
Decline in VET funding intensifies
VET spending in Australia has fallen back to levels of more than a decade ago, while funding for schools and higher education has soared, according to new research from the Mitchell Institute. The Institute says that one year on from research which showed spending on schooling and higher education far outstripping spending on VET, the trend has intensified.
Among the three sectors, expenditure on higher education has grown the fastest, up by over 40% in real terms in the eleven years to 2013-14. Expenditure on schools has grown by approximately 25% over the same period. Expenditure on VET has grown much more slowly, by around 15% to 2012-13, before experiencing a sharp decline in the most recent year, leaving VET expenditure only around 5% higher than 2003-4 levels.
http://www.mitchellinstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Expenditure_on_education_and_training_in_Australia_2015_Update_and_analysis.pdf
Expansion of Industry Skills Fund Youth Stream Pilots
Community organisations and businesses across Australia will now be able to benefit from the Industry Skills Fund’s Youth Stream Pilots: Youth Employment Pathways and Training for Employment Scholarships. The pilots will operate nationally until 30 June 2016 and aim to deliver positive outcomes for disengaged and unemployed young people.
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/national-expansion-industry-skills-fund-youth-pilots
Broader access to subsidised training in NSW
The NSW government is to provide greater access to subsidised training for students with existing qualifications. The Minister for Skills John Barilaro announced that from 2016, students with a Certificate IV or higher qualification will be able to access subsidised training at the Foundation Skills and Certificates II and III levels, provided it is on the Skills List.
http://www.acpet.edu.au/uploads/files/A%20PATHWAY%20TO%20RESKILL%20FOR%20THE%20JOBS%20OF%20THE.pdf
Shake-up of apprenticeship funding
The federal government has embarked upon a shake-up of the $435 million apprenticeship incentives program and is exploring new models of apprenticeship delivery. On 3 September 2015, the then Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham announced an advisory group to provide options for better targeting apprentice funding to some 80,000 employers.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/inap-conference
NCVER webinar for RTOs planning to deliver degrees
The NCVER is hosting a free webinar on 20 October 2015 for VET providers who are exploring the addition of higher education delivery to their current suite of qualifications. Professor Victor Callan and Dr Kaye Bowman will discuss research on six trail blazer VET providers who have made the successful transition to delivering associate degrees and bachelor degrees, as well as VET qualifications.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/newsEventsOpinionpieces/!
Recent VET Publications
Regulating and quality assuring VET: International developments – Josie Misko
To reduce regulatory burden and build trust in the VET system, accreditation and registration systems are increasingly utilising principles of responsive regulation and risk analysis to help increase compliance. Approaches to the regulation of VET in selected overseas countries are investigated, and detailed systems of accreditation and registration used for approving providers to deliver training and issue nationally recognised qualifications have been identified.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Other News of Interest
Ministry changes
Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as Prime Minister on 15 September 2015 and announced the changes to his Ministry on 20 September 2015. This included appointments across the portfolios, including the VET sector.
You can read Malcolm Turnbull’s statement here;
http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2015-09-20/changes-ministry
You can read Simon Birmingham’s statement here;
https://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/media-statement
The Minister’s response to allegations against Phoenix Institute
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham released a media statement on 17 September 2015 following allegations made by Fairfax Media against RTO Phoenix Institute and broker Education Circle.
He indicated that he has asked the Department of Education and Training to urgently investigate the matter and consider commencing the processes to remove the Phoenix Institute as a VET FEE-HELP provider. Senator Birmingham also requested that ASQA expedite its investigations in to this training provider and to consider suspending or revoking their license to operate as a training provider. The Senator has also requested that ASQA and the Department consider investigations into any other RTOs using Education Circle as a broker.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/full-force-against-dodgy-providers
http://www.smh.com.au/national/vocational-education-the-biggest-getrich-quick-scheme-in-australia-20150916-gjnqwe.html
Possible class action against Evocca College
As recently reported by the ABC, Evocca College is facing a potential class action from hundreds of former students. Solicitor Benjamin Kramer said he is preparing to file documents on behalf of former Evocca College students. He will allege the company breached consumer law by providing sub-standard courses and using unfair marketing tactics to sign up students.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-27/evocca-facing-potential-class-action-from-former-students/6805148
Pharmacy training ‘a health risk’
As reported in The Australian on 3 September 2015, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has given evidence to a Senate committee of fraudulent behaviour by private training firms that it says poses a public safety risk. Sue Bond, head of the Guild Pharmacy Academy told the Senate Education and Employment References Committee inquiry into the VET system that a pharmacy assistant Certificate III typically takes between 24 and 26 months, but that some RTOs were turning out graduates in a month.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/dud-pharmacy-training-a-health-risk/story-e6frgcjx-1227512205448?sv=c5af4c8f6d3dfe35fa23ca4868f00e27
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The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery Consulting
VET News – 19 August 2015
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the news for Aug 2015. Please take note of the VET Reform section. This initiative may take some time, but I personally think if would be a very positive move to centralise the funding into the federal Government.
Enjoy the news and good training!
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance & Regulatory News
ASQA Update
ASQA suspends registration of two Melbourne-based RTOs. On 5 August 2015 ASQA took the decision to immediately suspend the registration of St Stephen Institute of Technology and Symbiosis Institute of Technical Education.
This followed the resolution of Operation Aristotle, a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Border Force (ABF) and ASQA which has seen three people charged over alleged involvement in a large scale fraud.
http://newsroom.border.gov.au/releases/three-charged-and-millions-of-assets-seized-in-joint-agency-investigation
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2861/asqa-suspends-registration-of-two-melbourne-based-rtos.html
Transition period extended for HLT51612 Diploma of Nursing. In response to a request from the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council, the ASQA Commissioners agreed to extend the transition period of the HLT51612 Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2) for an additional 18 months on the endorsement of the replacement HLT training package qualification. See the link below for a list of all qualifications that have approved extended transition periods.
http://asqa.gov.au/vet-registration/meet-the-requirements-of-ongoing-registration/maintain-a-current-scope-of-registration.html
CHC – Community Services (Release 2.0). This revised training package release includes some significant changes to qualification structures. I you have a qualification on your scope from CHC 08, then you need to review these changes.
http://training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC
Amended FAQ response about overseas students undertaking additional training. ASQA has recently published a new response to a frequently asked question: ‘Can an overseas student who holds a student visa undertake additional study at the same time as their principal course?’ An overseas student in Australia on a student visa can undertake additional study at the same time as their principal course. However, any course they undertake must be registered on CRICOS and the student must have a confirmation of enrolment (CoE) for all study they undertake.
http://asqa.gov.au/faqs/frequently-asked-questions.html#cricos-elicos-compliance/can-an-overseas-student-who-holds-a-student-visa-undertake-additional-study-at-th
VET reform update
COAG lays groundwork for Commonwealth takeover of VET. Federal and state leaders have agreed to consider a proposal to shift responsibility for VET from the states to the Commonwealth. Following the recent COAG leaders retreat in Sydney, the meeting Communiqué outlined plans to consider a historic change in VET governance.
Quite ironically, the premiers of the two states that have not referred powers to ASQA, Western Australia and Victoria, have been tasked with bringing VET reform proposals to the next COAG meeting before the end of the year.
https://www.coag.gov.au/node/524
Expression of interest for skills service organisations. The Australian Government has invited applications for funding to be a skills service organisation. Skills service organisations will provide a range of independent activities to support industry reference committees to review and develop training products, including training packages.
http://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/Media-Centre/Media-Releases/ID/2775/New-Support-to-Deliver-Job-Relevant-Training-Products
TAC update
Compliance Recognition Program. Similar to ASQA’s delegated regulatory authority, the TAC has announced its Compliance Recognition Program (CR Program) which is designed to provide RTOs that consistently demonstrate compliance, a degree of flexibility by removing the requirement for RTOs to submit applications or fees to the Council for amendment activity to their scope of registration.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/registration/CRP/Pages/default.aspx
Notification of third party agreements. In a special bulletin, the TAC has reminded its RTOs of their obligation to provide notification of all third party agreements and provided a link to the required notification form.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/newsandevent/Pages/TAC-Special-Bulletin—Third-Party-Agreements.aspx
Training Package News
TGA updates
Training package changes. There are new releases of the following training packages:
SIS10 Release 3.1: 21 July 2015
CSC Release 1.0: 3 August 2015
CPC08 Release 9.1: 5 August 2015
CHC Release 2.0: 6 August 2015
MEA Release 1.2: 6 August 2015
HLT Release 2.0: 6 August 2015
Events, Resourcing & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the links below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/c7c3874b-6388-4686-bddc-1e33ed806789/file.aspx
Farewell dinner for Skillaroos
The 2015 WorldSkills Australia Skillaroos were officially farewelled at a ceremony in Sydney before heading off to the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in São Paulo, Brazil.
Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training and the NSW Minister for Skills John Barilaro were on hand to farewell the 25-strong team at a ceremony at TAFE Sydney Institute.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/ryan/2015-worldskills-australia-skillaroos-farewell-dinner
National Skills Week
Now in its fifth year, National Skills Week aims to raise the status of practical and vocational learning, highlighting the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia. Events are planned from 24-30 August 2015.
http://www.nationalskillsweek.com.au/
Conference season is upon us
Here are some of the upcoming conference events in our industry.
- Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) 2015 National Conference and Asia
- Pacific International Education Forum: 26-28 August 2015, Melbourne
- International Network on Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP) Conference: 1-2 September 2015, Ballarat
- TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) 2015 National Conference: 10-11 September 2015, Hobart
- Velg Training 2015 National VET Conference: 17-18 September 2015, Adelaide
- Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) 2015 National Conference: 24-25 September, Adelaide
Recent VET Publications
SkillsDMC: Environment Scan 2015 mid-year update
SkillsDMC has issued an update of its E-Scan for 2015. The update highlights that despite some recent negative sentiment towards the outlook for Industry, the Mining Industry continues to perform to expectations.
http://www.skillsdmc.com.au/files/services/escan/2015EScan_midyear.pdf
Lessons from VET providers delivering degrees
Highlighting the strategic, capability and operational reasons why traditional vocational education and training (VET) providers move to the delivery of higher education qualifications in their own right, this report shows that delivering in the niche market areas where they already have strengths and constantly reviewing their higher education delivery are key elements of good practice.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/
Click here for research summary: good practice guide:
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/
Other News of Interest
New CEO appointed to TEQSA
The federal government has appointed a high ranking UK official, Anthony McClaran, as the new CEO of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Mr McClaran has been appointed for a five year term starting on 12 October 2015. He is currently the CEO of the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Announcing the appointment, the Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne said Mr McClaran had led UK agencies through periods of significant change and external challenge.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/chief-executive-officer-appointed-teqsa
Are vocational streams the key to producing a more adaptable workforce?
Structures within the labour market shape the educational pathways and outcomes of graduates. However, the links between qualifications and jobs in Australia are sometimes weak. Education and training in vocational streams, rather than in specific occupational tasks, could result in a more sustainable and adaptable workforce.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/insightArticle/
Fixing AVETMISS data errors
NCVER has developed the new fact sheet Fixing Validation Errors. Using a common error that is triggered in the AVETMISS Validation Software (AVS) as an example, the fact sheet outlines the steps for identifying and fixing the error which can be applied to all other error codes.
Access the fact sheet here: http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/supportContent/
Education exports worth $18.1 billion
In a media release on 7 August 2015, the Minister for Education and Training the Hon Christopher Pyne announced that preliminary figures show that exports from Australia’s international education services sector reached a record high of $18.1 billion in 2014-15. The Minister said that this is up 14.2% on 2013-14 numbers and shows that Australia’s booming international education sector continues to go from strength to strength.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/education-exports-worth-181-billion
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © Newbery Consulting 2015, All rights reserved.
VET News – 21 July 2015
Hi everyone,
I hope things are ticking along nicely for you. Welcome to our newsletter for July.
This audit tool is the result of development and review over the past 4 months by lead consultants within Newbery Consulting. The criteria we have provided within each standard and clause go directly to the core of evaluating compliance and are presented in plain language. Where relevant, clauses have been combined within the tool to aid in their review and to assist RTOs to make sense of the standards which are so fragmented. Additional criteria have also been added which Newbery Consulting consider to be important in any internal audit and particularly when preparing for a regulatory audit.
You can access the new audit tool in Word format at the following pay on our website:
Newbery Consulting Audit Tool – Standards for RTOs 2015
Enjoy the news and good training!
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance and Regulatory News
ASQA update
ASQA Stakeholder Survey 2015. ASQA has engaged Australian Survey Research Pty Ltd (ASR) to conduct its annual survey of stakeholders. ASR will contact training providers and course owners by email and the email will contain each organisation’s unique link to the survey. The completion of the survey is voluntary.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2844/asqa-stakeholder-survey-2015.html
Invoicing update: Annual fees reminder. ASQA’s annual fees were invoiced on 1 July 2015. Annual fees are based on an RTO’s scope of registration as at close of business on 30 June 2015. ASQA’s fee schedule includes information about how fees are calculated.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2806/invoicing-update-annual-fees-reminder.html
Annual declaration on compliance. ASQA has advised that at present, no action on this declaration is required from RTOs. ASQA is currently working with a range of VET sector stakeholders to determine the content of this declaration and the timing of its collection. Further information will be published on ASQA’s website soon.
VET Reform Update
Changes effective 1 July 2015. A phase of the Australian Government’s major reforms to Australia’s vocational education and training system came into effect from 1 July 2015, through the introduction of the new Apprenticeship Network, changes to VET FEE-HELP, and funding for the Australian Skills Quality Authority.
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/
USI Update
Changes effective 1 July 2015. The USI Registry System has recently been updated to include new functions for both students and training organisations.
http://www.usi.gov.au/Pages/june-2015-system-changes.aspx
TAC Update
Strategic industry audit – High risk work. The TAC is in the final stages of planning for a strategic industry audit of units that lead the high risk work licences in Western Australia. It is anticipated RTOs who have be selected as part of the audit sample will be contacted over the coming weeks, with audits being undertaken in August.The final report will be released in October 2015.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/newsandevent/Pages/TAC-Special-Bulletin—SIA-2015.aspx
VRQA Update
The VRQA’s latest newsletter has information about:
- The new Failure to Protect offence which comes into effect on 1 July 2015
- The launch of the SchoolMate app which is designed to help parents of school students to know more about what their children are learning under the AusVELS curriculum.
- Changes that remove the requirement for reporting CCOS data for RTOs who have submitted 2014 AVETMISS data.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/enews/pages/Edition-46/default.htm
Proposed ESOS changes
On 7 July 2015 the Australian Government released drafts of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bills 2015 for public consultation. Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said that “The proposals in these Bills simplify and streamline the regulation of international education. They follow extensive consultations with stakeholders on ways to improve the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework”.
https://www.pyneonline.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/streamlined-regulation-to-reduce-red-tape-for-australias-international-education-providers
Training Package News
TGA Updates
Training package changes. There are new releases of the following training packages:
- BSB Release 1.2: 19 June 2015
- SIF Release 2.1: 9 July 2015
TGA now showing Skill Sets. The new Standards for VET Regulators requires that Skill Sets form an official part of an RTO’s scope. As a result, RTO scopes have now been automatically updated to reflect the capacity to deliver Skill Sets. The Skill Sets have been determined based on an RTO’s implicit and explicit scope items.
Events, Resources & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the link below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://newberyconsulting.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38fe6335425568c3089975c08&id=e39e428f76&e=937034a34e
Qld funding boost
The Queensland government has allocated $337.2 million over 4 years for training initiatives in its budget delivered on 15 July 2015, with a focus on improving employment prospects and rebuilding the TAFE network.
http://the-scan.com/2015/07/21/queensland-budget-skills-and-training/
Victorian VET funding review issues paper
Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert, announced the release of the independent VET Funding Review’s Issues Paper – the first step in developing a new funding model to keep TAFEs financially secure.
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/issues-paper-first-step-to-stronger-training-system
Training package implementation workshops
The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) is running a series of professional development workshops in August and September 2015 to assist stakeholders to implement the new CHC and HLT Training Packages.
http://www.cshisc.com.au/develop/industry-qualifications-training-packages/national-training-packages-implementation-workshops/
Australian Training Awards
Registrations are now open for the Australian Training Awards event to be held in Hobart on Thursday, 19 November 2015.
http://www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au/event
Recent VET publications
Government-funded students and courses, 2014 – final
The number of people enrolled in government-funded training nationally declined to 1.79 million last year compared with the previous year, returning to a level similar to 2010. Government-funded enrolments at TAFE and other government providers and community education providers declined 8.8% and 12.2% respectively, but increased 8.4% at other registered training providers.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/
Refereed papers from the 23rd NCVER ‘No Frills’ conference
A select few speakers at the NCVER conference were offered the opportunity to have their papers peer-reviewed, and these nine refereed papers have been compiled into a book of conference proceedings. The papers span a broad range of topics, and include pathways and student mobility between VET and higher education, student aspirations, access to education and training, and issues involved with VET reform.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent
Vocations: the link between post-compulsory education and the labour market
The NCVER has published summaries for different stakeholder groups highlighting the main findings arising from this 3-year research program.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent
Building the capabilities of the travel, tourism and hospitality workforce
This paper identifies issues to be considered in ensuring the education and training system can respond to emerging skills demand in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent
Mitchell Institute report
Feasibility and design of a tertiary education entitlement in Australia. In this Mitchell Institute publication, two of the key architects of the original HECS, Dr Tim Higgins and Professor Bruce Chapman, have produced a new report that argues for significant reform to the income contingent loan scheme that would extend it to more VET students while making it affordable.
http://www.mitchellinstitute.org.au/reports/feasibility-and-design-of-a-tertiary-education-entitlement-in-australia/
Other News of Interest
Victorian Government targeting ‘dodgy’ training providers
Skills minister Steve Herbert said that since November 2014, the government has had to restore funding eligibility for more than 10,000 students who gained inadequate qualifications. The Government will spend $9 million on initiatives to crack down on poor practices with a priority on providers who are doing short course delivery.
http://the-scan.com/2015/06/29/vic-to-blitz-dodgy-vet-providers/
Australia and China strengthen quality assurance of training
Australia and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration on quality assurance for vocational education and training.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/australia-and-china-strengthen-quality-assurance-training
Industry Skills Fund Skills Adviser Network
Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, has announced the six organisations that will make up the new Industry Skills Fund Skills Adviser Network. An investment of $43 million over the next three years will provide intensive support to businesses that are looking to grow and develop their workforce.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/isf-skills-adviser-network-announced
MySkills update
Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, has announced the latest round of enhancements to the MySkills website. New features allow students to search and compare VET courses and training providers, with more information including student satisfaction and employment outcomes by course.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/myskills-update-helps-inform-vet-consumers-0
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery Consulting
VET News – 9 June 2015
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well. Are you attending the 2015 National VET Conference in Adelaide 17-18 Sep? We are and am really looking forward to it. We are a Silver Sponsor this year and are proud to be associated with Velg Training who delivers this important event each year. We will have a booth in the trade area (No 35) so make sure you come by and say hello. Attending the conference from Newbery Consulting will be myself, Sarah our Operations Manager, Casey our Business Development Manager and Anne Maree. I am presenting the following sessions at the conference:
- Thu, 17th Sep, 1:45pm – 2:30pm – The Think Grey Line of Compliance, and
- Fri, 18th Sep, 3:20pm – 3:55pm – Top Tips for Developing Compliant Assessment Tools.
Both of these sessions will be very solution orientated and valuable for those attending. As you may know we are celebrating our 10th year in business this year and are using the conference as a focus for those celebrations. We are having a little birthday party at our booth between 10 -11 am on day two of the conference. I think we have even organised a birthday cake! It would be great if you could join us for this. You can find out more information about the 2015 National VET Conference at this Velg Training webpage: https://www.velgtraining.com/national-conference. Early bird registration closes on the 30th June 2015.
Enjoy the news and good training!
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance and Regulatory News
ASQA update
Letter from ASQA Chief Commissioner. On 29 May 2015 ASQA’s Chief Commissioner, Chris Robinson, wrote to all ASQA RTOs in response to recent allegations about a Chinese business that was charging students for forged degrees and diplomas. Mr Robinson took the opportunity to remind RTOs of their responsibility to authenticate and verify a graduate’s qualification documentation.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2823/a-message-from-asqas-chief-commissioner-about-qualification-documentation.html
New fact sheet: Conducting validation. This new fact sheet provides guidance to RTOs on how to comply with assessment validation requirements in Clauses 1.9, 1.10 and 1.11 of the Standards. ASQA has also developed a validation sample size calculator tool to help RTOs determine appropriate sample sizes.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2814/new-fact-sheet-conducting-validation.html
VET Accredited Course template. ASQA’s VET accredited course template has been revised to enable prospective and existing course owners to develop units of competency in-line with the new Training Package Standards. All units developed for inclusion in an accredited course after 1 July 2015 must be developed to meet these requirements.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2821/revision-to-vet-accredited-course-template.html
VET registration period ASQA has implemented the new maximum registration period of 7 years that was included in changes to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act. Registration applications on or after 3 April 2015 may result in a 7-year registration period. ASQA will continue to exercise its discretion when determining an RTO’s registration period.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2822/maximum-vet-registration-period-increased-to-seven-years.html
VET Reform Update
2015 Post Budget Update from Senator Birmingham. On 15 May 2015 Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, issued an E-Newsletter providing a wrap-up of the 2015 Budget and how the Government’s $6 billion investment in the VET sector will be spent.
http://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/Enewsletter
COAG Industry and Skills Council meeting. The Council of Australia Governments (COAG) Industry and Skills Council met in Melbourne on 8 May 2015. The skills session was chaired by the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham and included a forum with VET stakeholders on consumer information, and a meeting of the Skills Ministers focusing on VET reform priorities.
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/files/cisc-communique-080515.pdf
Global Skills Training Forum. On Tuesday 19 May 2015 Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, hosted a Global Skills Training Forum in Melbourne to focus on how to support the internationalisation of the Australian VET system and contribute to the Draft National Strategy for International Education. Further forums are planned for Adelaide and Sydney in the second half of 2015.
https://internationaleducation.gov.au/International-network/Australia/InternationalStrategy/Pages/National-Strategy.aspx
TAC Update
The latest update from the Training Accreditation Council (TAC) has information relating to:
- Learner transition from superseded training products
- RTO reporting requirements
- ACPET Tuition Assurance Scheme approved by TAC
- Advice on scope maintenance.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/newsandevent/Pages/TAC-Update—Issue-32—May-2015.aspx
Training Package News
Changes to the TGA notification system
TGA has released changes to its change notification system. The changes include:
- Automatic RTO subscription
- Improvements to the notification management process
- Improvements to the notification email content.
http://training.gov.au/Home/Tga
IBSA training package FAQs
IBSA is compiling a list of frequently asked questions about its training packages and is publishing them on its website.
https://www.ibsa.org.au/training-package-faqs
Events, Resources & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the links below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
- 6th May 2015 – http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/cfd42bdd-7dfb-425d-bf9c-5e763538706e/file.aspx
- 20th May 2015 – http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/cac7cc49-120e-4174-b24b-4a7fcc1c0831/file.aspx
- 3rd June 2015 – http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/530408b8-08c5-4b02-a6e4-5d74d059a1e9/file.aspx
South Australia’s Subsidised Training List
On 21 May 2015 the South Australian Government released the Subsidised Training List (STL) which includes subsidised training places for the period July to December 2015. This is the first implementation of WorkReady, the new policy for training, employment and skills activity and investment, announced on 1 April 2015.
http://workready.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/latest-updates/new-list-of-subsidised-training-courses-focuses-on-jobs
ACPET’s response to SA’s WorkReady program
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), called on the federal government to withdraw $65 million in federal training funds to South Australia over the decision to “effectively ignore private training providers”.
http://www.acpet.edu.au/article/9379/emerging-issues/
VET Practitioner Capability Framework Tool
Released for desktop, iPad and Android devices, IBSA’s VET Practitioner Capability Framework Tool allows users to measure their skills using the domains within the Capability Framework. This information can be used to assess workplace skills, create career plans or help to develop position descriptions.
https://www.ibsa.org.au/news/new-vet-practitioner-capability-framework-tool?utm_source=Innovation+%26+Business+Skills+Australia+Stakeholders&utm_campaign=0f8cf056ff-IBSA_E_news_27_May_20155_27_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8648e7cdc3-0f8cf056ff-290107781
Endeavour Mobility Grants
ASIC’s Be MoneySmart is an online training resource to help students develop money management skills which support their future careers in small business or as contractors. It has been designed to support the delivery of the unit of competency FNSFLT301.
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/50-million-for-tafes-to-get-victoria-back-to-work
FSK Foundation Skills Training Package User Guide
Released as a free ePub for both Apple and Android devices, the FSK Foundation Skills Training Package User Guide is designed to assist assessors, trainers, RTOs and enterprises to deliver the qualifications and units within the FSK Foundation Skills Training Package.
https://www.ibsa.org.au/news/free-fsk-foundation-skills-training-package-user-guide-epub-now-available
Service Skills NSW RTO workshops
Service Skills NSW has two free workshops on the critical areas of industry engagement and assessment validation, facilitated by Workforce Planning and Development and VET expert, Wendy Perry. These workshops have been designed specifically for RTOs delivering in the service industries.
http://www.serviceskills.com.au/event/rto-workshop-future-models-assessment-validation
Recent VET publications
IBSA: Environment Scan 2015
IBSA’s Escan combines direct industry intelligence with data on training and industry workforces, and presents detailed analysis of the influencers on workforce development and skills demand. IBSA’s Escan 2015 Predicting change – skills for the future, identifies the high level priorities that impact across all IBSA industries.
http://www.skillsdmc.com.au/files/Resources/EnvironmentalScans_PDF/2015EnvironmentalScan.pdf
Agrifoods: Environmental Scan 2015
The Environmental Scan is an ‘early warning system’ for Australia’s VET sector and governments on industry’s skill and workforce development needs. It sets out the factors impacting on the shape and capability of Agrifood’s workforce, and how well the VET system, its products and services are responding – and importantly, what needs to happen.
http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/?page=EScan15
Government-funded students and courses, 2014 – preliminary
This publication presents preliminary figures for the number of students, subject enrolments, hours of delivery and full-year training equivalents for the government-funded (public) VET system for 2014. This preliminary data shows the number of students fell 3.5% in 2014, on the back of a 3.6% fall in 2013.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
The outcomes of education and training: what the Australian research is telling us, 2011-14 (Francesca Beddie)
During 2011 to 2014, a set of five national research priorities directed research into Australia’s tertiary education and training sector. Over this time NCVER’s research has focused on delivering some clear messages about many of the challenges facing the sector. The outcomes of the research have also pointed to some of the solutions.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/publicationContent/!
Other News of Interest
Qld government plans to halt TAFE asset sell-off
The Queensland government has introduced a Bill to repeal the former government’s plan to sell TAFE assets and lease them out to third parties, as the first step in its $34 million Rescuing TAFE package.
http://the-scan.com/2015/05/28/qld-govt-turns-back-tafe-asset-sell-off/
TDA’s comment on the 2015 Budget
See the TAFE Directors Australia Newsletter dated 18 May 2015 for TDA’s perspective on the Budget.
http://www.tda.edu.au/cb_pages/newsletter_18_may_2015.php
ACPET’s comment on the 2015 Budget
See ACPET’s National Monday Update dated 18 May 2015 for its perspective on the Budget.
http://www.acpet.edu.au/article/9360/in-focus/
Vocation revokes 1,100 qualifications
Vocation announced on 18 May 2015 that it had revoked the qualifications of students who undertook four programs during 2014 in aged care, children’s services, business administration and competitive systems and practices. Vocation will also repay about $8 million in funding to the Victorian Department of Education and Training over the next 18 months.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/vocation-to-tear-up-1100-student-qualifications-including-first-aid-aged-care-20150518-gh4bd8.html
NCVER announces new Executive team
Dr Craig Fowler has announced the appointments of Ms Jodieann Dawe and Dr Mette Creaser as National Managers Research and Business Development, and Statistics and Analytics respectively.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/media/!
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery Consulting
VET News – 6 May 2015
Hi everyone,
Firstly, I apologies for being so quite lately. Over the last couple of months I have had my head down progressing client projects and refining our systems alignment and compliance with the new standards. This has all been very positive but has come at the expense of other things. Anyway,, we are back on track now and racing through the fourth quarter. There are lots of interesting items in this newsletter. I particularly like the guide on the development of assessment tools released by ASQA. I strongly encourage the regulator to continue to publish these types of guides as they really do help RTOs to strengthen their alignment with training packages and the standards. We are in the process of developing a range of tools that will assist RTOs to prepare for their renewal of registration. These will all be free to download for everyone and will include a republished guide to audit evidence against the new standards.
As many of you know, I have a theory about compliance in the VET sector that I called the “Thick Grey Line”. This is the wide grey area of auditor subjectivity that pervades in ASQA which is flanked by white being compliant and black being non-compliant. We see this subjectivity every day and are absolutely committed to educating the sector to understand this subjectivity and to prepare for it. It is the subject of a workshop I am presenting at the Velg 2015 National VET Conference in Adelaide (Sep 2015) titled the “The Thick Grey Line of Compliance”. So if you are coming to the National VET Conference, please join me for this session. Also, please make use of our new suite of tools when they are released.
As a general notice, Newbery Consulting will be implementing a general price increase as of the 1st July 2015. These price increases will be across the board and really reflect the demand for our products and services. They will still represent great value and those clients who have current subscriptions with RTO Data, these increases will not come into effect until 1st July 2016. I think 14 months’ notice is fairly generous! All price increases will be published on the site this week. Those considering a purchase of our products and services have until the 30th June to purchase those items at the current price. Keep an eye out on the site for this information.
Enjoy the news and good training!
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance and Regulatory News
ASQA update
Standards for using third parties. ASQA has issued a formal letter to all RTOs highlighting the requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 relating to the use of third parties and, in particular, the use of brokers and similar service providers in the enrolment of prospective learners.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2748/new-standards-to-come-into-effect-this-week.html
New General direction. ASQA has issued the General direction—Learner transition. It replaces the former General direction—transition and teach-out. A point of note is that ASQA has approved the application of the ‘teach-out’ provisions in the former General direction for learners who were enrolled before 1 April 2015.
http://asqa.gov.au/news-and-media/learner-transition.html
TDA tuition assurance scheme. ASQA has approved a tuition assurance scheme (TAS) operated by TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) as suitable for the protection of fees prepaid by vocational education and training (VET) students.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2745/asqa-approves-tafe-directors-tuition-assurance-scheme.html
Updates to ASQA website. Recent updates to the ASQA website include new fact sheets for: – Sample AQF documentation – Amount of training – Marketing and advertising – Meeting trainer and assessor requirements.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2791/recent-updates-to-www.asqa.gov.au.html
Transitioning from VRQA to ASQA. ASQA has published transition arrangements for RTOs transferring from VRQA to ASQA after 1 April 2015. ASQA says it will use a fair and reasonable approach to ensure that there is no disadvantage to VRQA RTOs in the transition.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2800/transition-arrangements-for-vrqa-rtos-transferring-to-asqa-after-1-april-2015.html
New version of ASQAnet allows online notification of third party arrangements. RTOs should now use ASQAnet to notify ASQA of the commencement and cessation of third party service arrangements. ASQA will continue to accept the previously required ‘Notification of Material Change or Event form’ until 15 May 2015, after which all notifications relating to third-party arrangements must be submitted in ASQAnet.
Guide to developing assessment tools. ASQA has published this guide to help RTOs and their assessors to develop practical assessment tools that meet the requirements of the new Standards, and deliver skilled graduates who are job ready from day one.
http://asqa.gov.au/verve/_resources/Guide_to_developing_assessment_tools.pdf
Annual fees reminder. ASQA annual fees will be invoiced on 1 July 2015. Annual fees are based on an RTO’s scope of registration as at close of business on 30 June 2015. ASQA’s Fee Schedule includes information about how fees are calculated.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2806/invoicing-update-annual-fees-reminder.html
VET Reform update
New Australian Apprenticeship Support Network. On 27 April 2015, the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, announced the successful organisations that will form the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network. Eleven organisations make up the new Network with services being delivered through more than 280 network provider sites.
https://education.gov.au/news/new-australian-apprenticeship-support-network-increase-apprentice-completion-rates
Infringement notice scheme. In a media statement by the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, it was confirmed that RTOs found to be in breach of standards could be issued with an immediate fine under the new infringement notice scheme that came into effect on 2 April 2015.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/dodgy-providers-will-be-fined
Possible two-step enrolment provision. As reported in the TDA Newsletter on 7 April 2015, the federal government is considering a new ‘cooling-off’ provision that would allow students signed up by some colleges to back out of agreements.
http://www.tda.edu.au/cb_pages/newsletter_7_april_2015.php
New model for training product development. On 21 April 2015, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, announced the new model for Training Product Development for Australian Industry. The new model places industry at the centre of training product development through industry reference committees which will be overseen by the industry-led Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/new-arrangements-training-product-development-australian-industry
Vocational Training and Education Advisory Board appointment. In April 2015, the Hon Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training, appointed Mr Paul Edginton to the Vocational Education and Training Advisory Board. Mr Edginton has been the Chief Executive Officer of SYC Limited since 2004 and is a Board Member of White Ribbon Australia.
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/vocational-education-and-training-advisory-board-appointment
TAC Update
Users’ Guide published. TAC has released its Users’ Guide to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. The guide is intended for use by those applying to become an RTO, existing RTOs, auditors and other regulatory staff.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/StandardsRTOs2015/Pages/Users%E2%80%99-Guide-.aspx
Training Package News
Recent Training Package Updates
The following training package updates have been published on training.gov.au:
- BSB Business Services (Release 1.1) 9 April 2015
- FNS Financial Services (Release 1.1) 22 April 2015
- ICP Printing and Graphic Arts (Release 1.1) 9 April 2015
- ICT Information and Communications Technology (Release 1.0) 25 March 2015
- MEA Aeroskills (Release 1.1) 14 April 2015
- FPI11 Forest and Forest Products (Release 2.3) 1 May 2015
- FPP10 Pulp & Paper Manufacturing Industry (Release 1.3) 1 May 2015
IBSA launches four new training packages
IBSA has reviewed and updated four of its training packages in line with the new standards, and in response to industry needs. They are:
- BSB Business Services Training Package
- FNS Financial Services Training Package
- ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package
- ICT Information and Communications Technology Training Package
https://www.ibsa.org.au/training-packages
Events, Resources & Funding News
Australian apprenticeship update
Click on the link below to view the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories.
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/c7c3874b-6388-4686-bddc-1e33ed806789/file.aspx
Trade Support Loan take-up
In a media statement by Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham on 9 April 2015, it was stated that more than 20,000 applications had been received for a Trade Support Loan to help ease the financial strain on apprentices. The Trade Support Loans Programme began in July 2014, providing eligible applicants with up to $20,000 worth of loans that are repaid through the tax system once the minimum income threshold has been reached.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/trade-support-loan-apprentice-sign-ups-crack-20000
South Australia’s Work Ready policy
Work Ready is the new strategic policy for skills, training and employment activity and investment in South Australia. The policy brings together existing initiatives and funding streams into one strategy to support the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce, essential to driving innovation and productivity growth.
http://workready.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/
Victorian TAFE Back to Work Fund
In a media release on 24 March 2015, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the TAFE Back to Work Fund. A $50 million fund will save TAFEs that are struggling financially and help institutes build partnerships with companies in the six growth sectors of the economy identified by the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan to create at least 100,000 jobs.
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/50-million-for-tafes-to-get-victoria-back-to-work
ASIC’s Be MoneySmart training
ASIC’s Be MoneySmart is an online training resource to help students develop money management skills which support their future careers in small business or as contractors. It has been designed to support the delivery of the unit of competency FNSFLT301.
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/50-million-for-tafes-to-get-victoria-back-to-work
Two new funding programs for NSW
State Training Services has announced the release of two new funding programs. The Aboriginal Training Program and the People with Disability. Expressions of Interest for this funding will be considered from both non-Smart and Skilled and Smart and Skilled Contract providers.
http://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/training_matters/index.html
Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative
The Queensland Government is making an investment of $240 million over four years to support up to 32,000 Queenslanders into work. There will be two contestable funding rounds held each financial year. The first funding round will open on 1 May and close on 19 June 2015.
http://www.training.qld.gov.au/community-organisations/funded-programs/sqw/index.html
Recent VET publications
Skills DMC: 2015 Environmental Scan
This growth outlook analysis is a critical planning document containing analysis of commodity price impacts, as well as skills supply outlook and current and emerging trends across the Resources and Infrastructure Industry. Forecasting the likely path of demand for the Industry’s diverse skills base, the Environmental Scan is used by the Industry to prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead; and by Governments to shape skills policy in partnership with Industry.
http://www.skillsdmc.com.au/files/Resources/EnvironmentalScans_PDF/2015EnvironmentalScan.pdf
Government Skills Australia: Environmental Scan 2015
This environmental scan identifies the macro and micro factors currently impacting on the skill needs of the workforce and its composition for the government and community safety sectors, namely correctional services, local government, public safety, public sector and water. It considers how well the national training system, its products and services, and industry itself are responding.
http://governmentskills.com.au/usercontent/documents/Escans/Escan_2015_book_04DD.pdf
Other News of Interest
Record Victorian TAFE losses
As reported on 16 April 2015 in The Age, annual reports tabled in State Parliament show only two institutes generated a positive operating result for 2014. The combined operating deficit was expected to hit $52.5 million in 2014, the state government reported.
http://the-scan.com/2015/04/17/record-vic-tafe-losses/
Hundreds of Vocation private training college graduates forced to hand back qualifications
As reported by ABC News on 22 April 2015, Private training provider Vocation has been forced to recall more than 1,000 of its qualifications, including hundreds in child care and aged care, after Victorian regulators found the courses were sub-standard.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-22/private-training-college-graduates-stripped-of-qualifications/6412318?section=vic
ABC’s Four Corners turns its attention to universities
A Four Corners investigation aired on 20 April 2015 has claimed to unearth alarming new evidence of a decline in academic standards at institutions around the country.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2015/04/20/4217741.htm
ACPET clears Evocca – with conditions
As report in ABC News on 30 April 2015, ACPET has agreed to maintain Evocca’s membership as long as the organisation improve its practices and quality oversight processes, including:
- Separating the academic decision-making process from the commercial aspects of Evocca’s operations
- Reviewing and reporting back to ACPET on supporting students, reducing attrition rates, protecting students from unwarranted debt, appropriate enrolments and better entrance testing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-30/evocca-college-forced-to-change-business-model/6434810
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery Consulting
VET News – 19 Mar 2015
Hi everyone,
Enjoy the news and good training!
Joe Newbery
As always we invite new subscribers at: Subscribe to VET News
If you have some news, send it to us at: news@newberyconsulting.com.au
Compliance and Regulatory News
ASQA update
Further FAQs about the standards for RTOs 2015. Now organised into topic areas for ease of navigation.
http://asqa.gov.au/users-guide-to-the-standards-for-registered-training-organisations-2015/faqs/faqs.html
Targeted VET FEE HELP AUDITS. These audits will address allegations of unscrupulous marketing and other practices intended to exploit the Australian Government’s VET FEE-HELP program.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2724/vet-fee-help-providers-under-the-microscope.html
Audit Report Template for Self-Assessment. ASQA has published its new audit report template that now includes the detailed evidence guide that an auditor will use as they audit each Clause of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.
http://asqa.gov.au/news/2731/mapping-and-transition-information.html
Note re invoices for CRICOS providers. RTOs that receive a CRICOS invoice via ASQAnet are alerted to the fact that they must use the BPay Billing Reference on the invoice.
ASQA information sessions. There are five videos in total in nice, bite-size chunks of less than 15 minutes each on the information sessions held last year for the new 2015 Standards for RTOs.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ASQAvideos
VET Reform Update
Summaries of VET Reform Consultations. Throughout January and February 2015, the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, hosted a series of face-to-face consultations on VET Reform in every capital city as well as webinar sessions. Summaries of the views and feedback collected during these sessions are now available on the VET Reform Taskforce website.
http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/events/summary-national-consultations
New legislation to strengthen regulation of training providers. On 25 February legislation was introduced into Parliament to further target unscrupulous VET providers and improve training quality. The Bill will amend the National Vocational and Education Training Regulator (NVETR) Act to:
- Enable the Australian Government to create new quality standards to quickly address any problems with VET providers or VET courses;
- Require anyone marketing a VET course, including brokers and other third parties, to clearly identify which RTO is providing the qualification;
- Extend the registration period from RTOs from five to seven years so that ASQA can focus its attention on investigating and acting upon high risk and poor quality providers.
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/new-legislation-strengthen-regulation-training-providers
Stronger Training Laws Pass Parliament. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham welcomed the Senate’s decision to pass the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2015, which was initially introduced to Parliament on 25 February (See article above).The bill was passed on 17 March 2015, and Senator Birmingham says the stronger training laws will further crack down on dodgy VET providers.
http://ministers.education.gov.au/birmingham/governments-stronger-training-laws-pass-parliament
NCVER Update
A message of thanks from NCVER. The deadline for reporting 2014 nationally accredited training activity (AVETMISS data) to NCVER was 27 February 2015. NCVER sincerely thanks all Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who met this deadline. We have notified the national VET regulator(s) of the RTOs who successfully reported within the deadline. We recognise this is the first year of reporting for many RTOs and for those submitting directly to NCVER, we will keep the collection window open until 31 March 2015.
Have your say on NCVER research The NCVER is taking its research program in a new direction and would like input from the VET sector. To stimulate wide discussion, it has published the Research Prospectus 2015-16 with the wide aim of further improving how it addresses the diverse needs of its many clients.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/researchProgramContent/
End to apprentice decline? According to NCVER, the latest early trend estimates show the number of people starting apprenticeships has increased, suggesting an end to the recent series of declines. These increases apply to both trade and non-trade apprentices as follows:
- Non-trade commencements increasing from 26,400 in the September 2014 quarter to 31,700 in the December 2014 quarter.
- Trade commencements increasing from 19,900 in the September 2014 quarter to 21,500 in the December 2014 quarter.
Employers to have their say. The NCVER is conducting the Survey of Australian Employers to identify the ways in which they meet their skill needs and how effective these strategies are. The survey aims to collect the views of 9,000 employers from across the country and from all industry sectors. Businesses are randomly selected from the Australian Business Register to participate in the survey which will be conducted from now until June this year.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/wps/portal/vetdataportal/restricted/media/
TAC Update
TAC have advised RTOs that following amendments to the Vocational Education and Training (General) Regulations 2009, the commencement date for the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 is Monday 6 April for RTOs registered, or seeking registration, with TAC.
http://www.tac.wa.gov.au/newsandevent/Pages/TAC-Special-Bulletin—Standards-for-RTOs-2015—Commencement-Date-and-Transition-Arrangements.aspx
VRQA Update
Investigations into automotive industry apprenticeships. VRQA investigated 115 employers employing 160 automotive apprentices in Victoria. As a result, 99 training contracts have been revoked.
http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/apptrain/Pages/autocpaign.aspx
Review of VET Quality Assurance. The Victorian Minister for Training and Skills has announced the Review of Quality Assurance in Victoria’s VET system. The final report of the Review is due in April 2015.
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/learners/vet/Pages/qareview.aspx
Training Package News
Recent Training Package endorsements/updates
- MAR Maritime – Release 2.0 – 27 February 2015
- CPP Property Services – Release 1.0 – 5 March 2015
- SFI11 Seafood Industry – Release 2.2 – 6 March 2015
For detailed release information go to http://training.gov.au/
Events, Resources & Funding News
- Applications are now open for the Industry Skills Fund – Youth Stream
http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/youth-pilot-programmes-now-open-applications - View the Training Package qualifications recently implemented in States and Territories at the following link:
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/getattachment/c7c3874b-6388-4686-bddc-1e33ed806789/file.aspx
Recent VET publications
Close the Gap – Progress and Priorities Report 2015
Christopher Holland for the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee
In the spirit of open and constructive dialogue between government, the wider community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Close the Gap Campaign annually produces this progress and priorities report alongside the Prime Minister’s Report.
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/CTG_progress_and_priorities_report_2015.pdf
Financing Tertiary Education in Australia – The Reform Imperative and Rethinking Student Entitlements
Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy
A clear ‘entitlement’ to public support for school education has been widely accepted policy for more than a century in Australia, but today’s young Australians are growing up at a time when a post-school qualification is becoming a baseline requirement for meaningful social and economic participation.
http://www.mitchellinstitute.org.au/reports/financing-tertiary-education-in-australia-the-reform-imperative-and-rethinking-student-entitlements/
VET News
New Code of Ethics for VET Sector
ACPET launched its new code of ethics on 13 March 2015, which it says is designed to “establish the professional standards expected of education and training providers.”
- Access the ACPET Code of Ethics at the following link;
http://www.acpet.edu.au/members/codes-of-practice/ - Read the ACPET media release;
http://www.acpet.edu.au/uploads/files/150313_ACPET%20launch%20new%20Codes_FINAL%281%29.pdf
Workplace Gender Equality Reporting
On 25 February 2015, Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Employment, announced changes to workplace gender reporting requirements. The Federal Government will now streamline workplace gender equality reporting and remove the most onerous additional requirements that were due to be introduced from 1 April 2015. These changes take effect in the 2015-16 reporting year.
http://ministers.employment.gov.au/abetz/gender-reporting-must-drive-cultural-change
EOIs Sought for Assessment Services
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is seeking expressions of interest from RTOs. TRA specialises in assessment services for people with trade skills gained overseas and in Australia for the purpose of migration and skills recognition. It is seeking EOIs from RTOs that have demonstrated experience in RPL processes and in assessing training package qualifications.
http://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/News/Pages/EOI_OPE.aspx
ACPET
ACPET responds to allegations against Evocca College. A media release was distributed on 4 March 2015 announcing that ACPET has asked Evocca College to show cause as to why it should be allowed to remain an ACPET member. ACPET Board member, Ms Jenny Field, an Evocca employee, has also stepped down from the Board.
http://www.acpet.edu.au/uploads/files/150304_ACPET%20Statement_Evocca%20College.pdf
THE SCAN
ACPET calls out Evocca College. Following allegations about Evocca College on the ABC 7.30 Report, the Australian Council for Private Education and Training has formally asked Evocca College to provide evidence against the allegations that have been made and issued a show cause letter.
http://the-scan.com/2015/03/05/acpet-calls-out-evocca/
ABC NEWS
Thousands of vocational training qualifications recalled due to teaching quality concerns. About 9,500 students have been forced to hand back their certificates by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority in the past year, while the qualifications of another 3,000 are being investigated. It came after a Senate enquiry into vocational training heard private organisations and education brokers were deceiving students about the cost of courses and job outcomes. Former executive director of the Victorian TAFE Association said students had been let down by a lack of regulation.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-19/thousands-of-vocational-training-certificates-recalled/6145636
QLD GOV
New Queensland Cabinet. In a statement released on 15 February 2015, the new Queensland Premier – the Hon. Anastasia Palaszczuk – announced her Cabinet. The new faces relevant to Queensland’s Vocational Education & Training Sector and Schools are: The Hon. Yvette D’Ath, Minister for Training and Skills; and The Hon. Kate Jones, Minister for Education. In a public statement, the Premier has said her new Cabinet will “focus on job creation, listening to Queenslanders and acting on their concerns.”
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/2/15/queenslands-new-cabinet-focusses-on-jobs
THE AUSTRALIAN
New QLD Govt backs away from contestable funding. The new Training and Skills Minister, Yvette D’Ath has indicated that Labor’s wide-ranging changes to the Newman government’s vocational education policies include a reversal of the LNP’s decision to make public training funds 100 per cent contestable. The ALP government will also put TAFE campus sales on ice, rejig plans to outsource management of training facilities.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&mode=premium&dest=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/queensland-training-funds-wont-be-100pc-contestable-under-labor/story-e6frgcjx-1227237592697?memtype=anonymous
NSW FAIR TRADING
Campaign launched to stop unscrupulous training providers and marketers. An education campaign is being run to alert consumers about inappropriate conduct by training providers and marketers in relation to marketing VET FEE-HELP courses. The campaign aims to provide greater awareness and understanding about their rights and obligations when signing up for a training course.
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Whats_new/A_free_gift_could_cost_you_thousands.page
Other News of Interest
Senate again votes down the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill
For the second time, the Senate has voted down the the Federal Government’s legislation to reform higher education, including uncapping university fees.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-17/senate-votes-down-legislation-to-uncap-university-fees/6327066
The news articles presented in this edition of VET News have been researched and prepared by Anne Maree Newbery.
Copyright © 2014 Newbery Consulting All rights reserved.
Welcome to our new site
The first thing you should know is that I usually write most blogs using my phone during a flight. At the moment, (Sydney – Brisbane). It is a good use of otherwise wasted time. You will have to excuse the occasional cryptic sentences or typos.
This is our new site.
It is similar to our previous site but has loads more functionality and indexing capability. We have also built a better structure to display our products and services and put forward our new branding in our RTO products. This is a big shift for Newbery Consulting as we define the services we provide and give information to current and perspective clients to enable them to make the right decision.
There is no doubt that for a large section of the market, the information relating to price will lead to some people continuing their search for consulting support elsewhere. That is fine. It means that we don’t need to field those enquiries over the phone and the enquires we do get will be genuine and serious. Anyway, I hope you like the new site. Please register and subscribe to our news letter if you haven’t already.
I have wanted to do a blog for a while. I have even had a couple of false starts. One of the things that stop’s me is deciding what to write about. Most of you will know that I can rattle on for hours on most VET topics. I have thought of structuring my blogs on specific topics such as assessment and RTO governance, etc. This is how we will start, but I would like it to be more of a conversation between you and me. I am happy to respond to your questions about compliance and the current state of regulation. I really want it to be valuable for you and an opportunity for me to pass on what I know (and no doubt, learn some things as well).
If you enjoy the engagement and find it professionally valuable then spread the word and refer the blog details to others in the industry. Everyone is welcome trainers, CEOs, managers, auditors, etc. All can offer a different perspective to our discussion. If you have specific questions about our products and services, I would prefer these come through via an email (Contact Form). This blog is not indented to be a platform for enquiries. The thrust of the conversation should be about RTO compliance and strategies to improve training and assessment quality and lets not forget any juicy industry gossip. You will need to be a registered user of the site to post a comment. This prevents the blog from being used by Spammers. By registering, we will also include you in our notifications and news letters.
So, join me and feel free to post a comment.
Joe Newbery