VET News - 28th February 2020 • Newbery Consulting

Newbery Consulting VET News – 28th February 2020

Hello and welcome to VET News,

Just wanted to provide a timely reminder to all of the RTO CEOs out there, if you haven’t already done so, please ensure that you submit your annual declaration on compliance before 31 March 2020. You all would have received an email from ASQA last week inviting you to complete the declaration. It’s important that you follow the unique link to your annual declaration email and submit this before the due date.

Even after receiving all of the reminders last year, we still had clients who had not completed this declaration on time or had completed some other document and then discovered later they had not submitted the actual annual declaration on compliance. One client even fully completed the declaration but then failed to hit the submit button and navigated away from the webpage without doing so. In all cases, these clients received compliance warnings from the national regulator and in one case the client was sent a letter informing them that their registration was being cancelled due to not complying with the conditions of registration. We successfully turn this around with a reconsideration application, but it is all avoidable and resulted in unnecessary additional cost.

One last thing I would say about the declaration is, don’t be afraid to identify that you have some compliance issues that you are currently managing. Everyone has compliance issues, so you are not alone. It is only appropriate that you identify these in the declaration and explain to ASQA how you are currently managing and responding to these issues. I personally think it is a positive reflection of your management. Do not believe any rumours or stories about ASQA conducting unannounced audits based on information declared in an annual declaration of compliance. I personally have not experienced that across any of our clients since this was introduced many years ago.

I would also point out that if you are likely to have a regulatory audit in the next 12 months and you are aware that you do have some compliance issues you are currently managing, then I would strongly recommend that you identify these in the declaration. It is a very bad look at renewal of registration audit if the regulator is discovering non-compliance that you should have been aware of and did not declare. Food for thought.,

Enjoy the news,

Joe Newbery

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Compliance & Regulatory News

ASQA approves extended transition period for FSK Foundation Skills Training Package Release 1.1

On 5 February 2020, ASQA approved a extended transition period for FSK10113 Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways and FSK10213 Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways. The extended transition period for the FSK Release 1.1 qualifications will end on 26 November 2021.

For further information, click here.

ASQA launches videos to support VET sector

The Australian Skills Quality Authority collaborated with stakeholders across the VET sector to produce videos that provide answers to common regulatory questions. ASQA has recently launched videos explaining the audit process and a understanding assessment.

Understanding Audits
Understanding Assessments

For further information, click here.

Annual declaration on compliance open until 31 March 2020

Each year, the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (the Standards) require all ASQA RTOs to submit an annual declaration on compliance. ASQA sent an email with a unique URL to each RTO’s Chief Executive Officer on Friday 21 February 2020. The annual declaration online form is available until midnight on Tuesday 31 March 2020.

For further information, click here.

Proposed new governance structure welcomed by ASQA

ASQA has welcomed the new governance arrangements proposed for the agency in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Governance and Other Matters) Bill 2020 introduced into Parliament.
The Bill sets out a structure that replaces commissioners with a single chief executive officer, supported by enhanced internal senior executive capacity. It has also introduced an advisory council comprising experts from regulatory practice, sector and business engagement, and education and training.

Other VET News

NSW government education review set to investigate the TAFE NSW

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday announced the review of TAFE NSW to be led by education expert David Gonski and former public servant Peter Shergold. This follows a massive drop in enrolments into TAFE NSW. Amongst other things, the “review will consider initiatives like a HECS-style program for TAFE students, greater industry involvement in co-designing courses and making sure courses are as up-to-date as possible”.

For further information, click here. and here

VET Reform Roadmap

In 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed a vision for VET to position the sector as responsive, dynamic and trusted. Skills Council was tasked with developing a VET Reform Roadmap and has asked senior officials in all jurisdictions to work together to develop a Roadmap for consideration by Ministers and endorsement by COAG by the middle of 2020.
Skills officials have developed a consultation draft of the Roadmap. This draft is a working document of the Skills Senior Officials’ Network: it has not been reviewed or endorsed by governments or COAG.

For further information, click here.

Timeline of VET policy initiatives

NCVER has updated the Timeline of Australian VET policy initiatives to include 2019 content. The timeline shows VET-related national, state and territory programs and policy initiatives from 1998 onwards.

Articles and Papers

Government-funded students and courses: January to September 2019

This publication provides a summary of data relating to students, programs, subjects and training providers in Australia’s government-funded VET system (defined as Commonwealth and state/territory government-funded training) from January to September 2019. This paper also examines this data against previously submitted data for the January to September 2015 to 2018 periods.

50 per cent cut to TAFE fees driving more students to TAFE

The McGowan Labor Government’s 50 per cent cut to TAFE fees is already having a positive impact, with early data showing a 20 per cent increase in TAFE enrolments. It has provided strong results for courses such as engineering, cyber security and early childhood. The 50 per cent fee reductions have been targeted to align with emerging skills shortages and important sectors of the local economy including aged and disability care, METRONET and civil construction, defence, hospitality and tourism.

Upcoming Events

VET Policy and Compliance Summit 2020

Transforming VET: supporting quality outcomes for employers and learners
9th March 2020 – 11th March 2020 at Rydges World Square, Sydney, NSW

At the event you will have the opportunity to engage with Policy makers, Regulators, and VET leaders; and participate in a mix of workshops and keynote presentations that will provide you with the skills, knowledge, tools, and solutions to manage your RTO meeting quality and compliance requirements.

2020 VET CEO Conference

Take Charge in 2020
15th May 2020 – Gold Coast, Queensland

The event will encourage, motivate and validate current practices and deliver content that is thought-provoking and relevant to RTO’s.

Training Package Updates

Training Package Updates

The following training packages have been updated on training.gov.au:

CPP: Property Services Training Package
Revised14th February 2020.
NWP: National Water Training Package
Revised 4th February 2020.
RII: Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package
Revised 31st January 2020.
CSC: Correctional Services Training Package
Revised 4th February 2020.
FWP: Forest and Wood Products Training Package
Revised 31st January 2020.
MST: Textiles, Clothing and Footwear
Revised 31st January 2020.

Opportunities

RTO Data – Cloud

RTO Data Cloud has changed the landscape of the Australian student management system market. We are proud to offer it to you. It would be our pleasure to offer you access as a trial user and you can evaluate the system capabilities for yourself.

Don’t continue to pay too much for cloud based AVETMISS software. Have the flexibility to only paying for your additional users as you need them on a flat daily cost of only $2.00 per day. Set up your online enrolments and customise your certificates at no extra cost. Need to manage your CRICOS and State funded enrolments, no problems. Get in contact with the team at Newbery Consulting today and request to be set up as a trial user.

RTO Audit

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

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

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