VET News
Wednesday 28th of March 2025
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Hello and welcome to VET News,
New standards have finally been released, which is great. There is not too much change compared to the final draft. Here are a couple of quick hits to help in your journey to get to understand the new requirements. Did you know:
- Under the new Compliance Standards for RTOs 2025, Standard 10 (c) RTOs are now required to retain records of all assessments submitted by a VET student to the organisation or a third party for a period of 2 years after the student has completed the training product. This is a change from the previous requirements, which was only 6 months. Of course, if you have a funding agreement or other obligations to retain records for longer than this time frame then this should also be considered.
- Under the new Compliance Standards for RTOs 2025, Standard 16 (2) RTOs are now required to notify ASQA of a material change within 10 business days after the event occurs. This is a significant reduction on the previous allowance which was 90 days. This includes any substantial change to its operations or any event that would significantly affect the organisations ability to comply with these standards such as change in CEO, ownership, financial status, funding, fit and proper person status, etc. God only knows how they expect an organisation to get the change of ownership notification completed in 10 days. It is huge.
- Under the new Outcome Standards for RTOs 2025, Standard 1.3 (2) (b) from 1st July 2025 the RTO must be able to demonstrate that its assessment tools are reviewed prior to use to ensure assessment can be conducted in a way that is consistent with the principles of assessment and rules of evidence. I guess this needs to happen before the end of June. ASQA has said they would be a little bit flexible over the transition period but, clearly this is something that all RTOs should be getting on with.
- I will continue to provide further snippets of information in our newsletter including some more detailed articles. There have been many requests for some webinars so we will definitely also be producing some webinars targeting the requirements in the new standards.
Version 8, Newbery Consulting Policies and Procedures now available
For those that have been waiting for the finalisation of the redevelopment of our policies and procedures package. I am very pleased to say that this has been completed and this package is now available on the website. It has literally taken us about six months to undertaker complete revision of this package. It is presented in a very professional format across the whole suite of policies which support the organisation compliance with the new standards. For those clients who have already purchased or do purchase the update or the initial licence for this between now and June, we will be providing a further update with any improvements plus some additional policy documents relating to training and also business continuity. This has been a product that we have supplied to the vet sector for almost 20 years. It’s a product that we’re very proud of and the feedback so far on a new version has just been amazing. If you want more information about 8 the purchasing and update or the initial licence you can find more information at the following page:
https://newberyconsulting.com.au/products/all-products/
Good training,
Joe Newbery
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Compliance & Regulatory News
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Annual Declaration on Compliance
Reminder this is now open till 14th April 2025
Each year ASQA will send out an email to RTO CEO’s regarding the Annual declaration of compliance, the email will contain a unique web link to the RTO’s online declaration.
Training providers need to submit an annual compliance declaration to deliver VET training. The declaration is a statement confirming that the organisation complied with the Standards for all certifications issued in the last 12 months.
A compliance declaration confirms:
Click here to find out more
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National Skills Agreement and 2024 National Skills Plan
The five-year National Skills Agreement establishes a collaborative approach to vocational education and training (VET), with Australian governments working together to address the nation’s evolving skills needs.
The 2024 National Skills Plan marks the start of this planning process, outlining the Skills Ministers’ vision for VET and detailing how jurisdictions will work together to achieve the shared goals of the Agreement.
To support implementation, the Commonwealth and state and territory governments have developed individual jurisdictional action plans, aligning with the priorities of the Skills Agreement and National Skills Plan. These plans, along with key research and resources on VET’s eight priority areas, are available via the National Priorities page in the VET Knowledge Bank.
Click here to find out more
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Preparing for the revised Standards update
ASQA is actively developing and releasing resources to support providers in transitioning to and implementing the revised Standards. This includes the progressive rollout of draft Practice Guides, designed to help RTOs better understand regulatory expectations.
These draft Practice Guides serve as a library of bulletin-style resources, each addressing key focus areas of the revised Standards.
ASQA’s draft Preparing for the Revised Standards is now available, providing key areas for providers to consider when assessing and self-assuring their operations against the updated Standards. This content will be integrated into ASQA’s Practice Guides in the coming months.
Click here to find out more
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ASQA’s strong action to remove non-genuine providers
ASQA’s top priority is to disrupt and deter behaviours that compromise the integrity of the VET sector, ensuring that committed and capable providers can continue delivering high-quality outcomes for students.
For the 2024–25 financial year, ASQA’s key focus areas include:
- Combatting non-genuine providers and bad-faith operators
- Addressing fraudulent or inadequate recognition of prior learning
- Monitoring shortened course durations
- Preventing academic cheating
- Strengthening student work placement practices
- Managing ongoing risks from the rapid shift to online delivery during COVID-19 pandemic
Click here to find out more
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VET Data Streamlining program
Latest program updates
The Program consists of three key components:
- New VET Information Standard – Replacing the Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) 8 with an updated framework.
- Student and Training Activity Reporting System (STARS) – A new system designed to support the VET Information Standard. It integrates with Student Management Systems (SMS) and is accessible by NCVER and government bodies, including VET sector regulators.
- Policy and Legislation Updates – Ensuring alignment with the new VET data standard and system while enabling more frequent data submissions.
Stage 1 Rollout
The first phase of the VDS rollout is now open to SMS vendors and RTOs that exclusively provide fee-for-service training. They are welcoming participants who are ready to onboard, as well as those interested in testing and consultation ahead of the full rollout.
Click here to find out more
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Vocational Degree – a new degree-level qualification type for VET
The Vocational Degree is a newly endorsed vocational education and training (VET) qualification within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), approved by Skills and Education Ministers.
Introduced in response to the 2023 Employment White Paper and industry calls for advanced skills training, this qualification aims to better support Australia’s evolving workforce needs.
Now integrated into the AQF, the Vocational Degree provides TAFE Centres of Excellence and Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) with an additional tool for designing qualifications that align with industry demands.
Click here to find out more
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The What’s going on with Student Outcomes? Webinar
Held on 25th February and hosted by John King (Managing Director, NCVER), an expert panel featuring Peita Davis (Director, Skills, Education and Research, Business Council of Australia), Mary Faraone (Chair, TAFE Directors Australia & Chief Executive, Holmesglen Institute), and Felix Pirie (CEO, ITECA) explored the latest insights from NCVER’s National Student Outcomes Survey.
Click here to find out more
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International Labour Market Update
Released February 28th, 2025
The International Labour Market Update provides essential labour market data and insights on skill shortages for Australia and selected international regions.
This quarter’s report highlights key findings from global organisations, including:
- A resilient global labour market in 2024, with growth in both employment and the total labour force.
- Persistently high skills shortages, exacerbated by structural and technological changes.
- Significant recruitment challenges in healthcare, ICT, and professional and administrative services.
- Canada’s labour market is expected to recover in 2025 following a period of high unemployment and slow job growth.
- Employment in the USA saw an increase of 256,000 jobs in December 2024.
Click here to find out more
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Labour Market Update – December 2024
Released March 3rd, 2025
The Labour Market Update is a quarterly report that examines key factors influencing the Australian labour market.
The December 2024 edition highlights:
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A gradual softening in employer demand, alongside an increasing likelihood of filling advertised roles.
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Strong job growth led by the Health Care and Social Assistance sectors, followed by Education and Training, and Accommodation and Food Services.
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Nearly two-thirds of job growth over the past year came from occupations with Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways.
Click here to find out more
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Tenders ACT
Vocational Learning Programs Arrangement Panel
Directorate/Agency Education Directorate
Type: Advanced Tender Notice
Status: Advance Notice
Number: ATNPIED0006109
Estimated Advertising Date: 31 May 2025 02:00 pm
UNSPSC: 86000000 – Education and Training Services
Region(s): Australian Capital Territory
Description: The purpose of this Advance Tender notice is to inform suppliers about an upcoming procurement project being developed by the Territory.
The Education Directorate (EDU) delivers high-quality education and support services to public schools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
To support student career pathways, EDU funds Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) to provide Vocational Learning Programs (VLPs).
These programs offer students industry insights and career pathways through both accredited and non-accredited training. They may also include wrap-around services, industry immersion activities, resources, and work experience opportunities.
EDU is looking to establish a formal panel of qualified suppliers to deliver VLPs to ACT public schools.
Click here to find out more
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NCVER launches RTO Outcomes Explorer to support best practice in the VET sector
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has introduced the RTO Outcomes Explorer, an innovative online tool designed to support data-driven decision-making. This free resource enables eligible Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to benchmark their students’ outcomes and satisfaction levels against national and state/territory comparisons.
The tool leverages data from the annual National Student Outcomes Survey (SOS), which gathers valuable insights into student satisfaction and post-training outcomes. Now, through an interactive and user-friendly platform, RTOs can easily access and analyse this data.
Click here to find out more
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Industry Partnerships Program
Funding available
A reminder that applications are now open for the latest round of Skills Tasmania’s Industry Partnerships Program. This round introduces the contextualisation of training and assessment materials as a key focus while maintaining the original emphasis on training-related equipment and resources.
Funding opportunities include small grants of up to $50,000 and large grants of up to $250,000, with a total of $2 million available under the 2024-25 grant round.
Application deadlines:
- Small grants: Open for submission until 30 June 2025 or until funds are fully allocated.
- Large grants: A short-form proposal must be submitted before commencing a full application, with the deadline set for 1 May 2025.
Eligible applications must involve an existing or new partnership between a Skills Tasmania-endorsed RTO and other participants within the Tasmanian training and workforce development system.
Click here to find out more
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Train Now Fund
The round closes on 30th of June 2025
Grants are available for RTOs to deliver nationally recognised training that addresses urgent or unforeseen industry, enterprise, or learner training needs. This funding supports training initiatives tailored to specific regions or target cohorts, ensuring timely and responsive skill development.
Click here to find out more
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The Australian Training Awards
Nominations now open
The Awards acknowledge and celebrate excellence in vocational education and training (VET), serving as a key platform to highlight its benefits.
Winners from state and territory training awards compete for national recognition, with some categories also offering direct entry.
This initiative has helped foster nationwide awareness and respect for skill-based careers and excellence in vocational training.
Nominations can be submitted via the Australian Training Awards website and close on 31 May 2025.
Click here to find out more
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Reports, Articles, Papers and Research
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Government-funded students and courses – January to September 2024
Released 25th February 2025
NCVER has published the latest Government-Funded Students and Courses report, revealing that 1,100,245 students were enrolled in government-funded vocational education and training (VET) in the first nine months of 2024—a 2.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Where students are enrolled:
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TAFE institutes: 605,455 students (55.0%) –up 7.1%
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Community education providers: 60,225 students (5.5%) – up 1.0%
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Private training providers: 352,695 students (32.1%) – down 5.0%
The largest increases in enrolments were in:
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Community Services – up 11.0% (23,825 more enrolments)
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Business Services – up 8.7% (7,600 more enrolments)
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Electrotechnology – up 6.1% (3,670 more enrolments)
Click here to find out more
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Recruitment Insights Report
The latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey shows a strong hiring trend in February 2025.
Key Insights:
- More employers are hiring – The national recruitment rate has risen to 49%, rebounding from January’s low and aligning with levels seen a year ago.
- Hiring is becoming easier – Recruitment challenges have eased, reaching their lowest level since February 2021, with fewer employers struggling to fill positions.
- Fewer unfilled vacancies – The number of roles remaining open for more than a month has hit a record low.
- Steady growth outlook – While 20% of employers plan to increase staff over the next three months, this is a slight decline compared to last year.
- Staff turnover is the main driver of recruitment – 60% of employers hired to replace departing employees, while 28% expanded their workforce with new positions.
Click here to find out more
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Labour shortages and labour market inequalities
Released on 21st of March 2025
Labour shortages have reached historically high levels over the past decade. While recent labour market adjustments have alleviated some pressures, several sectors continue to face significant workforce gaps. These persistent shortages can hinder productivity growth, exacerbate supply chain disruptions, and contribute to inflationary pressures.
This paper examines labour shortages through a distributional lens, focusing on wage, non-wage, and sociodemographic factors affecting impacted jobs. One key driver of these shortages is poor job quality, which discourages workers from entering or remaining in these roles. Sectors experiencing ongoing shortages across all studied countries include healthcare, transportation and storage, accommodation and food, and construction—industries where women and migrant workers are overrepresented.
Drawing on cross-country analysis and country-specific studies, this paper outlines key policy recommendations. These include facilitating efficient labour market reallocation, improving job quality rather than solely increasing job numbers, and addressing regional disparities in workforce shortages.
Click here to find out more
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AVETRA Conference
3rd – 4th April 2025 at the Catholic Leadership Centre, Melbourne
Join renowned scholars, policymakers, and industry experts to explore groundbreaking research and innovative solutions shaping the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET). Participate in thought-provoking discussions, connect with industry leaders, and contribute to setting new benchmarks in VET excellence.
This theme serves as a call to action for educators, policymakers, industry professionals, and researchers to exchange insights, address challenges, and drive innovation. It highlights the vital role of research as a catalyst for transformative educational and workforce development, bridging past achievements with future aspirations.
Click here to find out more
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34th National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference ‘No Frills’
9th – 11th July 2025 the Robina Events Centre on the GoldCoast
The ‘No Frills’ conference will be co-hosted with TAFE Queensland and offers a platform to showcase research, share ideas, and connect with VET practitioners. The conference fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange through thought-provoking presentations, engaging discussions, and networking opportunities in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
The 2025 program will center on the theme Diverse Voices in VET, highlighting the varied perspectives that shape the sector.
Click here to find out more
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VET National Teaching & Learning Conference 2025
14th – 15th August 2025 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Over two days, attendees will have access to a wide range of professional learning opportunities designed for VET practitioners. Additionally, a dedicated stream of sessions will showcase applied research for other professionals in the VET sector.
Click here to find out more
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National VET Conference
30th – 31st October 2025 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
The 2025 National VET Conference will take place over two days. As the 18th annual National VET Conference, this event promises an incredible opportunity for delegates to engage in meaningful professional development, connect with product and service providers, and network with peers from across Australia.
The 2025 theme, “Painting Our Future,” highlights the vital contributions each of us makes to the broader picture. Together, we will create something greater than the sum of its parts—a comprehensive and vibrant vision of what VET can achieve.
Click here to find out more
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