Annual Declaration of Compliance

The Annual Declaration of Compliance, which is a requirement for all providers, is due by 11.59pm on Thursday 30 April. Providers must submit their declaration online. 

ASQA has already extended the deadline by a month due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. ASQA sent each organisation’s CEO an email on Friday 21 February with a unique URL to access the survey. 

Read more.

Streamlining ASQA’s VET accredited course application processes 

Course owners of existing VET accredited courses will be required to submit the new VET accredited course–Intention to renew form as the first stage in the renewal of accreditation process. The introduction of this stage will require course owners to provide evidence that: 

• sufficiently demonstrates the ongoing, established industry need and support for the course to be renewed 

• appropriate industry stakeholders have been identified and agree to be involved in the consultation activities during the review and redevelopment stages. 

For further information, click here.

ASQA releases guide to support providers to meet default obligations under the ESOS Act 

To help providers understand their obligations regarding provider default, ASQA has produced the ‘Guide to provider default obligations under The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) 2000 Act’. 

Any CRICOS providers who choose to put their registration on hold during the current COVID-19 pandemic should be aware that they will still be required to address their provider default obligations together with ASQA and the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) . In order to put their registration on hold, a CRICOS provider is obliged to first cease providing courses to its overseas students. The Guide to provider default under the ESOS Act provides information on how a provider can meet their obligations to these students in this situation. 

For further information, click here.

Extended transition period for three training products 

ASQA has recently approved an extended transition period for: 

• AHC51016 Diploma of Sports Turf Management until 31 July 2021, and 
• CPP30115 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management, and  
• CPPPMT3006 Manage pests by applying pesticides for Western Australian cohorts until 29 September 2021. 

The relevant training product will remain on RTOs scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period, unless the RTO chooses to withdraw it from scope prior. 

Read more.

Government announces financial relief for sector 

The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business have announced a package of measures to lift the financial pressures on registered training organisations. 

Among measures announced are:

• Fees and charges for providers registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 will be waived. ASQA will reimburse fees already paid. 
• ASQA’s move to full cost recovery, due to start on 1 July 2020, will be delayed until July 2021. 
• For six months, there will be an exemption from loan fees associated with VET Student Loans. 

View the relief package here.

Further extension to the transition periods for three qualifications 

ASQA has recently approved further extended transition periods for the following qualifications: 

• ACM40412 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing until 21 July 2021 
• MSF30413 Certificate III in Glass and Glazing until 2 June 2021 
• MSL50116 Diploma of Laboratory Technology until 19 January 2021. 

Read more.

ASQA publishes distance learning guidance 

ASQA has published a new website section to present compliance guidance for providers offering distance learning options. 

The current COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many VET providers have begun implementing distance learning techniques (including online delivery) as a way of continuing to provide services. 

View here.

ASQA approves extended teach period for VET accredited courses due to COVID-19 pandemic 

Following on from ASQA’s previous decisions to extend transition periods for qualifications due to COVID-19, ASQA has decided to expand this decision and extend the teach out period of 56 VET accredited courses by six months. 

View the list here.