VET regulator cancels registration of Conwal and Associates Pty Ltd and Online Courses Australia

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled the registration of Conwal and Associates Pty Ltd (RTO number 31190) and Online Courses Australia Pty Ltd (RTO number 32080) as providers of vocational education and training (VET).

ASQA Chief Commissioner Mark Paterson said regulatory scrutiny of the two training providers had identified behaviours that were non-compliant with the requirements of the VET Quality Framework.

ASQA’s auditors found Conwal and Associates and Online Courses Australia:

• did not provide an appropriate amount of training, or implement an assessment process, to ensure learners had the skills needed
• did not have a sufficient number of appropriately qualified trainers and assessors to deliver to the number of students enrolled;
• provided inaccurate marketing and recruitment information to prospective learners;
• inappropriately enrolled learners into qualifications; and
• did not determine or provide support services to learners, or monitor their progress, to enable them to complete.

Mr Paterson said Conwal and Associates was subject to regulatory scrutiny as part of ASQA’s 2016 VET FEE-HELP Regulatory Strategy.

“Conwal and Associates was audited in July 2016 and found to be non-compliant with the requirements of the VET Quality Framework. As a result, in September 2016 ASQA issued it with a notice of intention to cancel its registration, inviting it to provide further evidence and information as to why its registration should not be cancelled,” Mr Paterson said.

“Online Courses Australia is not an approved VET FEE-HELP provider, but was engaged through a third party arrangement to recruit students to VET FEE-HELP on behalf of Conwal and Associates. Both RTOs also operated from the same location, and used the same staff and systems.

“Online Courses Australia was audited immediately after Conwal and Associates. Following this activity, it was also issued with a notice of intention to cancel its registration.”

“A review of the evidence and information provided in response to the notices demonstrated that both training providers remained non-compliant with the requirements.”

ASQA’s decisions will take effect from 29 March 2017 unless the providers seek a review of the decisions in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).