National VET regulator begins operations
From today registered training organisations (RTOs) and course owners in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, and some RTOs in Victoria and Western Australia, will be regulated by the national vocational education and training regulator—the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
ASQA was established by the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011. The new Authority will adopt a new approach to national regulation of the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia.
ASQA’s Acting Chief Commissioner, Chris Robinson, says the changes will provide greater national consistency and increased focus on the way providers are registered, courses are accredited and the quality of the system is monitored.
“To minimise the impact on relevant applicants and RTOs, the new approach has been purposefully shaped to build on the existing national quality and consistency frameworks in place in the VET sector,” he said.
Mr Robinson said through the application of a uniform VET Quality Framework and accreditation mechanisms, industries throughout Australia can have greater confidence in the quality and consistency of nationally recognised VET qualifications.
“The establishment of a national regulator also provides a clear line of accountability and responsibility for the quality of VET throughout Australia, and will ensure there is a coordinated response to emerging quality issues in the sector.
“Students, industry and governments will also have greater confidence in the skills and abilities of VET graduates,” he said.
The changes to the VET system are part of a commitment of the Council of Australian Goverments to improve the quality and consistency of VET training in Australia.
This new national approach will replace the VET regulation that has been managed by each state and territory to date, although some RTOs in Victoria and Western Australia will continue to be regulated by their current state regulators.
RTOs and course providers in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania will transfer to ASQA later in 2011. For the time being, RTOs in these states will remain with their current state regulators.
Providers can check which regulator they come under on 1 July 2011 by referring to the National Training Information Service (NTIS) at www.ntis.gov.au.
Further information for RTOs and course owners that now fall under the jurisdiction of ASQA, can be found on ASQA’s website or by calling the ASQA Info line on 1300 701 801.
The Info line is staffed Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm EST.