ASQA Update - May 2021
From our Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to our May edition of the ASQA Update.
ASQA has continued to implement improvements to our regulatory operating model over the last month and this Update is a good summary of the work we have launched recently and what is to come.
Managing risk well is a cornerstone to supporting quality VET. I encourage you to read our recently released Regulatory Risk Framework, which outlines how ASQA will:
- clearly define our regulatory outcomes
- engage strategically about risk
- use data and intelligence to understand risks and regulated entities
- assess risks and design regulatory responses
- interact with regulated entities
- understand regulatory impact and outcomes.
Our regulatory responses to non-compliance has been a focus of our reform. At a provider level, assessing risks considers the actual or potential harm to students and the level of confidence in the provider’s ability to deliver quality VET. The regulatory tools employed are used in a graduated and escalating way, and ensures our responses are proportionate to the risk.
Education is an important part of ASQA’s regulatory approach, and, with recent success of the Spotlight On series, our education program is proving of value. The recent webinar completing the first Spotlight On series had over 2500 registrations with more than 200 questions posed during the interactive session.
We look forward to engaging more with providers and students to ensure quality training, at this important time of reform, with increased education and engagement activities. Additionally, we will shortly be consulting on our refreshed stakeholder engagement strategy.
In addition, the Australian Government announced on 30 April, an extension to relief on regulatory fees and charges for providers until 31 December 2021. Fee relief was first introduced in April 2020 as part of a package of measures to support the sector to lift the financial pressures on VET providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I look forward to sharing further progress with you in the coming months.