ASQA welcomes inaugural Advisory Council

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) welcomes the appointment of members to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council (the Advisory Council).

The inaugural Advisory Council will support ASQA to continue its focus on best practice regulation of the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

ASQA CEO Saxon Rice said: “I’m delighted to welcome the inaugural Advisory Council members who have been appointed for their expertise in governance, regulation, industry engagement, and education and training.”

Members of the Advisory Council comprise Mr Peter Costantini OAM (Chair), Professor Valerie Braithwaite, Ms Renee Hindmarsh, Dr Grant Klinkum, Ms Adrienne Nieuwenhuis, Mr Neil Quarmby, and Dr Don Zoellner.

“ASQA’s purpose is to ensure quality VET so that students, employers, governments, and the community have confidence in the integrity of national qualifications issued by training providers.

“The appointment of the Advisory Council will facilitate continuous improvement of ASQA’s governance practices and improve ASQA’s access to high-level ongoing expert advice, including in relation to ASQA’s strategic objectives and approach to regulation,” said Ms Rice.

“Our overarching goal is to move from input and compliance controls, to a focus on self-assurance and excellence in training outcomes.”

Establishment of the Advisory Council is a key recommendation of the 2020 Rapid Review of ASQA’s governance, culture and regulatory practice. The current governance arrangements were introduced in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Governance and Other Matters) Bill 2020, which was subsequently passed by the Australian Parliament and included the formation of an advisory council comprising experts from regulatory practice, sector and business engagement, and education and training.

Ms Rice added: “The Advisory Council presents a valuable source of strategic advice to ASQA as a regulator and signals our commitment to learning from the expertise of others as we continue to build and maintain the confidence and trust of those we regulate and the broader community.”