Introduction of 'National Vocational Education And Training (VET) Provider Collection' from 2014

The Standing Council on Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment (SCOTESE) has agreed to arrangements for the introduction of mandatory 'Total VET Activity' data collection and reporting by all registered training organisations (RTOs), to commence from 2014.

As a result, registered training organisations must implement policies and procedures to collect full Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS)–compliant records from their clients, for all training activity conducted from 1 January 2014.

Each registered training organisation must then report this data to the National VET Provider Collection—managed by the  National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)—in early 2015.  
The National VET Provider Collection Data Requirements Policy, available from the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) website, explains the requirement for all RTOs to commence reporting their nationally recognised training to the National VET Provider Collection.

• Visit the Department of Industry website to find answers to frequently asked questions about this requirement. 

The Department of Industry website also has information about financial assistance available to support the implementation of this arrangement. Read the Fact sheet—Financial transition assistance (PDF).

What are the 'National VET Provider Collection' data requirements?

Every RTO, with the exception of those that meet certain exemption criteria, must collect full AVETMISS-compliant records from all students each calendar year. Early in the following year, the RTO must report data to the NCVER. 

• Information on NCVER, the National VET Provider Collection and AVETMISS can be found on the NCVER website.

This reporting will commence in early 2015.

What is ASQA’s role in this process?

ASQA’s role is to enforce providers’ compliance with these requirements as they relate to the Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2012 and the Data Provision Requirements 2012.

ASQA also administers the exemption process for some providers.

Why is this required?

Introducing enhanced reporting requirements for RTOs will improve the comprehensiveness and quality of data available about nationally recognised training in Australia.

The new, comprehensive data set will be used for a number of purposes, including providing information for the My Skills website, helping governments to develop more targeted policies and better direct funding to training priorities, helping state and territory governments to administer their entitlement schemes, and, pending implementation of the Unique Student Identifier, enable the creation of training transcripts for students.

A comprehensive National VET Provider Collection will provide a number of benefits for RTOs. Reporting total data to the National VET Provider Collection will reduce the amount of other data that an RTO would separately be required to provide data to their VET regulator or to governments on an ad hoc basis.

When do these requirement come into effect? Is there a transition period?

While the changed collection and reporting requirements will take effect from 1 January 2014, transitional and exemption arrangements apply in certain cases.

SCOTESE has approved a 12-month transition grace period that a registered training organisation may access if it is not fully prepared to commence this data collection.

• For information on how to access these transition arrangements, please refer to the Data provision section of this site.

Are there any exemptions from these requirements?

SCOTESE has also endorsed a range of exemption categories that may apply to certain RTOs, or relate to the delivery of certain training products.

SCOTESE  has also agreed to limited exemptions for certain training provided by: 

• RTOs delivering nationally recognised training that has implications for national security or for the safety  of defence, border protection, customs, national security or police personnel 
• RTOs delivering nationally recognised training (on a non-commercial basis) in order to deliver vital emergency, fire, first-aid, rescue or like services to the Australian community 
• RTOs delivering identified short standalone units or modules 
• Enterprise RTOs delivering to existing staff or volunteers.

Understanding exemptions

• For detailed information on these exemption categories, please refer to the SCOTESE Fact sheet—Data reporting exemptions (PDF 389kb)
• For information on how to apply to ASQA access these exemptions, please refer to the Total VET activity page of this site.

What about existing requirements to report Quality Indicator data to ASQA?

Until further notice, all  RTOs must continue to report competency completion, learner engagement and employer satisfaction quality indicator data by the end of June each year.

More information?

Enquiries about total VET activity should be addressed to tvaexemption@asqa.gov.au or to 1300 701 801.