Regulator launches website for new Standards
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has launched a new website providing detailed information about the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.
Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson said the website—www.asqa.gov.au/standards—demonstrated ASQA’s commitment to providing enhanced information and guidance for RTOs to assist them in complying with the standards.
“As the national regulator for vocational education and training (VET), ASQA is implementing a number of initiatives aimed at giving RTOs information to assist them in meeting the requirements of the national standards,” Mr Robinson said.
“These initiatives include publishing a users’ guide to the standards; hosting face-to-face information sessions in cities across Australia; and the new website that we have launched today.”
A pre-print version of the users’ guide to the standards is available to download:
Mr Robinson said ASQA’s move to provide more targeted information and guidance for RTOs was in line with the Australian Government’s efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on small business.
“In ASQA’s experience, only 20 per cent of existing RTOs are fully compliant with the required national standards when audited,” he said.
“When given time to rectify the non-compliances identified by our auditors, that figure increases to close to 80 per cent.
“This indicates that many RTOs want to comply with the standards but may have difficulty in fully understanding what is required of them.
“ASQA’s enhanced information and guidance will help RTOs to be sure they are complying with the standards, and will therefore help to reduce the burden of regulation on those RTOs committed to delivering quality training.”
Mr Robinson said close to 700 had attended face-to-face information sessions held in Canberra, Darwin and Perth last week.
Sessions will be held this week in Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong, Bendigo and Adelaide. More than 1,000 people have registered to attend. In total, 26 sessions will be held in 16 locations.
ASQA is also close to finalising the details of standalone information sessions targeted at non-RTO stakeholders in the VET sector. These sessions are expected to be held in early December.