VET regulator cancels ASCET Tech’s registration

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled the registration of Victorian-based training provider ASCET Institute of Technology (RTO ID 20770).

Chief Commissioner Mark Paterson said an audit of ASCET Tech’s operations by ASQA identified behaviour that was critically and systematically non-compliant with the requirements of the vocational education and training (VET) quality framework.

ASQA found:

• systemic non-compliance with the marketing/recruitment and enrolment practices undertaken by ASCET Tech and brokers operating on ASCET Tech’s behalf, with learners being inappropriately enrolled into courses;
• systemic non-compliance with the RTO’s determination and provision of the support services needed to assist learners in their studies;
• an insufficient amount of trainers and assessors to deliver to the number of students that it enrolled, and
• an inappropriate amount of training to ensure learners had the skills needed.

“ASQA issued ASCET Tech with a notice of intent in October inviting it to provide further evidence and information as to why its registration should not be cancelled, however a review of the evidence provided indicated that the training provider was still non-compliant,” Mr Paterson said.

“ASQA has therefore taken the decision to cancel ASCET Tech’s registration as a provider of VET services.”

The decision will take effect on 1 February 2017 unless the provider seeks a review of ASQA’s decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Mr Paterson said the decision to cancel ASCET Tech’s registration was part of the regulator’s 2016 VET FEE-HELP regulatory strategy.

“Between May and November last year ASQA undertook regulatory scrutiny of 26 training providers which it - in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training - had identified as providers of concern,” Mr Paterson said.

“Work to finalise this scrutiny is well-advanced but not yet complete. ASQA will communicate any regulatory decisions it takes as necessary and will publish a final report on its 2016 VET FEE-HELP strategy at the end of the project.”