Regulator cancels registration of three security training providers

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled the registration of three registered training organisations (RTOs) that were delivering security training in New South Wales.

The providers are:

• Sage Academy Training Pty Ltd (RTO ID 41505)
• Premier Training Institute Pty Ltd (RTO ID 41414) trading as Premier Training Institute and
• Safety and First Aid Education Pty Ltd (RTO ID 32422)

ASQA Chief Commissioner Mark Paterson said the training providers were each found to be critically non-compliant with the requirements of the vocational education and training (VET) quality framework.

Mr Paterson said ASQA auditors identified a range of issues with the training providers including poor training and assessment strategies and practices; insufficient trainers, assessors, facilities and equipment; a lack of information provided to students about courses, and non-compliance with New South Wales security licensing requirements.

“ASQA’s regulatory scrutiny of these providers follows-on from its national strategic review, Training in security programs in Australia, which was published in January 2016 and the decision taken in July 2016 to cancel the registration of security training provider, Peacemakers Security Pty Ltd,” Mr Paterson said.

“Working in the security industry poses a unique set of challenges. That is why it is so important that the training being provided to those who want to work in the industry is of a high quality.”

ASQA will also take steps to cancel qualifications issued by these providers where it believes there is a risk to the public because the qualification holder’s skills were not adequately assessed.

Mr Paterson acknowledged the cooperation of the Queensland Office of Fair Trading and the New South Wales Police Force Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate for their assistance in ASQA’s regulatory scrutiny of these three providers.

ASQA’s decisions will take effect from 27 March 2017 unless the provider seeks a review of ASQA’s decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).