Government announces financial relief for sector

The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, and the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, have announced a package of measures to lift the financial pressures on registered training organisations.

Among measures announced are:

• Fees and charges for providers registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 will be waived. ASQA will reimburse fees already paid.
• ASQA’s move to full cost recovery, due to start on 1 July 2020, will be delayed until July 2021.
• For six months, there will be an exemption from loan fees associated with VET Student Loans.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority will work through the necessary details to put this relief in effect and will implement the changes as quickly as possible.

ASQA will keep providers informed of progress and provide further detail of the waivers and refunds that will be applied in coming days.