A new era for the VET sector

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) welcomes the Australian Government’s release of the rapid review into our regulatory practices and processes outlining how we will work together with the sector and key stakeholders towards better regulation.

Over the past six months we’ve worked closely with the independent review team on the review. We have also encouraged stakeholders to provide feedback to ensure that matters of critical interest and concern to the VET sector were addressed.

Stakeholder feedback has helped to shape a series of recommendations for specific changes in line with best practice governance, regulation and engagement.

The recommendations confirm ASQA’s focus to:

• strengthen our engagement and education programs
• clarify our role and regulatory approach
• build a common understanding of self-assurance and excellence in training outcomes
• align our practices and governance accordingly
• provide more considered and meaningful reporting on provider performance
• undertake appropriate and proportionate regulatory action as required

While this is a long-term vision for reform to evolve ASQA as a more modern and responsive regulator, work is already underway to support our role moving beyond 'compliance' to a greater focus on quality assurance.

Focus on engagement and education

Most importantly, we recognise the importance of strong engagement with the sector to continue to progress these reforms in our rapidly changing and uncertain operating environment.

Over the coming months, ASQA will engage with providers to:

• Design new regulatory practices, including a new approach to audit reports, declarations of compliance, and remediation activities to strengthen the focus on self-assurance
• Develop necessary guidance materials and resources, including self-assurance tools, that allow training providers to have access to information and support to deliver good practice training and assessment

To support these engagement activities, we are also developing a comprehensive education program, to ensure training providers are aware of and supported to understand our expectations and requirements.

Stakeholder Liaison Group

Expression of Interest applications closed on 15 May 2020.

ASQA has established a Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG) to engage and consult with providers and other key stakeholders on ASQA’s approach to engagement and education, and identify and respond to key issues facing providers.

The members have been selected on the basis of their experience and standing in the VET and ELICOS sectors. ASQA is delighted to announce the inaugural group of members.