ASQA Stakeholder Liaison Group Communiqué (November 2021)
The ASQA SLG held its fifth meeting for 2021 on 18 November.
Chair’s update
VET sector developments
Members discussed updates from the Chair on VET sector developments relating to the new qualifications development framework, and the DESE review of the Standards for RTOs.
ASQA projects/developments
The Chair’s update noted the project ASQA has underway to examine and identify improvements to its process for managing complaints made against training providers.
Members noted ASQA’s plans to consult with the SLG on the Annual Declaration on Compliance, including its future use in promoting provider self-assurance, and on the development of the ASQA Engagement and Education Management System. ASQA will continue to engage with the SLG on the development of a future model for provider registrations.
Members noted regulatory activity data published in the recently tabled ASQA Annual Report 2020–21, regarding the number of applications completed, percentage of applications approved, percentage of applications rejected or withdrawn, outcomes of course accreditation applications, number of audits completed by type, and regulatory decisions.
ASQA cost recovery
Members were presented with a summary of ASQA’s proposed plan to work with stakeholders on the implementation of full cost recovery. ASQA will establish an SLG Subgroup on ASQA cost recovery and arrange its first meeting in December 2021.
Strategic regulatory priorities: Provider self-assurance, and online learning
Provider self-assurance, and online learning, are two of ASQA’s 2021–22 Regulatory Risk Priorities. Members received an update on both priorities and on next steps in engagement.
Provider self-assurance
ASQA has engaged ORIMA Research to lead, in partnership, the co-design of the model for self-assurance with the VET sector. Members were introduced to the ORIMA Research representatives who will co-lead the multi-year project, and noted a proposed four-phase plan for engaging the sector and developing the model.
Members of the SLG Subgroup on provider self-assurance will attend their first consultation session with ORIMA Research in the last week of November.
Online learning
Members received an update on ASQA’s strategic review of online learning and its recent publication of two Insights Papers, the second of which reported on student experiences of the shift online in response to COVID-19. The third and fourth Insights Papers are being developed, and ASQA is soon hosting a webinar for providers, offering insights and practical suggestions for delivering quality VET from the regulator’s perspective.
ASQA will continue to engage with key stakeholders, including by gaining early feedback on draft Insights Papers from the SLG Subgroup on online learning. At the conclusion of the strategic review, ASQA will publish a summative report with findings, actions and recommendations.
ASQA Digital Roadmap
Members were presented with a summary of ASQA’s four-year plan for digital business and customer experience transformation, which envisages better, easier interactions that lead providers quickly to their desired outcomes.
ASQA’s focus for 2022 will be to design and build new digital services for provider registration. SLG Members will preview and provide feedback on the initial set of solutions.
Provider Roundtable and SLG
SLG Members considered a proposed review of the SLG’s Terms of Reference, as allowed for at its foundation in July 2020. Members were also asked to reconfirm their membership of four priority project subgroups, with a fifth subgroup to be established in relation to ASQA cost recovery.
The revised SLG Terms of Reference allow for facilitated feedback loops with the peak provider associations that comprise the Provider Roundtable.
ASQA will publish the resulting endorsed Terms of Reference for both groups.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the SLG will be held on 11 February 2022.