Risk priorities

Regulatory Risk Priorities 2024-25

ASQA is the national regulator overseeing the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia. Our purpose is to ensure quality VET so that students, industry, governments and the community can have confidence in the integrity of national qualifications issued by training providers.

We use an intelligence-based and data-driven approach to identify the most significant risks to the integrity of national qualifications and ensure quality VET outcomes for students, industry and the broader community. We make full use of our regulatory powers to take action and ensure best practice. 
 

Environmental scan on regulatory risk

A central component of this risk-based approach is our annual environmental scan (e-scan). This year, we consulted closely with key stakeholder groups to identify the key risks, both ongoing and emerging, to the VET sector. We then undertook further research to contextualise those risks into themes and adjust our regulatory risk priorities accordingly.

A risk theme, in the context of the e-scan, describes a pattern of challenges, behaviours or concerns that have the potential to impact the sector’s reputation, integrity, market health or student educational outcomes. Identified risks are grouped within themes to better reflect their multi-dimensional nature and the dynamic interaction between risks within the VET sector.

Environmental scan outcomes

Increased threat from non-genuine providers and bad-faith operators

The e-scan identifies an increased threat from non-genuine providers and bad-faith operators that do not demonstrate a genuine commitment and capability to deliver quality training and assessment, and engage in fraudulent, illicit or unethical activities. These elements damage the reputation of the sector and the integrity of VET.  

Serious and organised criminals operating through the sector create unfair competition for legitimate VET businesses and industries, exploit vulnerable people, and increase pressure on the economy through undermining immigration systems, and enable unqualified people entry into critical roles putting themselves, workplaces and the community at risk.

Ongoing priority areas 2024-25

The motivations of these actors amplify the potential harm that may arise across other identified risk factors and are a critical focus for us. This is reflected in the ongoing priority areas coming into the 2024-25 financial year. 

These include the risks to quality and integrity posed by:

• inadequate or fraudulent recognition of prior learning
• shortened course duration 
• academic cheating
• student work placement
• ongoing risks associated with the rapid shift to online delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Strengthened regulatory capabilities

It’s useful to look at our regulatory risk priorities against the backdrop of recent and ongoing reforms and capability enhancements. 

Focus on risks to integrity

Our focus on integrity risks is supported by recent investment in an Integrity Unit, the establishment of the VET tip-off line to detect and address unacceptable or illegal behaviour by RTOs, and a staged program to upgrade the digital and data systems supporting our regulation. We have increased data and networked intelligence across law enforcement and government entities, which is supporting identification and response to threats to integrity in the VET sector.

Amendments to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011

Amendments to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 give us greater powers to protect vulnerable students and take action against non-genuine providers. New requirements also strengthen the Fit and Proper Person requirements under the NVETR Act. These changes provide us with increased powers to scrutinise those who are in the business of managing or operating RTOs. This includes supporting us to make more informed assessments, through expanding the range of matters that can be considered in assessing whether those in management and operational positions in an RTO are fit and proper.

Revisions to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015

Revisions to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 will strengthen the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers, provide greater clarity for RTOs, and allow for more flexibility and innovation in training delivery. The changes are designed to better reflect the diversity of the VET sector and ensure the Standards are fit for purpose across different RTO settings. The revised Standards will take full regulatory effect from 1 July 2025.