ASQA Stakeholder Liaison Group Communiqué (October 2022)

The ASQA Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG) second meeting for this year was held 13 October 2022.

ASQA update

ASQA’s Executive Director, Market Performance and Engagement provided SLG members with an update on the recent internal structural changes to ASQA which supports better alignment of functions and outcomes (Functional Redesign), including the new functions of ASQA’s Executive Directors and introduced the new SLG Chair. Members were presented with an overview of ASQA’s new strategic direction and ASQA’s risk-based approach to regulation and regulatory risk priorities for 2022-23.

Priorities and key focus areas

Members discussed recent updates and their priorities for 2022-23 and key focus areas potentially impacting ASQA’s regulatory approach, which include:

• online learning and digital development
• ‘teach the trainer’ capabilities
• VET reform changes
• staff shortages and retention
• Indigenous, culturally competent and safe ways to learn
• promoting education on regulatory obligations within RTOs
• ensuring all states and territories views are being represented in a range of forums
• integration between state government agencies and ASQA
• work, health and safety, and duty of care in schools around mandatory work placement
• mapping business practice of RTOs to the Standards, and achieve positive outcomes and changes for smaller RTOs.

Engagement and education

SLG members discussed preferred future engagement with ASQA to ensure strategic and
purposeful collaboration can occur. The Chair proposed that SLG meetings are outcomes focused – the outcome sought will influence the frequency of meetings, composition of Members in focus groups for testing specific educative tools, products and resources, noting the commitment to move forward strategically and purposefully.

Members raised several industry changes since the February meeting, including the ELICOS standards and the exemption placed on providers for delivering online training during COVID. This was effectively utilised by many providers and it was suggested that ELICOS standards could be updated to include flexibility for online delivery.

The complexity of transition rules for accredited courses and effective dates was raised, and it was noted that ASQA’s Accreditation Team, provided excellent support and guidance for several SLG members during their recent reaccreditations.

Relaxation of COVID restrictions for delivery modes were discussed, particularly around international students and CRICOS providers, and the duty of care to ensure students are satisfied, and complying with the conditions of their visas. It was noted that it is still an ongoing challenge with conducting face-to-face training with students due to some of the existing COVID restrictions, while needing to meet student attendance ELICOS National Code requirements.