ASQA Update - April 2023

Welcome to the April edition of the ASQA Update

As we close on the first quarter of 2023, there has been a lot happening in ASQA and across the sector in recent weeks. There are several important milestones occurring on the regulatory calendar, with the Annual Declaration on Compliance submission process opening this month, and engagement with the ASQA Stakeholder Liaison Group via the newly formed Regulatory Risk Priority (RRP) focussed sub-groups; more information on this is covered below.

I would also like to acknowledge some of the important parliamentary and other enquiries taking place at the moment, with ASQA having made a submission to the inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors, which will explore the challenges and opportunities presented to both sectors since the reopening of Australia’s borders.

I am delighted that this month ASQA will be launching our ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP is a very important piece of work that acknowledges what our agency will do to achieve real and sustainable outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, employers, training providers and communities.

The ‘Innovate’ RAP builds on the implementation of actions and initiatives developed via our first plan in 2020. In 2023-25 we will continue to review opportunities through our role as an employer and as the national vocational education and training (VET) regulator, to further deliver on ensuring our engagements and interactions are appropriate, innovative, and accessible to our diverse range of external stakeholders.

ASQA commits to promoting reconciliation through building positive two-way relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and training organisations based on mutual respect and we are focussed on further improving the information and guidance we offer to support providers, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to help them understand and meet their regulatory requirements, ensuring our engagements and interactions are appropriate, innovative and accessible.

One of our key actions is to consider ways in which our regulatory practice and stewardship role can support equitable training outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We will achieve this through deepening our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and by broadening our engagement with other Government departments, the private sector, the VET sector, and the community we represent. This aligns with the Australian Government’s priority to improve training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by considering opportunities to support improved outcomes through our regulation.

As Chief Executive Officer, I will work closely with our RAP Working Group to promote and support cultural understanding and respect in our workplace, and to oversee the implementation of the RAP. ASQA's Innovate RAP 2023-2025 is now available on our website.

I hope you had a safe and restful Easter break, as we head into a busy next quarter of 2023.

Stay safe and well,

In this edition

• ASQA Launches - Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2023-2025

• Annual Declaration on Compliance - submit by 17 May

• Spotlight On – Marketing and advertising launched

• Return to Compliance for ESOS/CRICOS registered providers

• Updated - asqanet user guide for providers

• RTO Annual Registration Charge

• Submission of 2022 Total VET Activity (TVA) Data

and more