ASQA Provider Roundtable Communiqué August 2024
The ASQA Provider Roundtable (PRT) held its second 2024 meeting on 27 August.
The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Christina Bolger, with an opening address presented by Chief Executive Officer, Saxon Rice.
Board Chairs for each of the member peak bodies were also invited to attend this initial meeting for the new financial year.
Key areas of focus
ASQA discussed areas of focus over the next financial year, noting that there is a joint mandate for quality and integrity and that the ability to be responsive to risk and to changes in our shared operating environment has never been more important as a modern regulator.
ASQA discussed the implementation of seminal reforms to improve and mature the legislative framework of the VET sector.
These reforms, agreed to across government, include legislative changes and investment in ASQA’s capability to uphold the integrity of the sector, as well as finalisation of revised Standards for RTOs. The revised Standards, to be implemented in 2025, will mature the capability and capacity of the sector to deliver quality outcomes for students and industry.
ASQA updated PRT on initiatives to support the sector’s ‘harmonisation’ within the tertiary sector. The harmonisation initiatives include a pilot to delegate the course accreditation function to TAFE, and work relating to the dual sector strategy.
Engagement is planned to support the upcoming revision of ASQA’s cost recovery model and associated Cost Recovery Implementation Statement. Members recognised the level of awareness of cost recovery is low and that there is a shared interest in further information and engagement to build understanding among providers.
ASQA’s implementation of these areas of focus will be key aspects for PRT members in their respective roles as sector leaders and their work to achieve the best outcomes for students, industry, governments and the community. Members stressed the need for transparency and clarity in light of the changes impacting providers at present.
Integrity Unit
ASQA discussed its 2024-25 published regulatory risk priorities, in particular on the significant program of work being undertaken by ASQA’s Integrity Unit. Focus areas for the Integrity Unit are International Delivery, Fraud, and Fit and Proper Persons. Compliance blitzes have targeted non-genuine providers and training delivery to overseas students, deploying a range of regulatory tools targeting student attendance, venues and resourcing, student recruitment practices and agent management, student protections, financial viability and false and misleading marketing practices.
ASQA continues to monitor sector performance and actively enforce compliance regarding delivery to overseas students. This is enhanced by collaboration across multiple government agencies including Australian Border Force, Home Affairs and Australian Federal Police. Joint investigations which exercise the powers of each agency have been successful in tackling bad faith operators.
ASQA’s use of enforcement powers to deter and disrupt fraudulent conduct and the exploitation of vulnerable students has imposed an increased number of sanctions on providers. In the 2023-24 financial year ASQA made 83 decisions to cancel registration in full or not to renew registration. Of these there were 52 decisions related to providers who deliver to overseas students.
PRT members discussed the need for clear and transparent data about the nature of integrity work and the type of illegal and non-compliant activity being investigated by ASQA, including through data and case studies. ASQA is committed to keeping stakeholders informed through the Annual Report, the Corporate Plan, publicly available Quarterly Regulation Report, and regular publications ASQA IQ and ASQA Update.
Revised Standards
ASQA provided an update on preparations for the revised Standards for Registered Training Organisations (the Standards) and how ASQA’s regulatory approach will best reflect the diversity of the VET sector and the differing models and maturity of RTOs. Information about the revised Standards will be provided by DEWR.
PRT members led a discussion about how guidance material might best support providers to interpret and implement the revised Standards and sought confirmation of ongoing consultation throughout the implementation stages. PRT discussed the need to take lessons from 2015 Standards implementation, particularly in the area of transition arrangements and offered to provide input to identify issues and communicate the practicalities of the revised Standards.
Service delivery
ASQA acknowledges the expectation that Commonwealth entities continuously maintain their regulatory systems throughout the regulatory life cycle and achieve outcomes cost-effectively for Australians and businesses. ASQA also recognises that this is closely linked to digital and data capability and stronger foundations for a forward-looking and agile use of technology in our regulation.
Members recognised the important role PRT can play in supporting ASQA to make use of technology in our regulation and welcomed engagement on a staged implementation of improvements to productivity, service standards and user experience in dealing with the regulator. Members highlighted the related issues of data collection and the need to work across government to streamline data collection.
A forward cycle of engagement will be established with PRT to optimise ASQA’s digital transformation program, with specific testing that can be undertaken with Stakeholder Liaison Groups. Members were assured that cyber security is a priority which is addressed through compliant technology and systems.
ASQA’s annual reporting is transparent about performance against its key performance indicators and utilises a range of inputs including service standards, provider feedback from annual survey and complaints information. An overview of outcomes of the independent ORIMA provider and Course owner survey will be shared with PRT before publication on ASQA’s website.
Next meeting
Proposed Date: Wednesday 16 October 2024.