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Presentation Title Australian Skills Quality Authority Subheading Presenter’s name 00.00.2013 Skills Tasmania Conference 2014 Dr Dianne Orr Deputy Chief Commissioner & Commissioner Compliance 3 June 2014, Hobart

Australian Skills Quality Authority the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector ASQA regulates courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met Functions: registering training providers as RTOs registering organisations as CRICOS providers accrediting VET courses ensuring that providers comply with the requirements of registration, including by conducting compliance audits

ASQA WA 4.8% ACT 3.0% Number of RTOs VIC 16.2% NSW 28.8% TAS 2.2% SA 6.7% NT 1.3% QLD 36.9%

ASQA activity to date *all figures are approximate

ASQA offices Compliance Operations Chief Commissioner Commissioner Compliance Risk Analysis Industry Engagement Risk Assessment Course Accreditation Commissioner Risk & Legal Risk Assessment Legal & Investigations Complaints Risk Assessment Corporate Info line Contracted Auditors

ASQA’s model of cooperative compliance Compliance strategies and response Compliance posture Deliberately “game” the system to maximise profit at the expense of quality training outcomes Detect and bring to account High risk • Deter by detection and taking appropriate action • infringement notices • enforceable undertakings • remove privileges of registration (cancellation, suspension, amendment) Do not fully understand or accept their obligations and often fail to meet them Prepared to run a good training business and strive to deliver quality education outcomes, but sometimes fail to meet their obligations in some areas • Provide appropriate information and education • Remove privileges of registration if compliance is trending in the wrong direction (amend scope, issue directions) Willing and able to run a good training business delivering quality outcomes. Always meet their obligations. Make it easy to comply Minimise compliance costs (e.g. approvals without audit, grant delegations) Lowest risk 5

ASQA’s approach to audit systematic rigorous evidence based fair, open and transparent It is the responsibility of the provider to demonstrate compliance against the relevant standards. Audit focus your organisation providing evidence that it complies with the relevant standards and legislation the audit team assessing that evidence to confirm compliance Providers are required to be compliant with the relevant standards at all times.

ASQA audits • audits are conducted either in response to an application or in response to identified risks • strategic industry reviews are also conducted in response to identified risks across an industry or training product • audits of RTOs are conducted against the Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2012 (the standards) • audits of CRICOS providers conducted against the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (the National Code) • audit scope depends on a range of factors relating to that particular provider

Audits of existing RTOs 1 October 2013 – 31 March 2014

Compliance with Standard 15 – Quality training & assessment Audits of existing Tasmanian RTOs 1 October 2013 – 31 March 2014 Compliance at initial audit Compliance following rectification SNR 15.1 Continuous improvement of training and assessment SNR 15.2 Training meets requirements of training package SNR 15.3 Required staff, facilities, equipment and materials SNR 15.4 Qualified and competent trainers and assessors SNR 15.5 Assessment done properly

Assessment issues in VET (NCVER 2013 Halliday Wynes & Misko) • trainers and assessors lack the skills and expertise to conduct valid assessments • RTOs not providing repeated practice needed to demonstrate competence • lack of work placements • inadequate rigour in assessment process • unclear role for industry/employers • lack of systematic validation and moderation

ASQA Strategic Reviews ASQA undertook its inaugural Strategic Reviews in 2013 which examined: training for aged and community care training for the construction industry White Card marketing and advertising practices of registered training organisations

Aged and community care review • the quality and quantity of training in the sector varies widely • training programs are largely too short and with insufficient time in a workplace for sufficient skills development • most RTOs have difficulty complying with assessment requirements • 87.7% of RTOs found to be not compliant with at least one of the national training standards at the initial audit • given time to respond to the non-compliance found, 20.8% of RTOS remained non-compliant The findings

Aged and community care review To address the issues identified, ASQA made a total of 10 recommendations including: • continue making the regulatory scrutiny of aged and community care training a very high priority • information workshops on training and assessment • revisions to training packages • revisions to National Standards • develop benchmarks for minimum volume of learning Recommendations

White Card review • there is great variety in state requirements for work health and safety regulation • most registered training organisations have difficulty complying with assessment requirements • training programs delivered online are largely too short and without time in a workplace for sufficient skills development • concerns about student identification verification The findings

White Card review To achieve change in the key areas that are undermining confidence in the White Card, ASQA made a total of six recommendations including: • redevelopment of the unit of competency • inclusion of a minimum duration of training • revisions to National Standards • information workshops on training and assessment • continued focus on unit of competency in regulatory activities Recommendations

Marketing and advertising practices review The findings • up to 45% of the RTOs were marketing and advertising misleading information • some practices breach the standards required to be met to offer national training qualifications • organisations that are not RTOs are acting as brokers for those that are, which in many cases is misleading consumers • consumers, including students and employers are often provided with ambiguous and/or insufficient information to make informed training choices

Marketing and advertising practices review Recommendations • make RTO marketing and advertising a very high priority in ASQA’s regulatory activity • revisions to National Standards relating to marketing and advertising • national workshops to reinforce and explain the requirements of the standards to RTOs • NSSC and VET regulators to work together to address volume of learning concerns • consideration of possible measures to ensure consumers using VET brokers are fully protected

ASQA Strategic Reviews • early childhood • security programs • equine training programs All three reviews will be completed by the end of the year. Reviews undertaken in 2014

Engagement with providers maintaining a dedicated ASQA Info line and email service online information videos online audit survey for providers to give ASQA feedback regular presentations at provider forums/conferences ASQA plans to increase its information and guidance for providers. This includes: redesign and re-brand of the ASQA website comprehensive national program of provider information sessions scheduled for second half of 2014 • focus on the standards changes to the way enquiries are handled by ASQA’s Info Line service ASQA review of its operations as a regulator to better meet the needs of stakeholders and the community

Engagement with training organisations’ peak bodies identify issues of concern discuss ways to improve efficiency of regulation discuss strategic issues of mutual concern find better ways to do things • quarterly roundtable with provider peak bodies • ASQA meets with peak bodies representing public providers, enterprise providers and community training providers

How to stay up-to-date with ASQA news ASQA Update • asqa.gov.au/media-and-publications/newsletter-sign-up.html you can also receive automated updates from TGA • create an account on TGA • click ‘notify me of changes’ link on any training product or RTO page • email notification will be sent whenever the item changes

Future issues revised national standards Government policy on reducing red tape in regulation Government currently undertaking a review of the VET sector, including regulation, with a view to reform • ASQA is working closely with the Government and the Department of Industry on this costs/fees – currently under consideration

More information ASQA website – asqa.gov.au • Call the ASQA Info line – 1300 701 801 • Email to – enquiries@asqa.gov.au • Subscribe to the ASQA Update • Online applications and payment of fees – ASQAnet

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