Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments Australian Vocational Education and Training

Schools private and public Vocational TAFEs and private providers Universities public and private (2) Australia has 3 education sectors

Competency based training and assessment VET is a competency based model  Not based on time  Criterion referenced  Adult learning principles  Skills based Competency based assessment (CBA) is the process of collecting evidence and making judgements against set criteria.

SCOTESE has high-level policy responsibility for:  higher education  vocational education and training (VET), including skills and workforce development  international education  adult and community education  employment

Advisory groups There are a number of advisory groups  The National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC)  The Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG)  The National Skills Standards Council (NSSC)

National Skills Standards Council The NSSC provides advice to SCOTESE on national standards for regulation of vocational education and training NSSC

ASQA Australian Skills Quality Authority Was established in June 2011 and slowly integrated across all States. Regulates Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)

Nationally Recognised Training Can be achieved through: Training packages or Accredited courses

Training Packages 69 Training packages 11 Industry Skills Councils 1720 Accredited Courses

Syllabus documents Training packages and accredited courses are syllabus documents RTOs are required to purchase or develop curriculum to address the syllabus

Australian Qualifications Framework LevelsRecommended Qualification Band 9 Doctorate Degree (Professional/Technology) 8Master’s Degree (Professional/Technology) 7Bachelor’s Degree (Professional/Technology) 6Higher Diploma 5Diploma 4Certificate II 3Certificate I 2Proficiency II 1Proficiency I SchoolVETUniversity Doctoral Degree Masters Degree Vocational Graduate DiplomaGraduate Diploma Vocational Graduate CertificateGraduate Certificate Bachelor degree Advanced DiplomaAssociate Degree Diploma Certificate IV Certificate III Senior secondary school certificate of education Certificate II Certificate I

Regulations To become a Registered Training Organisation, a company must apply to ASQA. Initial registration Monitoring audits Renew registration

Risk assessment Audit frequency is determined on 3 key risk areas 1.Performance 2.Governance 3.Profile

Performance risk compliance history AQTF and/or ESOS compliance levels and trends (based on audits in the last two years) quality indicator data competency completion rates and client satisfaction levels substantiated complaints (in the last two years) performance feedback from other valid sources (e.g. industry advice).

Governance risk financial viability fundamental changes to the scope of operations (in the last two years) level of reliance on other organisations to deliver training and assessment on the RTO’s behalf VET skills and experience of senior management personnel transparency of legal ownership rigour and relevance of business planning.

Profile risk scope of registration range of industry training areas and/or AQF levels delivered proportion of delivery of training that leads to licensed or regulated outcomes proportion of delivery to overseas students in Australia proportion and range of delivery at offshore locations modes of delivery and types of student clients.

VET Quality Framework Companies must comply with the framework Standards for RTOs The Australian Qualifications Framework Fit and proper person requirements Financial viability risk assessment Data provisions requirements

A Quality Management System Organisational structure Responsibilities Data management Processes Resources Customer focus Continuous Improvement Product quality

Standards for RTOs Strategy for continuous improvement Strategy for training and assessment Staff, facilities, equipment and materials Staff qualifications and experience Assessment practices

Client services Address client needs Information provided to client Support clients Access to records

Management of all operations Management of partnerships Management of Records AVETMISS

Governance Objectives Business plan Financial viability Decision making of senior officers Comply with VET Quality Framework

Reporting Providing data Notifying of changes to operations Notifying of changes to ownership Transfer records as requested

Legislation RTOs must ensure that they abide by all legislation and regulations and informs various clients about their role. State and Commonwealth

Privacy Copyright Health and Safety Anti-discrimination Fair Trading Vocational Education + Industry specific

Fees All fees must be known to student  Administration fees, course fees, tuition fees, uniform fees etc.  Payment terms  Refund policy

Fees in advance Fees cannot be taken in advance unless one of 5 conditions is in place Option 1 the RTO is administered by a State, Territory or Commonwealth government agency;

Fees in advance Option 2 the RTO holds current membership of an approved Tuition Assurance Scheme

Option 3 the RTO may accept payment of no more than $1000 from each individual student prior to the commencement of the course. Following course commencement, the RTO may require payment of additional fees in advance from the student but only such that at any given time, the total amount required to be paid which is attributable to tuition or other services yet to be delivered to the student does not exceed $1,500; Fees in advance

Option 4 the RTO holds an unconditional financial guarantee from a bank operating in Australia for no less than the full amount of funds held by the RTO which are prepayments from students (or future students) for tuition to be provided by the RTO to those students; Fees in advance

Option 5 the RTO has alternative fee protection measures of equal rigour approved by the National VET Regulator. Fees in advance

Certification RTOs issues Qualifications or statements of attainment in accordance with the AQF, provider number and logo specifications

Recognition RTOs must recognise AQF certificates issued by other RTOs Must retain clients records for 30 years Must agree to provide data on a yearly basis regarding completion of courses

Marketing and Transitional arrangements Transition with 12 months of new syllabus being published

Funding Some training is funded and some is fee for service Funding is both Commonwealth and State based Traineeship and apprenticeship Older workers

Profile delivery – money put aside by State governments for the TAFE institutes Contestable delivery – open market bidding arrangements User Choice – contestable but chosen by employer and apprentice Funding