1. Accountable Education Officer Exploring the requirements Therese Hickey 5 July 2013 therese@bthgroup.com.au

2. AVQS

3. Accountable Education Officer (Proposed Standard 3)

4. An LTO will ensure that there is an Accountable Education Officer, registered with the AVQS regulator, who is responsible for the training and assessment undertaken by the LTO

5. Still working it out “The NSSC acknowledges that there is a need for further explanation and definition on the role and responsibility of the Accountable Education Officer..”

7. Why? It is a response to calls that educational leadership is not strong and causes compliance difficulties in educational practice. It is an acknowledgement that not all CEOs are educators, nor do they hold the knowledge of the complexities of delivery and assessing in the VET context

8. CEO Make enough money to sustain organisation Meet regulatory requirements

9. Quality Issues Graduates despite being issued with a qualification, are failing to meet workplace requirements. Inconsistent quality of training and assessment. Learning program design, duration and delivery

10. How do we ensure it is not “just a piece of paper”

11. Parable

12. AEO as Gardener

13. Who? An accountable education officer is a person! A person who has vocational education and training pedagogical expertise and experience, including holding a diploma or higher level qualification approved by NSSC

14. Options AEOWhich one will you choose? Full time Employee ☐ Part-time Employee ☐ Individual Shared amongst a number of RTOs ☐ Service Provided to the LTO by an external body ☐

15. The temptation could be to focus on who will fill the role? To grab the first person who has a diploma. Focus instead on the function of the role. The tasks that you want the person to undertake and then recruit the right person or solution

16. The role of the AEO AEO will be responsible for the Training and Assessment strategies and practice of the LTO..and ensuring that – Training and Assessment is compliant – Trainers are qualified – Courses delivered are on scope – Industry needs are met – Support Services are provided to students

17. Why is the role being separated? Because we think that it will contribute to better outcomes. Delegating roles works! Here is what can happen when roles and strategy are confused

18. Engaged The NSSC requires active and formal engagement of the AEO rather than less specific “consultation” How will you demonstrate this? Policies and Procedures should reflect the role of the AEO.

19. Company Secretary Role To explore the AEO role compare it to the role of the Company Secretary What can we learn from that model? What qualifications do they hold and what tasks do they undertake? Recognition and Respect of the Company Secretary role

20. Governance is the way an organisation polices itself. The key to the successful implementation of the AEO role is in ensuring that the AEO has appropriate delegation to police the way you train and assess.

21. When? The NSSC is considering a two year transition period in which existing RTOs and individuals can adapt to the new arrangements.

22. How will it work? The AEO is registered with the regulator. The LTO notifies the Regulator. The AEO is part of the quality system. This is not a “pass the buck” system. The organisation is licensed not an individual. The organisation can lose it’s license The AEO can be de-registered. The LTO is still required to have a management team with the skills and expertise to lead an educational organisation.

23. Actions Do a gap analysis Don’t wait. Improve your governance now for the sake of your learners not just for the sake of regulator Continue your rigorous and disciplined approach to quality.

24. Summation If good business management skills are in place your organisation will know what learners to target. If good educational leadership is in place your organisation will know how to ensure the right conditions for learning are in place for that group.