With an initial timeframe of 6 months to draft and gain final approval for the new Australian Vocational Qualifications System (AVQS), the September 2013 change in the Federal Government has brought with it delays and change to priorities for the VET sector.
The NSSC had stated that “The AVQS will provide a stronger, clearer single set of standards that can be applied nationally, increasing the focus on the core business of a provider, quality teaching and assessment, and enabling a system-wide shift towards a more responsive regulatory model that reduces the regulatory burden for providers that have consistently demonstrated quality training and assessment”.
However following the initial Meeting of ‘COAG Industry Skills Council’ on the 3rd April 2014, the new Minister flagged changes to the standing committees that provide leadership in regulatory matters in the VET sector. As a result the National Standards Skills Council was removed. The AVQS received further revision through the work of the VET reform taskforce.
On the 25th June 2014 The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry released the revised Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Regulator Standards for public consultation.
The Policy overview of the Standards for Training Providers and VET Regulators states that:
” A high quality VET system needs clear and relevant standards against which providers and regulators can be held accountable. These standards should underpin an effective risk-based regulatory system that ensures the confidence of learners and employers in the integrity of VET qualifications. Clear and relevant standards are also critical in ensuring that providers know what they need to do in order to be compliant and what they can expect from VET regulators”.
Further submissions will now be received by the VET Reform Taskforce up until the 23rd July after which time the Final version of the ‘Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ will be released.
The expected time for which RTOs must comply with the new Standards has been reported as 1st January 2015.
Information regarding the new draft versions is available at: http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/publication/draft-revised-rto-and-vet-regulator-standards
‘Audit Answers’ is a web based RTO Policies Procedures and Student Management System for RTOs
For more information and an overview of Audit Answers features go to – Audit Answers Features
