This morning Matthew Dale Director of Audit Express spoke with ABC Radio host Joseph Thomsen about the quality of training being delivered by private training organisations (RTOs) across Australia.
In recent days it has been reported that the Corowa TAFE is up for sale – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-15/tafe-sales/6776590 A number of callers phoned through to ABC Radio complaining about the empty TAFE classrooms and the poor quality of training that is delivered by private training organisations. Matthew was quick to correct such claims, noting that some of the best quality training that Audit Express has seen delivered is that delivered by many RTOs that are members of the Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET).
In a market driven system like the Australian VET sector, the consumer – either the student or employer has a choice. They chose their training provider either a TAFE or Private RTO based on their needs. TAFEs need to engage with industry and the wider community to ensure that their training programs meet the needs of their clients if they are to see their classrooms filled.
As a tax payer it pains me to know that our hard earned tax payer dollars are going towards paying the wages of teachers that are not teaching any students, and towards paying the electricity bills of TAFEs with empty classes. We call on the Victorian and NSW Ministers to consider adopting the QLD Reform Action Plan http://the-scan.com/2013/06/11/qld-opens-tafe-assets-to-private-rtos/
which provides access to public training facilities for private providers as well as the public TAFE institutes.
Matthew Dale is the Director of Audit Express and former adviser to the Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Skills.
When ASQA became the (national*) regulatory body for the vocational education and training (VET) sector on the 1st of July 2011, the VET sector was sold the vision of Australia moving towards a true national VET system. Fast forward four years to 2015 and it is pleasing to see that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
The opportunities associated with the Australian VET sector are endless. With the slowing Australian mining industry, the right education policy reform could see education rise to be our largest and most successful industry over the next 10 years.
There are an increasing number of opportunities in the VET sector, including: [emaillocker id=6291]
Global international students wanting to experience our reputable, quality education system both here in Australia and offshore in their home countries.
The ongoing demand to meet the skilling needs of our own nation
The opportunity to compete with NZ, UK and the USA education providers to meet the skilling needs of our neighbours across the wider Asian-Pacific region. This in itself is a multi billion dollar opportunity.
Senator Simon Birmingham has worked hard at this important piece of education reform that will strengthen our current fragmented and disjointed sector. It is also really pleasing to see that the Australian Council of Private Education and Training is also playing an active role in campaigning and lobbying for the much needed reform that our sector is crying out for across the nation.
AuditExpress look forward to continuing our work with ACPET in seeing this much needed reform passed through parliament in this term of government.
Here at AuditExpress we have had a busy and successful 2015, and again it is time to grow our team.
We are on the look out for another Compliance Consultant / Internal Auditor superhero to work with us on some very exciting projects. If you are interested in working with the team at AuditExpress you can apply here >>>
The uncertain future of VET funding in Australia. The Victorian VET market has grown expediently with the introduction of a fully contestable funding model in 2009. Progressively the other Australian states and territories followed, as similar funding models were introduced in South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and so on…. with partial funding models established in the ACT and NT.
Earlier this year after an election win, the South Australian Labor Government implemented major changes with almost no consultation or notice, causing a major fall out with the Federal Government and implementing changes that have caused many job losses and much damage to the private RTOs operating in South Australia.
The sector is now facing a sense of calm after the South Australian storm, not quite sure what comes next – although it seems that Victoria is next on the agenda of change with the Victorian VET Funding Review led by Bruce Mackenzie and Neil Coulson well and truly underway – with changes already on the table. [emaillocker id=6291]
It is worth mentioning that State Training Authorities have historically looked to Victoria as a leader in VET and the funding of VET in Australia – so the reach of whatever changes are made in Victoria will most likely reach wide and far.
Recently the Victorian Department of Education and Training released their ‘Review of Quality Assurance in Victoria’s VET System’; outlining 12 challenges and issues that the VET system is facing, along with 19 recommendations. The take away points from this document seem to be that the future regulation of VET funding in Victoria is likely to look at a number of quality indicators, including:
The overall quality and compliance of training providers seeking funding contracts / seeking to maintain existing funding contracts.
The suitability of owners, directors and management – are the fit & proper persons and suitable to be operating
Quality of Trainers and Assessors, are they suitably qualified and experienced to deliver the qualifications on the RTOs scope and list of funded qualifications
The overall quality of training and assessment products offered by the RTO
Establish a training provider classification system
A new provider classification system could be used to regulate
Mackenzie has also released an interim VET issues paper that provides a few hints about the focus of his review and what the likely outcomes might be. If you have not read this paper yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. The key points from the issues paper recommend that the Victorian VET System would be improved by:
Improving the training of VET teachers
Reducing the number of funded courses in the Victorian VET funding model
Funding courses based on the demands of the labour market and industry priorities
Reintroducing a compulsory or minimum student fee
Restrictions on the types of marketing activities that an RTO or TAFE can use
Implementing the Regulation or banning of brokers and aggregators
Tightly regulating subcontracting arrangements
Introduce protocols for online learning and work-based training
Encouraging training providers to specialise in specific industry training
Limit the funding of courses at Diploma level to skill shortage areas, meaning students would be required to access VET Fee Help to access funding support for many Diploma level programs
Reform the funding of Certificates I and II, due to concerns raised about the quality and learner outcomes for training that has been delivered at this level.
I suggest that you watch closely over the coming weeks and months, and that you listen to what is (and is not) said by the Victorian Minister, the Department and Mackenzie himself. The time to prepare your business for the changes that may come is now.
Times are changing in the VET sector. We are facing a major shift in the overall structure, regulation and funding of the VET sector. Attend our event on the 14th of October to learn more about future proofing your business.
