The Victorian Department of Education and Training (The Department) has announced that it’s call for expressions of Interest for Skills First 2018-19 VET Funding Contracts will open at 2pm on Friday the 1st of September 2017, and will close on Thursday the 28th of September 2017.
It is understood that applying organisations will be able to apply for either a “Standard” or “Restricted” funding contract, which is consistent with the current 2017 Skills First VET Funding Contracts.
Successful applicants will be offered a 2 year contract, that will be valid throughout the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.
[emaillocker id=6291]The Department has advised that it is hoping to provide applying organisations of their outcome in November 2017.
A suite of information will be published on the The Department’s Skills Victoria Training System (SVTS) when the Call for EOI opens on 1/9/2017, including draft VET Funding Contracts and supporting information to assist providers with completing the application process.
Information sessions will be held in Melbourne, Geelong, Traralgon and Bendigo in the first week of September. Providers can register now via SVTS. Places will be limited to three attendees per training provider.
For more information on how to apply for a Skills First 2018 – 2019 Funding Contract please complete your details on the registration form at the end of this post to attend our FREE WEBINAR on “How to apply for a Skills First 2018 – 2019 Funding Contract“.
The Good News
There is some really good news in this years’ Skills First contract application process, in that the Victorian state government has listened to our feedback and calls for longer contract durations. As already mentioned, successful applicants will be offered a 2 year contract, that will be valid throughout the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. This is a great outcome and will offer quality training providers greater certainty and stability. This will also allow providers to invest in their business to deliver quality training.
It is also really pleasing to hear that the Department will allow training providers up until 16/10/2017 to provide the required financial information, including financials that have been audited by an ASIC Registered Auditor.
Get Your Financials Ready NOW!
The Department has advised that training provider applicants will need to submit their audited financial statements for the two most recently completed full financial years. These financial statements must be accompanied by independent audit reports completed by an ASIC registered auditor. Applicants are encouraged to prepare this documentation as soon as possible. If your organisation has not already started work on this, do not delay – now is the time to start work on this important task.
Learn Local Training Providers that are applying for a restricted contract must have audited financial statements, but will be pleased to hear that they are exempted from the requirement for the auditor to be an ASIC Registered Auditor. That is unless they are applying for a standard contract, in which case Learn Local Training Providers must utilise an ASIC Registered Auditor.
The requirement to submit audited financials is arguably the most challenging part of the application process, and the one sticking point that has seen countless applications rejected over previous years. Having financials audited by an ASIC Registered Auditor is no small task. If your organisation is looking for an ASIC Registered Auditor that is experienced in supporting training providers to apply for VET Funding Contracts, please get in touch and we will happily introduce you to one of our reputable contacts.
The To Do List
Register online at eduweb.vic.gov.au/svts/Events to attend the Department’s 2018 Provider Selection Process Information Sessions. These sessions are targeted towards training providers that are considering lodging an expression of interest for a Skills First 2018-19 VET Funding Contract
Continue to monitor SVTS daily for further updates and announcements throughout the application process
Register your details on the form below to attend our FREE LIVE WEBINAR on Monday 4th September where we will unpack the Skills First contract for you and discuss what is involved in the application process, or click on the following link if the form below isn’t working on your device: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6372504797326981891
Contact the team at Audit Express if you have any questions, or require support completing your application
With all of this talk of Marriage Equality, the plebiscite and postal vote I thought I’d make a timely shoutout to all RTO & TAFE Managers, reminding you of the importance of supporting your Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex (GLBTI) students.
What does the current research tell us?
Reports from Beyond Blue suggest that the mental health of LGBTI people is among the poorest in Australia. Lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians are twice as likely to have a high/very high level of psychological distress as their heterosexual peers (18.2% v. 9.2%) This makes them particularly vulnerable to mental health problems. The younger the age group, the starker the differences: 55% of LGBT women aged between 16 and 24 compared with 18% in the nation as a whole and 40% of LGBT men aged 16-24 compared with 7%. For more detail take a look at the full report – https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bw0258-lgbti-mental-health-and-suicide-2013-2nd-edition.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Why is it important to support GLBTI students?
School, College or University is often the place where young #GLBTI students feel most safe. It should come as no surprise that this is often the safest place for a young GLBTI person to come out. Are your teachers and training coordinators ready and equipped to handle this kind of classroom situation?
It would appear that in this instance the TAFE wasn’t equipped to support and provide a safe place for their student being bullied. I can’t help but wonder how many RTOs, TAFEs and Universities really would be willing, ready and able to step up and support a young transgender person throughout their educational experience and personal journey of transition.
I have been talking about the need for RTOs and TAFEs to have provision in their ‘complaints and appeals’, and ‘student support’ policies, procedures and business processes to ensure that they are providing a safe and inclusive environment for all learners – including GLBTI students for quite some time now. However simply updating your policies isn’t enough. If your organisation is committed to creating a supportive environment for all students, including GLBTI students the most valuable thing you can do is educate your teachers.
I am interested to know if you believe that your organisation is already equipped to deal with this type of complaint or support need? Perhaps you have faced similar types of issues in your organisation. I would love to hear about what approaches were taken and how you managed the experience for all students in the classroom environment.
What can my organisation do to support its GLBTI students?
I believe that there is a huge gap in the knowledge and understanding of the support needs of GLBTI students in education. Professional development is needed in all parts of our education system from early childhood, right through to higher education. Earlier this year my friend and colleague Rebeckah Loveday from SensWide Employmentteamed up with the VET Development Centre to deliver a webinar titled: ‘Supporting learners of diverse gender, sexuality and orientation’. For more information click here.
There is a lot of work to be done in across all divisions of the education sector to ensure that GLBTI learners are supported. As a Vocational Education & Training Sector consultant and former policy advisor, it is my experience and opinion that many Community Colleges, RTOs and TAFEs are currently leave themselves exposed by putting their head in the sand and by not being proactive in taking action.
Next time you are reviewing the professional development schedule in your organisation, why not take a step up and include a useful informative session for your teachers on ‘how to support GLBTI students’?
If you are wanting to discuss this topic further please feel free to get in touch with Matthew Dale at Audit Express by phoning 1300735541
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Federal Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews has announced that the second formal application round for VET Student Loans will open on Wednesday the 30th August 2017.
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Minister Andrews has invited quality training providers to apply to become eligible to offer VET Student Loans under the Government’s new sustainable, student-focussed vocational education and training system.
The new VET Student Loans (VSL) program is significantly different to the historical VET Fee Help Scheme, which was plagued with issues. The new VSL program is strengthened and includes:
loan caps on courses
stronger course eligibility criteria that are aligned with the needs of industry
mandatory student engagement measures
a stronger focus on students successfully completing courses
tougher entry requirements for providers
The VET Student Loans provider application process now includes the payment of a mandatory and non-refundable $5,110 application fee. This fee will assist with the recovery of costs incurred by the Department associated with processing and assessing applications.
Training Providers that are interested in submitting an application are invited to register to attend an information session that will be held in Canberra on Tuesday the 5th of September 2017. This information session will provide applicants with more information on the application process, assessment criteria and suitability requirements needed to apply to become a VET Student Loan provider.
The application process will close on Tuesday the 26th of September 2017.
If you have any questions about how the VET Student Loans program works, or want to discuss your application get in touch with the team at Audit Express on 1300 73 55 41. [/emaillocker][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
This years conference theme is ‘Connect with Technology, Collaborate with Industry, Capture Student Imagination.‘
The VDC Annual Conference is always an outstanding event for Australian TAFEs, RTOs and Community Education Providers, and is always hosted at an impressive venue with a great line up of speakers. The 2017 conference will be held at the award-winning resort, hotel and event venue – ‘RACV Torquay Resort’, one of the finest venues in Australia, the RACV Torquay Resort was named among the top 25 in two categories for the Trip Advisor Awards. It was placed 15th in the Luxury category and 17th in the Hotel category.
The 2017 conference boasts an impressive line-up of keynote speakers and presenters including our very own CEO Kevin Ekendahl, who is presentingon ‘Approaches to managing learner satisfaction in education’.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”salbii” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Child Safe Standards – Changes Ahead! Is your organisation ready?” tab_id=”1498091586612-4bd016ff-53c0″][vc_single_image image=”6129″ title=”Child Safe Standards”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-users” add_icon=”true” title=”What are the Child Safe Standards?” tab_id=”1498089365586-a2b69477-3854″][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]The Victorian Government has introduced compulsory minimum standards for organisations that provide services for children to help protect children from abuse.
The Child Safe Standards are part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry (the 2013 Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations).
Organisations that operate in the state of Victoria that provide services or facilities for children must implement Child Safe Standards to protect them from abuse.
Training Organisations that are located in Victoria and deliver senior secondary education and training, or courses to CRICOS students under the age of 18, must have systems in place to:
reduce the risk of reportable conduct being committed by a worker or volunteer;
enable any person to notify the head of the organisation (i.e. the CEO, or Executive Officer) of a ‘reportable allegation’; and
investigate and respond to a ‘reportable allegation’ against a worker or volunteer.
The Scheme requires the head of your organisation to:
notify the CCYP of ‘reportable allegations’ within 3 business days after becoming aware of them;
give the CCYP further, detailed information about the allegation within 30 days; and
after the investigation has concluded, give the CCYP information regarding the investigation outcomes, including the investigation findings.
The Child Safe Standards came into force over two stages:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]
Stage 1 – Roll out of Child Safe Standards
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From 1 January 2016 the Standards applied to organisations that receive government funding and provide services for children
From 1 January 2017 other organisations that provide services or facilities for children but don’t receive government funding are also required to meet the standards.
Victorian organisations are now required to comply with the Child Safe Standards regardless of whether they do, or don’t receive government funding.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]
Stage 2 – Roll out of Reportable Conduct and Organisational Duty of Care
From 01 July 2017 the Reportable Conduct Scheme commences in Victoria. It was introduced to enable an independent body, the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP), to have oversight over an organisation’s systems and processes to prevent and respond to allegations of child abuse.
This will include TAFEs, training providers and organisations registered with the Adult Community and Further Education Board that provide senior secondary education or courses to international students.
From 01 January 2018, the Scheme applies to:
-Residential facilities of boarding schools.
-Overnight camps for children.
-Other disability service providers that provide services for children, including those registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
From 01 January 2019, the Scheme applies to:
-Approved education and care services (e.g. kindergartens, after hours care services).
-Childrens services (e.g. occasional care providers).
-Statutory bodies that have responsibility for children, such as public museums and galleries.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-exclamation-triangle” add_icon=”true” title=”What does your organisation need to do?” tab_id=”1498089365633-95fc3169-b7a6″][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]
Revise your organisations Child Safe Policy (you should already have this in place. If not this should be developed and implemented ASAP!)
Develop and implement systems and processes to identify, respond to, investigate, and if necessary notify the CCYP of reportable allegations made against the workers and/or volunteers of your organisation
Communicate with the staff and volunteers in your organisation to ensure that they understand their obligations in relation to Child Safety
Ensure that the staff and volunteers in your organisation understand what types of allegations are reportable
Ensure that the staff and volunteers in your organisation understand that any allegations of a reportable nature should be raised with the head of your organisation, for them to report to the CCYP; and
Finally ensure that your organisation has developed and implemented processes to enable the head of your organisation to report allegations to the CCYP.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-check” add_icon=”true” title=”Want more information or help implementing Child Safe Processes into your organisation?” tab_id=”1498090510861-6e6ce7dd-ec93″][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]More information can be found at the CCYP’s website https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/reportable-conduct-scheme/
[/emaillocker][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”zoomIn”]If you would like help with the development and implementation of Child Safe Policies, Procedures and Business Processes for your organisation please get in touch with the team at Audit Express today! Phone 1300735541[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]
SKILLS FIRST | Real training for real jobs | Victoria’s new training system
Skills First | a new training system and funding model for Victoria.
The Victorian Minister has announced Skills First – a new training system and targeted funding model for Victoria in 2017.
What do we know so far?
The new system seems to be very focussed on [emaillocker id=6291] TAFE providers and boosting training and employment in regional Victoria. The new system prioritises courses that support Victoria’s growth sectors and are most likely to get people into high-skilled, well-paid work.
Under the Skills First system, the Victorian Government will continue to invest $1.2 billion annually in the training and workforce development of Victorians.
The system will be focussed on supporting quality training providers. It is expected that many training providers with a poor track record of funding contract compliance and student satisfaction will not receive a funding contract in 2017.
A six stage process was taken to define the funded courses list.
Application Process
The Department have announced that the call for expression of interest (EOI) for a 2017 VET Funding Contract will open on 1 September 2016.
The Department will run a series of information sessions across Melbourne and regional Victoria from 1-8 September 2016. The information sessions are already open for registration via SVTS.
The call for expression of interest documentation and Draft 2017 VET Funding Contracts will be published on SVTS and the Department of Education and Training website on Tuesday 30 August 2016.
The information sessions are expected to provide a brief overview of the Skills First reforms to the VET system, explain the 2017 VET Funding Contract and outline the provider selection process.
The Department have advised training providers that CEOs, managing directors and operations managers are encouraged to attend these sessions. The Department have set a limit that a maximum of 3 representatives can attend the information session per training provider.
2017 Funded Course List
The Department have already released the 2017 Funded Course List.
There are 500 less courses on the 2017 list than in 2016, however it is noted that a number of the courses removed are superseded qualifications.
The courses are still to be subsidised per nominal hour, and the Department have defined four Delivery Characteristics that will be used to determine whether funding is available for a particular delivery mode(s), and the amount of funding that will be available per nominal hour for each delivery mode(s).
The four Delivery Characteristics are:
Non Apprenticeship/Traineeship
Traineeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Only (AO); or Traineeship Only (TO)
A number of courses have been determined as High Risk. It is expected that training providers delivering courses that the department have determined as high risk will be more scrutinised.
A number of courses that link to the Victorian Governments objectives and growth sectors have been determined as High Value Traineeships. It seems that the delivery of high value traineeships will be funded at a higher rate per nominal hour as an incentive to attract more training to be delivered in these target courses.
The updated course list has 500 less funded courses than the 2016 funded courses list. That is a 30% cut to the total number of funded courses.
Is this good or bad for your RTO or TAFE?
We will not know what the 2017 contract means for Victorian training providers until we review the 2017 draft contract, eligibility criteria, fee guidelines and detailed application process when they are released via SVTS on 30/08/2016. The devil is always in the detail. We are eagerly waiting to see the draft 2017 contract and eligibility criteria that will tell us which training providers are eligible for a 2017 contract.
Want to apply for a Victorian Funding Contract for 2017?
If you have any questions or would like assistance preparing your application for a 2017 Funding Contract contact Audit Expresson 1300 73 55 41. [/emaillocker][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
What we know so far
