The Victorian Review of Quality Assurance in Victoria’s VET System is out.
The review is to make 19 key recommendations that seem likely to focus on providing more funding to TAFEs, while implementing tougher requirements and more regulation for training providers (RTOs) delivering government funded training.
The Victorian Labor government have made their agenda very clear. It is their focus to provide additional support and funding to Victorian TAFEs, not to RTOs. The $9m blitz is a direct attack on the private sector and the time for you to take action on ensuring your RTOs compliance is now. [emaillocker id=6291]
It is up to RTOs to identify and rectify non compliance’s and areas for improvement. The best practice approach is to undertake a detailed independent internal audit, with the review of a statistically valid sample of government funded student files. Identify any issues in your business processes, address the issues and maintain a record of your approach to continuously improving your organisation.
Minister Herbert is reportedly supporting all 19 key recommendations, which will see tougher requirements for RTOs, improved quality of VET teacher qualifications. Further immediate actions based on the Review’s recommendations include:
● Stricter entry requirements for the government-funded training system
● A consumer awareness campaign with information to help students chose the right course and provider
● Tighter restrictions on the approval of subcontracting, to where it is genuine, specialised and limited
● Greater transparency of poor quality training, such as problem providers that had a contract terminated for serious compliance issues
● A revamp of online tools for students, businesses and industry to get information and provide feedback
Minister Herbert is quoted as saying:
“This audit blitz is a crucial first-step in ensuring Victoria’s training system is the best it can be by removing providers that provide poor or fraudulent outcomes which do not meet industry standards.”
“After four years of the Liberals, we’re rescuing TAFEs and rebuilding our training system so young people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
AuditExpress are proud sponsors of the ACPET #VICVETFORUM being held in Melbourne next Tuesday 9th June 2015. [emaillocker id=6291]
In preparation for the event be sure to get your Twitter & Instagram accounts ready. This is set to be a very interactive #VET forum that will involve a live stream for attending guests to interact and have their say throughout the day via their Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The following link is for the ACPET tweetbeam wall that will be used throughout the day for the events hashtag #VICVETFORUM.
All tweets and retweets will be populated here leading up to and on the day of the forum. This wall will be displayed live, allowing full interaction throughout the forum.
Be sure to include the #VICVETFORUM hashtag in your tweets and instagram posts about the forum and also tag: Senator Simon Birmingham – @birmo
ACPET – @ACPET_national
This is set to be an outstanding forum with the most impressive list of keynote speakers this year! We look forward to seeing you all there.
If your Registered Training Organisation (RTO) delivers training with access to government funding, ask yourself the following two important questions:
1) Is your RTO compliant with the requirements for each of its funding contract(s) ? 2) Is your RTO audit ready ?
With government funding for the VET Sector receiving recent significant media attention in relation to poor quality training providers, low completion rates and concerns around the practices of some RTOs using the VET Fee Help scheme, the time to check your RTOs contract compliance is now! [emaillocker id=6291]
Far too often RTOs reach out for help with compliance only days or weeks before they are due to receive an audit from the regulator or the relevant government department. This leaves little time to conduct an internal audit and even less time to take action on addressing any non-compliances. We see the best outcomes at audit when an RTO has a systematic approach to conducting regular internal audits across its entire operation.
With government funding contracts available across all states and territories it can be difficult for RTOs to keep up to date with the maze of compliance requirements, here are just a few examples of government funding that RTOs can now access across Australia:
If your RTO is delivering training with access to government funding and wants to take a best practice approach to its management and operation, you should be conducting an internal audit of your RTOs compliance in-line with the contractual requirements of each government funding contract at least every 12 months.
It is always best to take an holistic approach to conducting internal audits, whereby you systematically review your RTOs policies, procedures, business processes, records, student management system, student files and staff files. Following the audit you should identify any gaps, areas for improvement, strengths and non-compliances. Also, be sure to build an action plan to document any rectification work that may need to be carried out to achieve full compliance.
If your RTO is registered with ASQAor the TAC by now your RTO should have started to implement the new standards. For information about the ASQA’s arrangements for implementing the New Standards – CLICK HERE
If your RTO is still registered with the VRQA you should continue to ensure that your RTO remains compliant with the AQTF Standards for RTOs and the VRQA Guidelines, however it is expected that at some point in 2015 the VRQA may adopt the new Standards as we saw with TAC in Western Australia last year.
Either way the time to act is now! Is your RTO compliant with the New Standards for RTOs 2015?
Audit Expresshave played a significant role in the consultation process with both the Minister and the Department of Industry. Also in the stages of developing and reviewing the New Standards for RTOs 2015.
We have developed a unique set of tools and techniques to audit your RTOs compliance with the New Standards for RTOs 2015.
Call Audit Expresstoday on 1300 73 55 41 to discuss your organisation’s compliance with the New Standards for RTOs 2015. [/emaillocker]
