The new financial year marked the commencement of the national vocational education and training regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), which will regulate registered training organisations (RTOs) and course owners in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, and some RTOs in Victoria and Western Australia.

 

ASQA was established by the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 with the aim of providing greater national consistency and increased focus on the way training providers are registered, courses are accredited and the quality of the system is monitored.

 

Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Senator Chris Evans said the new regulator will use a risk-based approach, allowing it to focus closely on poor performers while reducing the regulatory burden for strong, proven providers.

 

“It will help restore the international reputation of Australia’s training system, following previous concerns with colleges servicing the overseas market.”

 

From July 1, ASQA will regulate training providers in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. It will also have responsibility for providers in Victoria and Western Australia that offer services to international students or operate in multiple states.

 

Regulation of Queensland, South Australian and Tasmanian providers will follow later in the year once legislation is passed by respective State Parliaments. Victoria and Western Australia have not yet agreed to join the national system.

 

ASQA is led by Interim Chief Commissioner Christopher Robinson, formerly  Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education and Children’s Services, South Australia, and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Employment and Training, Queensland.

 

Providers can check which regulator they come under on 1 July 2011 by referring to the National Training Information Service (NTIS) at www.ntis.gov.au.

Further information for RTOs and course owners that now fall under the jurisdiction of ASQA, can be found at www.asqa.gov.au