18 November 2009
Lynn Glover, Director of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications
Authority (VRQA) issued the following statement on the draft VRQA Guidelines
for VET Providers:
On 12 September 2009 the Minister for Skills, the Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, directed the VRQA
to develop guidelines to strengthen the quality of Vocational Education & Training (VET)
providers.
The Guidelines aim to clarify or strengthen:
the criteria and minimum standards for registration of VET training providers
the criteria for the approval of ESOS providers delivering in the VET sector; and to
o
impose additional criteria or standards on VET providers and Education
Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS)
providers delivering in the
VET sector to ensure a quality education to students;
o
ensure that providers operate in accordance with reputable commercial and
financial standards; and
o
that an appropriate standard of care is offered to students and complaints are
dealt with transparently and efficiently.
In developing these guidelines the VRQA must consult with the Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development and VET providers and ESOS providers delivering in the VET
sector the VRQA considers appropriate.
VRQA consulted with major stakeholders, including the Victorian TAFE Association and the
Australian Council for Private Education and Training, to draft the Guidelines. The
Guidelines
are now open for public feedback and are available on the VRQA website
Training providers are being briefed in detail from today and more detailed workshops around
the draft Guidelines with senior VRQA staff will be offered to interested providers.
The Minister has directed that these guidelines be completed and published by the VRQA and
take effect by 1 January 2010
at the latest for
new
VET and ESOS providers seeking
registration or approval.
For currently registered VET providers or currently approved ESOS providers there may be,
where necessary, extra time for transitional arrangements for the Guidelines to take effect.
For further comment on the draft Guidelines, please contact the office of the Minister for
Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan (media adviser Shaun Inguanzo
0417 555 480)
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