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  • COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19: ASQA is committed to working with providers

ASQA understands the challenge that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak poses for VET and ELICOS providers, their staff and students.

We are committed to a flexible approach to regulating the sector in the current environment and we acknowledge that challenges during this time will take many forms.

  • Guidance for providers
  • Read provider FAQs
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  • Notify ASQA of changes via our online form

ASQA is focused at this time on supporting providers to maintain quality of training and assessment by providing extensive guidance that can support providers to assure themselves of the outcomes of competency.

Providers should be assured that ASQA will continue to provide support as the sector transitions out of COVID-19 restrictions. ASQA understands that these challenges may continue for some time and that providers operating across multiple locations and learner cohorts may implement staggered approaches based on a risk assessment of their individual circumstances. Any changes to our flexible regulatory approach will be carefully considered in consultation with peak bodies and other government agencies as appropriate. Should a decision be taken to end ASQA’s regulatory flexibility, adequate transition arrangements will be afforded to providers to ensure that students and providers are not adversely affected. Changes and updates will continue to be announced on our website.

We remain committed to help relieve the pressure on providers during this time by implementing the Government’s decision to waive or reimburse some fees and charges, enabling providers to temporarily cease operations, extending transition and teach out periods for superseded training products, extending some registration periods and applying regulatory flexibility.

ASQA has also been engaging with Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), TAFE Directors Australia (TDA), Community Colleges Australia (CCA), Enterprise Registered Training Organisations Association (ERTOA) and English Australia.

ASQA is also working with TEQSA, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the Tuition Protection Service, the Department of Home Affairs, State and Territory training agencies and the Australian Industry Skills Committee.

While ASQA has modified its regulatory approach in recognition of the practical constraints for providers and regulatory activity, it continues to monitor and respond to concerns that some providers may not be meeting their regulatory obligations.

Compliance arrangements

We acknowledge the challenges providers face, particularly as they relate to delivery and assessment of some practical aspects of courses, self-isolation impacts and travel and quarantine restrictions.

Financial viability risk assessment

A challenge of COVID-19 may be the impact on a provider’s ability to make sound predictions regarding its anticipated revenue and expenses, and overall financial viability.

It is a legislative requirement for a provider to assure themselves that their financial operations are sufficient to maintain business continuity and continue delivering quality outcomes for students.

ASQA will engage with a provider to better understand how they are operating to meet their financial viability obligations and apply a flexible approach in the application of our regulation of Financial Viability Risk Assessments (FVRA).

The circumstances where ASQA may check the financial sustainability of a provider during a standard compliance or application process include: 

  • where assessing an initial application for registration
  • where a newly-registered provider is seeking to expand its scope of registration
  • where more than 50 per cent of a provider’s business has had a change of ownership
  • where a provider has not delivered any training over consecutive years
  • as a result of reviews underway, for example, in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

While the FVRA is used, we also engage with a provider as part of the assessment process to better understand how they are operating to meet their financial viability obligations. This involves us gaining a more thorough understanding of a provider’s particular circumstances, and what actions they have taken to self-assure their financial viability.

In addition, there are a number of measures that are available to assist providers, including:

  • reducing the scope of registration to consider only those training products being delivered
  • placing registration on hold by entering a period of hibernation.

In considering these measures, providers should document any self-assessment activities undertaken, and maintain a record of any measures put in place.

To support providers during COVID 19, we:

✅

waived or reimbursed some fees and charges for VET providers and accredited course owners

✅

enabled providers temporarily ceasing operations to maintain their registration by placing it on hold (effectively a hibernation period)

✅

allowed notification of temporary changes to be made using our online form

✅

transition periods were extended for 141 qualifications

  • 51 qualifications (18 March 2020)
  • a further 90 qualifications (27 March 2020)

✅

extended the teach out period of 56 VET accredited courses

✅

extended the deadline for completion of the annual declaration on compliance to 30 April 2020

✅

did not take regulatory action against providers that were unable to submit their 2019 quality indicator data

✅

extended some registration periods to relieve the pressure of upcoming renewal applications

✅

postponed regulatory activities already underway, in consultation with providers.

ASQA has also published a new website section to present compliance guidance for providers offering distance learning options.
View the Distance learning section

International Student Arrivals - update from TEQSA and ASQA

25 November 2021

ASQA

In March 2020, in an initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASQA and TEQSA announced flexibility in regulatory arrangements and requirements to enable providers to support students to study online either in Australia or offshore.

As long as the student remained enrolled with their provider, and the assessment requirements of the course allowed it, the location of the student and the mode of delivery would not prevent the student from attaining an Australian qualification.

The Prime Minister has announced that fully vaccinated international students and temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa holders will be able to arrive in Australia from 1 December 2021.

As there are around 164,000 international student visa holders outside of Australia, it may take some time for students to gradually return to Australia.

ASQA and TEQSA will continue to apply regulatory flexibility until conditions allow for the return of a substantial proportion of international students who are currently not in Australia. ASQA and TEQSA will review this approach in mid-2022.

Providers should assure themselves that current and ongoing arrangements for students maintain assessment and quality standards and are appropriately documented as previously published here.

If providers have questions about their specific circumstances, including how they may resume delivery, they should contact their relevant regulator. You may like to refer to ASQA’s contact information or TEQSA’s contact information.

More information

The information in the links below is being updated frequently, and we encourage those affected by the Coronavirus to check these regularly.

  • Information about health concerns
  • Information about visa and travel restrictions
  • Information about higher education
  • PRISMS users
  • Overview of provider activity
  • Rising to the challenges of delivering in a changed world
  • Resumption planning: continuing delivery in a changed world
  • CRICOS and ELICOS delivery
  • COVID-19 advice for students

Latest news

 

Fri 26 Nov

VET fee relief until 1 July 2022

Recently, the Australian Government announced a regulatory fee relief package of $27.8 million to support the education sector, including an extension of fee relief for vocational education and training (VET) providers until 1 July 2022, with further extensions until the end of 2022 for ELICOS only providers.

Fees and charges
Coronavirus
Thu 29 Apr

Fee relief extension for VET providers until 31 December 2021

Today, the Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Hon Stuart Robert MP, and the Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, announced that ASQA will extend fee relief for VET providers and accredited course owners until 31 December 2021.

Fees and charges
Coronavirus
Tue 10 Nov

New resources available - Training and assessment in the workplace

ASQA has developed guidance to assist providers to deliver practical training and assessment in the workplace or under simulation.

Training and assessment
Coronavirus
Fri 04 Sep

Update—Implementation of the infection control training skill sets

On 9 June 2020, ASQA published information about a new unit of competency and related skill sets for infection control training from the HLT Training Package that had been endorsed by the AISC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Training and assessment
Coronavirus
Mon 06 Jul

Webinar recording available—resumption planning

On Wednesday 1 July 2020, ASQA hosted a webinar on resumption planning: continuing delivery in a changed world.

Coronavirus
Events and webcasts
Mon 22 Jun

Recordkeeping support for waived annual registration charges

As part of the Australian government financial relief measures announced in April, annual registration charges for 2020-21 are being waived.

Fees and charges
Coronavirus
Wed 10 Jun

Advice on maintaining quality of training and assessment

ASQA is aware that it is a challenging time for VET providers seeking to continue to provide quality VET outcomes in a period of unprecedented social and economic uncertainty.

VET sector
Coronavirus
Tue 09 Jun

Implementation of the infection control training skill sets

The AISC has subsequently provided a further statement on the use of the contextualisation advice.

Training and assessment
Coronavirus
Fri 29 May

Regulatory flexibility for providers in relation to quality indicator data

ASQA has determined that it will not take regulatory action against providers that are unable to submit their 2019 quality indicator data.

Data and reporting
Coronavirus
Thu 28 May

Webinar recording available—distance learning: compliance essentials

On Wednesday 27 May 2020, ASQA hosted a webinar to provide information and guidance on remaining compliant when delivering courses via distance learning.

Events and webcasts
Coronavirus
Fri 15 May

ASQA to support RTOs to deliver new infection control training skill sets

ASQA acknowledges the approval of new skill sets on infection control to upskill workers and manage risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Training and assessment
Coronavirus
Mon 11 May

Resources for providers

In preparation for staff and students returning during the coming months, we’ve highlighted some resources to help you create a safe work and training place.

Coronavirus
Thu 07 May

ASQA's approach to COVID-19

ASQA hosted a webinar discussing ASQA's approach to COVID-19.

Presentations
Coronavirus
Events and webcasts
Thu 23 Apr

ASQA approves extended teach period for VET accredited courses due to COVID-19 pandemic

ASQA has decided to expand this decision and extend the teach out period of 56 VET accredited courses by six months.

Transition
Coronavirus
Wed 15 Apr

ASQA announces details of fee waivers and reimbursements

ASQA has today announced details about a plan to waive or reimburse some fees and charges, to help mitigate the negative financial impacts of COVID-19 on the VET sector.

Fees and charges
Coronavirus
Sun 12 Apr

Government announces financial relief for sector

The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, and the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, have announced a package of measures to lift the financial pressures on registered training organisations.

Coronavirus
VET sector
Fees and charges
Tue 31 Mar

ASQA releases guide to support providers to meet default obligations under the ESOS Act

CRICOS providers are required to meet their provider default obligations when placing a hold on their registration. We have published a guide to help explain these requirements.

CRICOS
Coronavirus
Mon 30 Mar

Registration hold now available for providers significantly affected by COVID-19

ASQA acknowledges the variety of challenges currently facing providers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forms and guides
Coronavirus
Fri 27 Mar

ASQA approves extended transition period for further qualifications due to COVID-19 pandemic

ASQA recently approved an extended transition period for 51 qualifications due to expire between 17 March and 15 July 2020.

Transition
Coronavirus
Mon 23 Mar

Temporary changes notification form available

To help make it easy to meet your reporting obligations in relation to temporary changes, ASQA has released an online submission form.

Forms and guides
Coronavirus
Fri 20 Mar

A joint ASQA and TEQSA statement regarding regulatory flexibility

All AQF training and assessment must meet high quality standards regardless of the location of the student and the mode of delivery.

ASQA Update
Coronavirus
Fri 20 Mar

We’re publishing FAQs to help providers

We know that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating unforeseen challenges for providers, raising questions about how you can best continue providing quality education to your students.

Publications
Coronavirus
Wed 18 Mar

Two deadlines extended due to COVID-19

ASQA recognises that this is a difficult time for the sector and that the health of staff and students is a priority.

ASQA Update
Transition
Coronavirus
Wed 18 Mar

Transition periods extended for 51 qualifications

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASQA has extended transition periods for 51 qualifications.

Transition
Coronavirus
Tue 10 Mar

Update on COVID-19 and student travel

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has issued updated guidance on travel restrictions and exclusion periods in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus
Thu 30 Jan

Advice on China travel

The Department of Health has released updated advice to RTOs in relation to the coronavirus outbreak.

VET sector
Coronavirus
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