Fees and charges relief
ASQA will waive or reimburse some fees and charges for VET providers and accredited course owners
The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, and the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, on 12 April 2020 announced a package of measures to lift the financial pressures on vocational education and training (VET) providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of these measures, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will:
- waive fees and charges that have been invoiced since 1 January 2020, through 30 June 2021
- reimburse any payments already made for invoices issued since 1 January 2020.
Excluded from these relief measures are ASQA fees related to:
- initial registration as a registered training organisation (RTO)
- initial registration on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
- initial accreditation of a VET course, for new course owners.*
Invoices already issued for these services are excluded from fee relief and require payment in full. Payment of fees for these services will continue to be required.
The relief measures also include postponing ASQA’s move to full cost recovery until 1 July 2021.
The table below shows how the financial relief measures apply to each of ASQA’s fees and charges. ASQA is completing the logistical work needed to implement these relief measures as quickly as possible. ASQA will keep stakeholders informed of progress and updated timeframes via this website and other communication channels.
* Fees related to initial accreditation of VET courses are waived for:
-
owners of one or more existing accredited courses regulated by ASQA
-
training organisations that are already registered with ASQA.
Which ASQA fees and charges are included in the relief measures? Which fees and charges are excluded?
The table below shows how the financial relief measures apply to each of ASQA’s fees and charges.
| Fee / Charge | Waived from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2021, as part of COVID-19 relief measures |
|---|---|
NVR RTO Application-based Fees |
|
| RTO Initial Registration - Application Lodgement Fee |
✘ |
| RTO Initial Registration - Application Assessment Fee |
✘ |
| RTO Renewal Registration - Application Lodgement Fee |
✔ |
| RTO Change of Scope - Application Lodgement Fee |
✔ |
| RTO Annual Registration Charge |
✔ |
CRICOS Application-based Fees |
|
| CRICOS Initial Registration - Application Lodgement Fee |
✘ |
| CRICOS Initial Registration - Application Assessment Fee |
✘ |
| CRICOS Renewal Registration - Application Lodgement Fee |
✔ |
| CRICOS Renewal Registration - Assessment Fee |
✔ |
| CRICOS Change of Scope - Application Lodgement Fee |
✔ |
| CRICOS Annual Registration Charge |
✔ |
Performance Assessment (Audit) Charges |
|
| Compliance Audit Charge |
✔ |
| Complaint Investigation Charge |
✔ |
Evidence Review Fees |
|
| Reconsideration of Evidence Fee |
✔ |
| Reassessment of Evidence Fee |
✔ |
VET Course Accreditation Fees |
|
|
For existing course owners and existing RTOs: |
|
| VET Course Concept Assessment Fee |
✔ |
| VET Course Initial Assessment Fee |
✔ |
| VET Course Renewal Lodgement Fee |
✔ |
| VET Course Renewal Assessment Fee |
✔ |
| VET Course Minor Amendment Fee |
✔ |
| VET Course Major Amendment Fee |
✔ |
|
For new course owners: |
|
| VET Course Concept Assessment Fee |
✘ |
| VET Course Initial Assessment Fee |
✘ |
