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Our regulatory practice
ASQA has a risk-based approach to compliance and a quality outcome focus to protect the quality and reputation of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector.
Performance assessments (audits) are one of the ways we review compliance and identify and manage provider risks.
Our work with providers promotes a return to compliance in a systemic, structured and sustainable way.
Transforming our regulatory approach
In response to the Rapid Review recommendations, we continue to roll out changes to the way we regulate to improve confidence and quality in the VET sector.
We’re improving our stakeholder consultation and provider relationships by:
- building a common understanding about our role, what we do and what we don’t do
- identifying shared responsibilities across the sector
- aligning our performance assessments with developing self-assurance
- supporting and educating providers to meet their obligations.
We’ve improved our systems and processes to manage compliance by:
- changing our organisational structure to focus on strengthening strategic oversight
- including risk-based and routine monitoring of the sector
- responding to non-compliance in a fair and balanced way
- strengthening training for our assessors and decision makers.
How we assess course accreditation applications
We accredit VET accredited courses if they meet:
Accreditation is formal confirmation that a course:
- is nationally recognised and meets quality assurance requirements
- meets an established industry, enterprise, educational, legislative or community need that is not addressed by a training package
- provides competency outcomes and a satisfactory basis for assessment
- is aligned to the AQF where it leads to a VET qualification.
How we assess registration applications
Learn more about how we assess new registration applications, application renewals and change of scope to existing registrations.
RTOs
Initial RTO application Renewal RTO application Change to scope RTO application
CRICOS
Initial CRICOS application Renewal CRICOS application
Change to scope CRICOS application
How we manage non-compliance
We manage non-compliance with a risk-based focus to identify and treat the most significant risks.
The way we manage non-compliance is consistent, transparent and central to promoting public confidence in the skills and training system.
Where we find that a provider doesn’t meet legislation or the standards, we’ll respond proportionately based on the level of risk.
Our response includes using a range of regulatory tools, to ensure providers address non-compliance and have monitoring systems in place to remain compliant.
We respond to non-compliance based on the:
- seriousness of non-compliance
- extent of a provider’s commitment and capability to compliance
- ability to maintain compliance.
Our regulatory response aims to:
- raise awareness of obligations and the consequences of non-compliance
- ensure providers promptly address non-compliance and rectify any harm caused
- promote continuous improvement and ensure future compliance is achievable and sustainable
- address non-compliance in the most efficient way
- increase accountability and transparency of performance in the sector.
Our Regulatory Practice Guide - Approach to compliance outlines the regulatory tools we use to return providers to compliance.
How and why we publish our regulatory decisions
We publish information about our regulatory decisions to assist students, industry and government.
Our regulatory decisions are published and available to the public on the following websites:
National Register (for providers and government agencies)
We encourage providers and government agencies interested in seeing published decisions information to visit www.training.gov.au the National Register of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia. This is the authoritative source of information about Nationally Recognised Training and RTOs and is designed for experienced sector users.
To locate regulatory decision information, go to the ‘Regulatory Decision Information’ tab on the relevant provider’s profile.
MySkills (for students and employers)
We encourage students and employers interested in learning about registration status and decisions related to a particular provider to visit MySkills, the national directory of VET organisations and courses. MySkills is designed for potential and existing VET students to help them make choices about their training options.
To locate regulatory decision information about a particular provider you need to search on MySkills using their name. If ASQA has made a regulatory decision about the provider a red warning will display next to their name in the search results.
Click on the provider’s name to enter into their MySkills profile. The red warning will appear again at the top of the screen, accompanied by a link to the provider’s profile on the National Register.
For more information about regulatory decisions see our Regulatory Practice Guide - Approach to compliance.
How we review decisions
When we make a decision that adversely affects a provider, we provide procedural fairness and robust reasons for our decisions. This ensures a fair process. In addition, providers also have an opportunity to ask for a review.
The way we review decisions intends to:
- provide a genuine opportunity to engage with providers
- ensure our decisions support the integrity of national qualifications issued by training providers
- give stakeholders confidence in the decisions we make.
When we review decisions, we review the evidence that led to our original decision and any new evidence. We do this to ensure we have made the correct decision.
We make decisions on the evidence we have at the time of assessment. New evidence may change a decision on review.
For more information see our Regulatory Practice Guide - Approach to review of decisions.
Our code of practice
Our code of practice guides how our staff perform their duties. They follow these principles at all times during performance assessment (audits) and course accreditation assessments:
- honesty and integrity
- respect and courtesy
- confidentiality
- procedural fairness
- competence
- due care and diligence.
Learn more about our Code of Practice.
How we support providers
We’re giving our providers more clarity, support and help.
Our new way of working with providers includes:
- offering support and guidance
- providing self-assessment tools for improvement
- clarifying how we track and measure performance
- producing reports that are easy to understand and follow
- explaining the reasons for our decisions.
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