Risk priorities

Regulatory Risk Priorities 2025-26

ASQA is the national regulator overseeing the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia. Our purpose is to ensure quality VET so that students, industry, governments and the community can have confidence in the integrity of national qualifications issued by training providers.

We use an intelligence-based and data-driven approach to identify the most significant risks to the integrity of national qualifications and ensure quality VET outcomes for students, industry and the broader community. We make full use of our regulatory powers to take action and ensure best practice.

Environmental scan on regulatory risk

A central component of our approach is our annual environmental scan (e-scan). We consult closely with key stakeholder groups to identify the key risks, both ongoing and emerging, to the VET sector. We then undertake further research to contextualise those risks into themes and adjust our regulatory risk priorities accordingly.

A risk theme, in the context of the e-scan, describes a recurring pattern of challenges, behaviours or concerns that have the potential to impact the sector’s reputation, integrity, market health or student educational outcomes. Identified risks are grouped within themes to better reflect their multi-dimensional nature and the dynamic interaction between risks within the VET sector.

The overarching risks identified in the 2025 Environmental Scan are largely consistent with those recognised in 2024 and continue to align with existing RRPs in 2024-25. However, as the nature and complexity of the identified risks are continually evolving, the 2025 Environmental Scan has been drafted to reflect these developments.

The 2025 Environmental Scan has identified six deeply interconnected risks. When compared to the 2024 Environmental Scan:

1. Six risks themes: Shortened Course Duration; Student Work Placement; Non-genuine providers and Bad Faith Operators; Recognition of Prior Learning; Academic Integrity; Marketing, Recruitment and Delivery of International Education
2. One risk has been removed (Online Delivery). However, the ongoing concern relating to the volume of learning in some online offerings is now addressed in Shortened Course Duration.

Risks in Industries

The risks identified in our e-scan are particularly prevalent within 3 industry areas including:

• Early Childhood Education and Care  
• Aviation
• High Risk Work Licensing industries.

We will be undertaking campaigns targeted to these industries to detect, mitigate and address the risks posed.