Towards self-assurance

We are working with training providers to co-design a model for self-assurance. This model will support providers to identify risks to the quality of their training practices and outcomes, be proactive in taking remedial action when things go wrong and take opportunities to be innovative in meeting the training needs of students, industry and the community. This will lead to better quality training outcomes for all.

A model for self-assurance will:

• provide a framework for the systems and practices providers need to monitor and continuously improve performance against the Standards
• help providers to demonstrate the effectiveness of their self-assurance systems and practices to ASQA.

Over time, where providers can demonstrate the effectiveness of their ability to self-assure and continuously improve, we will take this into consideration in our (regulatory) interactions with them.   The transition to a regulatory approach with a greater focus on provider self-assurance will take time. Self-assurance capability is varied in the sector. While many providers already practice effective self-assurance, some will need to develop their capability. At ASQA, we will be developing our regulatory tools and processes to support our increased focus on self-assurance. 

To support this shift, we will work with our key stakeholders and providers to build a shared understanding of self-assurance, how we can promote self-assurance, how it benefits providers and achieves quality outcomes for students, and how each provider can build their self-assurance capability.

To achieve this, we will: 

• develop guidance and support for providers to assist them in understanding their registration requirements
• clarify our expectations around continuous improvement of outcomes
• engage with providers and course owners/developers about areas of risk and sharing our regulatory insights with the sector to support providers and course owners/developers to critically review their performance
• clearly communicate with non-compliant providers, so they can understand where they have not met requirements and where they need to improve their performance 
• clearly communicate with prospective applicants and course owners for VET course accreditation to support their capacity to understand and maintain the requirements of the relevant standards.  

We are mindful of the cultural change required across the sector, including within ASQA, to successfully achieve the shift to self-assurance, and we are committed to building the strong partnerships and relationships of mutual trust and respect necessary to achieve this shift.

The self-assurance model will be adapted, evaluated, and further developed together with training providers as we learn through its application.

Read about the draft model for self-assurance we have co-designed with the sector.