1. Australian Apprenticeship Support Services – The Under the new model for Australian Apprenticeship Support Services, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has appointed 9 organisations to provide support for apprentices. The new model is anticipated to be rolled out from 1 July 2024.

2. New Energy Apprenticeships Program – From 1 June 2024, the government is expanding the New Energy Apprenticeships Program.

3. Budget 2024-2025:

• VET & Budget
• HE & Budget
• Detailed analysis of the budget done by The Koala News

4. Increase to the Financial Capacity Requirement – Minimum funds required to meet the financial capacity requirement for Student and Student Guardian visas has been increased to AUD29,710.

5. Warning letters issued – Department of Home Affairs has issued warning letters to 34 education providers for non-genuine or exploitative recruitment practices.

6. Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework has been released to set a path for government and the sector to work together so international education can continue to deliver benefits to our economy, communities and international students. Through the Framework, the government is taking an active role in supporting a sector built on quality and integrity. You can provide your feedback via Consultation Form on the Department website.

7. ESOS Amendment Bill (Quality and Integrity) 2024 – The first reading of the ESOS Amendment Bill 2024 has been introduced on 16 May 2024. If passed, the Bill will giver broader powers to the government to control education agents and control the international student numbers in Australia.

8. Review of ICT training package – The Future Skills Organisation (FSO) has commenced the review of ICT training package.

9. Skills ministers Council – Following a meeting of federal, state and territory skills minister last Friday, the VET reforms agenda has been pushed forward. Read the Skills Minister’s communique.

Read more about VET sector updates in 2024 the previous posts:

• VET Sector Updates – Jan 2024
• VET Sector Updates – Feb 2024
• VET Sector Updates – March 2024

The post Updates in VET Sector – April & May 2024 appeared first on Education and Training Compliance Solutions.

1. National VET Regulator Amendment Bill 2024 –
The Bill amends the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 in relation to:

• the automatic lapse of a registered training organisation (RTO);
• preventing an RTO from adding new courses to its scope of registration in the first 2 years of registration;
• increasing the period within which the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator can conduct an internal review of decisions;
• the order of initial applications for registration; suspension of applications for registration;
• offence and civil penalty provisions for false and misleading representations made by RTOs; and
• an increase in penalty units; and National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011 to provide for transitional arrangements.

A copy of the Bill can be downloaded from the Parliament of Australia website.

2. Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System – The Australian Government is undertaking a review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System. Details can be found on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) website.

Written submission for the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System can be provided via email by 15 May 2024.

3. Blueprint for the VET Workforce – The VET Workforce Blueprint (the Blueprint) is currently being developed to support, grow and sustain the VET workforce. DEWR is seeking feedback from the current workforce through a public submissions process to test the current understanding of the challenges faced by the VET workforce and identify actions that result in effective change.

Provide your feedback on the VET Blueprint here

-Consultation to support your submission can be found on Consultation Paper

-A survey is also available to gather insights from those who have left the workforce within the last 5 years.

4. Early Changes to the Current Standards for RTOs – DEWR announced in Feb that the Skills Ministers have agreed to progress changes to the current Standards in advance of implementing revised Standards from 1 Jan 2025. These early changes designed to address current VET workforce pressures can be read on the DEWR

The early changes came into effect on 1 March 2024 via the Standards for Registered Training Organisations Amendment (VET Workforce Support) Instrument 2024

Read more about VET sector updates in 2024 the previous posts:

• VET Sector Updates – Jan 2024

The post Updates in VET Sector – Feb 2024 appeared first on Education and Training Compliance Solutions.

1. Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs)
JSCs have been established to provide industry with a stronger voice to ensure Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector delivers better outcomes for learners and employers. Read more about all 10 established JSCs here.

2.Fit and Proper Person Requirements
Amendments have been made to the Fit and Proper Person Requirements, which are in effect 5 Sep 2023 onward. Visit ASQA’s website for details on key changes made.

3.International Student Delivery
Following the Rapid Review into the exploitation of Australia’s visa system by Christine Nixon earlier this year, the Australian government has taken several measures in an attempt to prevent unethical practices. Read more about Nixon Review in detail here.

Details on concurrent studies can be found here.

Details on change in the minimum fund requirements for international students in order to get student visa can be found here.

Following an inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sector, the joint committee on Foreign affairs, defense and trade released its interim report with 29 recommendations, that can be read here.

Some of the other announcements that were made as part of these measures include:

i. Establishing a new integrity unit within the regulator, with broader powers to ensure and monitor provider compliance.

ii. Establishing a monitoring framework and developing systemic risk indicators, with a focus on student attendance and agent performance data.

iii. The ban on onshore education agent commission for student transfers between the providers.

iv. Suspending the “high-risk” CRICOS providers, from recruiting international students

v. Preventing cross-ownership of businesses by education agencies and education providers

More details on these announcements can be found across multiple sources listed below:
– Action to end rorts
– Next steps to strengthen the integrity of international education
– Stamping out dodgy VET providers

4. National skills passport
Read details on National Skills Passport here –  https://ministers.education.gov.au/chalmers/national-skills-passport

5. National Skills Agreement
Detailed information about National Skills Agreement can be found here.

6. VET Qualification Reforms
Visit Department’s website for all updates on VET Qualifications Reforms –

7. Draft Standards for RTOs
Visit Department’s website for the revised copy of Draft Standards for RTOs – https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/quality-reforms
Provide feedback on draft of revised Standards by completing the online survey here.

8. ESOS Reforms
Following the sector feedback on the ESOS review discussion paper released last year, the Department sought further stakeholders’ feedback throughout.  Few of the anticipated upcoming changes as a part of ESOS Reform may involve amendments to written agreements between students and providers, English language requirements, additional protection requirements for minor students, increase in proportion of allowable online delivery to onshore overseas students potentially up to 50% while retaining the minimum of 20 scheduled course contact hours per week and education agents. Nothing has been announced yet and consultations are still ongoing in this space.

9. ASQA’s updated application requirements for initial registration
ASQA has updated its application forms and supporting evidence requirements for new entrants to the vocational education and training market. From 27 November 2023, all applications for initial registration must be made via new form and accompanied by the required supporting evidence. Read more on ASQA’s website – https://www.asqa.gov.au/news-events/news/updated-application-requirements-initial-registration

Read more about VET sector updates in the previous posts:
– Updates May to June 2023
– Updates in VET sector Feb to April 2023
– Updates in VET Events

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