VET Guidelines August 2010

1. VET GuidelinesAugust 2010

2. Regulatory Framework • Education and Training Reform Act 2006 • Amendments December 2009 • VRQA Guidelines for VET Providers 1 January 2010 • ESOS Act amendments March 2010 • AQTF 2010 • Essential Standards for Initial Registration • Essential Standards for continuing Registration • VRQA Financial Health Guidelines

3. Overview • Guidelines developed at request of Minister to strengthen quality of VET sector • Extensive consultation process with industry stakeholders and peak bodies and mass meetings with RTOs • Implementation date for new providers – 1 January 2010 • Implementation date for existing providers – 1 July 2010 • Guidelines apply in conjunction with AQTF 2007 and the National Code • Guidelines mapped to proposed AQTF 2010, no gaps identified. Guidelines additional requirements

4. Overview • Some of key requirements of guidelines: • Protection of student fees – mandatory membership of TAS, bank guarantee or tuition fee insurance • Security and safety measures, specifically for after 6pm and weekend training • All new RTOs must now be corporate legal entity – no private individuals

5. Guideline 1 • Governance, Probity and Compliance with Statutory Requirements • RTO has appropriate governance framework and adequate management structures • Long term financial viability • Adequate management systems – financial, staff and student records • Developed academic governance arrangements • Notifies to VRQA significant changes in ownership, management or operations

6. Guideline 1 • 1.1 Strategic Plan, detailed business plan • Vision and strategic direction of RTO • Business plan includes key structure and policies of RTO • For ESOS – education agents and any interests in RTO • 1.2 Financial viability • Projections of student enrolments • Calculation of financial ratios to demonstrate solvency and stability • Cash flow forecasts • Details of financial support – loan agreements, bank guarantees

7. Guideline 1 • 1.3 Adequate management systems to include: • Legal structure and proof of ownership • Details of directors and senior management and 24 hour contact details • If required, Working with Children checks • Proof of residence in Victoria • Physical address in Victoria • Financial system, financial information and student fee data • Management system to maintain student records (AVETMISS compliant) and staff records (specific requirements for staff records)

8. Guideline 1 • 1.4 Governance structures • Structures and ownership of the company • Information on the PEO and senior management – qualifications and educational experience • ESOS providers – principal purpose of provider is education • 1.5 Academic/educational governance arrangements • Individuals or committees to provide expertise around education process • Independent of the ownership or provider and not employee

9. Guideline 1 • 1.6 Notification to VRQA of significant changes on control, management or operations. Eg: • Major shareholding changes • Financial viability issues • PEO change • TAS arrangements • Changes in student fee arrangements

10. Guideline 2 • Quality Assurance, Review and Evaluation Processes • Demonstrate that students training is adequate • Provider has continuous improvement processes • 2.1 Monitoring of course quality • Feedback from students, staff, employers • Actions from feedback • Moderation of student performance – externally • Moderation of course content - externally

11. Guideline 2 • 2.2 Have measures in place to prevent and detect cheating and plagiarism amongst students • Evidence of policies and procedures including definitions of plagiarism and cheating and indicating forms of preventative and corrective actions • 2.3 Provide quality education and training to students • Retention unit of competency training and assessment information – min 1 year after completion • Retention of master copies of student assessments and training resources • Sample of student assessment demonstrating quality of education provided

12. Guideline 3 • Consumer protection for students • 3.1 Adequate student agreements with fees and charges data • 3.2 Provision of Statement of Attainment at no cost, if leave or transfer– include in student agreement • 3.3 Maintain student agreement records for minimum of 2 years following completion

13. Guideline 3 • 3.4 Domestic providers maintain adequate insurance for student fees – TAS, bank guarantee or equivalent and collect fees in arrears • 3.5 ESOS providers must have TAS coverage for any VET delivery

14. Guideline 4 • Student support, positive learning experience • 4.1 Restrictions on duration of training over one day – maximum 8 hours • 4.2 Restrictions on times classes delivered – 0800 – 2200 (written exemption may be obtained from VRQA for limited specific instances)

15. Guideline 4 • 4.3 Sufficient and relevant student services for ESOS students. Examples include: • Welfare and accommodation services • Career advice • English language assistance • Student support personnel • 4.4 Student safety – measure provider has to ensure safety. Specific requirements for location of college

16. Guideline 5 • Adequate learning resources, qualified staff and appropriate facilities • 5.1 Capacity to deliver all courses on scope. Examples of evidence: • Delivery and assessment plans • Training and assessment materials • Material for workplace delivery • Offers of employment to suitably qualified staff • Training and assessing staff meet NQC requirements

17. Guideline 5 • 5.1 Requirements for educational facilities • Classrooms, library, laboratories and adequate office accommodation • Planning approval, building and fire safety, OH&S and Class 9B certificates • Ownership or lease for sufficient period

18. Implementation • Statutory declaration signed by 1 July 2010 “…that the VET provider has in place procedures to comply…” • Signed by 1 July returned to VRQA by 16 July 2010

19. Transition • Sole traders and partnerships • VRQA will contact to confirm procedures and timelines for RTO’s