10 Jun New ASQA Standards for RTOs starting soon
The Hotline frequently receives calls from learners struggling to complete VET courses, and from RTOs seeking advice on supporting students with literacy/numeracy gaps. We hope that ASQA’s new standards starting July 1 will help RTOs in improving the experience of their learners.
The revised Standards aim to move away from compliance towards strengthening the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers. They aim to provide more clarity, and allow for more flexibility and innovation. They are intended to help RTOs better understand their obligations in relation to training and the outcomes they are expected to deliver.
The revised Standards, particularly Quality Area 2 – VET Student Support, make it clear that VET students need to be treated fairly and are promptly informed, protected and supported through:
- Checking literacy and numeracy skills before enrolment (and keeping records of this)
- Making sure the course is suitable, or suggesting more suitable alternatives
- Providing clear, accurate and accessible information to enable students to make informed choices
- Providing learner support throughout enrolment, including support to achieve the LLND requirements of the course
- Ensuring the learning environment promotes and supports diversity via clear policy, direction and staff training
- Employing properly qualified trainers
- Having a complaints mechanism.
We recommend that teachers and managers visit the ASQA website to learn about changes which affect both stand-alone LND programs and learner support in VET, including relooking at the ASQA-developed guide to prepare for the revised standards and the policy guidance materials (including videos) published by DEWR.