Newsletter: 7 December 2009

    COAG approves national VET regulator

    COAG today agreed to establish a national regulator for the VET sector which will be established under Commonwealth legislation.  The regulator will be responsible for the registration and audit of registered training providers, and the accreditation of courses.

    A national standards council will also be established to provide advice to the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment on national standards for regulation. Its responsibilities will include: registration, quality assurance, performance monitoring and reporting, auditing, reviewing and renewing providers, and the accreditation of VET qualifications.

    Victoria and Western Australia will continue to regulate providers operating in their States and will enact legislation to mirror the Commonwealth legislation.  Nationally, all providers wishing to operate in more than one jurisdiction or enrol international students in post-secondary educational institutions will be registered through the national regulator.  This COAG decision is noted by Victoria and Western Australia.

    The framework for the new national regulator will be negotiated through an agreement between governments by the end of May 2010, and the regulator will be operational from 2011. Click here for the Deputy Prime Ministers media statement.

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    Apprentice Kickstart program begins

    The Federal Governments Apprentice Kickstart program has commenced and will continue until 28 February 2010.

    The program aims to encourage more employers to take on an apprentice over the summer intake period by increasing the incentives they receive.

    The incentives include up to $4,850 for employing 15 to 19 year old apprentice in an eligible trade, which is made up of $2,350 at the time of employment and $2,500 on completion. Click here for more information.

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    Interim report released - Baird Review of ESOS endorses TDA submission

    The Hon Bruce Baird has released an interim report on his review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act which lays the foundations for improving the reputation and quality of education for overseas students.

    The report recommends more effective consumer protection, stronger requirements for registration as a provider, effective management of agents by providers, and a risk management approach to regulating providers.

    Stakeholder briefings have just been held in Sydney and Melbourne and the final report is expected to be handed to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP in February 2010.

    TDA will produce a position paper early in 2010 which addresses the recommendations from this report, the Senate Report on the welfare of international students and the COAG National International Student Strategy.

    A separate response to the establishment of the national Tertiary Quality and Standards Agency and the formation of a national regulatory body for the vocational education and training sector will also be produced early in the New Year.

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    Calls for interested training providers for Enterprise Based PPP

    Government Skills Australia is seeking expressions of interest from eligible enterprises in the correctional services, local government, public safety, public sector and water industries to access government funded training places for existing workers under the new Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program (EBPPP).

    For more information, please see the attached media release. To register your interest, please fill out the attached Expression of Interest form.

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    Re-branding in WA TAFE continues

    Last week TDA reported that the Western Australian Government is making sweeping changes to the brands of TAFE Institutes.

    The third Institute to see change is the newly rebranded West Coast Institute of Training (formerly West Coast TAFE). It joins both Central Institute of Technology (formerly Central TAFE ), and Polytechnic West (formerly Swan TAFE), both of which have already been announced.

    To view a statement from the Training Minister, the Hon Peter Collier MP click here.

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    Commencements down, but completions on the rise

    The latest vocational education data has shown a disappointing fall in the number of apprentice and training commencements, with a reduction of 6.2% in the 12 months to June 2009 compared to the previous year. However more positive is the news that completions have increased 5.9% in the same period.

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released its June quarter analysis, click here to access the data. It also showed a decrease of 1.8% in cancellations and withdrawals between the March and June quarters of 2009. 

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    New family benefit rules ensure young people engage in study

    The Federal Government has informed 270,000 families about the changes to the Family Tax Benefit Part A for children aged 16-20 years.

    From January, a 16-20 year old will have to be studying towards Year 12 or equivalent qualification, or have completed the course to receive the Benefit.

    For more information click here.

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    Training opportunity in construction and property services industry

    The Construction and Property Services Industry Council (CPSISC) is calling for expressions of interest to be a part of the Federal Governments new Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program (EBPPP).

    For more information click here. The closing date for expressions of interest is 11 January.

    The CPSISC also recently announced its new Board. To view a press release click here.

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    Have your say on the national VET research agenda

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) reminds TDA members that the opportunity to submit ideas for the national VET research agenda 2010 will close 18 December.

    To participate through a written submission click here. Ideas can also be submitted via a blog, click here for more information.

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    E-learning research tender opportunity

    The national training systems e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework,  has opened tenders for up to $50,000 for a service provider to undertake research to investigate how past framework-funded and supported innovations in e-learning have been sustained and mainstreamed.

    The Framework conducts an extensive research program to assist the vocational education and training (VET) community in the uptake and embedding of e-learning.

    Tender submissions are due 22 January. To download the research tender click here.  To read about past Framework research projects, click here. For more information contact Annie Fergusson, the Benchmarking and Research Business Manager, on 0401 125 179 or annie.fergusson@sa.gov.au.

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    Diary Dates

    TAFE GOVERNANCE AND REGUALTIONS FORUM

    DATE:

    25-26 February 2010

    LOCATION:

    Hilton on the Park, Melbourne

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information
    AVETRA 2010 CONFERENCE

    DATE:

    8-9 April 2010

    LOCATION:

    		 Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information

     

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