TAC Update - Issue 92 - March 2024

News story
Training Accreditation Council's monthly newsletter providing information on the EOI for Council Membership, Early Changes to the Standards, upcoming workshops, and a focus article on Continuous Improvement
Last updated:

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for membership of the Training Accreditation Council are now invited.

Help influence the quality of vocational education and training in Western Australia.

The Minister for Training and Workforce Development is looking for a person with effective leadership skills, strategic thinking abilities, knowledge and experience in quality assurance to help influence the quality of VET throughout Western Australia.  

The Council’s primary roles are to assure the quality of training services delivered in the VET sector in Western Australia through effective regulation of providers and the accreditation of courses not covered by nationally endorsed Training Packages. The Council monitors training provider quality and takes action where necessary to address non-compliance.

If you have skills relevant to these activities we would like to hear from you.

EOIs must include a curriculum vitae (CV) of no more than two pages (using the approved proforma) and be accompanied by a covering letter outlining how you meet Council Chairperson requirements as outlined in the selection criteria (maximum of three pages).

Information about TAC, the role of the TAC members, FAQs, selection criteria and CV proforma are contained in an information package available here.

Expressions of interest must be lodged by email to kieran.tynan@dtwd.wa.gov.au and received by Monday 18 March 2024 at 4.00pm (AWST).

For enquiries and/or further information please contact Lisa Barron, Director Training Regulation, TAC Secretariat - T: 08 9224 6510 or E: lisa.barron@dtwd.wa.gov.au.

Early Changes to the Standards for RTOs

The early changes to the current Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 have been released and are available to download from the Standards page on the TAC website.  These early changes are designed to address current pressures on the VET workforce and provide more immediate benefits to the sector. They are in areas that had broad sector support through previous consultation and are designed to place minimal burden on RTOs.

The early changes are in place from 1 March 2024.

Resources

Standards

Details on these changes and a copy of the early changes to the Standards can be found on the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) website and the Quality Reforms page on the TAC website.

Webinars

To support RTOs in the transition to the early changes to the Standards the following free webinars have been developed:

If you are unable to attend, a recording will be made available on the TAC YouTube channel after the event.

FAQ

A number of frequently asked questions is available on the Quality Reforms page on the TAC website.

Fact Sheets

The following Fact Sheets have been updated to reflect the early changes to theStandards:

Mapping document

A mapping document highlighting the early changes to the Standards has been created and is available to download.

TAC Education Program

Upcoming Events

To support TAC RTOs in the transition to the early changes to the Standards the following free webinars have been developed for TAC RTOs :

Webinar Recordings:

View the TAC Education Program to access professional development opportunities, support and guidance materials and access previous webinar recordings and resources.

You can also watch any of the 60 videos available on TAC’s YouTube channel. 

WA Training Awards

The Council is proud to support the 2024 WA Training Awards and encourages all RTOs to promote the Awards within their organisations and amongst colleagues in the VET sector.

The 30th WA Training Awards recognise and reward individuals and organisations that have excelled in vocational education and training (VET) – from apprentices, trainees and vocational students, to training professionals, training providers and employers committed to the training and development of their staff.

There are a number of award categories and people and organisations from across Western Australia and from all areas of training are encouraged to nominate for the Awards.

For more information and to apply for the awards visit the WA Training Awards website.

Applications close on Friday 26 April 2024 and the Awards will be announced at a presentation ceremony to be held in Perth on 20 September 2024.

The 2024 WA Training Awards are coordinated by the Department of Training and Workforce Development and the State Training Board.

Focus on Quality: Continuous Improvement

RTOs must develop and maintain continuous improvement processes in line with Standard 2 (clauses 2.1 and 2.2) of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. These clauses specify that:

  • RTO’s have a responsibility for all aspects of its operations, even those conducted on its behalf;
  • the RTO must continuously improve all of its operations;
  • this continuous improvement is shaped through gathering data such as feedback from stakeholders; and
  • this data must be analysed objectively to give direction to on-going change.

The cycle begins and ends by identifying and monitoring the standards expected of and by the RTO.

The key steps are:

  1. Gather evidence and identify issues from inputs;
  2. Identify standards expected of and by the RTO;
  3. Identify potential causes of the issue;
  4. Identify potential remedies to address the causes;
  5. Implement selected remedy; and
  6. Review impact of remedy – seek new evidence.

Inputs could include:

  • Learner & employer feedback
  • Trainer & assessor feedback
  • Complaints & appeals
  • Assessment validation
  • Industry & community engagement
  • Audits
  • VET Data Provision Requirements

Outputs could include:

  • Revised training & assessment materials & tools
  • Updated policies & procedures
  • New learner support services

Continuous improvement helps RTOs stay compliant, relevant, and effective, contributing to learner success and the broader VET Sector. More information on this topic is available in the continuous improvement Fact Sheet and webinar recording.

Other important updates

Consultation on the Blueprint for the VET Workforce

The VET Workforce Blueprint (the Blueprint) is currently being developed to support, grow and sustain the VET workforce. The Blueprint will identify actions for workforce attraction, retention, development, and career progression.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is seeking feedback from the current workforce through a public submissions process to test current understanding of the challenges faced by the VET workforce and identify actions that result in effective change.

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

Visit the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website to find out more information. Feedback closes at 11:00 pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, 26 March 2024. 

Australian Universities Accord

Australian Universities Accord final report is now available. The objective of the Accord was to devise recommendations and performance targets to improve the quality, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of higher education.

The Australian Universities Accord repor is available on the Commonwealth Government Department of Education’s website.

Jobs and Skills Australia

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the following reports:

Latest NCVER Reports

NCVER has released the following new reports:  

TAC Update - Issue 92 - March 2024 (PDF)

Subscribe to the TAC Newsletter

 

Further Information

Quality Reforms

Standards for RTOs 2015

Back to News and Announcements

Published

6 March 2024

Contact