The Agency responsible for regulating vocational education and training (VET), the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), is to be reformed to expand its scope and lift the quality of delivery of VET across Australia.
A stakeholder committee has been established to help drive the reforms.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash said the reforms responded to key recommendations of the Braithwaite and Joyce reviews.
These included supporting ASQA to adopt a more educative approach to lift quality in the delivery of vocational education and training.
“Improving the quality of VET is a priority of the Australian Government, and this includes ensuring the sector’s regulatory environment is reasonable, transparent and effective,” Senator Cash said.
“We are acutely aware of the workforce requirements in the Australian economy. Our reform agenda will deliver better outcomes for Australians who make the choice to pursue a VET pathway.”
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, Steve Irons said the Government had set a strong direction for the future of VET.
“With appropriate regulatory reforms, we can deliver a vocational education sector that provides workforce skills and relevant up-to-date qualifications that are well matched to the evolving opportunities of Australia’s modern economy,” Mr Irons said.
Senator Cash said that as part of the changes the Chief Commissioner of ASQA, Mark Paterson had decided to step down.
She said ASQA Commissioner Saxon Rice would act in the role of Chief Commissioner from 7 October.
