Landmark Data on Offshore VET Delivery

Whilst data on the offshore VET delivery by TAFE providers has been collected by DEEWR since 2003 (via a voluntary survey), no detailed data had been collected on the extent and characteristics of offshore delivery by private RTOs.
That is, until now! In 2010 the NQC successfully collected data from the private sector regarding their offshore delivery, which has been combined with the results of the TAFE survey. The NQC has released this data in a report, Delivery of VET offshore by private and public providers 2009 showing that there were over 73,000 international students studying Australian qualifications offshore across 68 different countries. More >>

New Chair for TAFE Directors Association

Stephen Conway, Managing Director of TAFE SA South, has been elected the new Chair of TAFE Directors Australia. Stephen succeeds Bruce Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Holmegslen Institute, Victoria, who completed his term at the recent TDA Annual General Meeting held in Melbourne. More >>

National Occupational Licensing System (NOLS)

On 3 July 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the development of a national trade licensing system in the context of its broader agenda for regulatory reform. A Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was released in April 2009. It was agreed that the system would initially apply to the following trade occupations: air-conditioning; refrigeration; electrical, land transport; maritime; plumbing and property agent. NOLS will commence in mid-2012 and you can check progress on the National Occupational Licensing Authority website, www.nola.gov.au >>.

NTIS soon to be replaced

The National Training Information Service (NTIS) system will be replaced in July 2011 by a new National VET Register at www.training.gov.au. The existing NTIS will be permanently decommissioned towards the end of the year. Will the new training.gov.au site also subsume www.training.com.au, the current repository of general VET information and the AQTF publications for RTOs? More >>

New Training Product Releases

Do you keep an eye out for Training Products Australia's new releases? Aboriginal Landcare Education Program (ALEP) Learning Guides, RII09 Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Candidate and Facilitator Guides, and learner guides for the TAE10 Training Package are now available. The Toolbox Series 13 is coming soon! More >>

NQC transitions to National Standards Council

The National Standards Council (NSC) is expected to commence operation in early July 2011, coinciding with the delegation of powers by some jurisdictions to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Both the NSC membership and charter are due to be endorsed by MCTEE at its meeting scheduled for late June 2011. More >>

AQTF Condition 5

The National Quality Council has reviewed the findings of a project on the options RTOs must meet for AQTF Condition 5 and agreed that RTOs that intend to, or currently collect student fees in advance will be required, from 1 July 2011, to comply with one of the five options for protecting student fees. An NQC Consultation Paper requests feedback by 16 May 2011. More >>

More English Language Tests for Student Visas

On 20 May 2011, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, additional English language test options for student visa applicants to address the current shortage of test places - the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) and the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) from Cambridge ESOL. Media release >>

Related Coverage
Skills surprise in migration plan - The Australian, 25 May 2011
New rival in English testing- The Australian, 25 May 2011
Uni staff 'took bribes' in English test - The Courier Mail, 22 March 2011

Golden Gurus Training Grants

Applications are now open for employers (or small business owners) to apply for Experience+Training grants of $4,950 (includes GST) to provide quality training (at the Certificate III level or above) for your mature age workers (aged 55 years or over) so that they can gain the skills to successfully mentor and supervise your apprentices or trainees. More >>

Newspaper Articles of Interest

• The Australian, 29 June 2011: Big campuses annexing vocational education and training turf