The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the national regulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia, continues to take regulatory action to ensure the integrity of the VET sector. Some of this action affects the disability sector.
ASQA is undertaking an ongoing program of regulatory action involving a number of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), following a series of compliance investigations targeting illegal behaviour and non-genuine providers. ASQA has:
- cancelled the registration of certain RTOs, including some that provided disability or social support qualifications
- cancelled qualifications issued to some students of those training providers.
To find out which RTOs and student qualifications are affected, check the ASQA website: https://www.asqa.gov.au/students/qualification-integrity-regulatory-action. Former students of affected RTOs should refer to information from ASQA about the cancellations and what steps to take by visiting: https://www.asqa.gov.au/students/qualification-integrity-regulatory-action
The Victorian Disability Worker Commission encourages all disability employers and disability service providers to take action to ensure safe, quality services for people with disability. If you have staff with qualifications issued by affected training providers, you may need to take action to maintain compliance. Information is available at:
https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-and-training/asqa-regulatory-action-cancelled-vet-qualifications
The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria will consider the impact of any cancellation of qualification on registered disability workers. The Board will contact registered disability workers who have relied on qualifications from affected training providers to qualify for disability worker registration.
The Board and Commission regulate disability workers, promoting accountability, safety and quality in the disability workforce. The scheme includes voluntary worker registration, a complaints service for people to raise concerns, and the requirement that all disability workers comply with the Disability Service Safeguards Code of Conduct, including the requirement to provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill.