Australia

Higher education

Quality assurance in higher education is based on a strong partnership between the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the higher education sector.

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is the national regulator and quality assurance agency for the Australian higher education system, established under Australian law through the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act). TEQSA also assures the quality of higher education (and some English language and foundation program) services to international students in Australia under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.

TEQSA provides national consistency in the regulation of higher education and maintains Australia’s reputation for high-quality education, across all registered institutions and modes of delivery. All higher education institutions that offer Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications must meet quality standards through TEQSA’s registration and re-registration processes, as well as course accreditation and reaccreditation for education institutions without self-accrediting authority. TEQSA’s approach is underpinned by the three principles of regulatory necessity, reflecting risk, and proportionate regulation. This means that TEQSA’s approach to regulating higher education institutions differentiates between institutions based on their track record of compliance with the Higher Education Standards Framework.

Higher Education Standards Framework

The Higher Education Standards Framework is the benchmark against which TEQSA registers and evaluates higher education institutions. The Framework covers quality assurance matters such as teaching and learning, research, governance and administration.

A higher education institution must comply with the Framework to be registered with TEQSA as a higher education institution in Australia. TEQSA has the authority to enforce standards under the TEQSA Act.

For more information on TEQSA, see www.teqsa.gov.au.

Vocational education and training (VET)

The key elements of accreditation and quality assurance of the VET system are:

• national and state VET regulators
• quality delivery through the VET Quality Framework (VETQF) and the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)
• quality training products through training packages and accredited courses
• a national register of VET institutions, qualifications and courses

The VETQF and AQTF provide national consistency for institution registration, monitoring and enforcement of quality standards.

National and state VET regulators

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national VET regulator authority, established under Australian law through the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011. ASQA is responsible for regulating Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.

Victoria and Western Australia have not referred their regulatory powers to ASQA, although, any RTO in these states that also operates in other states or territories, or enrols international students, is under the jurisdiction of ASQA. In Victoria and Western Australia, the state regulatory authorities continue in their roles.

ASQA quality assures the VET sector by implementing the Standards for RTOs, the Standards for VET Accredited Courses and the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.

Prior to ASQA’s establishment, there was a VET regulatory authority in each state and territory that quality assured RTOs and accredited courses in their jurisdiction. Decisions made by these bodies in referring states and territories remain valid until they expire, or ASQA re-registers or re-accredits the RTO or course.

VET Quality Framework

VETQF was introduced under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011. Mirroring the AQTF (see below), the VETQF provides the basis for a nationally consistent, high quality VET sector. The VETQF includes standards for registration, monitoring and quality assurance of the VET sector and standards for accreditation. These include the:

• Standards for RTOs
• Fit and Proper Person Requirements
• Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements
• Data Provision Requirements
• Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

The VETQF is supported by the Standards for VET Accredited Courses, which identify course design quality standards that must be adhered to.

Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)

States that have not referred their registration and regulation powers to ASQA (i.e. Victoria and Western Australia) are required to meet the requirements of the AQTF.

The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is the national set of compliance Standards and Essential Conditions that the VET training provider must meet to become a Registered Training Provider (RTO).

The AQTF was developed collaboratively with the Australian Government, state and territory governments, industry and training organisations, to support a nationally consistent, high-quality VET sector. It comprises standards for registration, auditing, quality assurance and accreditation, including standards for:

• RTOs
• state and territory registering bodies
• state and territory accrediting bodies
• accredited courses

For more information about national and state VET regulators and quality assurance of the VET system, see www.asqa.gov.au (national), www.vrqa.vic.gov.au (Victoria) and www.tac.wa.gov.au (Western Australia).