VET News

ASQA has Identified Three Key Emerging Areas of Growth

ASQA acknowledges that VET and ELICOS providers are under pressure, but is pleased that many of these providers have reviewed business operations and are responding to the needs of their students.  Foremost in their plans are to keep students and staff safe, and deliver training which will offer students the best outcome in terms of employment and assisting Australia recover economically.

After consideration of data available, and feedback from students and external stakeholders, ASQA has identified the following three key emerging areas of growth:

1.  Expansion in the delivery of training products.

The COAG Skills Council agreed at its 3 April 2020 meeting that short-term gaps will emerge in key frontline workforces.  Such areas to experience these gaps include aged care sectors, disability support and health care.  New training is therefore required in order to meet demand across the industries.  Likewise, infection control training has been identified as being of high importance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Providers must expand delivery to meet these gaps, and continually review their practices to ensure that issues arising are addressed.

2.  Online or other distance delivery of VET and ELICOS.

Providers have been seeking alternate delivery methods to continue to offer their training in lieu of face-to-face arrangements, with many providers moving to a form of distance delivery.   In response, ASQA has published a distance learning webpage providing advice on the delivery of quality outcomes for distance learning techniques and tools.

3. Mandatory work placement and practical assessment in the workplace.

Securing work placements and conducting practical assessments has become challenging during COVID-19.  Providers report considerable difficulty in placing learners in suitable workplaces to fulfill assessment requirements.  Delaying the completion time of some units of competencies in response has implications for both the learner and the provider.

For more information, you can read the full ASQA release.

Date posted Jun 11, 2020