VET accredited course leads the way

There are two different kinds of training products delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs) within the VET industry: training packages and VET accredited courses.

According to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA):

“A VET accredited course has been assessed by ASQA as compliant with the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 and the Australian Qualifications Framework AQF)”

Accreditation is formal confirmation that the course:

is nationally recognised
meets an established industry, enterprise, educational, legislative or community need
provides appropriate competency outcomes and a satisfactory basis for assessment
meets national quality assurance requirements
is aligned appropriately to the AQF where it leads to a qualification.

VET accredited courses are intended to offer training in new and evolving technologies and techniques, not covered by the training packages. VET accredited courses are intended and created by stakeholders in the sector and can be created and endorsed much faster than the training packages.

Such is the case of the recent VET accredited course by ASQA: 10747NAT Advanced Diploma of Blockchain. The time the application being deemed complete by ASQA to a decision being made on the application was approximately 10 weeks.

Developed by Blockchain Collective, it’s the first blockchain course to be accredited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), making it Australia’s first formal, nationally recognised, accredited blockchain course.

If you have identified a need for nationally recognised training not covered by a training package, a VET accredited course could be an option.

VET accredited courses must comply with Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2013L00177 and Users’ guide to the Standards for VET Accredited Courses

https://www.asqa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3521/f/Users_guide_to_the_Standards_for_VET_Accredited_Courses.pdf if you are submitting your application to Australian Skills Quality Authority for the approval process.

Once a course has been accredited, it is listed on the national register for training in Australia: https://training.gov.au/home/TGA. You can use this website to check if a course is accredited by typing in the course code.

If you need any assistance with preparing and lodging an application of an accredited course, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sukh Sandhu

Executive Director

Sukh has been working in the VET and Higher Education Industry for over 25 years. In this time, he has held several roles with RTO's and Higher Education Providers (HEP) including CEO roles for International Colleges and National Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager roles for several RTO's, TAFE's and Universities. Sukh has also worked for the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as a Business Systems Project Official. Sukh is a Canadian permanent resident and Australian citizen.

Sukh has had extensive project management experience in risk management, compliance, administration and as a training consultant. He has extensive knowledge in government compliance standards and has participated in nearly one hundred audits across Australia and provided consultancy advice regarding ASQA/VRQA, TEQSA, ACPET, DET-HESG, VQF/Higher Education, ELICOS, NEAS, ANMAC, AHPRA, CRICOS, ESOS and ISO.

Sukh is a member of several independent professional organisations and government bodies including, ACPET, VELG, ACS, AITD, MARA, MIA, ISANA, APEX, IEEE, The Internet Society (Global Member), AISIP, IAMOT, ACM, OISV, APACALL, IWA, Eta Kappa Nu, EDSIG and several others.

Sukh's qualifications include two MBAs, three masters in IT and systems, a Graduate diploma of management learning, Diploma in training design and development, Diploma in vocational education training, Diploma of work, health and safety, Diploma of Quality Auditing, Advanced diploma of management, Advanced diploma in marketing, human resources, information technology, and a number of other courses and qualifications. He has been working as a lecturer and as a trainer and assessor since 1998, Sukh has been a vocal advocate of audit reforms and system centred auditing practices rather than auditor centred auditing practices for many years.