1 July 2014
The Hon Martin Dixon, MP
Minister for Education
The Hon Nick Wakeling, MP
Minister for Higher Education and Skills
2 Treasury Place
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Dear Ministers
Thank you for your letter dated 29 May 2014, providing your Statement of Expectations (SOE) for
the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of its regulatory activities.
I am pleased to announce that the VRQA Board established a dedicated working group to
develop and oversee a suite of activity that we believe will deliver significant outcomes in line with
your expectations. This activity has been aligned to each performance expectation and is
detailed in the table below.
Performance expectation
A By July 2015, introduce a model of
regulation that gives greater
autonomy to education and
training providers and school
systems
which
consistently
demonstrate
high
levels
of
compliance with standards.
The model should allow low-risk
providers to quality assure their
own compliance regime and report
to the VRQA. This will allow the
VRQA to increase the focus of
regulatory activity on higher risk
providers.
Activity
1
2
3
4
5
6
Investigate current models of regulatory earned
autonomy which could have application to education and
training providers. The VRQA will consider other
examples of earned autonomy from ACECQA, TEQSA,
ASQA, ESOS, state and territory bodies, and related
international regulatory frameworks.
Develop a consistent risk framework in Schools, VET and
OSSEO units to inform the earned autonomy model.
Consult with education and training providers and
stakeholders on the risk framework to inform the earned
autonomy model.
Assess the legal and budgetary implications of options for
earned autonomy for the VRQA operations.
Submit to the April 2015 Board meeting the earned
autonomy model for consideration and approval.
Publish VRQA Board approved examples of earned
autonomy.
1
Performance expectation
B Reduce the burden on multi-sector
Activity
7
Establish integrated financial assessments for multisector education and training providers so that they
undergo one assessment for all registration types.
8
Streamline the risk framework across all registration
types.
C Continue to advance and protect
the
interests
of
students,
apprentices, trainees, parents and
employers by actively managing
and responding to compliance and
financial failure risks. By February
2015, the VRQA will identify and
publish key risk factors, and
monitor providers against these
factors in order to mitigate risks to
consumers.
9
Report to the February 2015 VRQA Board meeting on the
proposed financial risk criteria.
Publish the approved financial risk criteria on the VRQA
website by March 2015.
Provide education and training provider and stakeholder
workshops designed to help identify and address
financial stress.
Establish an annual process to reassess the continued
relevance of the financial risk framework.
Where high risk is identified, take appropriate action.
D Further improve the transparency
14
providers
by
streamlining
regulatory processes.
By July
2015, the VRQA will establish
single, streamlined processes that
can apply to all registration types
of a provider, rather than separate
processes for each registration
type, where it is practical to do so.
of
the
VRQA’s
regulatory
processes and support education
and training providers to reduce
non-compliance.
By December
2014, the VRQA will make
available information and advice
regarding the full range of its
regulatory activities, and to ensure
its published formal complaints
policy includes responding to
complaints made about the VRQA
and its staff. This will be provided
in readily accessible formats.
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
E Deepen
engagement
with
education and training providers,
employers and other stakeholders
to inform the ongoing improvement
of
regulatory
activities.
By
December 2014, the VRQA will
publish a stakeholder engagement
strategy that commits to consulting
with stakeholders on industry
trends and seeks their feedback on
the VRQA’s processes.
18
19
20
Review the VRQA website to strengthen accessibility,
usefulness and currency of information for education and
training providers and stakeholders, with a view to
improving on line access for business transactions and
registration activity.
Review the range of VRQA communication tools for
effectiveness, for example VRQA e-news.
Review and improve the range of targeted workshops,
clinics and seminars to ensure organisations,
stakeholders and education and training providers
understand VRQA regulatory processes, the roles and
responsibilities of all parties, and common problems, and
the VRQA understands the changing needs of business
and the community throughout the regulatory cycle.
Publish the update of the whole of VRQA complaints
process including policies and procedures and how the
VRQA will respond to these matters.
Develop and publish the stakeholder engagement
strategy which will include how the VRQA will collect
information from stakeholders on emerging industry
trends.
Expand the VRQA annual stakeholder survey to gather
feedback on VRQA processes, and seek feedback from
stakeholders, education and training providers,
apprentices and trainees, and employers on the range of
services that they need from the VRQA.
Based on feedback provided, review and update the
range of services provided by the VRQA.
2
Performance expectation
F Promote
greater
cooperation,
information sharing, regulatory
coherence and efficiency with
other regulators and key partners.
By July 2015, the VRQA will
establish and publish memoranda
of understanding or other formal
arrangements
to
streamline
processes and share information.
Activity
21
22
G By January 2016 the VRQA, in
collaboration with the Department
of Education and Early Childhood
Development, will develop a
secure register of apprentices and
trainees
that
meets
the
requirements of the Education and
Training Reform Act 2006 and
improves the ability of the VRQA
and the Department to monitor and
analyse industry trends. This will
implement the recommendations
of the Victorian Auditor General’s
Office in its audit of Apprenticeship
and
Traineeship
Completion,
published in March 2014.
23
24
Establish and publish memoranda of understanding, or
other formal arrangements, to streamline processes and
share information with other regulators including the:
Victorian Institute of Teaching with respect to the
coordination of regulatory activity;
The Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development with respect to the Department’s role as a
school review body, as the regulatory authority for
education and care services, and as the responsible
Department for providing policy advice to Ministers about
education, early childhood development, children’s
services, higher education and training in Victoria; and
Commonwealth Government and/or other federal
agencies where the cooperative approach has been
reciprocated with respect to the coordination of regulatory
activity.
Undertake a stocktake of data collection requirements for
ACFE providers with a view to identifying opportunities to
reduce duplication and so reduce regulatory burden on
providers.
Secure funding for the business case for the
development of the register.
Redevelop in collaboration with the Department of
Education and Early Childhood Development a secure
register of apprentices and trainees.
At its recent Planning Day, the VRQA Board discussed at length the opportunities associated with
the SOE and the integration of deliverables into the VRQA’s new Strategic Plan for 2014-16.
The SOE has been published on the VRQA website and will be included in our forthcoming
Annual Report to Parliament. As you have requested, the VRQA will report on key milestones
against deliverables in the Statement.
The Board looks forward to working with you as we continue to deliver on your expectations.
Yours sincerely
Timothy F Smith
Chair, VRQA
3