Back 2 basics
Australian Quality Training Framework

What is the Australian Quality Training Framework?

The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) is the set of nationally agreed quality assurance arrangements for training and assessment services delivered by training organisations.

The key objective of the Australian Quality Training Framework is to provide the basis for a nationally consistent, high quality vocational education and training system. It comprises two sets of standards:

Essential Standards for Registration—registered training organisations must meet these standards in order to deliver and assess nationally recognised training and issue nationally recognised qualifications.

Standards for Registering Bodies—these standards provide a common framework for the authorities in each state and territory that register and audit training organisations and that accredit courses.

When was the Australian Quality Training Framework introduced?

The Australian Quality Training Framework evolved from the original Australian Recognition Framework. On 8 June 2001, Ministers renamed the framework to reflect the increased emphasis on quality in the national vocational education and training system. It has been revised at various times since then.

The latest revisions, known as AQTF 2007, have resulted in significant changes to how the two standards are structured with greater focus on the quality of training and assessment outcomes. The implementation of AQTF 2007 becomes effective on 1 July 2007. Voluntary Excellence Criteria will be introduced from 1 January 2008.

AQTF 2007

AQTF 2007 builds on the existing Australian Quality Training Framework standards and encourages registered training organisations to focus on their core business of training and assessment.

Built on contemporary quality and business management models, AQTF 2007 focuses on the quality of skill outcomes. It has a stronger focus on continuous improvement and risk management, and encourages registered training organisations to strive for excellence in the delivery of their training and assessment. It is designed to meet industry expectations.

What are the Essential Standards for Registration?

The Essential Standards for Registration apply to all existing registered training organisations and all organisations seeking to become registered training organisations.  The Essential Standards for Registration are divided into three parts:

• conditions of registration
• standards
• quality indicators.

What are the conditions of registration?

The conditions of registration are the compulsory requirements of operating a training organisation and are based on previous Australian Quality Training Framework standards.

There are nine conditions which must be met covering areas such as governance, insurance, compliance with legislation, financial management, marketing, the issuing of qualifications and national recognition.

Under AQTF 2007 the registered training organisation chief executive officer is required to sign a contract agreeing to adhere to the conditions of registration.

What are the standards?

There are three standards outlined.

Standard 1—the registered training organisation provides quality training and assessment across all of its operations.

Standard 2—the registered training organisation adheres to principles of access and equity and maximises outcomes for its clients.

Standard 3—management systems are responsive to the needs of clients, staff and stakeholders, and to the environment in which the registered training organisation operates.

Each standard contains a number of elements that further describe the expectations of that standard, with the focus being on outcomes. Rather than prescribing in detail how a registered training organisation should operate, the elements specify the outcomes expected from registered training organisations. This gives registered training organisations greater flexibility to demonstrate how their approach complies with the standards, best meets the needs of their clients and suits the scope and scale of their operations.

What are the quality indicators?

The Essential Standards for Registration include quality indicators designed to provide information about registered training organisation performance. Three quality indicators have been identified to be used by registered training organisations for continuous improvement and by state and territory registering bodies to establish and monitor risk. The three indicators are:

Employer satisfaction (this includes competency development and training and assessment quality)—this indicator will focus on employer evaluations of learner competency development, its relevance to work and further training, and the overall quality of the training and assessment.

Learner satisfaction (this includes learner engagement and competency development)—this indicator will focus on the extent to which learners are engaging in the types of activities which are likely to promote high quality skill outcomes, as well as learners’ perceptions of the quality of their competency development and the support they receive from registered training organisations.

Competency completion rate—this will be calculated for qualifications and units of competency/modules delivered, based on data provided by registered training organisations on the number of enrolments in the previous calendar year as well as the number of qualifications completed and/or units of competency/modules awarded in the previous calendar year. Registering bodies will use this data to assess risk, and auditors will use it to get an indication of performance, however provider competency completion rate data will not be publicly distributed.

Data collection tools and methods are being trialled for introduction in 2008.

How does auditing work under AQTF 2007?

AQTF 2007 replaces the current audit emphasis on inputs and processes with a stronger focus on quality skills outcomes.

Under AQTF 2007 auditing will be carried out in accordance with a risk management model that considers many facets of a registered training organisation’s operation.  Registering bodies will make decisions about the targeting, frequency, scope and depth of audits using a nationally agreed approach to risk management that focuses on a range of agreed risk indicators including:

• performance against quality indicators
• delivery of qualifications in areas subject to licences
• multi-site delivery including across jurisdictions
• offshore delivery
• complaints.

Registered training organisations with high quality outcomes can expect less regulatory intervention from registering bodies. Where the quality indicators raise questions about the performance of a registered training organisation, there will be full opportunity given to the registered training organisation to discuss the quality indicator data with auditors as part of the audit process.

What are the Excellence Criteria?

The Excellence Criteria of AQTF 2007 build on the Essential Standards for Registration and will provide a new opportunity for high-performing registered training organisations to seek recognition, on a voluntary basis, for the quality of their operation and outcomes. The Excellence Criteria are based on internationally recognised business quality criteria customised to meet the needs of the Australian vocational education and training sector.

Registered training organisations will be able to apply to be assessed for recognition against the Excellence Criteria from 1 January 2008. This process will be administered separately to the Essential Standards for Registration and will focus on the registered training organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement within its operations.

What are the Standards for Registering Bodies?

The Standards for Registering Bodies describe the way that states and territories carry out registration and audits. These standards have also been revised under AQTF 2007 to shift from the current emphasis on inputs and processes to a regulatory and audit approach based on quality skills outcomes.

The new arrangements strengthen national consistency. They also provide opportunities for industry regulatory bodies that use certification from the vocational education and training sector for occupational and industry licensing to engage in the registration and audit process.

How does a training organisation become registered?

To become registered, a training organisation must apply to the registering body in the state or territory where the organisation has its head office, and pay the relevant fees.

The registering body is responsible for:

• the ongoing auditing of the registered training organisation for compliance with the standards
• the recording of its details and the courses it delivers on a public national register, the National Training Information Service.

Registration is for up to five years (unless suspended or cancelled).

What is the scope of registration?

A registered training organisation’s scope of registration specifies the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and/or units of competency for which the training organisation is registered to deliver, assess and issue qualifications.

For more information visit www.training.com.au/aqtf2007