WorkReady

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (2 July 2015).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers): I am advised:

1. As at 8 July 2015 the Department of State Development’s records show that TAFE SA had 34,873 active Training Accounts in superseded courses.

According to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) a VET qualification is superseded when a new training package qualification replaces an existing qualification. The national Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2012 require RTOs to manage the transition from superseded training packages within 12 months of their publication on the national register so that they only deliver currently endorsed training packages.

It is not unusual for RTOs to be delivering superseded qualifications for a period of time, for example, to enable enrolled students to complete qualifications.

2. During the last 24 months, TAFE SA has received two notifications:

On 13 February 2014; and

On 26 June 2015.

TAFE SA complied with the notifications. There may be legitimate reasons for inactivity. For example, apprentices typically attend training on the basis of four training blocks throughout the year, leading to lapses greater than 90 days in reporting activity.

Also, some RTOs deliver training across multiple units of competency and do not provide resulted activity until the students complete the entire cluster of competencies.