ASQA’s Risk-based Approach
Source: Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) – https://www.asqa.gov.au/asqa-audits
Since 2016, ASQA uses its risk intelligence database and other information to determine the focus and scope of audit for each training provider (ASQA, 2018).
In preparing for your audit, ASQA may analyse:
- information from current and past complaints
- training provider’s compliance history
- any relevant media reports
- enrolment and profile data
- funding sources and amount of Government funding, and
- intelligence from other regulators and agencies.
ASQA’s pre-audit evidence gathering also includes gathering data about the training provider’s practices in relation to certain key activities (such as marketing and enrolment) from websites and social media.
ASQA may also seek input (before, during or after the audit) from some or all of your students through methods that may include student surveys and interviews. ASQA then uses this intelligence to determine (ASQA, 2018):
- the ‘depth’ of the audit (this may include how long the audit is scheduled to take), and
- which qualifications and phases of the student experience will be the focus of the audit.
Providers that demonstrate a higher risk profile, a poor compliance history and/or poor student outcomes are targeted through deeper-level audits.
Remedies
If you are not satisfied with a decision made by ASQA relating to your CRICOS registration, you have a number of options:
- Consider the reasons for the decision, address the outstanding areas of non-compliance and submit a fresh application.
- Ask ASQA to review the decision (under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2011).
- Apply to have the decision reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
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