You may be aware that there has been a transition to the Standards for Training Packages. This has led to a higher than normal number of revised training products being endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) in the last 6 months.
Standard 1.26 a of the Standards for RTOs 2015 discusses what RTOs need to do when a training product on scope is superseded. Learners must be transferred into its replacement within 1 year. However, the Australian and state governments have agreed to temporarily increase the period of time to transition students from 1 year to 18 months. This time period starts when the National Register on training.gov.au releases the superseded training product.
This temporary provision only applies to training products endorsed between September 2015 up until March 2016.
So that all RTOs and other stakeholders clearly understand which qualifications fall within these guidelines, The Department of Education and Training currently has on its qualifications list on its website.
Can RTOs enrol students in revised training products prior to the 18 month transition date?
Yes, they can – but only after their scope of registration has been changed. If the RTO is delivering government funded courses that have been revised, appropriate purchasing arrangements will need to be in place.
Standard 1.26 b outlines how to proceed when a qualification is both no longer current and has not been superseded – and this has not changed. All learners’ training and assessment must be completed within 2 years from when the qualification is taken from the National Register.