LukeD
Posts: 20
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What a mess this organisation is! The organisation that is meant to ensure that I run my RTO correctly, clearly has some serious quality assurance issues.
Where ot begin?
Became an RTO. We have in writing from them that they "lost" our applicaiton and audit report 5 times.
Submitted an applicaiton to expand the scope a little while later. No audit, changes approved.
Had a post initial audit in December of last year, which by the way, was over 5 months late.
Finally got the audit report from the VRQA in March so as we know where we stand.
Ironically, we had some non conformances on some of our paperwork which the previous audittor found no problems with on our initial audit. (And there'd been no changes to the AQTF Standards or our documentation!).
Had a face-to-face meeting with the VRQA and we decided to remove 5 qualifications off our scope. A date was put in place to submit paperwork for a desktop audit. We met that deadline.
A fortnight later, get a pretty stern email from them asking why we haven't submitted our paperwork in the agreed timeframes. Sent back the email responses from the person we sent the paperwork to.
This paperwork included 2 submissions to remove a range of Units from our scope, which would by default remove the qualifications (We wanted to keep some units but not the quals).
I get a notification today that the units have been ADDED to our scope and are clearly showing as being on our scope, as oppossed to being removed, via the qualifications.
Intrerestingly, the second submission for unit removal had been actioned (albeit incorrectly), but the first one hadn't been.
I rang them this morning, and no explanation is forthcoming. Can't tell me where the desktop audit is at. Can't tell me where the scope removal (both submissions) is at. Can't tell me how their quality assurance system let a deletion of scope go through as a scope expansion.
This organisaiton is a farce....
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| Posted: 23-Jun-2010 10:03 AM | Reply |
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AITD administrator
Posts: 5
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Hi LukeD - I'm sure a number of our members who operate as RTOs have had good and frustrating experiences in registration and changes to scope. Any advice to LukeD in helping to navigate the VIC registration body?
On the horizon is a bit of a shake-up with a national VET registration system (different to the NARA initiative) http://www.deewr.gov.au/Department/Budget/Documents/FactSheet11BudgetNationalRegulator.pdf
VIC & WA have elected not to formally be part of this system however there are indications that the registration bodies in both these states will mirror the Commonwealth legislation. |
| Posted: 23-Jun-2010 10:55 AM | Reply |
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LukeD
Posts: 20
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It now gets worse!
I was told this morning (in email) that I completed the wrong paperwork, however I have in writing from the original meetings that it was the correct paperwork to compelte!!!!
This is an organisation out of control.... :-(
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| Posted: 23-Jun-2010 01:07 PM | Reply |
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Dr Phil Rutherford
Posts: 28
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Luke,
Having been one of the architects of the current system (some 18-19 years ago) and almost collapsing in despair while watching where the whole thing has gone, I can empathise with you. There are many failings in this system, and the fact that different States/Territories have different rules and different ways of managing them is just one. It is for this, and many other reasons, that I encourage organisations (and have been encouraging them for 18-19 years) to think very seriously before becoming an RTO.
I have said this here in Australia and every other country for whom I have helped create such systems, that if an organisation doesn't need to be an RTO then it should not bother. It is a lot of hard work for very little return, and unless the latter outweighs the former then give it a miss.
My advice to you would be to have a very close look at your product (your course(s), consultancy, mentoring etc) and ask whether or not your being an RTO is adding value to what your clients receive. If it is not then cancel any further meetings with the QA and let your registration lapse. You will be thankful that you did.
If, however, you decide that you have a need to continue to be an RTO then I would strongly encourage, urge and forcibly push you to stand up for yourself. Qualifications agencies are not the final arbiter of the rules - you and every other industry/organisation are. If the rules are hurting you then a letter to the Minister would be the first action I would take. The rules are designed to enable fairness and equity. If they are doing only one or neither then clearly the rules - and the rule enforcers - are wrong.
At the end of the day, all of the legislation and guidance states that the VET system is 'industry-led'. If industry is being messed around then clearly it is becoming system-led, so don't take no (or BS) for an answer. You are industry. Get leading!
Phil Rutherford Ph.D www.3gpm.com/drphilrutherford |
| Posted: 26-Jul-2010 10:33 AM | Reply |
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