ACPET News | 11 February 2013
Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET) chief Claire Field has declared 2013 the “year of quality”, with ACPET about to launch a new ‘health check’ to assist its members meet the quality framework.
Initially the service will be available to members with re-registration audits scheduled this year but will be extended to an ‘annual’ check on a private training provider’s compliance with the regulatory framework.
Field points out that the service is “just that, a service”, so it will be at a provider’s discretion if, and when, it uses it. She also warns that
If a member acts on our advice and then has troubles with an auditor – we will involve ourselves on behalf of the member in their dealings with the regulator. If however, a member ignores ACPET’s advice, we will have a letter on file to that effect and will not be drawn into advocacy on behalf of the member with the regulator. That letter will protect members who diligently use the health check service and act on our recommendations, from those members who do not.
The new service will consist of the following steps for each ‘health check’:
- submission of key background documents to ACPET to assist in scoping a site visit
- site visit by ACPET
- interim report to the member identifying overall performance and any gaps to be filled (as well as advice on where to access the necessary expertise to address the gaps)
- follow-up site visit by ACPET to check recommendations have been actioned, and
- final letter to the member confirming recommendations have, or have not, been actioned.
In line with her warning that ACPET will only act for members who act on its advice, Field says Stage 5 is “the most crucial one – for the broader ACPET membership and the reputation of the ACPET brand”.
