ASQA’s latest update has a big focus on their expectations on recognition of prior learning (RPL) – including making the case for providers to be very familiar with the new draft practice guide for RPL and credit transfer.

The draft guide includes a number of known quality risks related to RPL, including:

  • Using inadequate assessment practices
  • Using RPL systems that do not apply the same rigour as the RTO’s assessment system – including retaining proper assessment records
  • Having systems which are not sufficient to identify a student’s RPL gaps
  • Not being wary of ‘non-genuine’ students
  • Failing to check that RPL evidence is authentic
  • Automatically granting RPL for students holding higher AQF qualifications in the same industry.

In relation to credit transfer, the quality risks include:

  • Not granting credit transfer for equivalent training products (and making students do unnecessary training and assessment)
  • “Issuing qualifications or Statements of Attainment via credit transfer based on training wholly completed through RPL or credit transfer at a different RTO.”
  • Failing to make credit transfer policies and processes available to students.

Given the integrity issues in the sector related to RPL – make sure your team is across the Draft Standard and look out for more professional development from the VDC to assist you in transitioning to the revised Standards

The ASQA update also provides some details of their investigative work which covers “189 serious matters, in relation to the conduct of 154 providers. Of these, approximately 62% relate to providers that deliver training to international students,” and more than:

  • “74% relate to alleged fraud, including bogus qualifications, cash for qualifications, fabrication of assessments and evidence, “ghost” colleges, funding fraud and visa/migration risks
  • 60% are linked to multi-jurisdictional actions such as Operation INGLENOOK, the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, NSW Building Commission and the disruption of alleged criminal networks.”

The update goes on to state that ASQA expects there “will be further instances that will require us to consider the legitimacy of individual qualifications issued by non-genuine providers over the coming months… As announced in the 2025-26 Budget, the Australian Government is investing $4.7 million for ASQA to continue this enforcement activity and respond to the fraudulent issuance of VET qualifications by non-genuine providers.”