The purpose of this notice is to provide clarification of the Board of Studies NSW policy on Stage 6 VET syllabus transition and teach-out. The Board’s policy relates to the General Direction: Transition and teach-out issued by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the national VET regulator.

VET courses in Stage 6 syllabuses are based on VET qualifications from national industry Training Packages. Stage 6 VET courses are delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in accordance with both Board of Studies NSW and VET Quality Framework requirements.

The purpose of the ASQA General Direction: Transition and teach-out is to guide RTOs in managing the transition from superseded Training Packages. It also describes the arrangements to ‘teach out’ students enrolled in superseded qualifications.

When assessing RTO compliance, ASQA will consider the overarching principle that an RTO must deliver the current training product to a student, unless the student would be genuinely disadvantaged in undertaking that product.

The Board’s policy is that students commencing study of a Stage 6 VET course with a standard two-year study pattern (Year 11 and Year 12) will complete that course. The HSC VET examination in the second year (Year 12) will be based on the Stage 6 VET course commenced in the first year (Year 11).

Where this means that continuing students remain enrolled in a superseded VET qualification beyond the ASQA designated transition and teach-out periods, RTOs must be prepared to demonstrate to ASQA, if requested, why students would be genuinely disadvantaged if unable to count their VET study towards their HSC and to undertake an HSC VET examination to count towards their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

The Board will publish advice to assist RTOs to document the reasons and the planned timeframe for completion of training, assessment and awarding of credentials in these circumstances.

For further information:
Ian Balcomb
Inspector, Vocational Education
(02) 9367 8038
vet@bos.nsw.edu.au