With quality assurance being one of the core aspects of Australia’s vocational education training (VET) sector, registered training organisations (RTOs) need to maintain high standards and fulfil regulatory requirements. The annual declaration on compliance is a crucial part of this process and plays a meaningful role in upholding VET quality nationwide.
What Is the Annual Declaration on Compliance?
The ASQA annual declaration on compliance is a formal statement required by ASQA from RTOs all over Australia. It affirms that your organisation has adhered to the required Standards for all certifications issued within the past 12 months. Your RTO’s annual declaration on compliance reports that:
- Your records are up-to-date and accurate.
- Your organisation follows and meets regulatory requirements.
- Your organisation recognises and manages risks.
You may consult Clause 8.4 of the Standards for more information on regulatory requirements.
When Is My RTO Compliance Declaration Due?
Every year, ASQA sends an email with a unique web link to each RTO’s chief executive officer (CEO), inviting them to submit their annual declaration on compliance. It is important to keep all your registration details on training.gov.au and asqanet updated to ensure you meet all deadlines.
You will also receive email reminders, website notifications, and updates in the ASQA newsletter to help you remember the due date. Note that ASQA might take regulatory action if your RTO does not submit the declaration on time.
For newer training organisations, the submission requirement will depend on the initial registration date. If you registered on 31 December, the year before the submission date, you must submit your annual declaration on compliance.
Getting Ready: Your Declaration of Compliance Checklist
For a successful and timely submission, you must:
- Confirm that your records with ASQA are up-to-date and accurate.
- Update your provider information on asqanet.
- Consistently monitor compliance and prepare for the declaration process early.
- Evaluate current operations against the Standards and registration prerequisites.
- Confirm compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Submit your compliance declaration form by the deadline.
Note that late submissions require prior approval and won’t be accepted otherwise.
Using ASQA’s Self-Assessment Tool
ASQA has designed a self-assessment tool to help RTOs check regulatory requirements, operations, standards, and potential risks. This tool is not meant to replace the declaration. Instead, it serves as a helpful guide for further preparation.
How Do I Fill In My Compliance Declaration Form?
Take note of the following steps when completing your declaration form:
- Fill in the form, reviewing and saving information as needed.
- Double-check all details before submission.
- Save a copy of your answers after submission.
You can submit your declaration form only once. After submission, you can no longer regain access or make edits. To ensure proper submission, refer to the original email from ASQA and click on your unique web link. You will receive a confirmation message if your submission is successful.
If your CEO did not receive a web link during the ASQA annual declaration submission period, have them:
- Check their spam or junk mail folders.
- Confirm if the email address listed on training.gov.au is correct. If not, they will have to update their details on asqanet and contact the ASQA Info Line to request that they resend the email.
- Contact the ASQA Info Line if none of the above work.
Your RTO’s annual declaration on compliance is crucial to upholding VET quality standards. By submitting your form promptly and accurately, you contribute to the integrity of the training system.
