The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has welcomed a new Federal government initiative to crack down on unscrupulous and non-genuine training providers.
The AAAA says it strongly supports the legislation which will be an important step to remove dishonest and fraudulent RTOs that exist as a minority within the automotive training industry.
“We welcome this new legislation, which if passed, will make a positive difference to the automotive training sector and ensure new technicians are fit and ready to service and repair our country’s modern vehicle fleet,” AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity says.
“The legislation will clean up unscrupulous behaviour from the small number of dodgy providers that seek to take advantage of students. These providers undermine the vast majority of legitimate, proficient training organisations that are doing a wonderful job training the next generation of automotive workers.”
The legislative changes will provide the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) with greater powers to prevent and remove non-genuine training organisations.
“Our industry is amid a significant skills shortage, so we must remove any impediments that reduce the legitimacy and competency of workers training to enter the workforce. The new law will address these issues, and ensure students are trained by reputable training organisations,” Charity says.
The new legislation, the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No. 1) Bill 2024 was introduced into Parliament by Hon Brendan O’Connor MP on February 12.
“We’d like to congratulate Minister O’Connor for introducing the Bill, and his commitment to clean up what is an extremely important pathway process for young workers across the country,” Charity says.
“We look forward to engaging on the Bill, and we would appreciate any support from our members and the wider automotive industry as we take steps to crack down on these kinds of operators,” he says.
The minister also spoke of the importance of this new bill for the future of the vocational education system.
“We are restoring integrity to the sector. We will weed out dodgy providers that exist in the sector, who seek to exploit students for a quick buck and compromise the integrity and reputation of the entire sector in the process.
“Most providers do the right thing and are in the business of education and training for the right reasons. They will benefit from the removal of non-genuine actors, who undermine integrity and trust in VET,” O’Connor says.
Join the conversation