CONTEXT: Articles on this website are generally for training providers who train short courses (skills programs and unit standards), who train OHS related topics, and who are private companies.
DATES: Dates matter, please see the date of each article you read. Dates matter because these are often developing situations.
Quick notes on points made during this meeting / webinar:
FACTS
QCTO says fees will be implemented from 1 April 2025 (not an April fools prank).
QCTO says applications already in process (before 1 April) will not incur the fee.
QCTO’s webinar was about informing the public of their decision (I.e. not it was not about taking feedback from the public to aid that decision, the decision is already made internally at QCTO).
‘THE PROBLEM’
QCTO explains that the problem is the major influx of applications by SDPs who apply when they are not committed. This is essentially the entire problem according to QCTO.
QCTO further complains that consultants are getting incompetent SDPs accredited.
QCTO does not believe the problem is caused by the SETA to QCTO changeover, despite the public warning them they will be overwhelmed by applications if the change is not done properly (which is where we are now).
QCTO does not recognise that some of their overly bureaucratic admin processes slow them down, this was not addressed.
…while many complaints and comments were heard, no real discussion occurred. Meaning this was more about QCTO allowing the public to ‘vent’ before paying up, rather than inviting them to participate in this decision that they will be paying for.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC MADE DURING THE Q&A
There were comments about SMEs and auditors being unscrupulous and inconsistent when auditing SDPs.
There were many many complaints about QCTO not getting back to SDPs by email or answering their phones.
There were many many complaints about QCTO not keeping up with their turnaround time.
There were complaints about low quality learning material being the standard, and how this adds cost to applicaioins (to fix / improve it)
There were complaints that the QCTO proposed fees are too high and will favour the larger organisations and discriminate against the smaller ones, as well as favour govt / public sector over private.
There were complaints that QCTO has not considered that these costs will be passed on to the learner.
QCTO was informed that they are supposed to be assisting the previously disadvantaged, but instead this fee structure does the opposite.
QCTO was requested to show the KPIs that will be achieved now that fees are being charged, because SDPs want to be sure they are actually going to be getting something for their money.
More comments requesting some kind of proof that any value to the private SDP will come of this.
Comments that the Q&A was not fruitful, because while many complaints and comments were heard, no real discussion occurred. Meaning this was more about QCTO allowing the public to ‘vent’ before paying up, rather than inviting them to participate in this decision that they will be paying for.
