National Quality Council

The National Quality Council (NQC) was established in December 2005 as part of the new national training arrangements.  The NQC continues much of the work carried out by the former National Training Quality Council (NTQC) and met for the first time in March 2006.

As a Committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, the NQC oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers.

It has specific decision-making powers in relation to the endorsement of Training Packages and other aspects of quality assurance under the National Skills Framework. 

The NQC has a key role in bringing together the major players in the vocational and technical education sector - industry, unions, governments, equity groups and practitioners - to oversee and support the current and future quality of vocational and technical education across Australia.  It is also critical to ensuring the successful operation of the National Skills Framework – the system’s requirements for quality and national consistency in terms of qualifications and the delivery of training.

The functions of the NQC include:

• reporting to the Ministerial Council on the operation of the National Skills Framework, including Training Packages, Australian Quality Training Framework standards and other quality assurance arrangements
• advising Ministers on the endorsement of Training Packages, and
• recommending approaches to improve national consistency within the operation of the National Skills Framework.

Accountability requirements for the NQC include provision of an annual report on its operations to the Ministerial Council.

The NQC’s Charter    (37.1 KB) was endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education on 18 November 2005.  The Charter outlines the Council’s terms of reference and also provides details on membership and appointment procedures.

During 2006, the membership of the NQC will be as per previous NTQC membership supplemented by two provider representatives, one public and one private, nominated by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and TAFE Directors Australia respectively.

From 2007, the membership of the National Quality Council will be:

• an independent Chair, appointed by the Australian Government following consultation with the Ministerial Council;
• seven industry representatives and an ACTU representative, nominated by the National Industry Skills Committee;
• a representative from each State and Territory and the Australian Government, appointed by their own Government;
• two provider representatives, one public and one private, nominated by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and TAFE Directors Australia and appointed by the Australian Government following consultation with the Ministerial Council; and
• two equity representatives, one for Indigenous Australians and one for people with a disability, nominated by States and Territories, and drawn from the State and Territory advisory networks.

The current members of the NQC are:

Chair
Stella Axarlis, AM	Industry
Members
Mary Hicks	Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gary Collins	Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
Megan Lilly	Australian Industry Group
Patrick Coleman	Business Council of Australia
Ralph Luetton	National Farmers’ Federation
David Collins	NSW Department of Education and Training
Patricia Neden	Office of Training and Tertiary Education, VIC
To be advised	Department of Employment and Training, QLD
Mary Ballantine	WA Department of Education and Training
Christine Haines	Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, SA
Mike Brough	Office of Post Compulsory Education and Training, TAS
Anne Houghton	ACT Department of Education and Training
John Hassed	Department of Employment, Education and Training, NT
Rebecca Cross	Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training
Pat Forward	Australian Council of Trade Unions representative
Pam Gill	Equity representative
Julie Moss	Australian Council for Private Education and Training
To be advised	TAFE Directors Australia

The outcomes of the March meeting can be found in the official communiqué    (17.0 KB).

As a Committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, the NQC oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers.

It has specific decision-making powers in relation to the endorsement of Training Packages and other aspects of quality assurance under the National Skills Framework. 

The NQC has a key role in bringing together the major players in the vocational and technical education sector - industry, unions, governments, equity groups and practitioners - to oversee and support the current and future quality of vocational and technical education across Australia.  It is also critical to ensuring the successful operation of the National Skills Framework – the system’s requirements for quality and national consistency in terms of qualifications and the delivery of training.

The Council seeks to strengthen relationships with its key stakeholders by providing relevant news and updates on progress of work being undertaken by the Council.

• Quality Council Focus - Issue 1    (122.5 KB)
• Quality Council Focus - Issue 2    (145.9 KB)

On 17 March 2005, the National Training Quality Council (now the National Quality Council) considered a report  (408.5 KB) into a national strategic audit of training in the hospitality industry.

The national strategic audit steering committee included representatives from each state and territory registering/course accrediting body, the Services Industry Skills Council (Service Skills Australia), the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Department of Education, Science and Training.

This is only the second time a national strategic audit has been carried out in relation to training in a particular industry with the first in 2004, being the transport industry.

For more information on the National Quality Council, please visit http://www.atpl.net.au/nqc