15 Days till NVR: Setting the Scene, Questions & Comments

And the countdown begins! 
On 1/7/11 Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will become the (first) national regulator for Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector. This is exciting and is one of the most major reforms since the late 1990s.

First, I have to make a confession. I LOVE 'VET'
(Vocational Education and Training). In the whole, huge and broad education/ learning/ training sector or family, VET really is my favourite! I do feel a bit uncomfortable or disloyal saying that.
I also love primary / elementary education. For me, that is like 'a first love'. It is where my teaching and love of helping others to love learning began.
I also love, embrace and I 'am' ... life long, informal, independent learning.
I acknowledge and support high school education and I am immensely grateful for and indebted to University Education.
But just like a parent shouldn't have favourites (and to my children I do NOT have favourites!) ... I know all learning is wonderful and/but there is just something so special and unique about VET that having been introduced to it later in life, I just can't help the way my heart feels and how much I am drawn to it. (note to self – need to do a post on why I love VET so much!)
Anyway, the point is - VET is my passion. I am one of its strongest supporters. I see and celebrate all of its unique, productive, worthwhile and just captivating and wonderful qualities. I would never say anything 'against' VET nor would I ever want to be seen as undermining it.
So overall I am excited, optimist and positive about 'our VET's' exciting new (further) journey into 'nationalism' with the ASQA. Secondly, I have another confession.

I am not a 'first cab off the ranks!'. Queensland, (my registration State as an RTO) will be "transfer(ed) to ASQA later in 2011, at dates currently being negotiated".

And as we all know, this 'NATIONAL SYSTEM' will not exactly include all RTOs from Victoria and West Australia (unless your are scoped to training and / or assess in more than just one State and / or have international students) ... deep breath ... and /but ... putting aside all of that for a moment .... we do know NSW, ACT, NT are (officially) beginning the journey on the 1/7/11!

So with only 15 days to go before your (and our) launch: there are just a couple of questions for which, I still don't quite have the answers. (I assume maybe RTOs in NSW, ACT, NT DO know this .. so can you please let the rest of know)

Ok in the countdown I will try (but I can't guarantee) to ask just one question a day ... (I actually already have more than 25 questions – BUT I think many of these might be able to be condensed!)

I might also use this forum to make comments as well as ask questions!

If you are interested in all things VET, especially as we take this bold new journey, please add your comments and questions as well.

And so to the countdown! How exciting is this ...