Cowboys and Cash Cows

As we enter our eleventh year and our third incarnation of the Cert IV TAA, I watch with concern a return to the dark days when the Cert IV became just a commodity, rather than the underpinning standard for quality training and assessment for our industry. There are a lot of new providers, which is great for consumers in terms of choice and access. However, if they come focusing on the “next cashcow” this can have a damaging affect on the overall brand of the qualification. Similarly if existing providers engage in a race to shortest, nastiest version of the program, the industry at large is in trouble. There is concern too from regulators, as they ponder a lost opportunity to compel providers to work in the spirit of the Training Package rather than bare minimums. And some recent research from the Australian Productivity Commission, points to a need to strengthen the program and the monitoring of those who conduct it. The Commission considers that there is “a need for more frequent and more intensive auditing processes governing the ability of an RTO to deliver the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.” Further to this, it recommends that State and territory regulators should “take early action to remedy this deficiency”. Perhaps this will be a legacy left for the forthcoming national VET regulator to tackle. At a wider level, outside of the TAA space, the saddling up of cowboys rustling up business in the training world is nothing new. There will always be those looking to make a “quick buck” and then ride off into the distance with their loot. However, I think we owe it two ourselves to be better than that. We should be seeking a strong and robust industry with high levels of customer care and a commitment to ongoing quality. We have the framework, we just need the resolve to honour it! The challenge is finding the right balance of commercial reality and educational integrity. Marc Ratcliffe CEO, MRWED Group Follow Me on twitter: @MRWED_CEO