The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has joined the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, marking an important step to improved information and intelligence-sharing relationships with other government agencies.
The Fraud Fusion Taskforce, a partnership between the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Services Australia and other government agencies, is improving how government agencies work together to quickly detect, resolve and prevent fraud and serious organised crime in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and other government programs.
ASQA CEO Saxon Rice said ASQA - the national regulator for vocational education and training - will be able to more readily share and receive intelligence and information with partner agencies through to membership of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, and coordinate actions with other agencies.
"We certainly welcome formally joining this taskforce, and we have some significant investigations underway," Ms Rice said.
"Among the cases ASQA is currently investigating are reports of alleged non-genuine training certificates issued by a non-registered training provider - which investigators executed a warrant in relation to at a premises in Melbourne last week."
Investigators from ASQA were supported by other agencies, including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the Australian Taxation Office, in executing this warrant, while the NDIA also undertook complementary actions. The investigation is continuing.
"We take very seriously any allegations relating to the integrity of VET qualifications, and won't hesitate to use all the powers at our disposal to protect students and the wider public," Ms Rice said.
In October 2023, the Australian Government announced an investment of $33.3 million over 3 years in ASQA's compliance, investigative and enforcement capabilities to strengthen its response to integrity issues in the VET sector. This included boosting its capacity to undertake information and intelligence-sharing activities across government and the creation of a VET tip-off line.
Since it launched, ASQA's tip-off line has received more than 1,300 tip-offs. It is providing actionable intelligence for further regulatory or compliance activities, and giving current and former students, staff and other potential whistleblowers the opportunity to report, anonymously if they wish, alleged illegal and serious non-compliance activity.
