Prativa Shrestha
April 4, 2019
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and Australia Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) have collectively decided that Registered Training Organisations (RTO) delivering Diploma of Nursing (HLT54115) are required to submit application to ANMAC for accreditation of the program prior to applying to ASQA.
ANMAC has stated, “When accreditation is granted by ANMAC it will be conditional on the qualification being added to the RTO’s scope of delivery.”
The latest update to the accreditation process will ensure that RTOs cannot enroll students for Diploma of Nursing program without getting accreditation from ANMAC.
This step by ASQA and ANMAC has been welcomed by Council of International Students Australia (CISA). CISA National President, Bijay Sapkota, said, “This development will prevent thousands of students’ careers from being at jeopardy in the future. We wholeheartedly welcome this initiation for the advancement of International students and VET sector in Australia.”
A press release by CISA has mentioned that after their multiple inquiries with ASQA, they have come to know that ASQA is reviewing any provider that is registered to deliver the Diploma of Nursing qualification but does not hold ANMAC accreditation, to assess how each provider meets the requirements of the VET standards.
The announcement has come after the revelation that some of the Australian RTOs, without accreditation and approval from ANMAC and NMBA, were misleading international nursing students. Students were misinformed that they would get registered as enrolled nurse after the completion of unaccredited program.
The revelation created a huge uproar in international students circle in Australia and in Nepal. A majority of affected students were Nepali. The issue was even raised in the Parliament of Nepal by the members. The Education Ministry of Nepal issued a notice that an investigation committee was formed to review the case of AIBT and would publish a report. Additionally, the Ministry stopped issuing No Objection Certificate (NOC) for AIBT until further notice.
Nepali authorities in Australia after consultation recommended Government of Nepal to arrange pre-departure information session or test before issuing NOC to students.
Nepali students in a hope to get quality education and degree prefer Australia as their destination. But the authorities in Nepal are concerned that it is sending Nepali savings outside the country for VET courses which are available in Nepal with cheaper fees. This has resulted in authorities discussing whether to tighten issuing NOC to students for VET courses outside Nepal. Without the NOC, students will not be able to get admission overseas.
