Queensland commits to “stamping out dodgy training providers” as part of crack down

Freya Lucas

Aug 03, 2020

Save

The Queensland Government has announced that the provision of quality training for the state’s residents, including those pursuing early childhood education and care (ECEC) qualifications, remains an ongoing priority, and that it “won’t hesitate to take action against dodgy providers”.

State Government funding for private registered training providers (RTOs) has experienced significant drops over the last four years, shifting from almost 720 providers being funded four years ago to 460 today.

Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman outlined that in the last 12 months alone, funding agreements have been terminated for 60 Queensland providers, pulling no punches when she stated “anyone who doesn’t measure up will lose their ability to access public funding”. “Quality training for Queenslanders is a top priority for the Palaszczuk Government – and we won’t hesitate to take action against dodgy providers,” Ms Fentiman said, adding that all complaints received by the Department “are taken seriously”.

A new Skills Assure program was introduced by the Queensland Government this year, Ms Fentiman said, which proactively audits every training provider in Queensland to ensure they meet strict standards.

Complaints of fraud from RTOs are referred to police, with three matters of suspected fraud the subject of ongoing investigation relating to activities over the past two years.

“We also refer any complaints about registered training organisations to the Australian Skills Quality Skills Authority (ASQA) as the federal government is responsible for the overall regulation of the training sector,” Ms Fentiman outlined.

The Training Ombudsman will continue to work with ASQA and other regulatory bodies to ensure complaints about bait advertising are thoroughly investigated.

For more information about the compliance measures for Queensland based RTOs, please see here.

Don’t miss a thing

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

More than 100 regulatory officers conducted unannounced inspections at over 220 early learning services in a single-day compliance operation, as the NSW Early Learning Commission intensifies oversight across the sector.

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

In February the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal handled two separate disciplinary proceedings brought by the CEO of the Department of Communities against out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) providers. Both cases highlight critical failures in active supervision, particularly concerning highly vulnerable children diagnosed with autism who managed to wander away from their respective services unnoticed.

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

As workforce pressures continue to shape early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy discussions in Australia, international comparisons provide useful perspectives. Canada’s approach, particularly in Ontario, offers a case study in how educator-to-child ratios, maximum group sizes and qualification requirements can be legislated as an integrated framework.

National Early Childhood Worker Register: commencing 27 February 2026

The introduction of the National Early Childhood Worker Register from the 27 February, has signalled a significant shift in workforce oversight across early childhood education and care (ECEC).

Regulation 168: do you understand your leadership responsibilities

Regulation 168 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations is not a policy checklist. For approved providers and nominated supervisors, it is a test of governance capability, risk oversight and leadership influence. The critical question is not whether policies exist, it is whether leadership understands how to review, embed and monitor them effectively.

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

National Early Childhood Worker Register: commencing 27 February 2026

The introduction of the National Early Childhood Worker Register from the 27 February, has signalled a significant shift in workforce oversight across early childhood education and care (ECEC).