In the first six months since its establishment, the VET tip-off line has received more than 1300 tip-offs, and more than half of all tip-offs relate directly to Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) providers, according to an Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) spokesperson.
An ASQA spokesperson also confirmed that more than half of the tip-offs have provided actionable intelligence, and in more than 300 cases it has led directly to some form of compliance activity or investigation.
ASQA’s Regulation Report for 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024 identifies that the top three concerns reported to the tip-off line related to non-compliance, falsification of student records and academic cheating.
The top risk priorities reported are academic integrity, governance through change and international delivery.
The tip-off line was set up at the start of October 2023 as part of the Australian Government’s $37.8m investment in strengthening integrity in the VET sector, to prevent and disrupt illegal behaviour and the exploitation of vulnerable students. An Integrity Unit was also established in January this year as part of this initiative.
The tip-off line provides a safe and confidential avenue for current and former students, staff and other potential whistleblowers (such as homestay hosts and employers of international students) to report, anonymously if they wish, alleged illegal and serious non-compliance activity.
From 4 October 2023 to 31 March 2024 a total of 1339 tip-offs have been received.
