VRQA Board meetings are held 6 times a year. An outline of what is discussed in VRQA Board meetings is published after each meeting.
2024
The Board met on 8 February 2024, with a mixture of in-person and remote attendees. In-person attendees met on Wurundjeri lands in Naarm (Melbourne), at the Monash Conference Centre. This communiqué highlights key discussions and considerations from the meeting.
The Board approved publication of the 2023 Client and Stakeholder Research Report in full.
Members discussed in detail results from participants in the three school sectors (Catholic, government and independent) and the expanded apprentice, trainee and employer component of the 2023 report.
Members congratulated staff for generally high satisfaction and effectiveness results and discussed plans for the annual stakeholder breakfast event to be held in May 2024. The Board discussed other ways to increase their visibility to duty holders, with an action to review the current Board calendar of events.
The Board discussed potential apprenticeship regulation education, channels and branding options for the VRQA and noted that reforms to better serve Victoria’s apprentices and trainees are under consideration by the Apprenticeship Taskforce.
VRQA staff provided an update on work done to register schools that recently opened for the 2024 school year. Members asked that the Board's appreciation be passed on to relevant staff.
VRQA staff briefed members on a range of legal and regulatory matters.
The Board met on 4 April 2024, with a mixture of in-person and remote attendees. In-person attendees met on Wurundjeri lands in Naarm (Melbourne), at 35 Collins Street. This communiqué highlights key discussions and considerations from the meeting.
Members considered and approved revised charters and 2024 workplans for the three Board subcommittees (Audit and Risk Management, Compliance and Quality, Vocational Education and Training).
The Chair, Apprenticeship Taskforce, provided a presentation to the Board.
The Board approved:
- the draft VRQA-Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Memorandum of Understanding, subject to final amendments.
- further reforms to the VRQA Vocational Education and Training Course Accreditation process
The Board discussed the recent publication of the BuildUP Report on Women Apprentices in the Building and Construction industry.
VRQA staff briefed members on a range of legal and regulatory matters.
The Board met on 6 June 2024 for its annual planning day and Board meeting. The meeting was held on Wurundjeri lands in Naarm (Melbourne), at the RACV Club, 501 Bourke St. This communiqué highlights key discussions and considerations from the meeting.
The Board welcomed special guest Ms Stefanie Veal, who commences as Chief Executive Officer on 17 June 2024.
Ms Veal provided an overview of her previous work as VRQA Deputy CEO and her recent experience as Chief Education and Integrity Officer at the Victorian Catholic Education Authority.
At the annual planning day session, Board members discussed in detail current and emerging risks and ideas to increase the VRQA’s effectiveness across its major regulatory sectors – schools, apprenticeships and traineeships, home schooling, and vocational education and training.
At the regular Board meeting, members discussed school regulatory matters and actions to identify and address possible cases of unregistered schools.
Members considered and approved the report of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Management briefed members on a range of legal and regulatory matters.
The Board met on 1 August 2024, with a mixture of in-person and remote attendees. In-person attendees met on Wurundjeri lands in Naarm (Melbourne). This communiqué highlights key discussions and considerations from the meeting.
Members noted matters considered at the recent meetings of the Compliance and Quality Board Subcommittee and Apprenticeships and Skills Compliance and Quality Board Subcommittee.
The Secretary, Department of Education attended and engaged in discussion with members about priorities for the next 12 months, the VRQA’s role in supporting government directions across the sectors it regulates, and opportunities for the department and VRQA to work together to improve student safety and outcomes.
The Board discussed key governance, annual and corporate reporting matters including CEO performance, the 2023–24 VRQA Report of Operations, and the annual Child Safe Standards monitoring data to be provided to the Commission for Children and Young People.
The Board met on 3 October 2024, with a mixture of in-person and remote attendees. In-person attendees met on Wurundjeri lands in Naarm (Melbourne), at 35 Collins Street. This communiqué highlights key discussions and considerations from the meeting.
Members noted matters considered at the recent meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee. The Board approved the VRQA Annual Report 2023–24 and the signing of the VRQA Financial Management Act Compliance Attestation through an out-of-session process. The Annual Report was submitted to VAGO, and the VRQA has received its closing report and an unmodified audit opinion dated 23 September 2024
2025 Board and Subcommittee proposed meeting dates were distributed.
The Chief Financial Officer, Department of Education attended and engaged in discussion with members about the portfolio’s financial arrangements and governance under the Financial Management Act 1994.
The Deputy Secretary and Executive Director, Skills & Employment, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions along with the A/Assistant Deputy Secretary, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce, Department of Education (DE) attended the meeting for a discussion with members on the Apprenticeships Taskforce Report and government response. The Board noted the timelines for recommendations relating to regulatory reforms.
Members also discussed outcomes of its Board Planning Day, legal and regulatory matters, and the Delegations Report for July and August.
The results of the Victorian Public Sector (VPS) People Matter Survey results for 2024 were noted.
The Board will meet 5 December 2024.
Updated