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VET Data Streamlining is a key national initiative aimed at simplifying how Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) collect, report, and share training activity data. As reporting requirements evolve, the focus is shifting toward improving data quality, reducing duplication, and creating a more efficient and sustainable compliance environment for the VET sector.
The VET Information Standard replaces AVETMISS as the national standard for reporting VET activity in Australia. It’s part of the VET Data Streamlining (VDS) program, and RTOs will report through NCVER’s STARS system at least quarterly rather than once a year. Every RTO needs to be reporting under the new standard by 1 January 2029, and your student management system (SMS) must support it before you transition. This article explains what’s changing, when it applies to your RTO, and how aXcelerate is preparing.
At aXcelerate, we have been heavily involved in the VET Data Streamlining process and broader conversations around the national VET data standard, ensuring that reform is informed by real-world RTO operations.
VET Data Streamlining is a coordinated effort to improve the way vocational education and training data is managed across Australia. It aims to reduce repetitive reporting, improve consistency in data submissions, and support better use of VET data by government, regulators, and industry bodies.
A central component of this work is the national VET data standard, which defines how training activity data is structured and exchanged between systems. Updates to this standard are designed to improve data accuracy and interoperability without increasing the reporting burden on RTOs.
For RTOs, effective VET Data Streamlining means:
aXcelerate has been strongly involved in VET Data Streamlining discussions, consultations, and sector engagement activities.
As a student and learning management system used daily by RTOs across Australia, we see firsthand how data standards and reporting requirements affect training delivery, compliance, and administration. That insight allows us to actively contribute to reform by providing practical, system-informed feedback on how proposed changes will impact RTO workflows.
Our involvement focuses on ensuring that:
DEWR encourages RTOs to ask their student management system supplier a set of questions about readiness for the VET Information Standard. Here are aXcelerate's answers.
Yes. aXcelerate has been engaged with the VDS program since its inception, attending program showcases and holding one-on-one consultations with DEWR and NCVER. aXcelerate participates in all levels of VDS program activities, providing feedback and collaborating across all available forums.
Yes. aXcelerate's developer team has been involved with the VDS Developer Portal since its initial release, and we have reviewed the documentation relevant to the VDS project, including the SMS transition checklist.
aXcelerate is actively developing an evolving solution, aiming to release in line with DEWR's own release timelines and reporting windows. Solutions will be made available to each segment as they become ready.
As the solution develops, aXcelerate will document each key milestone and provide training and upskilling support for clients as needed.
aXcelerate will make the transition as smooth as possible, with minimal extra effort required from clients. New functionality will be introduced over time, and this will continue to improve as more of the STARS platform becomes available.
Yes. aXcelerate will fully support configuration of machine-to-machine credentials as part of a guided onboarding experience.
The transition to the new reporting standard will be an onboarding process that aXcelerate works through directly with each client.
aXcelerate will work with industry leaders as the new export and import standard develops. In the interim, NAT files remain the standard, and aXcelerate will continue to support exporting and importing data as needed.
As VET Data Streamlining initiatives progress, aXcelerate’s priority is turning policy and standards into practical system support.
This includes:
Our goal is to help RTOs remain compliant, audit-ready, and future-focused – without adding unnecessary complexity.
At aXcelerate Day 2024, we were pleased to host the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), who presented on “The National VET Data Standard – Future Changes”.
This session gave RTOs valuable insight into upcoming developments in VET data reporting, including the rationale behind proposed changes and how they may affect future submissions. By hearing directly from NCVER, clients were able to better understand the direction of national data reform and prepare for what lies ahead.
We believe this type of early visibility and education is critical to successful sector-wide change.
We were also pleased to have both NCVER and ASQA exhibiting at aXcelerate Day, giving RTOs the opportunity to engage with the regulator in a broader sector forum.
Events like these help connect regulators, data bodies, technology providers, and RTOs – supporting shared understanding and smoother adoption of regulatory and data changes.
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The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) exhibited and presented at aXcelerate Day 2026, giving RTOs the chance to hear directly from the department leading VET Data Streamlining and to raise questions in person.
Bringing regulators, data bodies and the department into the same room as RTOs and their technology provider supports shared understanding as reporting requirements change.
VET Data Streamlining represents a positive step toward a more connected, efficient, and sustainable compliance environment for the VET sector.
aXcelerate remains committed to being actively involved in this work and supporting RTOs through change with clear information, practical tools, and system-led solutions that reflect real operational needs.
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Satisfaction with VET overall relies strongly on satisfaction with teaching quality, which is continuously being improved by the sector. Here’s a breakdown of NCVER's key findings.
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an extraordinary year of transformation, innovation and partnership within the aXcelerate community.
