More than 4,200 students across Australia are now scrambling to prove the legitimacy of their care sector qualifications after the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) cancelled the registration of SPES Education Pty Ltd, a private training provider, citing critical non-compliance.
In a sweeping move with national ramifications, ASQA has begun issuing formal notices of intention to cancel qualifications awarded by SPES between 8 January 2024 and 17 May 2025.
The affected qualifications span crucial sectors including aged care, disability support, early childhood education, and community services—areas already grappling with workforce shortages.
SPES Education Pty Ltd (RTO 46018) was deregistered on 17 May 2025, with ASQA stating the provider failed to meet essential regulatory standards. A detailed investigation revealed that SPES:
- Lacked a robust assessment system meeting vocational training standards,
- Failed to conduct proper assessments before issuing certifications,
- Operated without qualified staff or necessary training resources,
- Did not ensure students had met the required learning outcomes or competencies.
“ASQA’s decision to cancel the registration was based on findings that SPES issued qualifications without ensuring students had satisfied all training and assessment requirements,” the authority said in a statement.
“Given the potential safety risks to students, workplaces, and vulnerable community members, urgent action was necessary.”
Among the qualifications under review are:
- CHC30121 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC33021 – Certificate III in Individual Support
- CHC43015 – Certificate IV in Ageing Support
- CHC43121 – Certificate IV in Disability Support
- CHC50121 – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC52021 – Diploma of Community Services
- CHC62015 – Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management
- ICT40120, ICT50220, ICT60220 – Certificate to Advanced Diploma of Information Technology
ASQA has urged all affected individuals to respond to their notice of intention before the deadline specified in their letter. Failure to do so could result in cancellation of their qualifications—leaving them unable to work in their trained professions.
In a formal letter to impacted students, ASQA has invited them to respond in writing to the notice of intent to cancel their qualifications.
The regulator emphasised the importance of including supporting documentation showing they received appropriate training and assessment from SPES Education. “ASQA invites you to provide a written response to this notice,” the letter reads.
“Your response should include reference to and copies of any supporting documentation and relevant information that demonstrates SPES Education provided you with the training and assessment necessary for the qualification(s) issued to you.”
Students must submit their response, using a unique reference number, by 7:00 PM AEST on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, via the official response form. ASQA warned that failure to respond by the deadline could result in automatic cancellation of the student’s qualification(s) without further notice.
If qualifications are cancelled, affected individuals will be formally notified and required to return their issued certificates to ASQA.
This development has cast uncertainty over the futures of thousands of students—many of whom have invested substantial time and money into gaining skills to contribute to Australia’s care and community service sectors. The scandal also raises wider concerns about quality assurance and oversight within the country’s private vocational education system.
This regulatory crackdown comes amid growing scrutiny of Australia’s private vocational education sector, where several providers have come under fire for compromising on quality and compliance in high-demand fields.
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