Find answers to questions raised through VET Data Streamlining program showcases. Questions have been grouped by topic to make it easier to find the information relevant to you.
On this page:
Transition to VDS
Can an RTO submit notice that they are ready to transition from 1 October 2026 onwards?
The earliest an RTO may transition is 1 October 2026. However, this depends on the eligibility of the RTO and the readiness of its student management system. More information is available on the RTO transition journey page of the VET Information Standard website.
Will all RTOs move to the VET Information Standard regardless of whether they are early adopters? Or do they stay on AVETMISS 8 until they transition?
RTOs will continue reporting under the current AVETMISS arrangements until they transition to the VET Information Standard. They may proactively nominate a transition date or wait until mandatory transition for the 2029 reporting year.
Specific arrangements for state and territory submission pathways, including arrangements for passing fee-for-service data to NCVER, are still being confirmed. If an RTO reports funded data to an STA, it cannot transition any of its reporting until that STA is ready.
Will AVS be available until the end of the entire transition?
AVS will remain available to RTOs reporting under AVETMISS until the reporting windows for the 2028 reporting year close on 28 February 2029.
Does the information that needs to be reported all change on 1 October, or only when an organisation transitions?
Data reporting requirements change when the organisation transitions. Until transition, organisations should continue reporting in AVETMISS format using their current processes.
Our RTO receives funding from the Commonwealth. Are we considered not having an STA arrangement, and does its transition timeframe apply to us?
RTOs receiving Commonwealth funding are considered Stage 1 RTOs, unless they also have a specific reporting or funding arrangement with a state or territory.
Student management systems & technology
Do all SMS suppliers have access to the VET data system so they can develop and update their systems for RTOs?
All SMS suppliers can register for the VDS Developer Portal, where they can access technical resources for connecting to VDS APIs. RTOs that are unsure whether their supplier is involved are encouraged to contact the supplier directly.
Will STARS provide the data validation?
All data validation and submission will occur through the RTO’s student management system. Further information about the changes to validation is available on the Technology and systems page of the VET Information Standard website.
Do SMS suppliers need to build all the validation rules into their systems, or will SMS systems return validation errors from STARS, similar to how TCSI works?
All validation and submission will occur through the RTO’s SMS. The SMS will call validation services through the APIs to STARS. STARS will provisionally validate the data held in the SMS and will only accept the submission of validated data.
Which student management systems will be ready to support VDS Phase 1 from October? Do all suppliers know how they are designing their solutions to become VET Information Standard compliant?
RTOs need to contact their SMS supplier directly for information about the supplier’s timetable. The 1 October 2026 release will enable suppliers to complete the design and build activities needed to support reporting in the VET Information Standard format.
Would you expect disability types to be updated in student management systems from 1 October?
The program is supporting SMS suppliers with API updates that reflect the changes to Disability Type. RTOs will transition to version 2.0 of the VET Information Standard.
VET Information Standard & reporting
Are there URLs available for the new DPR and VET Information Standard websites?
The amended Data Provision Requirements information is available through the DEWR VET activity data page. The VET Information Standard is available through the new VET Information Standard website.
When will the AVETMISS-to-VET Information Standard mapping be published, and will it be final or draft?
The AVETMISS 8 to VET Information Standard mapping guide is available on the VET Information Standard website.
Disabilities are currently reported as two-digit codes that mostly match TCSI codes. What do RTOs need to report for this field in future?
Information about how data fields will be completed under the new reporting arrangements is available in the VET Information Standard.
Is the VET Information Standard available in a machine-readable or API-accessible form, or only through the interactive tool and printable PDF?
The VET Information Standard is published as an interactive tool and a downloadable PDF. The Developer Portal publishes APIs to help SMS suppliers build systems aligned with the Standard. This gives suppliers flexibility in how interfaces are presented to clients while maintaining alignment with the Standard’s requirements.
Why have you called a field “Student Status”?
“Student Status” is an essential part of the changes being made to AVETMISS. It enables reporting to focus on the student’s learning journey rather than progression through a qualification.
How will the “Student Status” field work if a student has been admitted to several courses? Will the student need to remain “enrolled” until they have finished everything they have ever enrolled in?
“Student Status” shows a student’s progress through an enrolment. It indicates registration, commencement, deferral, cancellation or completion of a Program, as well as commencement and completion of a subject.
A student enrolled in multiple subjects will have commenced their Program and commenced each relevant subject. Further reporting guidance is available on the VET Information Standard website.
What does the nominal hours page look like?
The Nationally agreed nominal hours page is available on the VET Information Standard website.
The acronym “VET IS” is similar to the acronym for VET in Schools. Will this be changed, or will there be two similar acronyms?
The program primarily uses the full term VET Information Standard. “VET IS” may occasionally be used where brevity is required on slides. For clarity, the VDS program will not use a variation of “VET IS” to refer to VET in Schools and will limit use of the acronym where possible.
For the VET Information Standard-to-AVETMISS 8 conversion, which VET Information Standard version will it support?
All versions of the VET Information Standard can be converted to AVETMISS 8.
States, territories & reporting pathways
For indirect states, is there a common technical interface that RTOs and SMS suppliers will use to submit to the state, or will each state define its own? Is indirect-pathway technical guidance coming?
Indirect states will develop their own SMS integration APIs and work with SMS suppliers to facilitate connections. Technical guidance will be made available as jurisdictional system development progresses.
For RTOs that deliver across multiple STAs, will they transition as each STA goes live, or will all STAs transition at once when the last STA goes live?
Guidance for RTOs that have arrangements with multiple STAs will be provided in the coming months.
We are not an RTO but report through the same system to DJSIR/ACFE. What does this mean for our transition?
Guidance for organisations that have arrangements with STAs will be provided in the coming months.
Technical resources & APIs
Are the API specifications available now, and is there a test system that can be used by RTOs with bespoke SMS solutions?
The VDS Developer Portal is available to SMS suppliers, including RTOs with bespoke SMS solutions. It provides access to technical resources for connecting to VDS APIs. Users can register through the How to access and connect to the Developer Portal page on the VET Information Standard website.
Other VET reporting & collections
Does this project include updates to the learner and employer engagement surveys?
The learner and employer engagement surveys are a separate initiative. Changes to those surveys are not within the scope of the VDS program.
Will VDS affect VET Student Loans data reporting?
The process for reporting VET Student Loans through the Tertiary Collection of Student Information, or TCSI, will not change because of the VDS program.
Are the showcase slides available after the meeting?
Yes. A copy of the slides and the showcase recording will be provided through the post-showcase email.
Is data from VET in Schools included in this reform?
The VET in Schools collection is not within the scope of the VDS program. Organisations must continue collecting VET in Schools data in accordance with the specifications in AVETMISS.
What about school-based RTOs that deliver to both school students and adults? Are they exempt or do they need to comply?
Although the VET in Schools collection is not in scope, activity reported through the VET Provider Collection will need to transition to the VET Information Standard format. VET in Schools data will continue to be collected in accordance with AVETMISS specifications.
The showcase mentioned that VET in Schools RTOs will be notified once elements are agreed. Agreed with whom, and will RTOs delivering to school students be consulted?
Consultation activities for any future changes to the VET in Schools collection will be designed later. More information will be shared when it is ready.