Specialising in higher education accreditation and quality assurance frameworks

Helen Lawrance Consulting is client focused, ethical and works with a high level of integrity. Attention to detail is provided for all work whilst completing assignments quickly and efficiently, and providing a value for money service that is flexible to work within clients’ needs. Helen works with clients in a polite, honest and respectful manner so that recommendations are well understood and outcomes can be negotiated to suit diverse circumstances, resulting in high quality applications and processes.

Helen successfully assists non-self accrediting institutes of higher education (IOHEs) in Australia to meet the Threshold Standards by assisting with applications for renewal of registration and accreditation, and  applying for initial registration and accreditation. 

Helen enjoys assisting IOHEs to implement continuous improvement and strategic planning processes, and enhance teaching and learning so that organisations can reach their goals. Some examples of specific project assistance are:

• developing learning and teaching plans for various education fields that incorporates scholarly activities

• integrating risk management plans into business planning to help businesses meet strategic objectives and take advantage of opportunities

• translating vocational education policies to be appropriate for higher education 

Background

Helen has built a unique set of skills and experience over more than 25 years in the higher education sector due to the diversity of her roles. These skills have been gained from: 

• working in university faculties to fully understand policy and operational requirements

• development of policies for management of seven undergraduate and four postgraduate university programs, including the development of new courses at The University of Queensland

• managing accreditation regulatory requirements for HEPs under the former state-based accreditation regulation, including management of academic assessment panels

• undergoing audits from the former Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) to understand quality systems 

• developing the first agency-based higher education provider integrated quality and compliance audit in Australia for higher education providers under the HESA Act

• developing and implementing of the first risk management strategy in Australia for managing risk and streamlining reaccreditation for non self-accrediting institutions in Queensland

• preparing significant amendments to legislation (100 pages) which resulted in the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2008 being passed by Queensland Cabinet on 1 May 2008 to implement the [former] National Protocols

• reforms to reduce regulatory burden under the Queensland Compact by removing duplication of assessment for human services NGOs. 

Papers

Integrating Fitness for Purpose and Fitness of Purpose Auditing Models: An Integrated Quality Audit and Reaccreditation Process - Sharing of Good Practices in Quality Assurance - QA Bodies, Asia Pacific Quality Network (Malaysia), Helen Lawrance, January 2006.

Fitness for Purpose and Fitness of Purpose Auditing Models: AUQA Audit and an Integrated Quality Audit and Reaccreditation Process (Sharing of Good Practices in Quality Assurance - QA Bodies), Helen Lawrance and Rob Carmichael (AUQA-Australian Universities Quality Agency), March 2006. 

Organisation and Employee Value Congruence, Commitment, and Organisational Effectiveness: A Study of [xxx - confidential] Australia, Dr John Schmuttermaier, 2004 (research consultant for this paper)