Here, we discuss some key things your RTO can do that will help you stay compliant.
1. Get Organised
We know… It seems fairly obvious, but running an RTO is complex. Without an organised and systematic approach, it’s likely that some things will simply fall through the cracks.
Fear not! There are free checklists and templates available to help keep you organised. Here are a couple:
2021 Obligation Checklist
ASQA have made it easier for RTOs to keep on top of their main reporting obligations with a downloadable 2021 Obligations Checklist.
On it you will find a reminder to keep your contact information up-to-date as well as key dates throughout the year for data collections.
You can download the checklist and find more information here.
1. Training and Assessment Strategy Template
ASQA’s Standards for RTOs outline the need for a Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS). ASQA states that, “Your RTO must develop a strategy for training and assessment for each training product you are registered to deliver.”
One of the main reasons an RTO requires a robust TAS is to avoid non-compliance with Standard 1. According to ASQA, this is one of the most common pitfalls for RTOs.
You can download a free Training and Assessment Strategy template here.
2. An Up-To-Date, Knowledgable Team
“You are only as good as your team.” – Dominique Wilkins
Mr. Wilkins may have been referring to professional basketball, but the sentiment remains.
A successful RTO will be dependent on each team member, from the Admin staff, to the trainers and assessors, all the way up to the senior executives. And if any member isn’t pulling their weight in terms of compliance obligations, it’s likely the entire organisation could suffer.
We held a recent webinar with Phill Bevan, Community Advisor, vetr, to discuss the importance of keeping VET professionals up-to-date with Professional Development. In a sector that’s so prone to change, keeping up with current standards is a must. You can read a summary of that discussion here.
ASQA have begun hosting regular webinars in an effort to educate and respond to those in the VET sector about relevant topics. They recently held a discussion about online learning and how to use EdTech to improve delivery methods. You can read about the key takeaways from that one here.
Many VET partners are also holding regular webinars that run from anywhere between 30 minutes, to several hours over the course of many days. For a comprehensive overview of some of the upcoming VET webinar topics, click here.
3. Consider Leveraging the Value From Online Software
In 2020 there was a huge upsurge in companies implementing software solutions to solve the problem that lockdowns and remote working caused. However, Phill Bevan stated, “You need to adjust your operation, but you cannot affect the quality of the training and assessment that you’re delivering against the unit requirements.”
With this in mind, it’s wise to take a step back and look at your learning management system and ask, is this fit-for-purpose?
You can measure this by student and team satisfaction and how well you are able to scale based upon the systems and processes you have enabled as part of your software.
This diagram shows the stages of digital transformation:
Ultimately, a fit-for-purose solution will bring the best value. You will be able to scale up and down as you please, effortlessly retain and retrieve records, streamline your process and provide an accessible platform for everyone.
You need to look for specific features that enable your compliance requirements, like Mapping, to ensure you have covered all the criteria of a unit. In addition ask yourself, what value can be extracted from the system in the form of reports and insights to maintain your obligations for continuous improvement? Cloud Assess have a solution called Quality Checks that allows administrators to moderate assessment outcomes to ensure the Principle of Assessment Reliability is adhered to.
Selecting a solution that has your compliance requirements at its core is going to support you in the long run and help you rest easy come audit time.
Source:
https://www.asqa.gov.au/resources/publications/2021-rto-obligations-checklist
