If you have been successful in becoming a Registered Training
Organisation, you are likely aware of how involved and time-consuming it can be
to maintain compliance with the VET Quality Framework or Australian Quality
Training Framework. RTO compliance support has become a highly demanded
service, and for good reason.
Time and time again, small institutions have underestimated
this process and have assumed that once RTO approval is earned, it is not
difficult to keep. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t the case, and many of these
businesses simply can’t satisfy the requirements. The fact is that
organisations need to allocate ample resources to this effort prior to and
throughout the time they are a RTO.
Part of this involves setting out policies and procedures
detailing the internal processes that will take place in line with the
respective training package, legislative instruments, assessment tools etc… The
Regulators conduct audits of RTO’s at various stages of the registration
period. Some RTOs are audited more often than others and this may relate to one
or a combination of reasons, for example, the RTO may have a high risk
qualification on scope, or the regulator has received complaints about the RTO.
The implementation of a rigorous Internal Audit process is highly
recommended and will help the RTO to ensure it provides a quality educational
experience for its students whilst maintaining compliance. It is generally
suggested that RTO’s conduct internal audits on a yearly basis and/or mini
audits to self assess the organisation according to the government standards,
the RTO policies, procedures and ensuring that intent is actioned. The
completion of internal audits makes it much easier to uncover non compliances
that may then be corrected in a timely manner. Conducting internal audits
demonstrates an institutions commitment to risk analysis and mitigation, which
is recognised by the registering authorities as a good quality assurance
practice.
A Professional Education Consultant will generally be able
to uncover numerous potential contraventions within the RTO; findings will be
presented in the audit report - for correction by the RTO prior to a regulators
audit. Education Consultants are able to offer services including audits,
regulator audit report review and analysis, scope increase, re-registration
advice, staff training, support for new RTOs registration, development of
policies, procedures and to guide rectifications.
