RTO Compliance and The Importance of Quality Auditing

Is your RTO Compliance Officer quality assured?

RTO compliance puts an ever-increasing but necessary demand on administration resources. To solve this need, many RTOs will have a dedicated RTO Compliance Officer on staff whose role it is to maintain the required policies, procedures and reporting standards. RTOs (or Registered Training Organisations) are recognised as providers of quality-assured and nationally recognised training and qualifications. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) reports around 5000 RTOs currently registered in Australia.

Reputable RTOs understand that quality is one area that should always be in constant review. A qualification in quality auditing is a distinct advantage for candidates looking to secure a position in course design, administration or compliance within an RTO.

RTOs are selling and delivering training in a highly competitive market and by definition, an RTO must provide quality-assured training. As such, an RTO must compete to stand out in the market based on a reputation for quality delivery, quality products, and quality student outcomes.

Unfortunately, all too often compliance does not occur and an RTO will lose registration or close their doors due to poor reputation, lack of sales or mismanagement of resources.

An understanding of quality auditing can provide the checks and standards to prevent unnecessary failure and assist to bring more success to reputable RTOs.

Who Benefits from a Quality Auditing Qualification?

• Compliance officers benefit from achieving a nationally recognised Diploma of Quality Auditing and can apply their learning on the job as they study.
• Anyone interested in starting an RTO would be wise to have a fundamental understanding of quality auditing and basic project management. Modules can be completed part-time as part of responsible business planning.
• Existing RTO owners wishing to grow their business need to maintain compliance when making decisions and ensure no loss of productivity while expanding.
• RTO course design must follow standards set by governing bodies such as VET and ASQA. Trainers who are designing and delivering training will benefit from having the knowledge of how to apply an auditing mindset and quality processes.

The importance of an RTO Compliance Officer

Meeting RTO compliance standards is necessary for these situations:

• For proving re-registration requirements
• When changing the scope of registration
• To add new accredited courses or units of competency
• For demonstrating robust governance and administration

An RTO Compliance Officer will conduct regular quality audits. This is a vital role within an RTO and will substantially contribute to the ongoing viability of the business. The Officer will often implement a quality plan first, then check for:

• Adherence to applicable laws and standards
• Procedures are being followed throughout the RTO
• Continued opportunities to improve quality

Ongoing quality audits will include:

• Assessment of good and best practices being implemented in the organisation
• Reporting on any non-conformities, shortcoming and gaps
• How to continue the good practices found within the organisation
• Recommendations to improve the implementation of different processes to raise productivity

Using Outsourcing vs. Inhouse Skills

RTO consulting services exist to assist new RTO registrations and provide ongoing compliance for existing RTOs. However, outsourcing all compliance to an external company can be costly. Therfore, more RTOs are either:

• upskilling existing staff with cost-effective diploma qualifications in Quality Auditing, or
• looking to add people with this qualification to their staff.

Keeping your attention on quality will ultimately ensure that you gain an advantage for your career and your RTO.