The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is revising the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (the Standards) with the aim of providing greater clarity for RTOs and regulators, strengthening the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers, and allowing for more flexibility and innovation in training delivery.
In May 2024, Skills and Workforce Ministers agreed to progress the Standards for public release in August 2024 and for them to come into full regulatory effect from 1 July 2025.
The draft revised Standards propose significant changes to the structure and content of the Standards, providing a clearer and more direct link between the requirements RTOs are expected to meet and the outcomes they are expected to deliver. The draft revised Standards also include monitoring and evaluation of RTO practices and strengthened requirements relating to continuous improvement. Quality outcomes and sustained compliance with the Standards are achieved when RTOs systematically monitor and evaluate their performance and continuously improve. This aligns with moving the sector towards self-assurance.
The draft revised Standards released by DEWR on 16 October 2023 were refined in preparation for piloting. Initial piloting was conducted by DEWR in late 2023 to test the practical interpretation of the draft revised Standards to ensure they will support effective regulation.
Further engagement and testing activities will be undertaken by ASQA after the Standards are publicly released in August 2024.
ASQA will conduct additional pilot activities after the revised Standards are finalised and released.
You can read more about the revision of the Standards for RTOs on the DEWR website under Quality Reforms.
You can also stay up to date with ASQA’s plans on our Preparing for implementation of revised Standards webpage.