I find it interesting that people continually question how they meet the requirements to undertake consultation within their RTO. In fact ASQA surveys have shown that 100% of the people surveyed were anxious about consultation within their RTO.
Basically you are needing to show the regulators that your RTO has evidence to support the way you have developed your training or learning and assessment strategy. You need to consult with industry to get your RTO scaffolding right, and then be able to demonstrate it. Don’t just say what you do, you need to demonstrate your consultation and the requirements of your stakeholders.
So what is consultation? Consultation, means gaining professional advice. Talking, seeking advice or discussing to gain opinions of your target groups. You get valuable information including how they best like to have the service delivered; blended learning or face to face, other required products or services, timeframes and course duration. Input …service…client …output
Consultation should be internal and external. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself to internal consultation only.
Consultation is seeking advice from industry, and you need to show the evidence; include meeting minutes, or other data collection. Include industry forums, RTO networks, clients, Outcomes of TNA, surveys, skills deficit evidence, why you selected the units, commenting on forums.
You need to be able to demonstrate the outcomes of meetings and the information collected. It is what you do with the information, the actions you take, based on the information you are received. If you can demonstrate that you are making a change because you have consulted with industry, the don’t forget to record it. so it is easily accessible when the auditor is asking to see it.
Engaging with stakeholders shows you have a framework around your RTO that demonstrates a solid business.
Any process to gain information and make informed decisions. Enhance the learning outcomes.
Validation with your clients ensures accuracy of the information, techniques using are right. It makes sure your promise, your commitment to your customer meets what you deliver.
Good representation of discussions with industry keeps your RTO business improving in the right way, with the right people and in the right time. When you get it right, you increase profits, when you get it wrong, your profits go wrong.
