Recent surveys in the VET sector showed that 100% of people surveyed were anxious about consultation. So does this mean that 100% of people are worried about talking to others. Or are 100% of people surveyed worried that they don’t have appropriate evidence when it comes to the audit.
Either way, it is a frightening thought.
RTOs need to have evidence to support the view you take. Don’t say what you do, demonstrate your consultation.
Embed it in your processes, people, process and practice.
Embed into every task your staff do. Then describe or record it somewhere.
Describe:
- People – who is doing it, who is involved,
- Process – how, what, when. How will you meet the client needs, the learner needs
- Practice – the ways and methods it will be done
Consultation, means gaining professional advice. It includes talking to people, discussing different ways of training, assessing, delivery methods, gaining opinions of your target groups, preparing strategies for your RTO, preparing or refining your service offering, products services.
A tip in recording your consultation is to buy yourself a new diary. Every time you have a meeting with clients, industry or stakeholders record it in your diary in the day you met them. This way you are recording the names, dates, location and meeting points for future reference. It might mean you carry around tow diaries, but it works and auditors love it.
Remember you need to act upon the notes you record. So when there is an action item, record it in your CI register.
When you get your consultation right you benefit from picking up errors before your client does, you save face, and improve your consumer engagement.
Good representation within your industry keeps your RTO business improving in the right ways, with the right people and the right time.