Are your Training and Assessment Strategies costing you money?

Are your RTO strategies costing you money by not being compliant with the RTO Standards? Time and time again I see common mistakes in the training and assessment strategies (TAS) developed by RTOs. A good TAS is an extremely important document within your RTO, from both audit and strategic business planning perspectives, I have highlighted the most common areas that need to be reviewed. This information is not just restricted to my findings; Regulators are reporting that VET providers do not place an emphasis on the above standard, so it is remaining as a non-compliance.

These tips are for RTOs across Australia, regardless of who they are registered with, whether they deliver qualifications or just units of competency and the industry area.

Below are 8 costly mistakes for learning and assessment strategies

1. One size fits all
2. No consultation
3. Not specific to training package requirements: qualification/units of competency
4. Not flexible with options for electives
5. Not specific in relation to delivery at different sites.
6. No mention of specific trainer and assessor show can deliver the qualification / units
7. The tools/ resources you will use and how they have been validated
8. In sufficient information on support provided to the student for entry into and completion of the program

Remedies

1. One size fits all – make sure you have a strategy for each program, and each different location you present the program.  The location means online, on site, in a workshop, in a classroom. For each of these locations it is likely you will need different resources, learning plan or assessment plan. Therefore it is important to have these spelled out.
2. Industry consultation can occur in different forms I have found that face to face meetings are the most successful and can be beneficial in eliciting very helpful and often surprising feedback. It doesn’t matter if you are planning to put a new qualification / course on scope or you are improving your existing course/ qualification. Meeting with your intended industry is a beneficial way of developing training that actually meets their needs. You never know, you might even find a new client who raves about you to others!
3. Check your packaging rules, then have someone else check them again. Make sure the electives can be used, and you have enough.
4. When offering a qualification, make sure you have some alternative electives the students can select. The RTO must provide a flexible service and NOT dictate the electives to the student. Remember the units you include must have associated training and assessment resources.
5. Make it specific. Client groups will have different learning needs. You might be delivering in different sites (on-site, in a workshop, in the classroom, online), describe them all and how you will do it. The operational requirements of clients or changes to legislation or regulation may also have an effect on your strategy.
6. Nominate your trainers/ assessors against each unit. Be able to show their vocational competence and experience.
7. Tools and resources are key to the learning experience and sometimes to your assessment. These need to be detailed and sometimes supported with other checklists that are used during the course.
8. Support  is often neglected, and RTOs usually have it written in the student handbook, or the procedures, they just haven’t said anything about it in the strategy. Make sure it is detailed, and perhaps a reference to where further information can be found.

A good TAS helps you to plan and document key aspects of your program such as what it includes, how the training and assessment is organised and who will be involved. It will also ensure that your course reflects the industry needs, your student is knowledgeable of the units included in the qualification, your trainer knows what is expected and where to find the resources, and your auditor is happy. Getting an RTO Consultant to assist you with your strategies is a valuable exercise. Ask F4 Solutions today to reviews your strategies.