Training Quality over Quantity Redefining Training Under Standard 1.1 Article 2 – Newbery Consulting – 2025 Standards Article Series How did we get here? To understand the current requirements of Standard 1.1 and why it matters, we need to look back at how the sector arrived at this point. For almost a decade, training delivery […]
24/09/2025
Posts
Why the CEO is the Biggest Risk in Any RTO
Why the CEO is the Biggest Risk in Any RTO No qualifications required, but the consequences of weak leadership are severe. Article 1 – Newbery Consulting – 2025 Standards Article Series Introduction A common question I get from people considering the registration of an RTO is: “What qualifications do you need to be the CEO […]
27/08/2025Newbery Compliance Quiz
Are you a guru in RTO compliance? It’s time to put yourself to the test and take the Newbery Compliance Quiz. This 10 question quiz will be refreshed once each fortnight with new random questions drawn from a bank of over 150 questions and growing. Test your knowledge and understanding of RTO compliance. The quiz is time limited and you have only 4 minutes, which is actually heaps of time if you know your stuff. Good luck.
01/05/2025Speaking ASQAneese – Part 3
Speaking ASQAneese – Part 3 This article is the third instalment of our article series on understanding the language of ASQAneese. Over the last 12 months ASQA has significantly changed its audit model to utilise audit meetings to interrogate providers with scripted questions that they provide no advanced warning of. Receiving these questions without […]
19/04/2024Speaking ASQAneese – Part 2
Speaking ASQAneese – Part 2 This article is the second instalment of a three part article series on understanding the language of ASQAneese. ASQAneese is an important language in the lexicon of VET regulation. Whilst ASQAneese uses English as its foundation, it draws on the tones, stress and rhythm of high order bureaucracy and […]
22/08/2023Speaking ASQAneese – Part 1
Speaking ASQAneese – Part 1 Have you recently found yourself sitting on a Teams meeting with an ASQA Auditor and they are going through a series of questions that you are just dumbfounded by? Its like, they ask the question, and you think to yourself – She is definitely speaking English but I have […]
08/06/2023Course Design – Part Three – The Analysis
In part three of this article series on course design, we dive into the Analysis of the course requirements including analysing the target learner, the workplace requirements and the training package requirements.
30/05/2022Course Design – Part Two – The TD Process
In part two of this article series on course design we take a look at the training development process of Analyse, Design, Develop, Deliver and Evaluate.
16/05/2022Course Design – Part One – Unit Structuring
In this first article, I talk about the past to understand how we got to this point in our national training framwork. I will also explain the three basic structure options for designing a competency based course.
25/04/2022Enrolment Models and Considerations
Enrolment Models and Considerations When I begin working with a client to develop a course offering, one of the very first considerations I raise is the enrolment model that is best suited to the course delivery. It is such an important early consideration and it is amazing to me that there doesn’t seem to […]
22/12/2021A systems approach to RTO self-assurance
A systems approach to RTO self-assurance There is an increasing demand from clients and others in the sector who are wanting to establish a system of self-assurance within their RTO. This interest is in response to messaging by ASQA encouraging providers to adopt a self-assurance approach to the management of their RTO operation. ASQA […]
13/08/2021Observation Assessment
I spend a lot of time talking to clients about their observation assessments. It blows me away that this single topic is so fundamental to the core services that we provide as practitioners in vocational education and training and is also not well understood. It is by far one of the most common non-compliances that I see on a regular basis in both the work that we do, the audit reports generated by the national regulator and funding authorities.
30/06/2021Equivalent Vocational Competency
One of, if not the most subjective compliance issues that we encounter is how RTOs and auditors consider the concept of equivalent vocational competency.
What is equivalent vocational competency and what clause does it relate to? Let’s start with the second question first to put things in context. Clause 1.13 a) of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 requires the following:
13/10/2020Fees Paid in Advance
I have noticed a spike in audit outcomes that include findings in relation to fees paid in advance. I have also received an increased number of questions from clients about the rules relating to students paying fees in advance of services being delivered particularly in relation to the shift toward virtual service delivery. I recently put together a fairly extensive email in response to a client request for clarification and have used some of that guidance to put together this article.
10/09/2020RTO Change of Ownership
On the 31st October 2019, the National Regulator implemented a new policy relating to the change of ownership of an existing RTO. I have had an opportunity to review the new self-assessment document and guide and have put together this article to explain the requirements to those considering the purchase or sale of an RTO.
14/11/2019