Long awaited final draft of the Standards has arrived!
The release of the final draft of Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) represents a significant milestone in the reform of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector which has been ongoing for at least 4 years.
The revised standards, endorsed by Skills Ministers in September 2024, are set to come into full regulatory effect from 1 July 2025. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 will apply until then.
Whilst everyone in the industry will be busy reading through the documentation, there are key points to take into consideration.
The revised standards were endorsed by the Skills Ministers in September 2024
- The Final draft document has been released to the public on the 1st October 2024
- DEWR are now seeking feedback on the draft Credential Policy and Compliance Requirements to ensure they are clear, that their purpose is understood, and to identify any concerns with how RTOs might meet the requirements.
These updates aim to enhance the quality and accountability of RTOs by addressing previous challenges and aligning the sector with evolving training needs.
It’s not a short read and it’s important not to jump to conclusions too quickly, remember this is the final draft – with feedback still being sought, and implementation will not take effect until July 2025.
Key changes include stronger oversight on areas like trainer and assessor qualifications, improvements in student support, and a renewed focus on compliance and quality assurance. The updates are part of a broader effort to ensure VET remains responsive to both industry and learner needs. The shift will particularly affect compliance monitoring, with ASQA expected to play a central role in guiding RTOs through this transition period.
What’s the attention grabber that no-one predicted?
Reading through the draft credentials policies the unexpected change is to the requirements of trainers and assessors.
To deliver training and assessment, including making assessment judgements, the person must hold one of the following credentials:
- TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or its successor,
- TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment,
- TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment,
- A secondary teaching qualification and one of the following credentials:
- TAESS00011 Assessor Skill Set, or
- TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set or its successor, or
- TAESS00024 VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set or its successor,
- A diploma or higher-level qualification in adult education or vocational education and training.
Notice that TAE40110 is on the list – and what’s changed – you no longer need the 2 additional units TAEASS502 or TAELLN411.
Don’t get too excited!
Before you start jumping for joy that you can get that old TAE40110 out of the cupboard, dust it off and start training again, it’s important to also read the information in the Policy draft – Outcome Standards.
This document clearly outlines that trainers and assessors must not only hold the TAE credential, but they must also have current skills and knowledge in training and assessment.
RTOs must demonstrate their trainers and assessors undertake continuing professional development to maintain current skills and knowledge in training and assessment, including engaging and supporting VET students.
All trainers and assessors must also maintain their industry competencies, skills and knowledge relevant to the training products they are delivering and assessing, and they must maintain their understanding of current industry practices.
What’s changed since you’ve gained your TAE40110
There’s been many changes that have influenced our training and assessment practices since 2010. Just to share a few:
- 2015 – the streamlining of Training Packages changed the very structure of units of competency. You may remember Mayer Key Competencies or Employability Skills. Both gone and replaced by a new streamlined layout of Units of Competency.
- 2019 – All trainers and assessors with TAE40110 must now have TAEASS502 and TAELLN411 and holders of TAE40110 only could no longer train and assess.
- 2019 – COVID changed the landscape of training delivery, with a greater expectation for Online delivery using Zoom or Teams or other platforms.
- 2020 – the Digital Literacy Skills Framework was published, sitting alongside the Australian Core Skills Framework, enhancing employability skills and supporting education and training.
- 2022 – the new TAE40122 credential was endorsed, without a stand-alone LLN unit – why – because in every unit whether it's on assessment or delivery or design, there is an emphasis placed on the integration of foundation skills with the technical training.
- 2023 – AISC and SSOs were replaced by Jobs and Skills Australia and Jobs and Skills Councils – at the very heart of Training Package development is change.
That’s just a start, then there’s the changes in technology within the classroom, KAHOOTS and QUIZZLETS, and CHATGPT!
And if you think you are current with your TAE40110 – think again.
Here’s the challenge – if you think you are ready for the classroom, then go to training.gov.au – find the qualification you will be delivering. Look at some of the units, are you comfortable you can walk into the classroom tomorrow, understanding the requirements of the Units of Competency and meeting the needs of your students?
Let’s do some more reading – and most importantly some good upskilling and PD before we send the TAE40110 trainer into the classroom of 2025!
Preparing for the revised Standards | Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
Training + Assessment Courses | Blueprint Career Development (blueprintcd.com.au)