Introduction

In this blog, I will discuss the different best practices that different RTOs are using to stay compliant and deliver quality education.

As a consultant and a learner, I enjoy learning from everyone in the industry, including Audit Experts, consultants, CEOs, compliance managers, and other RTO professionals who contribute valuable insights and experience to the VET sector.

Some RTOs are following great internal audit practices that help them to be compliant and stay compliant.

Best practice: Most RTO’s will do the internal audit once a year and finish them in one go. These practices do not allow them to dig deeper to locate the root cause and implement changes that will improve the compliance and quality of RTO training and assessment.

Do not try to do an internal audit in one attempt – rather, divide them into small, ‘bite size’ chunks.

Quote – “Any goal can be achieved if you break it down into enough small parts” Brian Tracy.

Do monthly RTO internal audits for a few clauses and create an annual internal audit calendar. You can add these in Google, Outlook, or any other individual or team calendar.

For example:

Audit clauses	Resources required including HR	Date	Comments
SRTOs 2015 Clause 4.1, 3.5 5.1,5.2,5.3,7.3	Marketing material Policies related to marketingStudent handbook Fees and refund, enrolment, pre-training reviewCredit transfer and other enrolment-related policies. Enrolment form and PTR form LLND toolHR: Compliance manager Admin and student support officer	15/02/22	May need graphic designer and website person for update

Benefits of this internal audit model:

1. Monthly checks will be less time consuming, and feedback or improvements can be easily implemented.
2. This takes less time so RTO can manage the operation effectively
3. Any non-compliance issue can be resolved quickly
4. RTO culture can be improved
5. Other RTO staff also learn compliant practices
6. Monthly internal audit evidence will also help you in the external audit.

Note: make sure you keep the relevant evidence for the internal audit for your records and external audits.

Suggested Read: How to audit your RTO resources to meet compliance requirements?